Why Microsoft must abandon Vista to save itself

Cnet News ^ | September 26th | Don Reisinger

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

While Vista was originally touted by Microsoft as the operating system savior we've all been waiting for, it has turned out to be one of the biggest blunders in technology. With a host of issues that are inexcusable and features that are taken from the Mac OS X and Linux playbook, Microsoft has once again lost sight of what we really want.

As we're more than aware, Vista Ultimate comes at a premium. For an additional $160 over the Premium SKU price, Ultimate gives you a complete backup and restore option, BitLocker Drive encryption, the ever so popular Windows Fax & Scan, and the "Ultimate Extras." But what started with a promise of "Extras" by summer, quickly turned into an apology from Microsoft and the eventual release of DreamScene and Windows Hold 'Em (among others) today. And while each of the "Extras" runs just fine, Microsoft's "Extras" blunder is just another reason why the company must abandon Vista before it's too late.

[potlatch]

The last time I asked this, nobody replied. I bought a new laptop and have a ‘free’ upgrade for Vista from WindowsXP.

Should I do it? I am using Windows XP on my desktop and am happy but understand that they will stop upgrading it not too long from now.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

^^^^^^^^^^^^The last time I asked this, nobody replied. I bought a new laptop and have a ‘free’ upgrade for Vista from WindowsXP.

Should I do it?^^^^^^^^^^^

No.

[ShadowAce]

Should I do it? I am using Windows XP on my desktop and am happy but understand that they will stop upgrading it not too long from now.

Upgrades to an OS are not that important, if your hardware doesn't change. Bug fixes are important though.

Personally, I would not upgrade your existing computer as long as it's running fine and you are happy with it.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Yea, but you're just one off. Sorry. When you have to worry about a LARGE company with legacy Win/Tel applications, and you have to worry about the cost to upgrade Vista with the cost to buy new hardware with the cost to rewrite the legacy apps, Linux/Java looks better and better. (At least with Linux/Java, you can keep the same hardware.) There is no guarantee with Vista's insane DRM that you will actually have the content that you plan to have. See Prof. Gutmann's white Paper A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection

The one-off Vista fan is fine. It is NOT a gauge of the industry. The industry is very disappointed and scrambling for other options.

[potlatch]

Thank you both very much!!

[LibKill]

Unless Micro$oft gets off its sanctimonious @ss and fixes things XP will be the last version of their junk that I will use.

My next PC will be a laptop with System Commander to let me switch between OS at will.

DOS for legacy stuff.
XP for windirt stuff.
And some version of Linux for the internet and heavy lifting.

If some kindly FReeper would suggest a version of idiot-proof Linux with a nice graphical interface I would be much obliged.

[rikkir]

I’ll pull a John F’n Kerry on you here by replying to not reply.
I think it comes down to your choice I have read this same story about every MS OS that’s come out. “Microsoft IS DOOMED”, or some such screed. Every MS OS keeps right on trudging along.
I do I.T. at my office also, and we are currently running Vista on 2 machines, and the only problem I’ve had at all is some driver problems caused by third party foot dragging.
If you have a free upgrade I’d take advantage of it now, as I predict MS will cut support for XP before the end of 2008, so you’re going to have to do it sometime.
I use Vista Business, and I am especially impressed with it’s media handling capabilities. Much smoother than XP.
That’s my opinion. That, and a dollar will buy you a Double Cheeseburger at McDonalds!

[MrsEmmaPeel]

My next PC will be a laptop with System Commander to let me switch between OS at will.

Command Line scripting is so passe.

I have the intel Mac, on which (with VMWare) I have XP loaded as a separate Window on my Mac Desktop. If I need to go from one environment to the other, I simply drag & drop.

Macs now on intel -- XP certainly can't have an alternate OS in a window on its desktop -- it can't be the chip - it must be the OS and its limitations.

Who wants to be King of the Command Line in the 21st Century? Give me a break. We can do better.

[ShadowAce]

If some kindly FReeper would suggest a version of idiot-proof Linux with a nice graphical interface I would be much obliged.

I've heard that Ubuntu is very good, though I've never used it. Virtually all of the modern Linux distros have very similar graphical interfaces. Check out DistroWatch for other options.

[ShadowAce]

Command Line scripting is so passe.

It really depends on the industry you are in. I use it all the time in order to do what I do, and I couldn't do my job without it.

[potlatch]

[I predict MS will cut support for XP before the end of 2008,]

That’s what I have read and am afraid of. Guess I need to do more reading up on just what the perks of Vista are!

Thanks rikkir!

[devolve]

.

Aha!

[potlatch]

Hard to know which way to go!!

[devolve]

.

Bill Gates is Dr. Evil

And my WebTV runs on steath software

[LibKill]

Mac hardware is overpriced in my opinion.

[potlatch]

Stealth;
the act or action of proceeding furtively, secretly, or imperceptibly

[And my WebTV runs on steath software]
And the ‘software’ is..???

heh

[devolve]

.

Every so often MSN has an update

Used to have to click a button but I think they automatically update it with new features and added plugins now

Some used to prefer the previous update

All the memory and files are stored in servers in SoCal

Very odd - when I had a new receiver shipped I called the Tek Hotline and they just pushed a few buttons and everything on my receiver here had all the old email, saved files, D-Keys just as it was before - 100% restored

[potlatch]

Hmmm, do you doubt what STEALTH can do??

My computer guru did the same on my computer - before he kicked the bucket.

[devolve]

.

How is the connection time on your laptop compared to your PC?

[potlatch]

Just the same since I hooked it up to my cable when I used it here.

Remember, my installation of the Microsoft Wireless didn’t work right here. I still need a computer tech to come do it.

But, I easily got on wireless when I was at Padre Island and it was as fast as my home cable.