Why Windows "Vista"???

[FRSNK]

Hello everybody..!!!

I was wondering... why does Microsoft chose the word "Vista" to name their
next operating system... I can understand the analogy between the meaning of
the word (in spanish and italian : "View") and the sales premise... but why
choosing a non-english word ? Nothing against that choice (spanish is my
mother tongue)... but was just wondering how come Microsoft did not choose
another word from French or I don't know... German.. (lol)...

Actually... I was also wondering... what about changing the name of the OS
for the different markets?? LOL.. It would give something like "Fenêtres de
Microsoft" for the French Market... or "Ventanas de Microsoft" for the
spanish/latinamerican market.... and what about "Fenêtres Vista"???? Don't
you think it's a nice combination?? ;o)

Regards,

FRSNK

 

[DP]

I was wondering... why does Microsoft chose the word "Vista" to name their
next operating system... I can understand the analogy between the meaning
of
the word (in spanish and italian : "View") and the sales premise... but
why
choosing a non-english word ?

Vista IS an english word. Even though it may have roots in other languages,
it's one that's used in English as well, as in "Computers have opened a new
vista for the mind."

 

[FRSNK]

Well.. Vista has NOT an english origin... It comes from a latin root...from
the late latin (to be more specific): vista or visitus (from the irregular
verb from)... So yes... you use it in english... but it's NOT an
english-origined word...

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I was wondering... why does Microsoft chose the word "Vista" to name
their next operating system... I can understand the analogy between
the meaning of the word (in spanish and italian : "View") and the
sales premise... but why choosing a non-english word ?

"Vista" *is* an English word (as a glance at almost any English dictionary
will show), although it comes to us from the Italian, and ultimately from
Latin.

Why did Microsoft choose it? They don't confide in me, but it's likely that
the intent is to suggest that it opens up new vistas for its users.

 

[FRSNK]

At glance at any Latin dictionary will allow you to understand that it is
NOT an english word... I mean, not in its origins... it comes from the
latest latin vulgaris...

Anyway... I was just trying to generate some polemic regarding the
modification of the corporate image of Microsoft through the change of the
name... I personally like it... was just trying to see what people think
about it..

FRSNK

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Well.. Vista has NOT an english origin... It comes from a latin
root...from the late latin (to be more specific): vista or visitus
(from the irregular verb from)... So yes... you use it in english...
but it's NOT an english-origined word...

Sure, but so what?

With very few exceptions, almost all words in English come from non-English
roots. If I remember correctly, something like 40% of the modern English
vocabulary comes from Romance (Latin in origin) roots, and most of the rest
come from German.

":Vista" is no different in that respect than many *thousands* of other
English words. To take but a single example from the first sentence of your
message above, the word "origin" comes from a Latin word.

The same is true (with different languages and percentages of the roots) in
all other languages. All languages evolve from earlier languages, and all
languages borrow words from other languages.

 

[FRSNK]

Hey ... that's right... I was not doubting about the origins of the english
language... LOL... languages enrich themselves.. anyway.. this post was
not intented to create a polemic about the origins of the english... but
rather creating a forum (latin again!!! ;o)) about the new image that
Microsoft wants to project (not only from the choice of "Vista", but from a
visual point of view of the whole trademark image handling... (don't know if
I make myself clear..)

FRSNK

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

MS says "names are derived from cities/locations in the world known for
great 'vistas'. The kinds of places we all want to see, experience and that
capture the imagination"

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

At glance at any Latin dictionary will allow you to understand that
it is NOT an english word... I mean, not in its origins...

Yes, as I said in the message you quoted below. It's directly from the
Italian "visto," the past participle of "vedere," which itself is from the
Latin "videre." And, although the dictionary I have here by my side doesn't
go back any further than that, the Latin "videre" is undoubtedly from a
still older word in the original Indo-European language. That adoption of
words from one language to another is the very nature of language. The point
I'm trying to make is that there is absolutely nothing unusual about "vista"
in this regard.

it comes
from the latest latin vulgaris...

As I said in another message, almost *all* English words have their roots
elsewhere The only way Microsoft could have chosen a word that started out
in English would have been to call it something like "Windows OK."

Even then, although "OK" is originally English, "Windows" itself isn't. It
comes from the Old Norse "vindauga."

There is simply no way to say anything more than a couple of words in
English--something like "OK, Coca-Cola"--without using words that are
non-English in origin. And again, the same is true of every other language.

Anyway... I was just trying to generate some polemic regarding the
modification of the corporate image of Microsoft through the change
of the name... I personally like it... was just trying to see what
people think about it..

I don't think about it at all, and really don't care what Microsoft calls
it.. It's just a marketing term, one which Microsoft apparently thinks will
drum up sales of their product. It's not descriptive, and has no real
meaning that relates to the product at all. The real name of the product,
under the hood, will be Windows 6.0, just as Windows 2000 is Windows 5.0,
and Windows XP is really Windows 5.1.

As far as I'm concerned, the name of the product has no importance. What's
important is what features it has and how well it works.

 

[johnf]

Hello everybody..!!!

I was wondering... why does Microsoft chose the word "Vista" to name
their next operating system... I can understand the analogy between the
meaning of the word (in spanish and italian : "View") and the sales
premise... but why choosing a non-english word ? Nothing against that
choice (spanish is my mother tongue)... but was just wondering how come
Microsoft did not choose another word from French or I don't know...
German.. (lol)...

Actually... I was also wondering... what about changing the name of the
OS for the different markets?? LOL.. It would give something like
"Fenêtres de Microsoft" for the French Market... or "Ventanas de
Microsoft" for the spanish/latinamerican market.... and what about
"Fenêtres Vista"???? Don't you think it's a nice combination?? ;o)

Regards,

FRSNK

I don't see how you you can say that Vista is a non-English word, as it has
been used in English for longer than I can memory - & that's nearing 73
years. (Ask any keen amateur photographer)
Vista =The visual percept of a region; e.g. background, foreground, coast,
sideview, tableau etc.

 

[johnf]

Hello everybody..!!!

I don't see how you you can say that Vista is a non-English word, as it
has been used in English for longer than I can memory - & that's
nearing 73 years. (Ask any keen amateur photographer)
Vista =The visual percept of a region; e.g. background, foreground,
coast, sideview, tableau etc.

I answered your original post before reading the replies, which I think
adequately answer/set you straight.
"Methinks" you've opened a can of worms and have ducked for cover, or having
problems clearly translating your thoughts into words.

 

[John Jay Smith]

IF I was a linux maniac... I would say that vista is all eye candy looks
and no real improvments...

This is of course false.. but you never should listen to linux maniacs
anyway.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

FRSNK

You are completely missing the real point here.. why has a US company,
sporting a name whose first part is of Greek origin suddenly going west and
using Latin origin names for the operating systems?.. what are they
thinking.. and to add insult to injury, Coventry City beat Tottenham Hotspur
to take the FA Cup in 1987..

 

[Jared Foster]

Because DOS has already been used.

 

[Phian]

Hello everybody..!!!

I was wondering... why does Microsoft chose the word "Vista" to name their
next operating system... I can understand the analogy between the meaning
of
the word (in spanish and italian : "View") and the sales premise... but
why
choosing a non-english word ? Nothing against that choice (spanish is my
mother tongue)... but was just wondering how come Microsoft did not choose
another word from French or I don't know... German.. (lol)...

Actually... I was also wondering... what about changing the name of the OS
for the different markets?? LOL.. It would give something like "Fenêtres
de
Microsoft" for the French Market... or "Ventanas de Microsoft" for the
spanish/latinamerican market.... and what about "Fenêtres Vista"???? Don't
you think it's a nice combination?? ;o)

Regards,

FRSNK

Perhaps they thought the previous name of "Longhorn" would lead to
accusations of it being a load of bull***t.

Phian

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Well.. Vista has NOT an english origin... It comes from a latin root...from
the late latin (to be more specific): vista or visitus (from the irregular
verb from)... So yes... you use it in english... but it's NOT an
english-origined word...

Well, when you come right down to it, there is no such thing as a
purely English word. The entire English "language" is nothing more than
an amalgam of the derivatives of the languages of the many various
nomadic groups that each conquered/settled the island in succession.

Of course , the same thing can be said of nearly every modern language
still in use today. (Not that the French would ever admit it, of course.)


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Jared Foster]

A rose is a rose is a rose...

--
JaReD

Perhaps they thought the previous name of "Longhorn" would lead to
accusations of it being a load of bull***t.

Phian

 

[WinXP_Powered]

FRSNK wrote:






"Vista" *is* an English word (as a glance at almost any English dictionary
will show), although it comes to us from the Italian, and ultimately from
Latin.

Why did Microsoft choose it? They don't confide in me, but it's likely that
the intent is to suggest that it opens up new vistas for its users.

I would guess that Microsoft views, and wants us to view, 64-bit Windows
as a new view (a la Vista) of personal computing.

Did I make my viewpoint clear with all my usage of view? LOL