Windows Vista

[Alice Morrison]

The successor to XP is getting closer...

http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,1786052,00.asp

[Alice Morrison]

"As readers know, Microsoft has announced the name of its new operating system, which was followed by a collective yawn from the computing community. Vista? As in "Hasta la Vista, baby?" That name might be appropriate as a symbolic goodbye since it might be the end of the line for Microsoft's dominance in the OS business.

I'm not saying that Microsoft is doomed as a company, but its reign as the OS dominator may end fast if things go the way I see them headed. The new OS is getting zero buzz. Zero. There has been nothing like this since Windows Me. And now the name Vista,along with the new Microsoft Vista logo, has made it worse. Could anything be less exciting?

First of all Vista sounds like a credit card company. It's implications as a name are not apt for an OS. Webster defines vista as:

1 : a distant view through or along an avenue or opening
2 : an extensive mental view (as over a stretch of time or a series of events)


I think the key word here is "distant." A distant view. Perhaps the company has chosen the name subconsciously to indicate that it – Vista -- itself is distant. In other words, it is a far cry from what was originally promised. Indeed, that seems to be the case. Years have passed since the product was first specified and the company with all the resources in the world could not develop its promised file system that would help users out of the multigigabyte morass of confused data."

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1840479,00.asp

[Paul Shields]

I agree with the reference to it sounding like a credit card : I doubt that it will impact MS's dominance in desktop OS though. This is built on availability of decent software (and despite Window's failings it still attracts the best software developers) and the huge investments already made by users/companies. In this respect Microsoft can afford to take their time on getting the next release right, as there is no real competition.

I've recently moved to OS X for home use as the new 20" iMacs are relatively good value. It also has a high level of quality applications available (particicularly for my interests of music and photography). However, I think that, unless MS shoot themselves in both feet, then 'Vista' will be the dominant desktop OS for the next few years or more (I also imagine it will be well suited to the types digital manipulation that we currently get up to - so long as DRM keeps it's nose out of my own work >).

[Alice Morrison]

I don't mind Vista.

I also don't care when they ship it. It has taken me two years to fully migrate to XP. It's still too slow for my liking.

[Alice Morrison]

So far the graphics subsystem is what's really taxed. But this is a big upgrade, so you can expect to need more machine that you have.

LOL.

:-(

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Pavel

I read somewhere about a year ago, before there were any to purchase - that the minimum requirements on the new longhorn ( vista ) when it ships is to be a dual core processor.* Yikes!* Any new word on min requirements?

Although this link is quite old, it does refer to dual core procs as a requirement http://www.microsoft-watch.com/artic...1581842,00.asp.

Not sure if that's still the case - maybe it's now dual dual-cores :P

[metalstorm]

Quote from Wikipedia:
Begin-------
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Vista is a part of the atmosphere that surrounds the world of Arda before the cataclysm at the end of the Second Age. Vista forms the inner layer of normal air: above it is Ilmen, and above that Vaiya. Vista is the breathable air, with in the top part the clouds, and in the lower parts the paths of birds.
End---------
Not sure if MS is referring to this Vista or not.
it also means: view: the visual percept of a region; "the most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views" I would imagine they are using it as a beautiful view.

[Paul Shields]

Most plausible definition I've heard so far is that Vista is actually an acronym for "Viruses, Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware"* :P

[Alice Morrison]

[Sami]

Originally Posted by Pavel

I read somewhere about a year ago, before there were any to purchase - that the minimum requirements on the new longhorn ( vista ) when it ships is to be a dual core processor. Yikes! Any new word on min requirements?

Pavel don't worry.

From MS site:
• 512 megabytes (MB) or more of RAM
• A dedicated graphics card with DirectX® 9.0 support
• A modern, Intel Pentium- or AMD Athlon-based PC.

I'm sure anything past 1Ghz will run it, maybe even slower. In comparison XP runs on any Pentium from 100MHz up with sufficient memory if you strip some eyecandy.

[riha]

I have recently tested Beta 1 on my Portable PC.

It is mixed feelings about it.


I used ATI:s beta display drivers also, which speeded up the GUI a lot.
It was not that bad, but it is still an beta, so....

[boristhemoggy]

I run a dual Celeron 400 with 512 of 100Mhz RAM and an ATI All in Wonder bought in 1998. Vista Beta runs fione on it without any problems at all. It also runs fine on the P4, 1.7 with 768 of RAM and a 7200 Maxtor with a GForce 64mb card.

It is Beta though and there is a lot not there yet. So far, apart from aesthetics I don't see a world of difference. But then my main machine is still a Win 98c box that I adore!

[buzz]

really waiting for Vista - am considering at the moment to switch to mac, but one starts reading about so many untold issues with macs ... if Vista runs as smoothly as XP I fear no issues ... cantwaitcantwaitcantwait

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by Pavel

"untold viruses about Mac" - Believing that is like buying a two legged horse because the less expensive one with four legs, and better teeth ... well that one "could one day" go lame. Really hilarious stuff - but really sad stuff that it comes around. Like the survey that Linux is really more expensive to run than microsoft. After a while they found out that this was funder by a company ... well you know the punchline ... was financed by M$.
I like the new security measures is Outlook. You can't open an attachement. Period. Goes to show any idea can be taken seriously.
News Flash ! A water bucket at microsoft leaked on day ... the problem was reported, denied for several years and then when it was discovered that there was a demand for good waterbuckets that didn't leak ... Microsoft fixed it by sealing the top so that no water could be poured in. The buckets were painted bright vivid colors, and exciting new, expensive add campain was rolled out and the buckets were sold to eager gardeners the world over. The world really needs a leak-proof bucket. Our's is the newest and most reliable - Mr. Balmer was quoted as saying!

... and the beat goes on ......

he he - I'l remember that one I think the quote was 'untold issues' on the Mac, which is similarly odd... I've found OS X to be quite intuitive, stable, and it just works. There is a cost premium though, and Windows XP is a fine OS these days, and has a much better software range compared to Apple Mac (though not as significant in image manipulation).

[buzz]

I know nothing about macs, just adore their style, but browsing through user forums it looks like some people go back to windows. XP closed some gaps to mac and I guess Vista will close that gap furthermore.

and then all the hardware issues with new mac machines? all sellers told me so far to avoid first generation models ... what does that say? a lot.

mac users though are religiously eager to defend their brand.

well, dunno, not convinced yet to switch to macs.

[riha]

I would say that next year when the new x86 based macs will be shipped, Windows will have an hard time.
First of all, it will be easier to port software to "Mac", all linux versions will run and if you are eager, then you can run Windows on that coputer also.

Will be interesting...

Just to bad that Apple didn´t choose AMD as CPU brand.

[Jetsprinter]

Has anyone tried the Beta 1* release of IE7?

http://www.soft32.com/download_997.html

[24-heures]

Now I am here to be shot at because I am not a computer man really. However, this subject interested me because I caught something on TV recently and probably, being me, misunderstood but I thought it was MS talking about the new release being called "Longhorn". Or is that something completely different and I've got my wires crossed?

[riha]

Longhorn and Vista is the same product. Longhorn is the name MS used before they released it as Beta.
Vista will be the real name, strangly, because everyone knows what Longhorn is.