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Posted on 05/30/2006 11:51:59 AM PDT by N3WBI3
The opening of Beta 2 testing at WinHEC for Windows Vista has once again raised serious questions about Microsoft's ability to keep its promises. We have witnessed up until now the inexhaustible reservoir of excuses coming from MS's officials, who have continuously fed us with plenty of reasons for Vista's delay: they're working on security, they're trying to make it more reliable for business, etc. Although it was initially destined to make its public debut way back in 2002, following years haven't shown us more than small bits of what was to become Microsoft's best product in more than 10 years.
The Beta 2 testing last week didn't bring much hope for most of us, including software and hardware producers too. Developers' feedback, although not a big surprise, turned out to be more than reserved concerning the overall quality of Vista, inducing the-again-not-so-unexpected idea that there is still a lot of work to do in this domain. Moreover, rumors concerning a yet another delay of Vista, previously announced for public appearance in January 2007, came out from CEO Steve Ballmer himself this week, despite his subsequent declarations that "Vista is on track". Developers that have tested Vista even suggest that it is possible for Microsoft not to reach its goal of delivering Vista to corporate customers in November 2006.
It would be a mistake to consider that we are now heading for disaster. Maybe Ballmer's declarations are true and MAYBE Vista shall publicly appear in January 2007. But what's done is done. Microsoft cannot erase what it has implemented in customer's mind: "the best product in 10 years". All the delays pinpointed to one thing: "we are working at improving Vista". So a public release next year without the superior quality that customers are longing for would be an even harder hit to MS's already shooked-up image. The smallest security flaw in Vista would immediately become a gap of global proportions, capable of allowing all the Evil things in the world enter through it (including viruses of course...). Any oversight of a particular aspect in Vista will have huge repercaussions for the entire OS, casting a dim shadow upon the overall impression. And Aero will definitely not be able to compensate it...
There are other reasons to consider while investigating the possible failure of Redmond-giant flagship product. First of all: the price. Microsoft announced that Vista will not show its beautiful face (Aero) to those who possess pirated copies. So if you want to have 3D windows on your screen you'd have to pay a larger sum than for XP (after all, Vista requires 15 G of free space on your hard drive).
Jack Messman, CEO Novell, had already stated since september 2005, during Novell’s Brain Share, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, that switching from Windows XP to Windows Vista will be more expensive than switching from Windows XP to Linux. So far, Microsoft hasn’t published any details about the price scheme it plans for Windows Vista, but ever since the Redmond company announced the hardware requirements, many experts have started to link the fee for a license with the amounts of money that will be invested in a PC that would allow you to run the OS.
And thus we have reached the second reason for Vista's envisioned failure. In order to run it properly not only that you'd have to license it, but you'd also have to think of spending more money on hardware. And this is bad news not only for retail customers but also for middle to small size companies, that don't possess enough money to change their computers like corporations do. And when we think that Vista might not be as reliable and secure as everyone expects...
This is where Linux comes on stage. It's totally free (well, most of the distros are). It has proven its reliability over time and it has convinced IT managers from large corporations (like IBM) to local authorities (like the French Gendarmerie or the Norwegian and Spanish government)to switch to it instead of Windows XP. Servers or desktops running Linux don't suffer from hoax, worms or spyware and they do not provide BSODs (blue screens of death, typically a source of irony for both Windows and Linux users). As for Aero, KDE desktop did long time ago a lot of the things Aero shall do in 2007, and with a whole lot less hardware resources. Not to mention that Novell's XGL Desktop is already not one, but two steps ahead of Aero: at least 1Ghz processor, a minimum of 256 system RAM and an old GeForce MX 400. And visual effects are staggering compared to Aero (just imagine a cube- which is your desktop- and a film being presented on two of its sides...). And last, but not least, the many "flavors" of Linux, which allow the user to turn freely and with no supplementary cost from one distro to another, or even run it from a live-CD/USB flash. And if that's not enough for you, just think at how much will Vista resist getting its Aero GUI pirated...
All in all, the probably unanimous conclusion is that with or without Vista's release in 2007 the winner is Linux. Paradoxically enough, just as many have suggested before, Microsoft shall boost Linux's popularity no matter what Vista will bring new to the OS market. Still, if rumors concerning a new delay of Vista are true, MS's credibility (already at low levels in recent years) will drop significantly, and with it, the finances too.
Vist = Vista
I just built a new SAMBA server using Fedora Core 5 on one of my old Dells.
I am glad I did it too.
WTS is great.
That's all I will say....
Being the hobbyist/non-IT pro of the group--I'll probably just stick to my dual-boot with Linux/XP.
With Windowblinds and some widgets, I can make my XP system look like Vista--literally for about $20. No spending $$$ on a new WinOS...8^)
Linux is even better now that I have an NX server running and a correctly compiled sheep_net driver...
Now if I could just get a WinXP machine at school to connect to it, I'd be in business 8^)
I finally broke down and paid $35 for tech help from Microsoft . . . via India, of course.
The techs were earnest.
The phone connection was good up until the connection with the tech. The tech's volume was quite low--even with my volume turned up high. That coupled with the fellow's typical Indian accent and particularly of machine gun rapid fire syllables with the key beginnings and endings of his words were very quick, short, choppy and even lower in volume in spite of my trying to get him repeatedly to modify such . . . all conspired to require him to repeat things 4-7 times to be understood. And that's with me being used to Indian accents.
My phone ran the battery out after 4 hours of frustration.
The 2nd tech, in spite of my insisting that the problem was not caused by spy-ware or viruses as I scan my system multiple times/day with several programs . . . insisted I do it yet again and call him back if the problem persisted.
And, when I replied to their emails, they would return with UNDELIVERABLE whether I hit reply button or copied and pasted their addy's accurately.
In the end, I got essentially no effective help from Microsoft; HOURS AND HOURS OF SHEER FRUSTRATION AND EXASPERATION; AND $35 poorer. Thankfully we were all patient and kindly tempered.
I ended up solving the problem myself by finally finding a SYSTEM RESTORE point which worked.
The 2nd tech asked for feedback re Microsoft. I gave him an earful.
These guys can't relate, they consider those that give away their work for free as their heros.
LMAO, although I'm sure you think it was pure genius using beta software for your supposed server.
If linux sees a desktop market share increase of 3% from this (from their current 3% to 6%) over the life cycle of vista this will be a win for Linux and if MS sees it as anything else I would be amazed, more likely balmier will through another chair..
How I have it set up is sufficient, considering that it was an inexpensive, "check-your-email-and-write-a-paper" computer. Definitely not heavy duty.
But enough to hold both OS's and to remote connect into it on another Linux system with the NX client.
It's got 256MB ram--but I'm planning on upgrading it (adding another 512 on) and replacing the blasted CD drive.
As it stands, I have the VMware player and know how to make my own VM by using an editor on the VMX file...8^)
I did install qemu earlier--and downloaded a Minix image...8^)
LMAO you call that "winning the battle with Microsoft"? Knocking them from 90 percent to 87 percent? LOL that's obviously not what the author of this tripe meant.
more likely balmier will through another chair..
You .ean Ballmer? At least he can speak English legibly.
"You mean"
Idiots on here even cross me up.
It's free and it's working...
And it's going to end up being more stable in the long run than my XP machine, so again Iggle, you have nothing to talk about.
dumbass.
Thread Jester Ping
A medium-volume pinglist dedicated for all the thread jesters out there--you know who you are...8^)
FReepmail rzeznikj at stout or MikefromOhio to be added or removed from the pinglist...
I no longer believe you're real. I think your posting history here is satirical performance art.
No one is really so much of an ass as GE is played here on FR.
Could either one or both of you tell me what "Vienna" happens to be, i'm not familiar with the term. It is the codname for the next Windows version after Vista?
In any case though, I'd be willing to bet that Windows alternatives will see gains--and especially if Apple cuts the prices of some of their computers and/or releases a plain x86 version of Leopard. Linux and other *nix-like OSs will see a boom among savvy users and IT pros.
i wouldn't quite be ready to count Windows as down and out at this time (the time of the release of Vista). In this particular case, i happen to believe that they are going in the right direction of offering different types of Vista installations (seven different versions the last i counted). If they expand on this concept, and make versions of the OS that meet Differing types of user preferences they can make this into a big winner.
i have no idea how likely this is to become reality, but it's not exactly a majour tweek in marketing.
And MS will have egg on its face...again. Much like it did after releasing Windows ME.
Am i the only person in America who actually liked Windows ME? i still run it on my old Toshiba Laptop, and if one keeps the registry clean, it runs just fine.
in Essence, it was Windows XP's features with Windows 98SE's kernel, and an FAT32 file system instead of NTFS.
IIRC, Vienna is the new term for Blackcomb, the successor to Vista. It was changed when Longhorn became Vista.
I'm not counting Windows as down and out--it'll still remain the dominant OS. My point though is that it won't be through Vista, but through XP and Windows Server 03.
IOW, Vista will be down and out (like WinME). But Windows won't be.
"In this particular case, i happen to believe that they are going in the right direction of offering different types of Vista installations (seven different versions the last i counted). If they expand on this concept, and make versions of the OS that meet Differing types of user preferences they can make this into a big winner."
Not saying it can't happen--nor is it a bad concept. But it's going to need a miracle from the current system for it to be effective.
Trying to introduce the update as you run the system--and ask for $$ for the premium upgrade to download is going to simply encourage hackers to circumvent the system like they did for Windows Update. Rather, if they offered a CD upgrade and included shipping in the cost--that might work for them.
If they did that, I'd probably look at an upgrade if I had the $$. 8^)
I personally didn't mind ME all that much. But most everyone else had problems with it--and the headaches of trying to get it back in order after someone really, er, messed with it is why I was glad to chuck it in favor of XP (and now Linux)... 8^)
My point is that with the current status quo, Vista's going to be disappointing for MS. But right now, they can correct some of these issues before the OS is released. In short, it's a veritable gamble--and the game is MS's to lose...
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