Are you planning to upgrade to Microsoft Vista?

[ZetaVu]

w2k - extended support through 2010. XP, mainstream support for 2 yrs after vista release, extended 5 yrs, so 2009 and 2012 ASSUMING vista gets released next year.

Actually if vista comes out loaded with bugs, they might extend xp support, they did that with 98 if I recall.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by ZetaVu

Actually if vista comes out loaded with bugs, they might extend xp support, they did that with 98 if I recall.

IF ??

That's like saying "if" the sun comes up tomorrow.

[ZetaVu]

Well, there's loaded with bugs, aka, Windows XP, and then there's LOADED with bugs, like win 95 or winme.

BTW, saw this on Slashdot, Preorder for Vista and pricing on Amazon, shipping January 30, 2007.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=125

Not the difference between the Home Basic and Premium editions, about $60 dollars, hmm, the price of most PVR software.

I again suspect that most computers preloaded with Vista will have the Basic edition, with the option to upgrade to the Premium edition, whether they do it for $60 or $100 who knows, but that is where SS' survival stands.

Now someone who buys a media pc, well they'll probably have the Vista Premium preloaded, but if you bundle btv with capture cards (and offer that in places like Frys, etc) and you have a chance.

Here's a question, how many people do you think would buy a media pc rather than get a regular pc and install capture cards on it? I'm guessing the former is more expensive, and someone really looking for the least hassle would by a tivo anyway. Just some thoughts, and of course drifting off subject.

[Bilar Crais]

Loaded with bugs? You really think so? IMHO, security flaws abound, but I can count actual bugs that affect my usage on one hand.

[ZetaVu]

Or is it the updates that are loaded with bugs?

I just had one of my computers that I was foolish enough to keep updated with security fixes get all sorts of crashes. First Mcafee got screwed then I lost my activesync. I suspect it is related to that August 8 IE update that opened up a security hole. I wasn't able to get the Aug 25 fix on in time.

As far as I'm concerned, there is no difference between a bug and an exploited security hole.

However winme and win95 did have more bugs that xp, 2k, and 98 (at least se).

[cmcquistion]

Back when I was using Windows 2000, I swore I wouldn't upgrade to Windows XP. Once Windows XP was around for a while and got some bug fixes, I jumped on the XP bandwagon and never looked back. I'm sure I'll do the same with Vista, when the time is right.

[rakeshagrawal]

I'm just a sucker for shiny new stuff so I'm almost for certain that I'll upgrade to Vista when it comes out. I started playing around with a Vista beta today on a second laptop in the office and I really liked what I saw. I'm a visual person, so maybe that's why the 3d accelerated UI in Vista is so compelling to me, but it does make me wonder how much of a draw it'll be for the general population. If I had to guess, I'd say that Vista's fancy UI will be a very big draw for people (and I'd suspect that it will be a centerpiece for their marketing too).

[ZetaVu]

Vista will be a draw, but only on new computers. I really don't see the general public rushing to spend $100 to upgrade (sorry, that's $150 minimum to upgrade to get fancy aero graphics) their xp systems. You've seen how much people complain to upgrade USEFUL software.

Most people will just upgrade computers, and when they need to (I expect a hell of a lot of computer bargains this year, meaning a couple years for those people to upgrade again) Now the question is, will new computers come preloaded with home basic only, Home premium, or will they have home basic and a demo of home premium you can get for $50 more (including of course mce). That's the kicker, bundling aero with mce.

Now, who's to say of course that no one will make a third party replacement for aero (not sure how involved that is) that can compete directly at a lower price. All depends on what is involved in the switch from home basic to premium.

Either way, enjoy your shiny toy when it comes out, blog all your impressions, and as you find compelling reasons to upgrade be sure and let us 80% that are dragging our feet. Number two reason I am not planning on upgrading any time soon - I don't see a reason.

Number three is price, number one is bugs, driver issues, and security issues (and m$'s track record regarding such). Add those together and the logic is quite compelling.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by rakeshagrawal

I'm I'm a visual person, so maybe that's why the 3d accelerated UI in Vista is so compelling to me, but it does make me wonder how much of a draw it'll be for the general population. If I had to guess, I'd say that Vista's fancy UI will be a very big draw for people (and I'd suspect that it will be a centerpiece for their marketing too).

It's all fine and all for a workstation... But why would you want that on an HTPC? The PVR/Media software is what counts.

[Mistergq]

Originally Posted by Rich A

IF ??

That's like saying "if" the sun comes up tomorrow.

ROFLMAO Yes, it is like "if" the sun comes up tomorrow. Sorry, I don't see this great draw to Vista. I am sure I will have no choice but to upgrade to it since I will be upgrading atleast one desktop next summer, but I will probably try to keep the BTV server running XP unless BTV clearly will only support Vista for newer features, then I will be forced to get Vista.

[ZetaVu]

Who says you are forced to "upgrade"? What desktop is being upgraded (what OS)? Why can't you take the OS from that desktop to the new one if you want? You control your own destiny, if you don't want Vista and you're buying a new computer, don't get it, or replace it.

Probably the only way I'd get Vista in the next year or so is if I got a deal on a preinstalled computer I couldn't resist. Otherwise, it always made sense to upgrade piecemeal, and just reinstal my OS. Of course I never tried reinstalling an oem version on a machine after replacing the MB, but I assume as long as you stick with mfg that is allowed.

But that's a whole other can of worms. M$ probably has changed their eula to indicate you never really buy the software, you just rent it until the next version.

[jsaint]

HaHa, don't fix it if its not broken.

Xp does everything it should. End the bloat and foolish industry driven ever more laughable hardware requirements (with the exception on HD space) or you might wake up in the matrix.

Don't let anyone tell you the good media hardware isn't on the shelf, as a IT guy and video editor for a nationally televised production house 8 years now I have used desktop machines with less than half the horsepower we have on the shelf at your local Walmart for 400 bucks.
Mind you HDTV is very nice but, DRM is not and continues to be the largest negitive impact to consumer needs. HDTV is sadly stuck in DRM's death grip. Lets all laugh and point as mutiple HD DVD formats die on the shelf and hope that VISTA can share the same fate. (perhaps MS BOB can hangout with VISTA)

Vista is a joke there is no reason we can't go on with XP and the day MS tells us XP is dead then hopefully it will be time to really embrace linux.
Linux is great (see Ubuntu for a good example) but setup beyond business needs can still be a bit arcane to many Windows users. Made 2 attempts to use Myth and never felt like the answers were easy to find...

[Bilar Crais]

Déjà vu all over again. This is the same song and dance that made the rounds when XP made it's debut...too much eye candy, too bloated, Bill Gates is an imperialist pig, and Microsoft SUX, DUDE! As though jumping on that bandwagon gives you some kind of cyber cred'. I'm no fanboy, but what say we reserve judgement until Vista goes RTM? For the life of me, I can't figure out what everyone's so afraid of. It's not like Gates is in your living room pointing a gun at your head. Use whatever OS turns you on...it's (mostly) a free country.

[jkirk]

but I assume as long as you stick with mfg that is allowed.

i have serious doubts about that. i believe microsoft assumes new motherboard= new computer. the question is if the generated number is different enough to trigger the "new computer" flag.

[stephenm]

I haven't read all of the replies to this thread, however I wanted advise everyone that Vista is still a moving target. There are many changes to the security model that break a common used pattern by software companies (including mine).

I haven't looked into SS's services, but I'd guess they will have to decouple their service->client interfacecs. Besides that.... is't slow, resource intensive and very little return for your investment.

The real investments is mostly in security and virtualaztion technology... it's really directed at the corporate customer.