The launch of Microsoft’s new operating system at midnight last night has retailers nationally and locally talking.
More than five years in the making, Vista was released for businesses Nov. 30, but the unveiling for consumers of the latest edition of Windows — which runs more than 90 percent of the world’s PCs — was scheduled for today around the globe. Vista retails for $100 to $400, depending on the version and whether the user is upgrading from Windows XP.
According to the Associated Press, in Tokyo, about 80 people lined up at the Bic Camera Department Store to become among the world’s first consumers to own Vista. Celebrities and executives were on hand as a large-screen TV displayed a countdown to the midnight launch.
The second person in line, Fumihiko Koyama, 33, waited three hours and said he was hoping the new operating system would make his work in Web design easier.
“My expectations are very high for Vista,” he said. “I want to try it out because it’s new.”
The Redmond, Wash.-based software maker contends that Vista is such a huge improvement over previous computing platforms that users inevitably say “Wow” when they see it.
When users boot up Vista for the first time, they’ll be wowed by the slick 3-D graphic user interface and document icons that give at-a-glance previews, Gates said. He said the next ‘wow’ comes when people start using a system-wide search program that Microsoft’s engineers built into both the operating system and new versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and other Office 2007 elements, which also hit store shelves at midnight.
Matt Walker, computer technician at Staples in Emporia, said Monday afternoon that he thinks Vista will be a big seller locally.
“I’m guessing we’re going to sell out everything we got (today) or at least by the end of the week,” Walker said.
Staples is offering free installation with the purchase of the Vista operating system. Staples also is offering special upgrade prices if people are wishing to upgrade their computers at the same time.
“We’re offering $19.99 all-you-can-install software if they buy five software titles,” Walker said. Staples also is offering all-you-can-install hardware such as graphic cards and extra RAM for $29.99 and a combo of the two for $39.99.
Walker said he sees lots of benefits to the new operating system.
“This is a little more secure,” he said. “I think it looks pretty solid. It runs smooth and is easy to use. We have people who come in and who have never used a computer who can hop right in.”
Jimmy Pounds, co-manager at Wal-Mart in Emporia, also said they expect a lot of customers wanting to get their hands on the new operating system.
“I anticipate with any new technology that we will have an additional surge of customers that want to see what it can do,” Pounds said. “Hopefully, we will have live displays in our store so customers can see what it has to offer and the new features.”
Pounds said this morning that sales were on target for the operating system, although he didn’t have actual numbers available this morning.
“I don’t think we had lines or anything like that,” he said. “(Sales) are what I expected.”
Pounds sees three perks to Vista.
“Basically it has the top three improvements over Windows XP: graphic interface, search enhancement and security and performance enhancement,” he said. “Hopefully, it runs better and faster and is more secure. We’re excited about the launch.”
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.