Microsoft Vista "featues"

[Fana]

http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archi...tas_windows_licensing_disserves_the_user.html

Vista will not get anywhere near any of my machines, thats for sure.

 

[Overdriven]

2nd time I've seen this! =D


Might need to give this to my college so they don't install it on their machines.

 

[Skyler]

Was actually considering on properly purchasing Vista and using it legally from the off instead of sticking with XP, but the licensing stuff is so stupid I honestly don't think I can.

Ubuntu looks even more tempting. To be honest it would probably be on my machine already if I could get all the things I want to run working on it - not that I have tried, I just assume most win32 things wont.

 

[throdgrain]

Bet you all said this when XP came out too

 

[MYstIC G]

I've just started using Microsoft Virtual PC to test out ubuntu, must admit I kinda like it, may one day make the switch cos i'm very much more console gaming these days.

On the other hand could run vista in a virtual container and delete it every time it says it needs activation

 

[Calaen]

Dhoooooooommmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dysfunction]

I don't really see the problem. if you have a legit copy of the software you won't have any of these issues....right...so...

*ahem*

 

[Skyler]

Was thinking that it would be more efficient to download a cracked copy of Vista and use that, but have a copy that you 'licensed' (not allowed to 'buy' software anymore) beside your PC incase they question it

 

[TdC]

I don't really see the problem. if you have a legit copy of the software you won't have any of these issues....right...so...

*ahem*

not really. certain features in the software may also expire if you accept licenses from other apps. and stuff.

 

[dysfunction]

not really. certain features in the software may also expire if you accept licenses from other apps. and stuff.

I must have missed that bit.....where does it say that?

 

[Jonty]

Hi guys

I hope you are all well I just thought I would drop by and offer my thoughts, for what they're worth!

At the end of the day you always have to weigh up the pros and cons whenever making a purchasing decision, and then just trust your judgement as to what is best for you.

For Windows Vista the pros are largely improved security, an enhanced interfaced, better search facilities, and more sophisticated functionality and applications. Windows XP is a relatively old operating system, and so much of this is just playing catch up, as well as laying the foundations for future releases. The cons are equally numerous, ranging from potentially slower performance and compatibility issues, to the significant cost of upgrading (both pecuniary, and in terms of bugs, missing features, and 'fit and finish' inconsistencies).

To that list of cons, depending on your views, you could also add Vista's licence. However, whilst certainly restrictive, it isn't a million miles away from previous licences. For some people, quite rightly, this will still be completely unacceptable. Apple and Linux get by fine without such measures, but equally their business models are very different, and their market share reflects this (of course that is not to say they are inferior). For those with concerns, Vista's licence may tip the scales too far and so they wouldn't dream of purchasing. But equally for the masses who usually don't study the licence in any depth, and on balance want the features offered by Vista, then this won't be a problem. I'm not saying it's right that Microsoft or any other company can rely on such licencing, but at present it is probably fair to say that it is a non-issue in the minds of the majority of consumers (rightly or wrongly).

Personally I would like to see a relaxation of Microsoft's licencing and validation policies (the ability to licence to individuals would be nice, thus allowing the installation of Microsoft software on any machine, simply authorising and deauthorising devices as we go). But that said, I won't personally lose sleep over Vista, particularly because of the restrictive covenants already faced in everyday life without any problems. The terms I have with my bank are relatively unforgiving. When I went to university, any work I produced in the same field - even in my own time on my own equipment - could be deemed their intellectual property. The software I use, the services I rely on, so many things have clauses which make you stop and think. But this is not to say that these clauses will be relied upon, nor that they cannot be overturned in court. Ultimately it would be easy to miss out by fearing the 'what ifs' in daily contractual life.

Anyway, those are just my feelings Weigh up the pros and cons, search the internet for both sides of the argument, and be happy that you made an informed decision. It's great if you can help to inform others, but the majority of people will often not be swayed, either because the issues are not high on their list of personal priorities, or because they are so partisan to begin with that their minds are made up. Anyway, have fun and keep smiling!

Kind Regards

 

[Chilly]

fuck me it's jonty!

 

[Guest]

dogs

 

[Clown]

Jontyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

[dysfunction]

m00?

 

[nath]

Nice post Jonty. I think I'll be doing with Vista what I did with XP - sticking with its predecessor until it's sufficiently de-gayed™ and thus worth an upgrade.

 

[Jonty]

Jontyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

hehe, hi I might try and pop by a little more frequently, but we'll see how things go. Anyway, back on topic, I don't want to cause trouble I agree nath, I know a lot of people who will be doing the same. Personally I'd quite like a new Santa Rosa laptop, which are due around April 2007, so that should give things enough time to settle. I'm going to live and work in Taiwan soon, so hopefully I can get a discount compared to what we pay in the UK!

Kind Regards

 

[ECA]

As per usual, until SP1/2 comes out I'm not paying MS for the priviledge of beta'ing their software.

 

[Tom]

As soon as a killer game arrives that requires Vista, you'll all install it and you know it.

 

[Escape]

MS has been working on Vista for some 10 years now, winXP was the cash-cow to keep them afloat until Vista arrived. But from reading comments between their "Release Candidates" and the feeling of rushed, last minute changes doesn't even begin to inspire confidence.

The weed must be good in Redmond if MS believes hundreds of millions of people will upgrade their PC for "vista ready" hardware. There's a bigger market out there than just North America and Europe, compared to the time of the winXP release.

Why use Vista if your hardware cannot support the flashy features? Even win2000 will run smoother. I can see Vista having a positive effect on the growth of the Linux community, which in turn provides better support and development.

 

[Skyler]

This whole thing has prompted me to read into Ubuntu quite a lot, gonna get it and start off with some dual booting and see what happens. Got to free some HDD space first

 

[Dukat]

What Nath said.

I stayed with 98 untill XP looked like it was worth the hassle, I'll probably do the same with Vista.

There's no telling how it'll work out when it first lands though, it could be alot better than we all think, or it could just as well be ten times worse, I'll just wait and see before commiting to anything

Ah progress...

 

[Yaka]

i tried ubuntu its preety good but no matter wtf i did i couldnt get it to display 1920x1200 res is my monitors native res, it only did 1280x1024 max. i tried a million and one things peeps on qnet suggested. while tis very good and i ended up reformatting my hdd and isntalling winxp. hope to fuck someone finds a fix for it as a google search found a few peeps with the same prob as me with ubuntu

 

[Calaen]

Linux is for fucking geeks and you know it. I FUCKING HATE GEEKS!!!!!!

I have a LINUX FUCKING server at work non of the software we buy can run on the fucking thing and I get the shit off it. oh I know hows about moving over to microsoft server? OMFG microdooom what about the evil haxxors!!!!!!!!! STFU YOU FUCKING MONGS.......

and breath. Anyway as you can guess I am having issues trying to make the partners understand that we are falling behind as a consultancy by using Linux.

But I have the pleasure of working with two geeks who believe gates is satan and linux is the key to the pearly gates.

Anyone have any experience talking to people like this? I am beyond being civil to the snivelling fuckers. An axe handle the the head seems like a pefect solution to me.

 

[`mongoose]

bear in mind as well folks that the EU is currently about to hit MS with a huge fine and they've not even seen vista yet.

The MPEG 4 bit in particular will bite them in the arse and I'm pretty sure the EU guys will go after the "revokable" content's rights stuff too.

Alot of that license may well end up changed or simply deleted once the EU and American Fair Competition guys have gotten thru with MS.

Personally - I own 90% of the stuff on my pc fair n square so I don't really mind. I rarely buy "digital" media and usually either watch dvd's and burn cd's that I own. I'm not a big fan of people ripping mp3's mainly because most of the bands I like are small indie affairs and I feel they deserve what paltry royalties they get from the cd sales although I do buy my cd's at the cheapest place I can find.

The Digital Rights management stuff will probably be paving the way for ondemand movies via broadband etc. Stuff that you could download but that windows will remove rights to view after a certain point. There's a load of companies looking into this now and I doubt many colleges will be too upset about seeing it happen. In fact it might be a selling point for some colleges.

M

 

[Escape]

bear in mind as well folks that the EU is currently about to hit MS with a huge fine and they've not even seen vista yet.

As much as I dislike MS, these anti-competitive laws are complete bullshit.

If Windows actively prevented you from installing non-MS software, I'd understand.

 

[Raven]

didnt you know its cool to not like microsoft?

 

[TdC]

heh. uber linux fanatics are hard to deal with imo. I used to be one, I know if you're going to run a linux server, or any of the other unixalikes, you have to be aware that you're making a choice to constrain what you can run on it to compatible software. just like if you're running an Apple, or a Sun, or a Wintel or a Mainframe. you have to use stuff in places where you get the most out of your effort within the scope of your wishes and overall busines stratagy.

 

[Tom]

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/10/26/Microsoft_clarifies_Vista_activation_to_bit-tech/