Microsoft's satisfaction rating among the American public slipped in the first three months of 2007 - during which it launched Windows Vista and Office 2007.

The American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), compiled by the University of Michigan, saw Microsoft's score slip four per cent to 70, compared to the same quarter last year, out of a possible top score of 100.

According to ACSI, Microsoft was level with the rest of the software industry in consumer satisfaction levels a year ago, when it debuted on the index: now it's behind. The index surveyed 80,000 consumers, sampling 200 companies in 40 industries.

Chris Fornell, a University of Michigan professor and director of the ACSI, reportedly said a backlash among jaded consumers to Microsoft's launch hype could be one reason for the slip.

On the plus side, Microsoft's score puts it among other major corporate brands. Interestingly, though, coffee franchise Starbucks increased 1.3 per cent to 78, by doing little more than giving consumers more coffee. Full ACSI findings can be found here.®

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