The new Microsoft emails uncovered in the ‘Vista Capable’ dispute illustrate the firm’s thoughtful and analyst-driven approach to analyst relations. CNET open source blogger Matt Asay has written about the analyst relations strategies used by Microsoft with Gartner over Vista: perhaps the single analyst interaction with the greatest potential RoI.

Microsoft’s approach to the Gartner is well worth emulating: it explicitly balances the key message that Microsoft thinks these analysts needs to better understand with a focus on the next step that analysts could take in developing more favourability towards Vista. It’s a positive contrast to the approach of many AR interactions, which don’t start with a specific and personal plan for each interaction.