Internal Microsoft email messages unsealed by a federal judge as part of the “Vista Capable” class action lawsuit reveal considerable trepidation even amongst Microsoft’s high-level executives about how well Vista would fare on then-current systems. The messages also include seemingly plain admissions that Microsoft capitulated to Intel and lowered hardware requirements for Windows Vista so Intel could keep selling chipsets that, otherwise, would have had no future under Vista.
“In the end, we lowered the requirement to help Intel make their quarterly earnings so they could continue to sell motherboards with the 915 graphics embedded,” wrote Microsoft executive John Klakman in February 2007. Intel’s 915 graphic chipset does not support Vista’s “Aero” interface; however, a large number of systems on sale bth prior to and as of Vista’s release to consumers used Intel’s 915 graphics drivers and were labeled “Vista Capable.”
Excerpts of the messages are available in Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Todd Bishop’s Microsoft blog, as well as the entire message set (PDF). Selections of the messages were previously submitted during court appearances to support the plaintiffs’ case.
The messages also detail confusion from retailers, Microsoft’s OEM partners, board members, and Microsoft executives over the meanings of Microsoft’s Vista branding program. Microsoft employee Robin Leonard reported mega-retailer Wal-Mart was “extremely disappointed in the fact that the standards were lowered and feel like customer confusion will ensue.” Wal-Mart went directly to Hewlett-Packard to see if basic computer could be upgraded to avoid the “Vista Capable” logo. Other executives bemoaned the lack of Vista drivers for hardware devices; newly-installed WIndows chief Steven Sinofsky laid part of the blame on third parties, writing in February 2008 that “No one really believed we would ever ship so they didn’t start the work until very late in 2006.”
At first glance, the collection of email messages would seem to bolster plaintiff’s case that Microsoft’s was aware its Vista Capable branding program could mislead consumers…however, the judge has restricted the case to trying to prove Microsoft’s program artificially inflated demand (and prices) for PCs.
In a statement distributed via email, Microsoft characterized the email messages as follows: “The emails reflect part of an active discussion about how best to implement the Windows Vista Capable program. What the e-mails don’t show is the comprehensive education campaign Microsoft led through retailers, manufacturers, the press, and our own Web site. The campaign armed consumers with the information they needed to choose a PC that would run the version of Windows Vista that fit their budget and their computing needs.”
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