Stocks stumble on Microsoft Vista view

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | February 16, 2007 | Jennifer Coogan

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Friday after Microsoft Corp. tempered revenue expectations for the Vista computer operating system.

~ snip ~

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Balmer said late on Thursday analysts' revenue forecasts for Vista were "overly aggressive." Shares of Microsoft were the top-weighted decliner on the Dow, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100.

"Microsoft can't catch a break. We're at 20 million shares in volume already - that's not your grandmother trading," said Cummins Catherwood, managing director at Rutherford, Brown & Catherwood in Philadelphia. "Those hedge funds can't deal with disappointment. They can't afford to wait for the impact to dissipate."

~ snip ~

[HAL9000]

Ballmer looks goofy, but I believe he is actually more intelligent that Gates.

[mmichaels1970]

I just hopped over from a Vista computer I'm in the process of setting up for a client. The excessive requests for permission are evident...can I do this, can I do that, you need permission for this, you need permission for that. I set up my account and made it an "administrator" for the computer, and I still get the same requests. I tried to save a text file and was told I didn't have permission to do it (even though I'm supposed to be a computer administrator). I still had to log out and log in specificially as "Administrator" to change the text file.

That said, I just ordered a Vista notebook for myself earlier this morning (and I can't wait for it to arrive)... ;) .

[politicalwit]

Some "stumble".

Remember, these are the same people that get excited when Apple sells 2 extra computers in a 12 month period.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Yes they did want one, I'm an MCSE and I even want one. I just can't see spending the cash on it when I can get a PC for less than half the cost.

A friend of mine has a Pro quad, it's awesome but too much for my blood.

[frogjerk]

"Please give me a couple of good reasons why I should upgrade my PC to Vista." That's your choice, if you're relying on me or magazines to give you reasons then don't bother upgrading.

I'm asking *you* to give me a few good reasons why I might consider upgrading. What would be some of the benefits?

[YoungHickey]

Well I've used Microsoft OS's since they first came out. I think the only one that was worth a damn was DOS but of course that was before I discovered Linux. 2000 Professional is pretty good too... and XP is just 2000 in a clown suit. After running Vista, I am forced to switch entirely over to Linux and now I'm seriously considering just buying a Mac. Either way, M$ isn't getting any more of my money without putting out a proper OS that utilizes all of its hardware.

[null and void]

yes, but they probably wanted one. the problem with Vista is that nobody (except for the *really* stupid) really wants it

gjones77 wants it.

oh *blush* nevermind...

[Wayne07]

.Net is a framework, VB is one of the languages you can use with it. C# is the the current language du jour for .Net though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_.NET_Framework

[dennisw]

Vista has been a major disappointment to the computer world, a warmed-over version of XP really with an overly high price tag, slower performance,

My test computer--->>>

Athlon XP 2800+
1 gigabyte memory
Shuttle nforce2 motherboard
64mb nvidia graphics card 

I loaded Vista Ultimate onto a spare hard drive
Aeroglass is off
Computer crashed 4 times in 4 hours. Blue screen of death memory defaults and other crashes

With the regular hard drive with XP Professional it rarely crashes

I was in Sam's Club yesterday and saw an HP with Intel core duo processor (4300 I think) and 2 gigabytes memory handle Vista very well with all the Aero glass effects. But why should I buy or build a more powerful computer just to handle a bloated operating system? I copied and burned a DVD movie on my Athlon XP computer yesterday. This took 40 minutes. Would a new Vista computer do any better? I doubt it

[new cruelty]

FJ, I realize my reading comprehension skills are limited. Looking just a little further down from the line that you quoted, I read the following...

I just happen to like allot of the associated features and variable speed improvements.

You can actually use a USB 2.0 based thumb drive as system cache if you feel the need instead of just adding more ram.

It also has a predictive application system that makes note of what programs you use most often when you start your computer and loads those into memory when the computer starts so they respond faster. (meaning, if you browse the web and do email most it will load those programs into the system cache to speed things up)

So from that, I can gather that the benefits gjones77 listed are 1. Ability to use USB as a system cache. (Don't know that I'll ever need it, but cool anyway.) and 2. My most frequently used applications will open faster (I'm not usually in a rush, but that still sounds nice.)

Maybe I missed something you didn't.

[gjones77]

Gee, nice response, just insult some one instead of backing up your statements.

I miss the days of civil discussions.

And by the way, I upgraded because I wanted to, then again I'm also a guy that got OS X to run on my Fujitsu laptop and dual boot with Suse 10.2.

yeah, I'm an idiot, sure am...

[Wayne07]

If you like games, you have to upgrade to Vista to get DirectX 10 support. That will guarantee every PC gamer upgrades sooner than later. See Crysis trailers for DX10 in action. MS could have made DX10 avail to XP users, but are using it as leverage to force upgrades. Annoying, but it will work.

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2509

Also for games they have the Live Anywhere stuff in Vista which will tie back in the Xbox Live system.

[Tallguy]

Good correction. Windows ME might be the worst OS ever produced. Buggy, slow, loaded down with useless stuff and a memory hog.

[mysterio]

Please give me a couple of good reasons why I should upgrade my PC to Vista.

So you can experience lower video playback quality and your computer can phone home to Billy if you do something naughty?

[antiRepublicrat]

everyone seems to forget that the reason everyone has a computer at home now, and that the technology that abounds now wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Microsoft and IBM creating inexpensive home PC's and operating systems.

A lot of even less expensive home PCs and operating systems existed before the IBM PC. Computer technology was going along at a nice brisk pace before the IBM PC and Windows.

[null and void]

True, you did list a couple advantages an expensive bloatware OS has over XP. I will give you that.

I use both Mac and PC, I slightly prefer the Mac, but XP is quite good enough. Why would I "upgrade" to Vista? Would it be just to have it kill my programs at random (it is a first release, after all) and protect the studios?

I have no problem with the studios paying for their own protection, but why should I have to pay in real dollars and performance?

[gjones77]

You know what, how about stop everyone coming to me and asking for reasons and defenses for Microsoft and Vista.

I use it and have no problem with Microsoft, they put out a product that some love, some hate and most use.

If you don't like it, don't use it, I'm just tired of people beating on Microsoft, a company that helped usher in the computer age and created many, many, many jobs and millionaires through their products, software and company.

Now Bill Gates gives more to charity that the GDP of allot of countries, yet we still want to demonize him and Microsoft.

He's a perfect example of the capitalist system at work, yet we spend more time hating him than thanking him as we should.

[null and void]

I use it and have no problem with Microsoft, they put out a product that some love, some hate and most use.

Bingo!

[longtermmemmory]

Vista has better security and better user intigration FOR MICROSOFT.

As a monopoly, the user is the LAST thing on MS's mind.

[taxed2death]

"..then again I'm also a guy that got OS X to run on my Fujitsu laptop and dual boot with Suse 10.2."

I just dual booted with Suse 10.2

Piece of cake, all hardware detected and up and running without a hitch in about 15 minutes.

3D effects are nice too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz_2vKq5cZk