MicroSoft's new OS

[lurker]

Here is what we have to look forward to.

Windows Vista Business Test Drive

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

[lurker]

As per software in the modern world, get ready to surrender your resource to the software. Notice that 20 gig of HD is required with 15 gig available..

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor FAQ

Q. What is the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor?
A. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a downloadable web application that helps Windows XP users identify which edition of Windows Vista meets their needs, whether their PCs are ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista, and which features of Windows Vista will be able to run on their PCs. The end result is a report that explains which edition of Windows Vista to buy and provides suggestions about what, if any, hardware updates may be necessary to install and run the appropriate edition and features of Windows Vista. Running Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a great first step for anyone considering whether to install Windows Vista on a PC they already own.

Q. Why is the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor only available for Windows XP users?
A. The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor depends on technology that only runs on computers with editions of Windows XP or Windows Vista installed. If you own a PC running Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows ME, or Windows 95, you will need to carefully compare its system capabilities to the information available on our Get Ready site. In general, PCs purchased within the last two years have a better chance of being able to run Windows Vista as is or with affordable improvements to the system hardware.

Q. What is required to run Windows Vista?
A. If you purchased a PC in the last two years, chances are good that you can run Windows Vista. To install and run the core functionality of Windows Vista, you need:

* An 800 MHz processor
* 512 MB of RAM
* A 20 GB hard drive with 15 GB of free space

Advanced features, like the new user experience Windows Aero, require advanced or additional hardware.

Q. What should I consider when purchasing a new PC today to ensure that it can run Windows Vista?
A. If you are buying a new PC before Windows Vista is available, look for the computers designated as Windows Vista Capable or Windows Vista Premium Ready. Learn more about Windows Vista Capable and Premium Ready PCs.

Q. Is the Upgrade Advisor available in languages other than English?
A. Not yet. At this time the Upgrade Advisor is only available in English. We anticipate having the Upgrade Advisor available in all the languages Windows Vista is scheduled to ship.

[SGT T.]

I have been running Vista for some time now, and its really great. I am using windows ultamate on a laptop, running an AMD Mobile Athlon at 2.4GHz, and 1 GB ram. I also have a 32MB ATI graphics card, and while its not top of the line, I can still use AERO, the windows enhanced graphics. I will try to take a screen shot or two if you are interested in how it looks. Some things will took some getting used to, but overall I am very satisfied and would highly recomend Vista!

[lurker]

I ripped this from another board:

Well, this afternoon while at work, I sat down for what I knew would be an exercise in frustration and patience while dealing with the insane voice that tells you to then choose which department using their cryptic names and excuses for customer help and then remember which number to push, thus proving your idiocy and immaturity.

I was right, it took close to 8 minutes to navigate the phone site, getting dumped twice, finally hooking up with a phone order taker human being. All was well.

My first query was to find out, if I bought an XPS desktop could/would it be able to have XP pro installed on it. She very brightly jumped in and said no problem, as all of the gamer guys were all asking for it over Vista. I was a happy man.

Finished that order and was not shocked to see the final tally on it to be close to 3k. She asked if I needed anything else and I responded that I had always wanted a laptop and would like to talk about the E1705 machines.

We did the whole check list once again, but this time she asked which variant of Vista I wanted on it. I replied that I wanted XPpro just like the other one. She jumped right back into the spiel of it not being available on any computers except the XPS models. My eye started twitching even before I could fully understand what she meant.

Only the heavy gamer computers are allowed to come with XP as Vista seems to not allow for the/those games that they like to play, play seamlessly. So to sell a few computers, they are making allowances. But not for joe freaking blow who doesn't want Vista shoved up his arse by Bill and his bedmates at Dell.

I canceled both orders. She acted surprised that I would be upset and not just accept her/their reality and the "Vista is good and XP is bad". She expected me to give her my reasons for not wanting Vista, as if my dollar and personal preference was not enough. So, being the good natured loving soul that I am, I cussed her choice of careers, her company, their apparent lack of understanding concerning "customers", Mr Gates, anybody at Dell that she might work with till she retired etc etc. I think I might have mentioned/asked if their cafeteria served the same kind of shyt to them that she/the company was trying to serve me. She wanted to know if I would like to talk with her manager? I didn't see a point to dealing with one more twit in the food chain and just ended it.

I hung up the phone and feel that I did not make a lasting friendship, but I guess I did give her a peek at a disgruntled ex-customer. If I have to have Vista shoved where the sun don't shine in this way, I'm doubting it will ever be on a Dell. I don't care how much good service I've gotten with the last two from them. Screw em.

Maybe I can find what I want in one of them Cow colored computers.

And yes, I do think I should have a choice.

[Tee]

I have Vista on my main computer and I like it. But what I don't like is their unfair marketing techniques.

They purposely made it so it wont work with your current Office Suite, so you'd have to buy the new one for 300-400. Instead, I downloaded OpenOffice.org, which is totally compatible and is FREE.

They also purposely made it incompatible with Outlook or Outlook Express, also done to increase revenue to force you to use Windows Live Mail since imap mailbox's are no longer supported on their "Windows Mail" client. This change now forces you to view their marketing messages and advertisements.

I am all for eliminating compatibility for security reasons, but marketing reasons...NO!!

Also, I don't like the way they chop the features out of the basic level, and then continually entice you to upgrade to "Premium", then to "Ultimate" with the "Windows Anytime Upgrade" built into the OS.

It is a marketing gambit, to say the least. Bill has gotten greedy!

[Bubba]

Get on the board and tell him to order the computer without an Operating System. Then he can get XPPro from here... Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows XP Professional with SP2 - Retail

[lurker]

Thanks. Consumer reaction is necessary in such matters.....

[TigerEyes]

Nothing could ever tempt me to try Vista. I bought a Mac iBook not quite a year ago, and I'm constantly amazed at how few problems I have with it, and how intuitive Tiger is. Definitely not like the POS I've got at work...

I know I'll probably get dumped on, but... Mac's the way to go. Especially if you work with music notation or recording.

[Detector]

Mac's the way to go. Especially if you work with music notation or recording.

No doubt MAC is the choice for multimedia and graphics. That being said, my problem with the Mac is compatibility. Things are much better now thanks to standards in file formats, but Apple had fought it tooth and nail.

Mac's are good computers but they still don't work well with other computers. This is because Apple would rather make more money off of their own design than integrate with existing models. I don't like Apple because they make my job tougher all the while trying to convince Apple users it's everyone else's fault. It's not a matter of wanting to keep a "better design" but not wanting to allow integration with the competition.

An example that comes to mind is 3 colors vs 4 colors. IBM compatibles use the 3 color format where as Mac uses a 4 color format. Apple's push is 4 colors is better than 3. Sounds all good but the human eye only sees in 3 colors, red blue and green thus the RGB color format chosen by all PC's except Apple of course. It's like advertising speakers that can produce 50khz. What good is it if the human ear can't hear above around 20khz? Makes for a good selling point I guess.

Apple has never worked well with others. Even back in the day when PC standards were being developed Apple didn't want to be a part without being the standard. They got left out and now they are trying to make it up.

[wordsmythe]

OH hell yeah I'd rather have a mac than a PC and I fought it for a long time.

The simple reality is that PC caught up with Mac in most of the programs I used regularly, the price of the mac was prohibative and all the cool toys didnt' work on the mac. That or you had to special order them.

I wish I could afford a mac again but reality bites.