Microsoft Says to Look Beyond Windows Vista

Microsoft is doing the unthinkable. While gearing up for the holiday season, the company has actually set up and is advising consumers to look beyond Windows Vista. Beyond, but not actually. Microsoft wouldn't want consumers to stray too far off, after all. But, the fact of the matter is that the lineup of Microsoft products that are being pushed as excellent items to serve as holiday gifts is quite diversified. "With the holiday season now upon us, it's prime-time for technology buying and gift-giving," reads a fragment of a Microsoft invitation designed to put a wide and diversified range of products into the limelight.

But at the same time, the Redmond company revealed that "while Vista PCs will be front and center for many consumers, Microsoft is about much more than PCs this holiday season." In fact, Windows Vista is not placed at the center-stage, on account that the latest Windows client is simply a shoe in to be at the top of Santa's gift list this Christmas. Due to the repeated delays of the operating system in its development stage, Vista missed the 2006 holiday shopping frenzy, and did not debut with a bang in February 2007, despite of claims of over 20 million copies shipped to the company's channel partners.

"According to a study conducted by the Solutions Research Group, three out of four US consumers count at least one "digital lifestyle" product on their holiday wish lists, and Windows Vista-based PCs rank among the most desirable items. Other sought-after technology toys include computer peripherals, cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, next-generation TVs, gaming consoles and video games", Microsoft stated.

And as such, the company has put together a comprehensive and interactive Gift Guide, focused on its own products as well as offerings from its partners. The guide can be accessed via this link, bear in mind that you will need Silverlight in order to get an idea of what the Redmond company has in stror for this Christmas.

"Microsoft and industry hardware partners have assembled one of the industry's broadest and most compelling product line-ups, comprising red-hot entries in every category. With great gift ideas for him, her and the whole family, there's something for everyone's wish list - from style-conscious teens to soccer moms, mid-career professionals to college students, 20-something gamers to doting grandparents, right down to the most discerning gadget-heads or device mavens", the company promised.