Veterans up in arms over Microsoft Vista

It is a hotel in Buenos Aires, the trade name of a classy hot tub, a visible and infrared survey telescope and a city near San Diego. It is Vista, the name that Microsoft picked for its next-generation operating system out of a hat and proof that however many lawyers you employ you may not have enough.

There are plenty of examples of existing Vistas, but only a few have much of a connection with the software business.

These include two non-profit groups — The Vista Software Alliance (VA) and Worldvista — that provide specialist software called Vista to hospitals, nursing homes and clinics that care for US military veterans.

The groups denounced Microsoft's choice of name this week, claiming that people will be confused between the Microsoft operating system and Vista's specialised software.

"The timing of Microsoft's announcement is most unfortunate," said Maury Pepper, Chairman of Worldvista. "Microsoft is aware of the VA's use of 'Vista' and yet insists on detracting from the nationwide effort to provide the Vista electronic health record to physicians throughout the country by creating confusion in the IT industry. Our healthcare system has long been in need of a truly affordable electronic medical record, and just as one becomes available, Microsoft has created a huge distraction."

In the US, like many countries, veterans occupy a special place in the hearts and minds of the population. Retailer Target Corporation fell foul of the US veterans' groups when it was alleged Target would not allow them to fund raise around stores.

Microsoft, which will be hoping for a simpler and cleaner end to the latest argument, can point to the fact that it discounts software to veterans.