How workable is Vista?
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From: Jim Granville on 17 Jun 2008 15:33 DaveN wrote: > I triple boot my machine with Vista, XP and Fedora. Got XP to support some > older apps and Fedora more as a new attempt at getting to grips with Linux. Isn't there something a little wrong with this picture, where we have a world where THREE operating systems is not unusual ? With all the man-centuries that supposedly goes into writing these systems, and the many millions of users, losing time on the bugs and fluff, surely 'better usability coverage' should be expected ? -jg
From: Jim Granville on 17 Jun 2008 15:40 Joerg wrote: > rickman wrote: > >> On Jun 16, 9:07 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...(a)removethispacbell.net> >> wrote: >> >>> rickman wrote: >>> >>>> I have been looking to buy a new computer for a bit and I had just >>>> about decided on a Windows XP based system from Dell. Today I called >>>> them and found that not only are they not going to sell XP machines >>>> after tomorrow, but the orders are flooding in! It seems pretty crazy >>>> to me that if XP is still that popular, they would stop selling it. >>>> Is this something mandated by MicroSoft? >>> >>> http://www.dell.com/dellhasanswers >>> >>> Quote: "After June 18th you have the option to purchase Windows Vista >>> Business or Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows >>> XP Professional." >>> >>> So it seems not all is lost. >> >> >> But that means you have to pay for Vista *and* you have to pay for >> XP. They call this *Vista Bonus*... talk about a marketing scheme! >> > > Yep, seems they want to milk you for more money. This in a news feed: Seems the situation is 'fluid' with Microsoft trying to bully everyone over to vista. (no surprise there). Of course, a large customer push-back, will have Microsoft's PR and Spin department into overdrive. It also confirms that legally you can downgrade without having to pay extra. News: [The latest news comes from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, reacting to criticism at a recent news conference, who said "XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments." As of now the June 30 deadline stands, but PC makers may be encouraging Microsoft to get "smarter" by taking the rare step of openly combating Microsoft's direction that vendors move from XP to Vista. HP, Dell, and Lenovo have all said they will downgrade operating systems on new machines from Vista to XP at customer request and will continue to do so until 2009 (specific ending dates vary). Note that no one's breaking the law here. Legally, anyone with a volume license or an OEM license for Vista can downgrade to XP without having to pay extra for the OS. The only exception is for those who purchased "full packaged product (FPP)" editions, which do not include downgrade rights, though Windows Vista Professional and Ultimate editions do. Whether XP drivers are available is another issue. If asked, many companies will include an XP disc with your order, but Dell is installing XP at the factory as well. Cnet also offers some additional helpful advice on obtaining XP if you're buying a Vista machine. ]
From: Joerg on 17 Jun 2008 15:47 Jim Granville wrote: > Joerg wrote: > >> rickman wrote: >> >>> On Jun 16, 9:07 pm, Joerg <notthisjoerg...(a)removethispacbell.net> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> rickman wrote: >>>> >>>>> I have been looking to buy a new computer for a bit and I had just >>>>> about decided on a Windows XP based system from Dell. Today I called >>>>> them and found that not only are they not going to sell XP machines >>>>> after tomorrow, but the orders are flooding in! It seems pretty crazy >>>>> to me that if XP is still that popular, they would stop selling it. >>>>> Is this something mandated by MicroSoft? >>>> >>>> http://www.dell.com/dellhasanswers >>>> >>>> Quote: "After June 18th you have the option to purchase Windows Vista >>>> Business or Windows Vista Ultimate with a downgrade service to Windows >>>> XP Professional." >>>> >>>> So it seems not all is lost. >>> >>> >>> But that means you have to pay for Vista *and* you have to pay for >>> XP. They call this *Vista Bonus*... talk about a marketing scheme! >>> >> >> Yep, seems they want to milk you for more money. > > This in a news feed: > > Seems the situation is 'fluid' with Microsoft trying to bully everyone > over to vista. (no surprise there). Of course, a large customer > push-back, will have Microsoft's PR and Spin department into overdrive. > > It also confirms that legally you can downgrade without having to pay > extra. > > News: > [The latest news comes from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, reacting to > criticism at a recent news conference, who said "XP will hit an > end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies, we can > always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life > for new XP shipments." > > As of now the June 30 deadline stands, but PC makers may be encouraging > Microsoft to get "smarter" by taking the rare step of openly combating > Microsoft's direction that vendors move from XP to Vista. HP, Dell, and > Lenovo have all said they will downgrade operating systems on new > machines from Vista to XP at customer request and will continue to do so > until 2009 (specific ending dates vary). > > Note that no one's breaking the law here. Legally, anyone with a volume > license or an OEM license for Vista can downgrade to XP without having > to pay extra for the OS. The only exception is for those who purchased > "full packaged product (FPP)" editions, which do not include downgrade > rights, though Windows Vista Professional and Ultimate editions do. > Whether XP drivers are available is another issue. > > If asked, many companies will include an XP disc with your order, but > Dell is installing XP at the factory as well. Cnet also offers some > additional helpful advice on obtaining XP if you're buying a Vista > machine. ] > But from the statement on Dell's site it seems they only offer downgrade if you first "upgrade" to a more expensive version of Vista. Makes absolutely no sense to me and it could cost them revenue. One could almost bet it will cost them revenue. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Paul E. Bennett on 17 Jun 2008 16:11 rickman wrote: > I have been looking to buy a new computer for a bit and I had just > about decided on a Windows XP based system from Dell. Today I called > them and found that not only are they not going to sell XP machines > after tomorrow, but the orders are flooding in! It seems pretty crazy > to me that if XP is still that popular, they would stop selling it. > Is this something mandated by MicroSoft? > > So the question is, is Vista ready for prime time? I have heard > nothing but bad about it and I know that a lot of software vendors > have yet to support it... at least the last time I looked. Are the > rumors true of Vista being a PITA or just plain incompatible? Is it > time to switch to Linux? > > What experiences have people had with Vista? > > Rick When I bought my new Dell Inspiron, Vista was on it (I had a little play first, didn't like it at all) but that didn't last as I wiped the disk and installed Mandriva Linux. I have enjoyed using the Open Office tools, The Gimp, Konqueror and Mozilla Firefox, VuTrax PCB design and layout software and Vfx Forth (for Linux) on this system. I use AVidemux for video editing and Audacity for editing sound. I am sure I will find a decent mechanical 3D CAD system at some point. This and some PERT based project management software would complete the set nicely. -- ******************************************************************** Paul E. Bennett...............<email://Paul_E.Bennett(a)topmail.co.uk> Forth based HIDECS Consultancy Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972 Tel: +44 (0)1235-811095 Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk.. ********************************************************************
From: JeffM on 17 Jun 2008 16:25
>DaveN wrote: >>I triple boot my machine with Vista, XP and Fedora. Got XP to support some >>older apps and Fedora more as a new attempt at getting to grips with Linux. >> Jim Granville wrote: >Isn't there something a little wrong with this picture, where we have >a world where THREE operating systems is not unusual ? > >With all the man-centuries that supposedly goes into writing these >systems, and the many millions of users, losing time on the bugs and >fluff, surely 'better usability coverage' should be expected ? http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:PTPuLs5pOU8J:www.winehq.org/site/contributing+donations 8-) |