A disappointment. Windows Vista, the successor to Windows XP, tried to become the favorite system of millions; however, he failed in the attempt. Why? Here we tell you.
Released on January 30, 2007, Windows Vista sought to dethrone Windows XP as the users’ favorite operating system; However, that never happened. This software created by Microsoft was so poorly received that the company founded by Bill Gates was forced to launch its successor (Windows 7) at the end of 2009, that is, after only two years. Why was it so bad? Here we tell you.
There are several reasons for the failure of Windows Vista, one of which is that its predecessor Windows XP (launched in 2001) was well established. For six long years, this operating system (which was characterized by its speed and friendly interface) captivated millions of users, who did not see the need to migrate to a new version. It was so popular that it was only disabled in 2014.
Another reason why Windows Vista It never got off the ground because it required too many resources for the time. Let’s remember that back then, desktop PCs and laptops had not-so-powerful graphics cards and only 512MB of RAM. While these features were more than enough for Windows XP, they weren’t for its successor.
Those users who dared to migrate to Windows Vista noticed that their computers were too slow (compared to Windows XP), the change was also felt in video games, since the annoying ‘lag’ appeared. To solve this problem, some people made the decision to upgrade their computers, although there were others who preferred to return to the previous software.
According to PuroTip, a portal specialized in technology, Microsoft he didn’t take much notice of the negative comments left on his blogs and forums by customers testing Windows Vista. When the American company realized the mistake, it was already too late, since there were many netizens who had hated their product due to bad reviews.
Another feature of Windows Vista that users never liked is the excessive security of the software, to the point that simple operations, such as deleting a shortcut or running a program that you have installed, required a confirmation that got tiring. Fortunately, Microsoft toned down this intensity a bit when it introduced Windows 7.
Finally, another failure is that many peripherals and accessories (video or sound cards) were not compatible with this Microsoft operating system due to a lack of drivers. Although it is considered a huge failure for the company, Microsoft just discontinued this software (stopped giving it official support) on April 11, 2017.
Who composed the initial sound of Windows XP and why is it so iconic?
The well-remembered melody to which we refer has the official name ”Startup chime” and was, along with other system sounds within the OS, composed by Bill Brown, a renowned Emmy Award-winning composer who worked in conjunction with sound engineer Tom Ozanich (nominated, long ago, to the oscars for his work on ”A star is born” and ”Joker”) to create the piece.
Bill Brown may not be a name that resonates in your mind, but you should know that he is a well-known composer in the video game and movie industry in the United States.
In his experience with soundtrack for video games there are works like Quake II, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and more, while in the movies his work stands out for Rushlights, Duke and Infamous.
Despite this, it is valid to mention that Brown’s most recognized work is definitely his contribution of small sounds of just seconds that were included in the initial version of Windows XP. In case you don’t remember, because it’s been a long time, here it is: