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The USA Today is running an article entitled, "Microsoft Gets
Vista Launch off the Ground."

The article reports, "'We are in the digital decade,' Microsoft
Chairman Bill Gates said Monday at a splashy press conference in
the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. 'Everything is becoming
digital. Vista is key to the era.'"

The article continues, "And to Microsoft. Vista is the hub of its
digital lifestyle strategy, in which consumer-electronics gadgets —
be they high- definition TVs, video game consoles, mobile phones
or portable music players — connect to Vista- powered PCs and
share content."
Read the article!!


Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

  • Ask your students what electronic gadget they like the most.
    Why do they like this gadget?
  • You might write a list of favorite electronic gadgets on
    the board. On the other hand, students could draw a
    picture of their favorite gadget.

  • If your students could think of one way to improve this gadget,
    how would they improve it?
  • Consider asking your students work in groups to
    develop useful ways of improving a particular gadget.

  • Ask your students to imagine that they lived in a world in
    which there were no screens (television screens, cellular
    phones with screens, hand held game systems, etc.), how
    would their lives be different?
  • If your students could say one thing to the person who
    invented screens, what would they say? Why?  Consider
    asking your students to write letters to the individual that
    invented the screen.

Discussion-Starters for Older Children

  • Vocabulary Terms to Discuss: "Product Launch"; "Cash Cow";
    Consumer; and, Implication.

  • Bill Gates is the wealthiest man in the world. Do your students
    think that he deserves to be wealthy? Why/why not? What
    entitles somebody to be wealthy?
  • Consider asking your students to write essays in
    response to these questions.

  • Consider Bill Gates' estate, with your students. If your students
    were designing a home how would they make it different?
  • Consider asking students to design a home on paper or
    with a computer drawing program.

  • Vista's new innovation is connectivity. It enables a single
    computer to control all electronic devices within a home. Tell
    your students to imagine that their children are computer
    developers in 50 years. What might be the most innovative
    aspects of computers that enter the market in 50 years?
  • This question might prompt an interesting class
    discussion. However, be sure to encourage your
    students to explain their ideas thoughtfully.
Vista's Finally Here
January 30, 2007
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