TAKING OVER THE WORLD, ONE P.C. AT A TIME
Open Question to any & all who know more than I know about operating systems (in other words, nearly everyone):
Based on Microsoft's track record of bugginess & trouble in its new releases, why would anyone buy Vista until at least a few security patches and an update or two come on-line? Anyone getting it ASAP?As much as I rail against MS, I'll admit that like most folks, I use many of its products. I chose Firefox as my browser, but I run it on an MS platform: XP. And while XP was a disaster when it came out, I have no complaints about the 2006 version I have now.
posted by Mike at 9:21 AM
23 Comments:
I am pretty sure Vista will be given a lukewarm welcome. It seems that apart from cosmetic, appearance-related "upgrades" (something like bigger fins and more chrome on a 1950's car) the rest is pretty blah. Who needs bigger fins? If they cost just a few bucks, sure, why not?
But at the price MS wants - I'll wait. My XP is perfectly fine. Microsoft knows it, too. All this hoopla, all the WOW is NOW, means new Windows OS's are becoming like just another "new and improved" consumer product. Heavy on packaging and promotion, little substance...
Even if the product is more than a cosmetic upgrade, why buy now? That's the part I'm not following.
I agree with you -- it seems nuts to me that anyone would buy Vista right now. But it's not just because of possible bugginess. From what I've read, Vista won't be compatible yet with many peripherals, software applications, etc.
But even scarier, based on what I've read, Vista seems to LITERALLY hand significantly more control over your PC to Microsoft, due partly to MSFT's war against piracy (but not just a war aginst piracy of its own software, but also much tighter control over your use of others' "premium content").
In other words, I'm getting the impression that with Vista, customers will be getting LOTS more "protection" than what they bargained for -- "Ludovico Treatment"-like protection, maybe.
Just my humble opinion of course.
Applesaucer
The "good news" is that I believe I read somewhere that MSFT has extended XP support for another four years. I consider that four years to map out a Linux strategy. Failing that, it's four years to map out a "move my old windows docs to a Mac" strategy, which I'd imagine is either (1) so easy to do that I've just embarassed myself; or (2) not doable.
dumas is right.
Mike: There are people who actually worship at the Temple Gates. They are also tenchophiles that absolutely have to have shit the instant it comes out. They think that it makes them look uber cool in the geek world.
But you're right, anyone with at least half a brain about computers should know that they have to wait at least a year while MS cleans up the bugs that all the rabid freaks found when they bought it on day one.
It's hard not to have MS products on a pc. They were the OS monopoly for years. They drove everyone who tried out of business, until Linux came along. MS couldn't bully Linux because it was a grass roots creation. There was no company it could buy or beat into submission.
Applesaucer is right too.
XP was only the beginning of MS takeover of your pc. Vista was originally known as Longhorn, but there were so many complaints about it that the name was changed to try and make people think it wasn't the same product.
It's almost as if they could more accurately call Vista something like "Trojan Horse."
JMHO, of course.
Applesaucer
I've been a Mac convert (yeah, its essntially a cult) for a few years now and this Vista looks like a complete rip off of OSX. Micro$oft spent 5 years developing this fabulous new system and it looks very yawn inducing compared to what Mac users have to play with.
I think we have reached a "pause" point in software development. For non-gaming applications, who needs much more than even the 5 year old versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access? Maybe there is 5% of the population that needs more power, more functionality, etc. but for the rest?
But gaming is what it's all about. Graphics, graphics, graphics is to computers what location, location, location is to RE. It is driven by the bunch of 10-20 year olds for whom virtual reality IS reality.
Notice how the supposed great advantage of Vista is the Aero function? Cool for a 14 year old, of what use is it to an accountant?
I'm getting the impression that with Vista, customers will be getting LOTS more "protection" than what they bargained for -- "Ludovico Treatment"-like protection, maybe.
Wonderful. I knew Bill was trying to control the world.
They think that it makes them look uber cool in the geek world.
And are they correct in their thinking? Does this buy them serious cache in that culture. Do the tech-groupies "reward" the early purchasers?
MS couldn't bully Linux because it was a grass roots creation. There was no company it could buy or beat into submission.
Didn't Red Hat get into the whole open-source game for while there? And didn't MS level the guns against RH, as with all the others? Red Hat was definitely a big supporter of the various state AG's efforts to curb MS in the second round of the big antitrust case.
call Vista something like "Trojan Horse."
Any sort of "trojan" to protect one's PC against this trojan horse?
Vista looks like a complete rip off of OSX
But OSX is a Unix platform. Is Vista, as well?
Dumas -
I can't speak intelligently about either OS speed or gaming. But I know that the speed increases that accompany processor, hard drive, or RAM upgrades are real, and they're significant . . . even if one never games.
My best friend is a software designer. He loves to get this stuff when it comes out so that he can play around with it and discover all of the screwups. He's even got little throwaway computers he can play with the stuff on.
Yes the improvements are very real. But the cost/benefit ceiling for non-gaming applications has been reached, in my opinion, for now. And Vista seems to me to be at, or above it.
Notice how MS is pricing Vista on the expensive side? They know they can't "make it up on volume". And the price already announced for Europe is even higher. Why do you think that is? Because Europeans are less Gate-happy than Americans and won't waste their money...
But it really boils down to this: most people "upgrade" their OS when they buy a new PC, since it usually comes pre-loaded. If PC sales are strong, MS does well. If not...
he can play around with it and discover all of the screwups. He's even got little throwaway computers he can play with the stuff on.
Well, he'd be a member of the gang DED referred to, I'm guessing. As long as it makes him happy . . .
the cost/benefit ceiling for non-gaming applications has been reached, in my opinion, for now.
I can't say I agree. As someone who uses his PC for blogging, e-mail, finances, etc., I'm looking for more speed as often as possible. If I can get an increase of 25%, I'm willing to consider paying for it.
most people "upgrade" their OS when they buy a new PC, since it usually comes pre-loaded. If PC sales are strong, MS does well.
Indeed, that's the rub. Notwithstanding what I just said, my next "OS upgrade" will come when I replace my desktop or up for a new laptop.
Check this out:
http://www.scruffydan.com/blog/?p=628
Some of it is hard for me to understand, but I think I get the "gist." I think it's important for others to get the gist.
Check out this piece on "Trustworthy Computing" (our "Orwellian Slogan of the Day") as well.
http://www.gearlive.com/index.php/news/article/intel_apples_to_support_trustworthy_computing_08021239/
Again, you might not understand everything, but eventually this stuff will sink in and you'll begin to "savvy" it.
Applesaucer
you might not understand everything
I don't understand anything. But I do get the gist.
Honestly, do you think this issue is legitimately worrisome, or is it just the type of "invasiveness" that only paranoid freaks like you & I care about?
you'll begin to "savvy" it
Aye-aye, Captain Pinkbeard.
"Honestly, do you think this issue is legitimately worrisome, or is it just the type of "invasiveness" that only paranoid freaks like you & I care about?"
Basically it means that MSFT is helping motion picture and recording insustries protect their content to such an extent that Vista will prevent you from using content that you legally acquired in ways that you want to use it. Unless such use can wind its way down Vistas "Protected Media Path" (PMP).
There's other stuff too regarding hardware, snooping, and Vista's tax on memory.
Applesaucer
I just noticed that the second link I posted was truncated. I can't get it to post right, so I've split it into three parts. You can and should recontruct it and read it. It's short and easier to understand than the first link.
http://www.gearlive.com/index.php/ne
ws/article/intel_apples_to_support_t
rustworthy_computing_08021239/
OK, Mike, here's a link that I couldn't get to load about an hour ago; but now it works.
It's written in a lot "plainer english" than any of the links I've posted here (I swear! It's written more for lawyers, but without much legalese, than for technophiles).
If you've given up on the other links, please check this one out (again, because it gets truncated when I post it here, I have put a space between the wrapped URL lines -- you just have to reconstruct the line in your address bar to get it to work):
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/v
iew/1640/159/
Applesaucer
I can't say I agree. As someone who uses his PC for blogging, e-mail, finances, etc., I'm looking for more speed as often as possible. If I can get an increase of 25%, I'm willing to consider paying for it.
But you won't get it with Vista. Every single OS that MS releases is bigger than the previous one. That means you have to buy more RAM or maybe a faster computer in order to run it properly. It's always the case and won't ever change. The more shit they build into an OS, the slower it will run.
It doesn't sound like you do anything differently than I do Mike and all I've got is ME running. If you want more speed, upgrade your hardware (more RAM for a start) not your OS. It's likely that XP is dragging your system down because it's bloatware.
My 4 year old son has an old laptop with 98 on it so that he can hit the Hot Wheels gaming website and it works just fine.
Copyright and patent protection have become core US economic and foreign diplomacy issues in the last 15 years or so. It all has to do with the economy shifting from manufacturing (i.e. weak patents/copyright are preferable, so that all manufacturers can benefit), to an intellectual "content" economy like movies, video games and software, where copyrights are key.
Thus the tight control MS is attempting to establish on copyrighted material through Vista. This is almost like your news-stand prohibiting you from passing to someone else the paper you bought there. MS thinks it is the only news-stand in town and can dictate terms. It is mistaken. Just look at how fast Firefox took off.
Or, better yet, do a comparative stock chart between MSFT and AAPL for the last 5 years.
MSFT: 0%
AAPL: +650%
Apple - That's a nightmare. As if I needed more reasons to hate MS.
DED - That's a good point. I hadn't thought of it that way.
But . . . you run ME??? Does anyone else on earth use MS ME?
Dumas - MS thinks it is the only news-stand in town and can dictate terms. It is mistaken.
On the contrary, it has, it does, and it will.
Just look at how fast Firefox took off.Which exemplifies why MS is always so willing to "cheat": inferior products, superior marketing, unstoppable leverage, insurmountable barriers to entry (in many cases).
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