Vista- What's the Price?

[queonda]

Here is the upgrade planning for Windows Vista- http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...gradeinfo.mspx

I wonder what they are going to be charging?

[ClamsTheCat]

I will wait a year and let the sheep be slaughtered...along with the bugs...I got XP when it debuted and I wish I had't, although XP now works great with SP2.

Baaa! BBBbbbaaa!!! Run sheep!

[draven]

I've been extremely underwhelmed with Vista. I've tried teh 32 bit and 64 bit beta 2, and it's amazing how many things won't run on it. Not because of the beta, but because of the new OS. I'll see what RC1 is like, but i'm not exactly counting the days

[rugby]

I wonder what version they'll bundle with the Action Pack subscriptions. Maybe Ultimate?

[Khris]

Originally Posted by draven

I've been extremely underwhelmed with Vista. I've tried teh 32 bit and 64 bit beta 2, and it's amazing how many things won't run on it. Not because of the beta, but because of the new OS. I'll see what RC1 is like, but i'm not exactly counting the days

I have to agree. I've had Vista Beta 2 installed since it was publically released (as well as numerous Beta builds before it), and I have to agree that a very low percentage of my software will run on Vista. I would imagine that some compatibility issues will be addressed before it's finally released, however it's not looking good at the moment.

Vista Glass = Whoopie! *twirls finger* Although it looks nice, definately nothing groundbreaking or a deciding factor.

UI Improvements = Some are nice, some are fluff

Overall, I'll wait and let the sheep herd towards Vista as well. Once enough of them have been slaughtered and have initial bugs worked out, I'll CONSIDER investing in Vista.

[ZetaVu]

I don't plan on switching to vista untill it has been long established, the major bugs have been worked out, and I absolutely need it to keep up with new applications. I fail to see any benefit it is giving me that I don't already have. IE7? Please, give it a few years and it will catch up with what firefox or opera is now. Security? What, you are going to force to use m$'s antivirus and firewall because they plan on locking out mcafee and norton? I get mcafee free from comcast, and I use it to keep an eye on m$. Funny how the company responsible for buggy code and all security holes is now planning on charging their customers a subscription to protect their computers after charging them a fee to upgrade one buggy software to another. And I don't need glassy windows eating up my precious cpu or memory that would otherwise serve me well showsqueezing or something else, specifically since I plan to be in the btv interface as much as possible. MCE? those that think it's a "free" product need to remember, new computers will probably have the basic home preinstalled, with trial versions of office and mce, allowing you to purchase the full versions with an "upgrade" fee. Yes, I'll buy that drm ridden freedm restricted application, after all, m$ clearly knows better what I should do with my media than I do.

I avoided the upgrade to xp until after sp1, and I am grateful. The difference between 98 and xp was worth the upgrade in my opinion, I strongly doubt I'll have that difference with Vista, and in fact I'll probably wait until the next OS or two before upgrading if I can get away with it, all depends on hardware and software vendors and how long they continue to support xp. Not as concerned about how long m$ supports xp, as long as the utility programs keep supporting it, that's the true lifespan.

Boy, really in a m$ bashing mood this morning, oh well.

[ZetaVu]

Here, this seems topical

http://news.com.com/2061-11199_3-610...0866&subj=news

[Bigbird999]

I don't plan on switching to vista untill it has been long established, the major bugs have been worked out, and I absolutely need it to keep up with new applications.

Hmmmm!!! I was using Windows 2000 when XP came out and I decided to wait until the major bugs had been worked out, and I absolutely needed it to keep up with new applications.

Guess what? I'm still running 2K and waiting for the bugs to be ironed out of XP or I absolutely need it to keep up with new applications.

With Win 2K, I have
1 No activation hassles when I change/upgrade hardware components.
2 No annoying "Fisher Price" icons or themes
3 No super annoying doggie in the search function
4 Found only a couple of non critical (mostly Microslop) programs that would run only on XP (like Media Player 10)
5 Run XP drivers even though they claim to "not support" win 2K (like the latest ati drivers)

So in effect I have missed one full Microsoft OS generation and all of the hassles and problems that come with each MS release.

So it begs the question why would anybody give up a "stable, working like a dream" OS in order to get the "latest and greatest" that comes complete with

1 an enhanced "Fisher Price" look and 7, count 'em, 7, versions each with different capabilities (XP has Home and Pro)
2 a multitude of repressive DRM schemes and "hardware authorizations" that make "fair use" of your own media almost impossible and ties your hands as to what you can and cannot record, play or convert.
3 a requirement to purchase new software and hardware that is compatable with the aforementioned
4 Even greater minimum hardware requirements to run all of the above
5 and most importantly the 1 or 2 years of constant crashes and messing around with settings and drivers while waiting for a stable service pack version to be released and debugged (can anybody say SP2?)

In any event,

I don't plan on switching to vista untill it has been long established, the major bugs have been worked out, and I absolutely need it to keep up with new applications.

BB

[ZetaVu]

Xp actually has home, pro, corp, mce, tablet, and 64, so that's 6 right there.

I fully agree with you, but I actually skipped 2k and went straight to xp, mainly for some of the video features (none of which I use now). I disabled or removed most of the annoying crap and create custom settings for everything else. One disadvantage I do see with sk is a lot of people here were having troubling with btv updates in 2k occasionally.

beyond that, we are in full agreement.

[Rich A]

The biggest deal killer for me is that they've axed the new file system (WinFS). After all the bally-hoo about it being a "must-have" for Vista, MS has removed it entirely. It will only be available in Micro$oft's enterprise data base systems.

[queonda]

OUCH! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y_Jp6PxsSQ

Now I understand why everyone's saying bad things about vista.

[bnflaherty]

Here's some Fun news...!

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3609

[Rich A]

What will Vista cost? Most likely your soul.

Typical Micr$haft modus operandi.

1. Build an operating system.

a. Spend a couple years with hundreds of patches, fixes and such.

2. Build a newer, faster and improved operating system

a. Add into it as much stolen ideas and features as others have developed for the previous operating system.

b. Spend a couple years with hundreds of patches, fixing security leaks ad infinitum.

3. Build a newer, faster and improved operating system.

a. Add into it as much stolen ideas and features as others have developed for the previous operating system.

b. Spend a couple years with hundreds of patches, fixing security leaks ad infinitum.

4. Build a newer, faster and improved operating system.

a. Stop all support of the first system.

b. Add stolen ideas and features from 3rd party developers.

c. Now that it has a monopoly, hook-wink various hardware developers into developing hardware that only supports the M$ operating system.

d. Make this newest op system a "do-all, for-all" everything in a box.

e. Spend a couple years fixing all the bells and whistles not to mention service packs, security upgrades.

This goes on and on .. They NEVER really get any of the op systems perfect. And after coming out with a "new and improved" system every couple years they drop support for the older ones a few versions back ..

Windows is in fact no longer JUST an operating system. It's an all-encompassing computer environment. This dedicated environment has become both a hardware and software monopoly. Of course now with HD and PVRs becoming more mainstream, the far-reaching grasp of the Gates empire is going after that as well. M$ doesn't WANT any competing PVR software or even hardware that is not running M$ software. Sorry folks .. it's world domination, like it or not. Billy has the clueless media and news world convinced that "his" is the only way to go. And with careful alignment with various hardware manufacturers, we will find that soon you won't be able to start your car unless it's Windows approved. (Umm, that's a little joke okay?) Replace the word "car" with "HD on your PC" to make it more of a real world scenario.

REAL operating systems like Unix, Linux and such really don't have a lot of bells and whistles. They are content to be clean and lean OPERATING SYSTEMS, and do that job well. (Unix far out dates Windows) They rely on third party software and hardware people to build equipment and software to work in that environment. Unfortunately said hardware and software developers also need to feed their families. So 90 percent of their products are built for the most popular operating system (sic) .. Windows.

It was a long hard battle .. but even Apple has gone over to the dark side.

Having said all that, I admit that I run the latest Windows op. system all the time. Why? Because it's where the rest of the world is gathering, (ie. software developers). I don't care for how M$ likes to take over other people's ideas and incorporate them into their supposed Operating System. But it IS really the only game in town if you want to enjoy the leading edge of computer technology. If I could run just half of my favorite utilities and programs on Linux, I'd jump ship in a heartbeat.

Where I draw the line is when the M$ empire starts telling me, "YOU can't do that on your computer unless you have MY latest operating system." And also somehow convinces media, government and the general public that it's their way or the highway. Anyone remember the government's involvement during the "browser wars"? If they didn't go after M$, you wouldn't be enjoying your Opera, or FireFox browsers right now. Not in the Windows environment anyway.

Be warned. The M$ empire is getting in bed with the media mongols. Audio / Video producers and network media entities are hearing all the right things from Microsoft as per Digital rights protection and such. Fair use issues are swept under the table. M$ tells the Blue-Ray and HD-DVD people that M$ is going to take care of them. And that's what they want to hear.

Yup, I can see the day coming. You turn the key in your car's ignition and a soothing female voice coming from your "windows approved radio" says, " Good morning. Please wait a moment while Windows upgrades your auto's operating system. This may require a re-start of your automobile. Have a nice day".

Nice day indeed.

<end rant>

[TV Scheduler]

Let me see....

So I don't have to rent a DCT-6200 for $5.00 a month, I should go out and buy a new computer with that CableCard thingy that's going block the same stuff that my Firewire is blocking now.

Okay I'm good with that. Where do I send the money?

Bob

[TV Scheduler]

Originally Posted by Rich A

b. Add stolen ideas and features from 3rd party developers.

Thanks Rich. That can't be said to often.

Bob