I did some research before my post, and like any name (or at least most names) there is some “internal” logic to it. My post wasn’t saying “vista is meaningless”, but moreso that I think its a poor name, and to me it doesn’t have the “meaning” that Microsoft probably hopes for.

The site you reference says (in a more compassionate way 🙂 ) the same basic thing:

Q: What’s with the name? I figured Windows Vista would be called Windows 2006 or something.

A: You and me both. However, Microsoft has somewhat painted itself into a corner by choosing names like Windows Me and Windows XP for the two prior client releases of Windows. Now, it has to try and outdo itself with each product version’s name; otherwise, people would consider it to be a boring release. Certainly, Windows 2006 sounds less exciting than Windows XP.

I can imagine the meeting where the name idea was first floated…”We need something about Windows…you see things through windows…you clean windows…windows open and close…what do you see through window? You see the outside…a view…a vista…hey, that’s kinda catchy. Windows Vista. Okay, but if you hear that name, what does it mean…lets brainstorm on a meaning…”

I’ve been in meetings that went just like that. After the meeting there were probably study groups, market tests, and you name it. In that process, the name became filled with meaning- for them. For me, and for a bunch of people around me, it just sounds…lame. Personally, I prefer “Windows XP Plus”, or “Windows XP 2006”. Naturally, that’s just an opinion.