Windows Vista And Web 2.0: Are They Doomed?

Nothing got more media attention in 2007 than the troubles of Microsoft's Windows Vista and the triumph of Web 2.0. But now observers are starting to wonder if both hype-fests are about to crash and burn.First, let's talk about Windows Vista. According to Dave Methvin at InformationWeek, people are finally starting to question whether Vista will ever catch on. Instead, many Windows users may try to skip Vista entirely and hang onto XP until 2010 when Windows Seven is due.

Meanwhile, Tom LaSusa quotes the folks at UK research house Scivsum who worry that companies worried about uncontrolled user-generated-content on Web 2.0 sites will pull the plug on advertising on social networking and similar sites.

Maybe so, but many observers aren't convinced. Me either. As long as Web surfers flock to these sites, advertisers and money will follow.

My advice to small and midsize companies? Be very careful about making the leap to Vista, but do everything you can to leverage the interactivity and community opportunities presented by Web 2.0 technologies.