Microsoft Windows Vista Review (Updated)
Just a quickie, folks.
I was talking with a sibling on Skype tonight who, despite my recommendations that people avoid Vista like the plague, had gotten one of those “free upgrade” CDs with a recent computer purchase and decided to finally change her new machine from XP to the latest-n-greatest offering from Redmond.
So, I decided to smugly investigate how nice the new experience was.
Her speakers worked but the microphone was broken. She could hear me talking but had to respond by typing. She described to me in some detail about her hands-on review of Vista. The end of our conversation went something like this…
And you can guess my response…
Over my headset microphone, I said, “You are coming to a sad realization. Cancel or allow?”
UPDATE
Whoa, the hits keep rolling in. Just after posting, I shared a link with another relative and she gave her own review of Microsoft Windows Vista.
Gettin’ the idea, y’all?
June 24th, 2007 at 4:30 am
HAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!! Your American Friend has gotten the clue!!!!
How did your sibling end up with such a pea-size of a brain?????
Thank you for your help!!!!!
June 24th, 2007 at 6:22 am
I tried Vista with the time hack (basically it never gets to be a month old). All went ok till I connected to MS and downloaded all the upgrades (I mean all, language packages included). Downloaded all upgrades, install, reboot and “missing boot disk or something or other”.
I quickly loaded Ubuntu and no more problems.
June 24th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Linux FTW! Actually I’ve gotten so used to using linux, I hate using windows now when I need to install something. Ohh yeah, I have to scour the net for it, download it, install it manually, reboot, then go. Not just fire up my package manager, install and rock out.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
So, Ubuntu is gaining more fans! Yay! I already have dual boot on both my work computer and home laptop, with Ubuntu and XP on both :)
June 25th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Mwah, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Linux From Scratch. Two computers at home running it can’t both be wrong ;)
Actually, in all seriousness, I still use Windows – XP! – for most of my daily processing needs. And I will likely never use Vista. I dislike Ubuntu, along with most other GUI’d Linux distributions purely because XWindows – sorry, X.org – is horrible.
My next serious purchase will probably be a Mac.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Hi, sorry to post here but the link to your private email isn’t working. In short, I was trolling for information on Transylvania, expecting to find something stodgy and serviceable, and found your wonderful blog instead. I’m a journalist looking to do a piece on Cluj, and was hoping to ask you some questions. If amenable, you can contact me at the above address. Thanks!
June 26th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Hi again. From the above post, it looks like my email address isn’t accessible, even privately. It’s xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.com. Thanks again, daria.
[Edited -R!]
June 26th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
AmFri – Well, we’re all familiar with how well-intention advice can go ignored. But, yes, in this one case I did have to rub it in just a little bit because the issue was so damn clear in the first place…
Rotexan – How the heck can you be missing the bootdisk? I suppose that’s all part of the new Darth Vader Grip being used by Microsoft to control the actions of Windows users in this latest version called Vista. What amazes me is how many people happily strap themselves into the chains and walk right in front of the whip, all while saying “what? this is cool.”
xamox – Hey, basement boy, you’re totally right. Installing software on Ubuntu is very easy compared to Windows. You don’t even have to go to the store. Just open the menu of all available software, check the boxes for the stuff you want, it automagically downloads and installs. Presto!
Alina – How do you like it? I find it relevant for nearly everything I do on a computer because there are free substitutes for everything from Quicken to Word to WinAmp to Outlook. Plus it runs World of Warcraft without a problem. So, Photoshop is pretty much the main reason I keep Windows around… but I also have Photoshop on the Mac (and I also got an old version of Photoshop to run on Ubuntu, anyway). So, for my nickel, W2K and XP are fine for a safety net, but Ubuntu really does handle just about every need for most people.
Narc – I can see the pressure will be unrelenting. I’m hesistant as to whether I have the time and technical competence, but after reading I am intrigued. I’ve added to my Simpy bookmarks and will consider trying it in the future.
Daria – Don’t worry, your email address was passed onto me by the comment form. It’s just hidden from spammers. I’ll drop you a line (probably today, but within 24 hours to be sure) and see how I can help. Cluj is a nice city with a wonderful vibe.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I didn’t try it yet, so I don’t really have a personal opinion on Vista. But it’s so funny when you hear the kids on the street: “Did you see the transparencies? And the shadows? And Flip 3D? How COOL is that?”. Microsoft did it again. They revolutionized the UI. Of course you could ruin their day by pointing them to a YouTube movie but… why bother.
I still run XP on VirtualBox from time to time. There are two killer aps that I need: Internet Explorer (no, I don’t actually browse the Internet with it; I test websites) and Minesweeper (MS got it right there). MS should create Linux versions for those and sell them separately.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Well, it is worth trying at least once, even if you end up never using it – the learning process is worth it.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I love it, actually. But I use some windows based software at work, so I have to keep it. Plus some word features I need, like track changes :P If microsoft would make an office suite for linux, I’d actually pay for it. About 10 dollars :P
June 27th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I’ll save you $10. Your Ubuntu installation comes with OpenOffice already included. OOo handles tracking changes just fine. Check out some details on many things which people think are Microsoft-only, but aren’t.
http://documentation.openoffice.org/HOW_TO/word_processing/Word-to-OOo.html
Notice, that list is from 3 years ago, so the support on a number of items has been there for a relatively stable period of time. And, lest I incur the wrath of others, I should mention that AbiWord (for Linux) has some kind of change tracking goodness as well.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 am
Thanks so much! I have to check if I can also see track changes others make on a file using windows. If not, I found out about some possibilities of office emulation on Linux. So there is hope for me! :D If it all works out, I will only need Robosoft once every couple of moths from Windows :D Yay!