Judge gives green light to 'Vista Capable' lawsuit

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A US district judge in Seattle has ruled that consumers can move ahead with a class-action suit against Microsoft over how it advertised computers with Windows XP as capable of running Vista, according to an article by the Associated Press.

The suit claims the labelling of computers as "Windows Vista Capable" misled consumers because many of the machines weren't powerful enough to run all of Vista's features, such as the Aero user interface, the article said.

The federal judge certified the suit late on Friday, but narrowed its scope to whether the "Vista Capable" labels artificially created demand for PCs in late 2006 during the Christmas-shopping season. Vista, which had faced several delays, was released in early 2007.

According to a related article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, many of the computers touted as Vista Capable could run only the stripped-down "Home Basic" version of Vista.

Microsoft said it was reviewing the decision.

Talkback

So, you sue MS and win. What will the settlement consist of? A new version of Vista Basic? Somehow I can't see MS doling out any money in this scheme. I think they will beat the rap and get away without paying a cent.

ator1940 25 February, 2008 14:52
Reply

They may well have to dole out a ton of money. Remember the lady who got millions out of McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on her lap, all because the jury decided that McDonalds should have warned its customers that the coffee they served was hot enough to scald. Mind you, they may also get off scot free even if they are guilty (as did OJ). Mind you, he's still being hunted down for the civil judgement against him.

ego.sum.stig 25 February, 2008 17:52
Reply

One must not forget that M$ has the best lawyers and judges that money can buy.

ator1940 26 February, 2008 13:57
Reply

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