Some new consternation floating around about whether or not existing PCs will be able to run Vista's Aero Glass UI. This comes about after a report from Jon Peddie Research, highlighted in an Extreme Tech article, claims that one in two PCs won't run the Glass UI.
Old News? Mostly. Like Kevin Tofel, I've been concerned about this as well, but not as much from a hardware perspective as I am from an expectation and marketing point of view.
Here's my two cents. I'm sure hardware that will run Glass will be out and ready by the time Vista is released. Will older PCs with less than high end video cards be able to get the Glass effects? No. I have thought this all along, since the official word has been that it won't. Is that a real problem? From a "let's sell boxes of Vista standpoint" maybe. But every time a new OS ships one of the desired benefits is to push new hardware sales, so the long view is all upside.
The key here is the expectation game and how the marketing wiz's handle that. Vista is sure to ship with flashy advertising promoting all the cool and sexy Glass effects. Easier to sell eye candy than it is to sell some of the real plumbing improvements and new features. So, those looking for a new Vista PC and those selling them will have to tread cautiously not to fall prey to the expectation game. Can't you just picture the big-box sales pitch now? How many consumers will be knowledgeable to ask which flavor of Vista is that inexpensive PC capable of running?
We're just starting to see new dual core machines begin to roll out, and Toshiba was first to the plate in the Tabletscape. But even then, the early announcement that they were using an Intel video solution raised a number of concerns. Some excellent reporting from Rob Bushway has gone a long way to allaying my fears with that model. (Doesn't this seem to dovetail nicely with the thread about OEM's working with influencers to help alleviate inaccurate info getting out there and creating a false impression? I'm just asking.) But it takes a lot more work to correct bad info than it does to get good info out.
Here's the kicker. No one is going to want to sell a computer that has to be advertised as "Doesn't Run Glass." The OEM"s will ramp up to meet the expectation, prices will rise a bit as we see higher end video solutions in even bargain basement PCs. The price increase will be blamed on Microsoft Vista and its extreme demands. Everyone will make money and everyone will be happy.
With all the news that has been printed, podcast, and blogged already, I find it hard to believe that most folks don't see new hardware purchases coming down the line. I know I do.
