Vista a review.

Chxta · 12-16-2006, 04:36 PM

I have tested vista, but I want you to read the New York Times review first. Take note of the video...

PALADIN · 12-17-2006, 09:16 AM

I truly love office 2007 sha. Sharepoint went through a major upgrade.

**NaijaCandy** · 12-18-2006, 06:08 PM

have it, but I'm hesitant to install a beta... too lazy? I've heard good things but good or bad everybody will get it anyway right?

djmightymike · 12-19-2006, 01:14 AM

I installed a beta 2 version (a free version available to the preview program customers). while most of these werent show stoppers, here are a few things to consider before migrating to Vista - at least for now.

Only about 40 percent of Windows XP applications can run without any modification, for example. A good chunk of the remainder require only very slight tweaks. Many of those incompatibilities have already been fixed, either through workarounds put in place by MS or in collaboration with the application's maker.

There are still a number of hardware products that don't have drivers. Also, there are plenty of areas where Microsoft hopes to increase the system's performance, notably in the new built-in desktop search capabilities.

Overall, i have a good vibe about it since MS has plenty time to patch things up. Sticking with XP for now until SP1 drops

Chxta · 12-22-2006, 03:36 PM

Chxta's World

Five years ago, M$ ran 94% of the world's computers. Now it is down to 88%. Things are changing, and I think M$ have shot themselves in the foot with Vista which I have just finished putting through its paces.

Vista has been cracked, and tested in a VMware environment. This crack is very clever, nice concept. Vista needs activation? Run your own activation server, in the best spirit of DIY! You can simply create a server in VMware, then create your own Vista machine. What will we do without the internet? As for the market share, I think the key is in games. If there are a lot more games out there that can run well in a Linux environment, people would take the leap. Also there is the factor that most people don't have a choice as to what OS they use. A lot of computers come pre-installed with Windows. Mine for example came with the malware, but thankfully, it has been cured. I heard a story about a guy who got a refund from Dell because he doesn't use Windows. I wish I had known...

Before I begin this review, I must make it clear that I tested Vista in a VMware environment, so some of the features may not have worked as well as they could. But hell, at the same time I also installed Edgy in a VMware environment with exactly the same specifications. For fairness of course, so no complaints.

Edgy has also been tested (I've been running it for months now). So are we waiting for ? Its show time! What will Vista be able to do for $400 that Edgy cannot do for free ?

User Interface
It's a straight fight here, Aero vs Beryl. For both, you just install, and they work. Aero, I have to admit, looks better. But Beryl can be themed, Aero can't, unless you buy StyleXP ($20) to change the theme or be stuck with the default style for God-knows-how-long. And to be truthful, one gets tired of eye-candy after a while.
Mail Client
There’s Windows Mail, which is basically Outlook with a new name and a new look (like almost everything in Vista). Evolution hopelessly outclasses it as things are, and we haven't even started taking into account the exploits that have already been discovered. Anyway, if you have issues with Windows Mail, Micro$oft have put up a page to help, so welcome to the world of going on-line to sort out issues, it is no longer a Linux thing.

Photo Gallery
No contest here, Micro$oft has got a brilliant product in the Photo Gallery, and we have to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. F-Spot Photo Manager which is Ubuntu’s default photo cataloguing/viewing appliation doesn’t hold a candle to Photo Gallery. There's a lot of catching up to do here, in the same way that the GIMP has a lot of catching up to do with Photoshop.

The Shell
The new features in Windows Explorer for Vista include graphical thumbnail previews for any type of files (previously it was just images and videos). But I’ve been using that feature since I migrated to Linux since . . . . almost two years now. In Ubuntu you can preview audio files just by selecting them, text files have the first few words on their icons and obviously images and videos have previews too.
Sidebar
Here we go again, more eye-candy. But who says eye-candy is bad? In my normal Ubuntu installation, I run SuperKaramba. Windows Sidebar is a great application that sports a number of “gadgets” including a calculator, clock, CPU Meter, currency conversion, feed viewer, feed watcher, notes, number puzzle, picture puzzle, recycle bin, slide show, stocks, and an egg timer.

What is an egg timer? Other than that and the RSS Viewer/Watcher, every other thing on the list is available as a gnome panel applet. Like I said earlier, this is a comparison of defaults, so I didn't install KDE in order to run Karamba.

The Usual
These, are not simply features of either Vista or Edgy, but are the basic differences between the Micro$oft and Ubuntu ideologies:

Free and Non-Free
Ubuntu is totally free as is every last bit of software that comes with it by default. Vista, as I’ve already said costs an exorbitant $400 you will have to drop more cash later to buy software for it, starting with Office 2007.

Support
Microsoft gives free professional phone support whereas with Ubuntu, you have to pay for any professional support. But that being said, the forum is not crawling with dimwits, you can sort any problem out there.

Licensing
Ubuntu is yours to do what you want with it as opposed to Vista which can only be re-installed five times. So if you’re a like me who’s constantly experimenting with system hardware and software and may have to re-install constantly (thank God for VMware), you’re out of luck.

Conclusion
There is no conclusion. I know that if I try to write one, I will tell you Vista is worthless and Ubuntu is heaven. Therefore, make up your mind by yourself! :P

Note: There are probably a lot of features in both OS-es that i haven’t mentioned here, but this is a blog post and not a thesis. So I looked just at the stuff I think trips most people.

Chxta · 01-04-2007, 02:36 AM

I normally don't recommend the use of malware, but one can't close one's eyes to the fact that Vista is here, and in a few months, M$ will actively begin the process of forcing users to 'upgrade' to the spyware, so let's see if we can give as much help as we can. First, you have to find if your system will support it.

Micro$oft provides a utility to examine your system and let you know if you need to upgrade anything. You can download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor here. Download and start the install:

Once you launch the application, click the Start Scan button.
Then you’ll sit on this screen for at least a few minutes, while you get to read some of Micro$oft’s marketing crap...

Well, it looks like my computer can run Vista...

But it also looks like I have a few recommended upgrades.

It looks like my video card won’t support the Aero user interface… so even though I can run Vista, I won’t be able to use the cool new GUI...

Oh well. I plan to get a new desktop PC in the next few months anyway, and by that time maybe it’ll be bundled with Vista

12-16-2006, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chxta Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 3rd rock from the Sun Posts: 8,541 Points: 9,667.30 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 9,667.30 Donate Rep Power: 21474863	Vista a review. I have tested vista, but I want you to read the New York Times review first. Take note of the video... __________________ I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.

12-17-2006, 09:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
PALADIN Veteran Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 21,207 Points: 850,540.00 Bank: 45,901,807.25 Total Points: 46,752,347.25 Donate Rep Power: 3359838	I truly love office 2007 sha. Sharepoint went through a major upgrade. __________________ "Illustrious mortality begets immortality" [i]Chif[/

12-18-2006, 06:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
NaijaCandy Playette Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: PRIVILEGED Posts: 3,750 Points: 1,029.25 Bank: 4,064.33 Total Points: 5,093.58 Donate Rep Power: 214786	have it, but I'm hesitant to install a beta... too lazy? I've heard good things but good or bad everybody will get it anyway right? __________________ Utmost Respected Yes, I too am saving myself for Ariya.. so go waste your hot breath on some altoids..

12-19-2006, 01:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
djmightymike Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Festac Town Posts: 8,638 Points: 1,278,100,513.38 Bank: 0.02 Total Points: 1,278,100,513.40 Donate Rep Power: 21474865	I installed a beta 2 version (a free version available to the preview program customers). while most of these werent show stoppers, here are a few things to consider before migrating to Vista - at least for now. Only about 40 percent of Windows XP applications can run without any modification, for example. A good chunk of the remainder require only very slight tweaks. Many of those incompatibilities have already been fixed, either through workarounds put in place by MS or in collaboration with the application's maker. There are still a number of hardware products that don't have drivers. Also, there are plenty of areas where Microsoft hopes to increase the system's performance, notably in the new built-in desktop search capabilities. Overall, i have a good vibe about it since MS has plenty time to patch things up. Sticking with XP for now until SP1 drops Last edited by djmightymike; 12-19-2006 at 01:37 AM..

12-22-2006, 03:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chxta Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 3rd rock from the Sun Posts: 8,541 Points: 9,667.30 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 9,667.30 Donate Rep Power: 21474863	Chxta's World Five years ago, M$ ran 94% of the world's computers. Now it is down to 88%. Things are changing, and I think M$ have shot themselves in the foot with Vista which I have just finished putting through its paces. Vista has been cracked, and tested in a VMware environment. This crack is very clever, nice concept. Vista needs activation? Run your own activation server, in the best spirit of DIY! You can simply create a server in VMware, then create your own Vista machine. What will we do without the internet? As for the market share, I think the key is in games. If there are a lot more games out there that can run well in a Linux environment, people would take the leap. Also there is the factor that most people don't have a choice as to what OS they use. A lot of computers come pre-installed with Windows. Mine for example came with the malware, but thankfully, it has been cured. I heard a story about a guy who got a refund from Dell because he doesn't use Windows. I wish I had known... Before I begin this review, I must make it clear that I tested Vista in a VMware environment, so some of the features may not have worked as well as they could. But hell, at the same time I also installed Edgy in a VMware environment with exactly the same specifications. For fairness of course, so no complaints. Edgy has also been tested (I've been running it for months now). So are we waiting for ? Its show time! What will Vista be able to do for $400 that Edgy cannot do for free ? User Interface It's a straight fight here, Aero vs Beryl. For both, you just install, and they work. Aero, I have to admit, looks better. But Beryl can be themed, Aero can't, unless you buy StyleXP ($20) to change the theme or be stuck with the default style for God-knows-how-long. And to be truthful, one gets tired of eye-candy after a while. Mail Client There’s Windows Mail, which is basically Outlook with a new name and a new look (like almost everything in Vista). Evolution hopelessly outclasses it as things are, and we haven't even started taking into account the exploits that have already been discovered. Anyway, if you have issues with Windows Mail, Micro$oft have put up a page to help, so welcome to the world of going on-line to sort out issues, it is no longer a Linux thing. Photo Gallery No contest here, Micro$oft has got a brilliant product in the Photo Gallery, and we have to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. F-Spot Photo Manager which is Ubuntu’s default photo cataloguing/viewing appliation doesn’t hold a candle to Photo Gallery. There's a lot of catching up to do here, in the same way that the GIMP has a lot of catching up to do with Photoshop. The Shell The new features in Windows Explorer for Vista include graphical thumbnail previews for any type of files (previously it was just images and videos). But I’ve been using that feature since I migrated to Linux since . . . . almost two years now. In Ubuntu you can preview audio files just by selecting them, text files have the first few words on their icons and obviously images and videos have previews too. Sidebar Here we go again, more eye-candy. But who says eye-candy is bad? In my normal Ubuntu installation, I run SuperKaramba. Windows Sidebar is a great application that sports a number of “gadgets” including a calculator, clock, CPU Meter, currency conversion, feed viewer, feed watcher, notes, number puzzle, picture puzzle, recycle bin, slide show, stocks, and an egg timer. What is an egg timer? Other than that and the RSS Viewer/Watcher, every other thing on the list is available as a gnome panel applet. Like I said earlier, this is a comparison of defaults, so I didn't install KDE in order to run Karamba. The Usual These, are not simply features of either Vista or Edgy, but are the basic differences between the Micro$oft and Ubuntu ideologies: Free and Non-Free Ubuntu is totally free as is every last bit of software that comes with it by default. Vista, as I’ve already said costs an exorbitant $400 you will have to drop more cash later to buy software for it, starting with Office 2007. Support Microsoft gives free professional phone support whereas with Ubuntu, you have to pay for any professional support. But that being said, the forum is not crawling with dimwits, you can sort any problem out there. Licensing Ubuntu is yours to do what you want with it as opposed to Vista which can only be re-installed five times. So if you’re a like me who’s constantly experimenting with system hardware and software and may have to re-install constantly (thank God for VMware), you’re out of luck. Conclusion There is no conclusion. I know that if I try to write one, I will tell you Vista is worthless and Ubuntu is heaven. Therefore, make up your mind by yourself! :P Note: There are probably a lot of features in both OS-es that i haven’t mentioned here, but this is a blog post and not a thesis. So I looked just at the stuff I think trips most people. __________________ I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.

01-04-2007, 02:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Chxta Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 3rd rock from the Sun Posts: 8,541 Points: 9,667.30 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 9,667.30 Donate Rep Power: 21474863	I normally don't recommend the use of malware, but one can't close one's eyes to the fact that Vista is here, and in a few months, M$ will actively begin the process of forcing users to 'upgrade' to the spyware, so let's see if we can give as much help as we can. First, you have to find if your system will support it. Micro$oft provides a utility to examine your system and let you know if you need to upgrade anything. You can download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor here. Download and start the install: Once you launch the application, click the Start Scan button. Then you’ll sit on this screen for at least a few minutes, while you get to read some of Micro$oft’s marketing crap... Well, it looks like my computer can run Vista... But it also looks like I have a few recommended upgrades. It looks like my video card won’t support the Aero user interface… so even though I can run Vista, I won’t be able to use the cool new GUI... Oh well. I plan to get a new desktop PC in the next few months anyway, and by that time maybe it’ll be bundled with Vista __________________ I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode