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Ask Your Vista Questions Here.
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AfterDawn Addict
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13. April 2007 @ 13:10 |
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Dear Mr. Gates: save Vista, open-source it
Apr. 13, 2007
Although Microsoft may claim otherwise, Vista, from both from a technical and business point of view, is proving to be a failure. Why not turn it over to people who have shown time after time that they can deliver the goods?
Let's look at the facts, shall we?
Spread the word:
digg this story
Microsoft claimed that more than 20 million copies of Windows Vista were sold around the world in February 2007, its first full month of sales. I, and many others, don't believe those claims for a minute. What's a lot more important than what I think though is what Goldman Sachs, the international investment bank, thinks. And, Goldman Sachs thinks that Microsoft is no longer worthy of being on its must buy "conviction list."
Why? Goldman analyst Sarah Friar in a research note wrote, "Product upgrade cycles should provide strong revenue and profit growth in the next 12-plus months. Normally, this would make us view the stock as a must-own. At the same time, these launches may also mark the end of an era, as changing technology and business models seek to diminish Microsoft's hold on the desktop, which in turn significantly depletes the cash cow."
Besides, maybe Vista won't do that well anyway. "Investor nervousness remains high, particularly given uncertainty regarding spending plans in 2008 and recent negative management comments on Vista." Negative management comments? Why yes, Microsoft's own CEO Steve Ballmer warned analysts that "some of the Windows revenue forecasts I've seen are overly aggressive.''
Looking ahead, Goldman also sees, "Changing technology and business models in areas such as software-as-a-service, virtualization and open source seek to diminish Microsoft's stranglehold on the desktop, which in turn significantly depletes the company's cash cow."
Even sites that work to promote Microsoft's products, like Redmond Channel Partner senior editor Lee Pender have admitted that "For now, though, Vista has to be a disappointment. Given how long it took to release and how much of a financial boost Microsoft needs from it right now, Vista just isn't building the momentum or gaining the kind of market traction that Redmond would like to see. Maybe the main problem with Vista is that XP is actually too good -- or at least too mature and familiar. Those stringent Vista hardware requirements don't help, either. And despite the half-a-billion dollars Microsoft is spending to promote Vista, the new OS hasn't exactly captured the public's imagination."
He won't get any argument from me. I've been dismissive of Vista's chances in the marketplace for some time now. It's more than just poor business execution, Vista has major technical problems. For example, as Microsoft blogger Mary Jo Foley points out, we all know now that Vista's Fast Boot feature is actually a bad joke.
Other users have found that even some of Vista's "features" are actually annoyances. Even Windows fans, such as noted blogger and former TechTV host Chris Pirillo, have given up on Vista. What I find most troubling about Vista's future is that after all those promises of how much better Vista's security will be, now we're finding out that Vista security is just as lousy as the rest of the Windows family.
I predicted that Vista would have serious security problems from the start, but I find this current crop of problems -- the ANI cursor mess and the three CSRSS (Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem) bugs -- especially disturbing. That's because these are problems that are common to the entire Windows family. Vista was supposed to be all new and all better. Yeah. Right.
CSRSS is an essential subsystem of Windows that manages most Windows graphical commands. It wasn't rewritten. ANI, on the other hand, is a trivial program that animates cursors. It wasn't rewritten either. So what are we to think? After years of work, after years of being told Microsoft was making security job one, Windows users are stuck with the same old, same old when it comes to security.
I have a modest suggestion. Since Microsoft can't fix the buggy old code under Vista's pretty new Aero exterior, why not open-source it and let free software developers do the job for them. I'm serious.
Open-source software has its bugs too, but generally speaking open-source developers fix their programs' security in hours to weeks. Microsoft? Please. Months can go by before security holes are fixed and, in the meantime, crackers create so-called zero-day attacks to exploit long-known security problems.
Besides, as I've pointed out before, Windows is fundamentally flawed because even Vista is based on a single user PC operating system that's trying to work in a world where all computers are networked to all other computers.
I first saw this kind of problem back in 1992 with Windows for Workgroups, and 15 years later security holes showing that basic flaw are still showing up. This gives an even stronger reason to sic the open-source developers on Windows. Look at Linux. Without the advantage of having any of Unix's source code, Linus Torvalds created an open operating system that also freed itself of many of the problems that came with the earlier Unix distributions.
After all, if Linux wasn't better than SCO OpenServer and a host of other now long forgotten x86 based Unixes such as Consensys, Interactive, UHC, Microport and Univel, we'd still be talking about Unix instead of Linux as competition for Windows.
Since Microsoft's developers themselves are unhappy with how Vista had been developed and with the years of delay, why not try something different? Why not turn it over to people who have shown time after time that they can deliver the goods?
If Microsoft doesn't, I foresee Microsoft bowing to the inevitable and releasing Microsoft Linux in 2010. Hey, Oracle is giving its own house brand of Red Hat Linux a try. Why not Microsoft? After all, it's not like Microsoft can deliver a quality operating system.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS2930812631.html
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Senior Member
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13. April 2007 @ 22:09 |
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Yeah well I dont believe a damn thing bestbuy says, thier all a bunch of liars and con artists, and bad con artists at that.
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Howdoody
Newbie
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14. April 2007 @ 21:57 |
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Retirement time for Windows XP
Windows XP will stop being available on new PCs from the end of January next year. Several technology web sites are reporting that Microsoft plans to stop selling the operating system even though consumers have given a lukewarm response to its latest launch, Windows Vista.
A poll by US market research firm Harris Interactive found that only ten per cent of those interviewed were planning to upgrade to Vista in the near future. All versions of XP, including those made for media centre or tablet PCs, are affected by the decision. Microsoft has confirmed that from January 31 next year computer makers such as Dell and Toshiba will not be able to buy licences for the software so they can install it on new machines.
However, Robert Epstein, Microsoft?s European spokesman on Windows licencing, said withdrawing XP licences had no implications for long-term technical support for the product. ?This is purely about availability of brand new licences for brand new machines,? he said. ?We?ll continue to support XP for some considerable time.?
In most developed markets, demand for XP is particularly strong among small and meduim-sized businesses. Some experts believe that Microsoft?s move to kill XP is unlikely to warm users to Vista. In recent times, many users have complained that Vista?s start-up, shut-down and application load times are far too long compared with Windows XP. Doubts have also been raised about Vista?s security, after it emerged that Vista was affected by recent widespread hacks involving Windows? animated cursors.
http://www.7days.ae/en/2007/04/15/retire...windows-xp.html
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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14. April 2007 @ 22:54 |
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Oh joy soon all XP keys will be illegaitmized 0-o
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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AfterDawn Addict
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15. April 2007 @ 08:42 |
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ZIppyDSM
watch this thread on vista,this is where i will be posting stuff on vista..theres a hot read posted there now.././.
link
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/477586
from what i read there will not be any activations on xp,so start loving vista,microsuck and the RIAA IN 5 YEARS OR MORE ITS OVER FOR XP..
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 15. April 2007 @ 08:56
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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15. April 2007 @ 08:53 |
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Originally posted by ireland:
ZIppyDSM
watch this thread on vista,this is where i will be posting stuff on vista..theres a hot read posted there now.././.
link
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/477586
from what i read there will not be any activations on xp
--------------------------------------
So is MS secretively quicking the end of XP support,updates and activation?
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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AfterDawn Addict
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15. April 2007 @ 09:02 |
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Mainstream support for Windows XP from Microsoft is scheduled to end in 2009, though as an OS it'll still be viable during the Extended Support phase. To the best of my knowledge that phase lasts five years, so Microsoft will theoretically keep offering security updates and such to XP until 2014.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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15. April 2007 @ 09:08 |
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Originally posted by ireland:
Mainstream support for Windows XP from Microsoft is scheduled to end in 2009, though as an OS it'll still be viable during the Extended Support phase. To the best of my knowledge that phase lasts five years, so Microsoft will theoretically keep offering security updates and such to XP until 2014.
--------------------------------------------------
any chance they will cut it before its time in order to prop up vister?
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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Senior Member
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15. April 2007 @ 13:37 |
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Originally posted by ZIppyDSM:
Oh joy soon all XP keys will be illegaitmized 0-o
*guy in the dark corner coughs "cracks, hack activations" cough*
Doesnt expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected and therefore mean youre expecting the expected which was the unexpected until you expected it?
"Opinions are immunities to being told were wrong." - Relient K
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Howdoody
Newbie
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16. April 2007 @ 12:44 |
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April 16, 2007
Concern grows over looming demise of Windows XP
Microsoft could face backlash over January 2008 kill date
By Paul Krill
Microsoft's plan to phase out Windows XP and drive end users on to the Windows Vista platform is beginning to cause concern among end users, if the emerging web discussion Internet discussions are typical.
Microsoft plans to end shipments of Windows XP to original equipment manufacturers on 31 January 31, 2008. It will also stop selling retail licenses at the same time. Editions affected include the Professional, Tablet PC, Professional x64, Home, and Media Centre editions of XP.
This is just 12 months from the official launch of XP?s successor Windows Vista.
Contributors to SiliconValley.com cited issues with the suitability of Vista on existing machines and said they might just go to Linux instead.
"If Microsoft forces us to make a choice of Vista or Linux, they might just be unpleasantly surprised as to the choice many of us will make," one contributor wrote. "I am telling anyone who has not yet upgraded from Win 9x to XP that they had better do it right away because Vista will never run on their Win 98-era machine. If they don't upgrade to XP right away, they will have to switch to Linux. The only alternative to that is to throw away their computer and buy a brand new one!"
Another contributor said it was "time for enterprises to stock up on shrink-wrapped copies of XP Pro."
A contributor to the Direct2Dell site expressed similar reservations.
"I don't care how much you've tested your systems with Vista, it simply will not be enough," the chatter said "In the corporate world, there are countless applications that are going to fail miserably with Vista in offices that are standardized on XP Pro."
Dell on its http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/04/04/10397.aspx
Direct2Dell site said it plans to continue offering XP for now. "Dell recognizes the needs of small business customers and understands that more time is needed to transition to a new operating system.
The plan is to continue offering Windows XP on select Dimension and Inspiron systems until later this summer," the company said.
In a statement, Microsoft acknowledged its Vista emphasis.
"Windows Vista is safer, easier to use, better connected, and more entertaining that any operating system we've ever released, and we're encouraged by the positive customer response we've seen to date," the company said in a statement.
"It's standard practice to allow OEMs, retailers, and system builders to continue offering the previous version of Windows for a certain period of time after a new version is released, and this information as it applies to Windows XP has been available to our partners and to the public," since last year, the company said.
Microsoft has reported that more than 20 million copies of Vista shipped from January 30 to February 28, the first month of general availability. A Harris survey of home-based users in March, however, found that only 12 percent of the 2,223 respondents planned to upgrade.
There are pluses and minuses to upgrading, according to analyst Michael Cherry, of Directions on Microsoft. Security features, such as BitLocker Drive Encryption, are driving upgrades, he said. However, hardware issues have been a problem, Cherry said.
"The major factor I think that's putting a damper on it is people being uncomfortable with what the hardware requirements are," said Cherry.
Questions have arisen about configuration matters such as the circuitry of graphics cards, he said. Lawsuits have even arisen about what it means to be Vista-capable, Cherry added.
Although Cherry said he did not have specific estimates on Vista shipments, he said Vista appears to have not affected PC sales rates, either upward or downward.
Vista shipments have been about as expected, said analyst Brett Waldman of IDC, who also acknowledged equipment issues with the new platform.
Shipment levels so far are similar to what XP presented, he said.
To run Vista's Aero interfaces requires an advanced graphics card, Waldman said. A lot of low-end PCs do not have that, he said. Otherwise, upgrading a PC to 1GB of memory should make it Vista-capable, said Waldman.
Microsoft's decision to cancel XP shipments was "what we expect," Waldman said. Business customers, however, are putting Vista upgrades on hold. "They're waiting 12 to 18 months to evaluate it," said Waldman.
The upcoming Windows Server Longhorn platform, meanwhile, is looking good, Directions on Microsoft?s Cherry said. "It's very stable."
http://www.computerworlduk.com/technolog...cfm?newsid=2603
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janrocks
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16. April 2007 @ 13:36 |
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Longhorn? They forgot to put sql support into the core. pretty good for a server app methinks.. These guys really don't know what they are doing.
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Newbie
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17. April 2007 @ 21:20 |
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I just bought new laptop loaded with vista and at first, did not like at all too much fufu. Now 2 months later getting better picture of it and not so bad, alot of better things under the cov er so to say, they are still working out the kinks though so i let them and download as needed. This works for me! I like being on the leading edge of new things, so for the gernal lay person or newbie like me this looks very overwhleming at first, just stick with it and learn it and also if you have nothing to hide let microsoft tweak it for you as you have errors, its getting better and better already!
just a suggestion, will let you know if change my mind, still have some questions too.:>
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Howdoody
Newbie
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18. April 2007 @ 02:34 |
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Originally posted by bel_76016:
This works for me! I like being on the leading edge of new things, so for the gernal lay person or newbie like me this looks very overwhleming at first, just stick with it and learn it
You sound like a commercial for Linux.
And since it's free, it's really worth a try.
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The_Fiend
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18. April 2007 @ 04:49 |
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He sounds more like one of those "oh damn, i don't want to lose face because i did the must stupid thing ever, so let's pretend everything's peachy keen, fine and dandy" types to me...
irc://arcor.de.eu.dal.net/wasted_hate
Wanna tell me off, go ahead.
I dare ya !
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Newbie
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18. April 2007 @ 07:43 |
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oh boys boys, no you are so wrong, i am not an ego seeking male techie (oops did I judge you like you misjudged me?) anyways all i was saying is when your opeating system in plastered all over my new pc then you can talk till then i have to work with what i get right? so why should i dis it like you when i can learn it b4 most do and get all my kinks worked out by the people that know the system than have to do it later (which btw we will) on my own. Free--nothing is free!!!!! Linux??? not sure what that means oh thats right im not a techie like you!!! Most of you techie's are so predictable so many percent of you will dis anything you did not come up with yourself. Again if you have better op system then by all means I will be happy to try....... Oh Yea!!! instead of all the time you waste being so negative maybe you can spend it using your talents and come up with solutions for my problems or others. Oh was this to harshhhhh, just trying to keep up with "ones who know". smile:>
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janrocks
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18. April 2007 @ 08:46 |
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And why do you think we should waste our time and effort to fix M$ broken software so they can sell it to people for profit?
I'm not going to do anything to help this restrictive monopoly gain even more control of the world. If you have problems with vista then tough s***.. contact M$ and get them to sort it.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 18. April 2007 @ 08:51
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The_Fiend
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18. April 2007 @ 08:54 |
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I was going to reply, but since you just got put down by one of the most intelligent ladies i've ever seen, i think you've already had enough...
@ jan : i've heard from a reliable source that those 0day exploits for microsoft's DNS are also being researched on XP and Vista.. and Vista has been reported to be close to a "breakthrough" :-)
irc://arcor.de.eu.dal.net/wasted_hate
Wanna tell me off, go ahead.
I dare ya !
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 18. April 2007 @ 08:58
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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18. April 2007 @ 09:10 |
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The_Fiend
I hope someone makes a nice DX10 patch for XP, that or make a great keybaord and mouse adapter for the 360 :X
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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Newbie
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18. April 2007 @ 09:38 |
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ohh dager to the heart!!!! thanks for the dis.... do i feel dis no.....do i feel like i owe anyone anythign no.... freedom of speach right.... No you dont have to fix my windows problems, if you read all my post word for word then you would have seen tht they are doing that. if you want to get nasty and mean you have that right but why waste your breathe. Again spelled out......solutions please if you want a rag thread then start one that states that alone so you can go show your strength there.
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Newbie
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18. April 2007 @ 09:43 |
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or wait, maybe i think you senior members especially coming on this thread and getting all in your face doesnt make me want anything from this thread, remember i am not dissing you as a person just was responding as a newbie about thinking coming to this thread would offer support and help for me. exactly what this whole site is about. Yes you have the right to let us know that products are not good but the way you do it goes to far.... too negative..... but cant change you can i.... oh well my bad will seek advice from someone else....
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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18. April 2007 @ 09:50 |
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Originally posted by janrocks:
And why do you think we should waste our time and effort to fix M$ broken software so they can sell it to people for profit?
I'm not going to do anything to help this restrictive monopoly gain even more control of the world. If you have problems with vista then tough s***.. contact M$ and get them to sort it.
I have pretty much stopped supporting the corporations I dislike but buying used and 2nd hand I save allot of money and not directly feed the corporate trolls :X
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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Howdoody
Newbie
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19. April 2007 @ 13:41 |
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Only 244 Genuine Windows Vista's Sold in China
April 18
"Whilst Microsoft was bragging about the sales number of their latest OS Windows Vista, few would actually know that they have only managed to sell 244 copies in the whole of China in the first 2 weeks. You heard that right, and that's the number quoted from the headquarters of the Windows Vista chief (90% national volume) distributor in Beijing."
http://slashdot.org/articles/07/04/18/1512216.shtml
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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19. April 2007 @ 13:49 |
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Originally posted by Howdoody:
Only 244 Genuine Windows Vista's Sold in China
April 18
"Whilst Microsoft was bragging about the sales number of their latest OS Windows Vista, few would actually know that they have only managed to sell 244 copies in the whole of China in the first 2 weeks. You heard that right, and that's the number quoted from the headquarters of the Windows Vista chief (90% national volume) distributor in Beijing."
http://slashdot.org/articles/07/04/18/1512216.shtml[/quote]
well it is china why by when you can copy :X
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19. April 2007 @ 13:50
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Senior Member
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19. April 2007 @ 14:26 |
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Been reading about that all day....
MS is now thinking of selling chopped versions of XP - Office 2003 for $3 for the "needy". Still more than some are willing to pay....particularly in third world countries. Free will always be the better option for a lot of people.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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19. April 2007 @ 14:29 |
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Morph416
I'd but a retail copy of vister 32bit minus DRM/WMP/IE/OLE/ for 80$
:X
please MS make chopped down versions for the masses!!
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
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