There is a follow-up post to this story: Vista Flavors, This Time for Real
Because choices are good? Or because there would be more money to be milked? Perhaps the victims of having 8 different flavors of Windows Vista are the software vendors, who would have to explain the differences between each edition to their customers.
Here’s a quick rundown of the 8 product editions:
Windows Starter 2007 Windows Vista Starter – This edition does not include the Aero graphical user interface, hence it’s not Vista-branded. And there’s no 64-bit edition, no networking, no Fast User Switching, no DVD Authoring, no gaming common controller support, and no image editing with enhanced touchup, and only three applications/windows are allowed to run simultaneously. Good only for really basic users with low budgets.
Windows Vista Home Basic – This is the true baseline version of Windows Vista; think Windows XP Home Edition. You can expect to find features such as Windows Firewall, Windows Search, Photo Library and etc. However, it doesn’t include the Aero graphical user interface as well. Every other edition below will be based on this edition. Good for general consumers or even the kids.
Windows Vista Home Basic N – Same as the Home Basic Edition, but minus the Windows Media Player. This edition is for the Europeans as they have antitrust rulings against Microsoft which does not allow the player to be bundled.
Windows Vista Home Premium – This edition includes features such as Media Center Extender support, Cable Card support, DVD authoring and Tablet PC functionality. This edition is best suited for notebooks and networked home desktops, but it’s probably insufficient for the geeks.
Windows Vista Business – Analogous to the Windows XP Professional, this will probably be the most widely used edition in corporate environments. This edition allows joining of domains, non-Microsoft networking (Netware, etc), Remote Desktop and Microsoft Windows Web Server. Most geeks and IT professionals will want to go for this edition.
Windows Vista Business N – Just like Home Basic N Edition, this one is meant for the Europeans and comes with no media player.
Windows Vista Enterprise – This edition will come with several new features such as Virtual PC, multi-language user interface (MUI) and Secure Startup (BitLocker Drive Encryption).
Windows Vista Ultimate – This one is going to be the most expensive, most feature-packed, and perhaps the most pirated edition of Vista. It’ll include new and unique features such as Game Performance Tweaker, Podcast creation utility, online “Club” services and privileged product support. This edition will be perfect for Windows fanboys.
So which one’s for you?
February 20th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
“So which one’s for you?”
Too complicated, I think I’ll stick with Linux.
February 20th, 2006 at 11:44 pm
I think vista is the thing that will finally push me over to Linux or perhaps even mac. not much of a gamer so there really isn’t much binding me to windows.
February 21st, 2006 at 2:00 am
I’ll stick with the ultimate version. It’s better and cheap..eruumm.free!
February 21st, 2006 at 3:21 am
Windows Vista Business
“Most geeks and IT professionals will want to go for this edition.”
No, I have this gut feeling that most geeks and IT professionals will, by the time this “lineup” finally ships, will be quite eager to go for Linux.
There are different distributions of Linux, sure, but most differences revolve around package management and installation method; you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Linux out there that restricts how many applications a user can run at one time to three.
February 21st, 2006 at 5:20 am
Replace “Business” with “Pro” and you’d be correct as to the eight Client SKUs. There are also four Server SKUs.
February 21st, 2006 at 8:16 am
OMG I can’t wait!!! When’s it coming out?!
Ultimate FTW!
February 21st, 2006 at 8:22 am
8 thats alot. No one is forcing you to go to vista, I think ill stick with XP
February 21st, 2006 at 8:23 am
[Comment ID #1474 Will Be Quoted Here]
We don’t know for sure yet. But Microsoft invites everyone to make a guess and we could win a little something.
February 21st, 2006 at 9:01 am
[Comment ID #1469 Will Be Quoted Here]
Only the Starter Edition will limit to 3 open windows and will only be in third world countries that have poor economies. Now its not known for sure if it will have that limitation. Either way, who cares they are releasing it because there was a market for it with XP.
As for Linux, the average consumer will find the number of distributions to be a lot more confusing. It doesn’t matter if most of the Linux distros are similar. The fact is there are dozens of different distros and not many of them have words to indicate what market it is targeting. What I mean by that is having an indication of Home or Business.
Now of those 8 Windows Vistas, only 3 will apply to average consumers in North America. They are Home, Home Premium, and Ultimate. That is pretty damn clear to my parents who are terrible at buying electronics.
February 21st, 2006 at 9:07 am
[Comment ID #1475 Will Be Quoted Here]
Actually, they are. Soon after it’s release, xp products will stop being suported, just like with Win 98. Games, like the Halo 2 port, have already anounced that they will be for Vista only.
Also, cutting edge software, like video editing and 3d rendering and such, that are 64bits, will be Vista compatible only.
Basicly, wether you’re a person who doesn’t care much about your OS, or you’re broke, you’re fucked either way. I imagine that Mirosoft will also tighten up on their anti-piracy measures, and become, how do you say, “proactive” in their crusade against it.
February 21st, 2006 at 9:24 am
No Windows for me, no matter how many editions they have. I am moving over to Mac OSX
February 21st, 2006 at 9:25 am
[Comment ID #1465 Will Be Quoted Here]
Right… So which flavour of Linux to use???
February 21st, 2006 at 10:51 am
yep im going to stick with dapper.
February 21st, 2006 at 11:07 am
if you can decide that ultimate will be the best choise for anyone even if you dont use it eventualy someone that uses your computer will wanna run some games and stuff on it and you might wanna do some remote acess and stuff its gonna have it all i dont think its a hard choice even tho most people that dont know about pc’s are gonna end up with the home edition ultamite would probably be the best choice. as for linux i dunno and mac is going intel based soo its like youll be able to install the mac os on any pc which its kinad a good and bad move for mac but well see what happens cant say yet its going to suck i saw the ces presentation it was really cool
February 21st, 2006 at 11:14 am
What ever happened to the one fucking version of windows? i mean come on, eight versions is just crazy. just ship two versions: Vista and Vista N.
im gonna have to go for the ultamate here… all i have are PCs that support windows and i DESPISE the layout and usage of linux
February 21st, 2006 at 11:32 am
I’ll probably fork over the cash for ultimate on my windows machine. I use OSX for most everything, but windows is still where it’s at for games and media, and ultimate has the potential (after a service pack or two) to be for my entertainment needs what OSX is for my educational and business needs. I’d probably just pirate it, except with the new windows genuine crap it’s almost not worth the hassle to have an illegit copy.
February 21st, 2006 at 11:54 am
[Comment ID #1480 Will Be Quoted Here]
Don’t be so sure! 98 was abandoned because it’s a different platform then NT and every software had to be made two ways: 9x/ME and NT … and now comes the 3rd way… .NET! That “cutting edge software” that you’re refering to isn’t made by MS… if I compare Vista with XP… well, XP wins in resource management and speed! If you look at nLite, that is one little piece of software that’s worth having and using… and like most software developers, they will support older versions of NT based Windows because most of us, aprox. 90%, WILL NOT BE USING VISTA GARBAGE!!! Most of us will use Vista just out of curiosity, but after that… we’ll get back to XP and/or Linux.
February 21st, 2006 at 12:08 pm
We all know windows doesn’t come with real software already installed. I’ll stick with the 15,000 packages in debian thanks. Never will i buy a Microsoft os. When i have the freedom to choose I don’t like some huge company trying to take it away. When you buy and install Vista you will no longer own your hardware. Same thing with a mac if i want to buy drm crippled hardware I id buy from dell or apple and if i didn’t i would build my own and put debian on it.
February 21st, 2006 at 12:51 pm
I think I’ll use the one that I can download for free first and probably the most expensive as I refuse to pay a cent to Microsoft. Have to use Windows cause all the applications I use run on Windows. The day I can use the same applications on a machine running Linux, I’ll switch over. As for using XP it sounds nice, but in the long run we’ll have to switch over if we want it or not.
February 21st, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Am sure that i’ll be using the ultimate edition.. :p
February 21st, 2006 at 1:00 pm
[Comment ID #1494 Will Be Quoted Here]
Yes, you can. There are Windows emulators such as VMWare and Wine that will allow you to run windows applications on linux. Even some games work with them.
February 21st, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Hmmm, which vista will be mine. Thats a doozie. Let me think. (next person answers) Oo Oo Oo, let me answer it. This is easy, even a child could answer it. Hell a 6 year old would even know the answer to this question. Every one at home is gonna have the Ultimate version, duhh. laugh at this, hehe, i did when i wrote it.
February 21st, 2006 at 1:37 pm
The morons have arrived with their dumb comments “I wont be using vista” blah blah. Just like when windows XP was released you had a gang of people who hated it but eventually they went over to XP, just like you will.
February 21st, 2006 at 2:14 pm
I think you people are unconsious, LINUX!!!!!!! what is it ? penguin? or a bird? I think VISTA is a great move to higher technology that coops with the coming future, if someone wants to hate computers, go feed the penguin:)
February 21st, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Why did they even make those other versions, everyone will end up getting ultimate coz no one will want to buy the second grade versions of vista…
February 21st, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Why is it that most linux users are communists? Down with the corperations!!! I want my free software!!!
February 21st, 2006 at 8:25 pm
How come americans are so against communism? Anyway, My problem is that my computer is mainly for games so linux ain’t a real choice for me. I think it’s stupid having all these versions when half of them are the same but with one or two extra progs. Sooner or later someone will release a crack for the cheapo one which will allow you to run more progs anyway. I think I’ll stick with XP pro. Does any one have any idea what price range each of them will be?
“Why do americans call their language ENGLISH??? It’s Corrupt. It’s AMERICAN!!! Centre NOT center. Colour NOT color. Why do american believe they are the guardians of the world!! p.s. When I say americans I am talking about their government and that dickhead, Bush” – Someone from my college
February 21st, 2006 at 9:00 pm
[Comment ID #1500 Will Be Quoted Here]
if someone hates computers they’ll install windows vista, sure the transparancies on the aero theme are neat but nothing you cant do on xp with the correct software, i’ll wait for the final product to comment but i have the current beta on one machine and its bloated, laggy and alot worse in my opinion than xp, and a hell of alot worse than linux.
viva la penguin!
February 21st, 2006 at 9:01 pm
[Comment ID #1487 Will Be Quoted Here]
fork out the cash, you should be ashamed of yourself………… looser
February 21st, 2006 at 10:36 pm
Vista will rocks all OS in market. I don’t know how people can use crap OS as Linux, it hasn’t any funcionality, or is user firendly.
Fuc*** Linux and OSX
Microsoft FOREVER
February 21st, 2006 at 11:40 pm
Alright, to answer some questions, Vista ~WILL~ replace XP for many applications. This is because DirectX is now integrated as a main component of the OS, instead of a seperate set of executables like in previous Windows releases. That means that rather than use Windows code for sound processing (or video, network, and even I/O processing) And then initialize DirectX to allow accelleration of the audio, now DirectX just handles it all. It basically replaces most the OS.
If you play games, expect all post-Vista releases to only work on Vista. 20-30% of slowdown in games comes from the buffer between Windows and DirectX, so naturally the speed boost of pure DirectX will make the old setup obsolete. Not to mention that game devs hate to re-write game code, and there’s a lot to rewrite in a Vista-to-XP port. Put simply, Vista is the gaming OS of choice.
As for those of you saying the Beta sucks, I agree. It’s a beta, remember that. It’s not optimized for anything yet, has poorly written drivers, and few applications run when Vista tries to convert them to the DirectX system. I expect that all of this will be fixed by full release, as they are easily solved problems. Hell, if you’ve played the game FEAR you’d know that the demo crawled from inefficiencies, but the full game was a lot faster.
Then there’s the Linux and OSX guys. I use both regularly. I don’t like them as much as Windows, but they work fine. Nothing wrong there. Vista, however, works on a totally new level of standards. If there were a true next-gen of OS’s, Vista would be the only one in that category, like the xBox 360 is doing on console markets. (On a counter-note, I hate the 360, lol.) The simplicity of OSX was awesome for last generation, and the free open-source of Linux is always a huge plus, but they just can’t hold a candle to the functionallity, refined process handling, and soon-to-be wide application range of Vista. Show me a next-gen Mac OS, or a Linux that runs EVERYTHING, DirectX apps included, and they’ll hapily be residing as my second OS anyday. Right now I’m sticking with XP and Vista.
February 22nd, 2006 at 2:48 am
okay now.
am i the only one who sais that i will use a crippled, cheapo version, packed with FREE open source and “unofficial” patches?
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:24 am
Wow! I guess they are trying to chase us off to patronize someone else. Please get smart and stick to only one version!!!
February 22nd, 2006 at 4:52 am
The only thing I need is the browser, which is still not as good as Firefox or Opera.
I still need to install at least a couple of free toolbars like Google and Absolutetoobar to get a decent browser.
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:03 am
[Comment ID #1465 Will Be Quoted Here]
The only thing I need is the browser, which is still not as good as Firefox or Opera.
I still need to install at least a couple of free toolbars like Google and Absolutetoobar to get a decent browser.
February 22nd, 2006 at 6:58 am
I hope that Microsoft will release a virtual PC for Mac with Windows Vista Extensions so that I can move on to a Mac and still play Halo 2. It is absolutely ludicrous that Microsoft will abandon their clientele by not offering support and updates for their former products. When you run a business, you don’t leave your customer high and dry. They are there because we buy their product. Boycott their lame product until they appreciate us, the ones who keep them in business. Unlike municipal utilities, we can control who we get our services from and our operating system should be up to us. Microsoft does NOT know best. For all of you poor mac lovers who are stuck with a PC, go to http://www.osx.portraitofakite.com and fix your PC.
February 22nd, 2006 at 7:04 am
What Windows Vista REALLY Means to the Open PC Platform
I’ve been a dedicated Microsoft Windows user for the past several years, now. However, I like to consider myself platform-neutral, since I’m comfortable using Apple and Linux based computers.
Open PC Platform:
Let’s get back to basics for a few seconds and discuss what an “open PC platform” is. An open PC platform is one where ANYONE can buy off-the-shelf PC hardware components and build their own PC – mixing, matching, and upgrading hardware at their own discretion. Moreover, depending on the PC architecture one chooses, the user has the option of installing one of various operating systems (OS) to suit their needs.
Microsoft Windows:
Microsoft Windows, to a fair extent, has embraced and leveraged the open PC platform in its mission to dominate the world’s PC market (this is one of the main reasons why Apple’s computers, which are relatively closed systems, have never been able to gain a market share large enough to compete with Microsoft). Windows users, up to Windows 98, have enjoyed this freedom to custom configure, swap, and upgrade their components. However, with the introduction of Windows XP, Microsoft decided it would be a good idea to protect their OS from unauthorized duplication by tying its installation with the CPU, motherboard, and hard drive serial numbers and requiring online registration.
Microsoft’s DRM Direction for Windows Vista (aka Longhorn):
As I’ve stated before, most of the DRM Microsoft is introducing in its future OS release is designed to appease the MPAA and RIAA. It turns out that having only a software based DRM solution, in their eyes, is not sufficient for the playback of copy-protected content on a PC. Content owners are demanding both a software and hardware DRM solution before they are comfortable letting digital works play on a PC. (Remember, though, that 90% of what people use their computers for are commonplace tasks like: writing e-mail, surfing the Web, word processing, finances, and gaming.)
So what does this mean? The open platform PC you have grown to love is inevitably going to disappear (at least for Windows users). Here’s what my crystal ball shows me (see Media Advances for the Windows PC Architecture, The Four Musketeers, and Intel to cut Linux out of the content market):
In order to have a trusted/secure computer for the playback of premium digital content, computer owners will be required to have the following certified, DRM-embedded hardware: CPU, motherboard, hard drive, graphics card, sound card, and monitor (yes, even the monitor).
Microsoft Overview: Windows Longhorn Output Content Protection:
Protected Video Path (PVP) provides encryption of premium content as it passes over the user-accessible PCIe bus to discrete graphics cards. It uses Diffie Hellman to establish a session key and seeded hardware functionality scan (HFS) for authentication, and an AES 128-bit counter mode and an optional high-bandwidth cipher to encrypt the data.
Output protection management (OPM) provides secure control of the various output protection schemes such as High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), Macrovision, CGMS-A, and resolution constrictors. It uses a simpler form of HFS for authentication and requires content industry robustness rules to be met for hardware implementations. [Note: OPM is incompatible with most monitors sold today. Joe Wilcox explains, "People with non-supported monitors would not be able to play certain types of content, presumably high-definition, at all or full quality."]
Protected User-Mode Audio (PUMA) is the user-mode audio engine (completely new for Windows Longhorn) that runs in the software protected environment. PUMA also includes the same level of audio output protection management that Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) provides in Windows XP, but it is done in a completely different way and takes advantage of the Windows Longhorn software PE.
Protected Audio Path (PAP) is a longer term project to introduce audio encryption all the way to the audio codec chips.
Significant hardware features must be implemented in graphics chips for Windows Longhorn to support PVP and OPM, with additional larger implications for the drivers. This session provides an overview of those requirements.
The bottom line is that if you decide to swap out one of the above mentioned hardware items with a non-certified component, the system will be crippled, or worse, unable to boot! That’s the impression I’m getting. On top of that, I can see the scenario where you’ll have to update your registration with Microsoft every time you change a component – unless your computer can talk to an online Microsoft hardware database that can give the computer the green light to claim itself a “protected environment” once it checks in.
My other concern is with software developers. If Microsoft is disabling software that circumvents copy-protection, how about software that uses codecs that Microsoft doesn’t deem secure? Or how about PVR companies like SnapStream, will they be put out of commission on Windows machines because Microsoft certified hardware won’t allow their software to access broadcast or premium content being played through the computer unless they use Microsoft’s DRM technologies? (Say bye, bye to your DivX TV show recordings.)
Streaming Content over the Home Network:
Chris Lanier, in his forum comments to my previous post, notes that the PC is the center of digital home experience and that by using only stand-alone devices to gather and share content from, consumers will get “a lot less interoperability.” Both are valid points, but both issues can be easily addressed with interoperable DRM (which I’ve been pushing for) that can be played back on any device regardless of OS platform and integrating UPnP functionality.
Conclusion:
My thoughts are that DRM is a necessary evil, but that PC users shouldn’t have to give up their open PC platform to accommodate secure media playback functionality. If the content creators are so bent on having a locked down system, then maybe Microsoft should consider selling a locked down media center PC to consumers that will offer CE product security, but will be able to share and stream content securely (say, using DTCP-IP or CGMS-A) to other devices and networked computers. Unfortunately, that prospect is not in the cards. Microsoft wants to make ALL future computers “protected environments,” like it or not – most likely for the reason that computers are becoming a commodity. “Why upgrade when you can buy a new computer?” is their reasoning. As to how consumers are going to react to these changes, we’ll have to wait and see. But I, for one, will think long and hard before continuing down Microsoft’s upgrade path.
I WOULD BY A PLAYSTATION 3
February 22nd, 2006 at 7:08 am
You tards don’t realize that there was a large market that Windows XP could not explore because there was only 2 versions, both of which bundled the exact same programs and hardware requirements. Most of the versions of Vista are for certain markets, with only 3 that will be focused on the US core audience. One is for Europe with their retarded antitrust shit, which basically takes out windows media player, dumb ass europeans. One is for poor countries who need a very cheap product with very limited functionality, no mp3 collections in Rwanda. There are 3 business versions of the software, if you cannot figure out which ones you should probably stick to your linux so all of your buddies can think you are “cool”. That leaves Home, HomePremium, and Ultimate. So when you go to Best Buy with your mother to pick up your copy and the pimpled faced loser sales clerk asks you what you want to do with your computer, even he will be able to choose an appropriate copy for you. If you are a Grandparent or really a parent of any kind, most likely Home will be enough. If you are gonna want to connect it to a home network and share files with your xbox or maybe write some DVDs, Home Premium will be what you are looking for. And of course, if you are also a pimpled faced loser, you will most likely choose Ultimate. I know I sure will.
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:25 am
I dont like windows vista its totally flop. Next time i will never make such type of things.
February 22nd, 2006 at 2:23 pm
What GAZ went ranting about, Digital Rights Mamagement (DRM) systems, isn’t as he stated/thinks. Vista does have support for DRM, but not a requirement. They know that less than 10% of the US and Europe has the required hardware, so they are leaving it optional to the user. If you want to listen to a DRM protected song, you’ll have to buy a DRM enabled CPU and audio card, but nothing else. Want to watch a DRM protected movie? Now you need to buy a graphics card and/or monitor. You only need to upgrade those hardware components which you need. On top of that, no DRM standard has been established, so you might only need to buy a special motherboard and nothing else. Until DRM systems find an easy standard, there will probably not be hardware-based DRM anyway. Not to mention DRM may never actually work or become popular, in which case no hardware would need to be bought at all.
As for the probable life of DRM, I say it will go the way of the self-destructing DVD. It was proposed that rental stores use DVD’s that only work for X number of hours/uses, then destroy the data on their own. It never stuck because it was too inconvenient and expensive for the stores and also for the user, as some proposed standards required the user to buy a special DVD player (sound familiar?). I predict the same will happen to (most) DRM systems. It’s extremely inconvenient to have to renew subscriptions to media files just to listen to/watch them, and then upgrade subscriptions to use the files on a second device. Also, you won’t be buying a copy of a song/movie/game/whatever. You’ll be renting it for all eternity. That gets too expensive for the average person. Convenience and cheap pricing are the two basic selling points in new product types, and DRM simply doesn’t have either. It will probably die off and another protection system will come into popular view.
Seconding the death of DRM is the right to reproduce copyrighted content legally in two cases: personal use and free use.
Personal use states that one may make a single copy of anything for backup purposes, and the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 2000 adds in that one may also make copies for uses that transcend the original media. That means that you can make a single backup CD in case the original gets scratched or something, and you can copy the CD onto your hard drive or iPod in order to use it on the new medium.
Free use states that one may make as many copies as necessary in order to facilitate an educational, research, legal, artistic, or critical need. This means that if you were giving a speech on a movie, you could copy or rip the movie in order to use it in your presentation. After the presentation, you have to destroy the copy. Similarly, you could be researching compression styles, filing a legal claim against movie violence, re-creating the movie for a film project, or reviewing the movie and still be able to use as many copies as you need for the duration of the project.
The reason I bring this up is that no currently proposed DRM standard allows for either of these legal terms of copy usage. In fact, most of the big supporters of DRM (MPAA, RIAA, etc.) are saying that personal use is a farce and doesn’t exist. They usually back that up by saying that the Copyright Act of (I think) 1908 states that you aren’t buying content, but rather the container holding it. By their definition, you aren’t buying a movie, but a disc of foil and plastic. If you wanted to rip that movie to your hard drive, you are legally bound to buy a seperate version for hard drive use. What they don’t say is that this was made invalid in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 2000. It updated the law to state that you own the right of copy for a single copy of the content. You are effectively buying a one-time-use copyright from the content creator. From this, derivitive copies may be made to facilitate certain needs, which are those listed previously. Since DRM stops your legal right to create legal derivitive copies, it is technically illegal. Yet congress decided to make a special ruling that DRM should be treated like a rental service, giving it freedom to prevent copying.
I don’t know about you, but If I shell out $30 for a movie or $50 for a game, and I don’t actually own it, then I’d start boycotting DRM “subscriptions” immediately. Once everyone starts using DRM systems and finds this out, they most likely will refuse it as well, thus ending the life of DRM. Sorry for another long post, but my two cents happens to weigh a few pounds, if you know what I mean.
February 23rd, 2006 at 1:19 am
[Comment ID #1481 Will Be Quoted Here]
Mac screws you over more than windows. Mac comes out with a new update in the core almost every month and you need to pay to get the new edition. Then they stop supporting the older versions so your stuck with no new software until you cave in and pay the hundred someodd dollars to upgrade.
February 23rd, 2006 at 5:30 am
Buttersworth, there are many things that America did to revolt and differentiate themselves due to the repression that the Brits invoked on them during colonial days. Holding a fork in the left hand to cut with and then transferring it to the right hand to eat with, spelling differences as pointed out above, and later even driving on the opposite side of the road. But maybe they should call it American, it is a different “dialect”.
I agree that the US sticks their nose in world business where it may not belong, but on the other hand there are certain circumstances that cannot go unchallenged in the world today. Among others, Britian was behind the allied force against Saddam. Ehh…my two cents worth. Oh, if you happen to get a freebee copy of Vista, I bet http://www.autopatcher.com will help with those updates Microsoft won’t let you get. Peace and rock on.
February 23rd, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Hey Thomas youre a typical bloody american tryin to undermine every other bloody nationality get a life u fat american prick. Europeans are far more advance than americans reason being we have the ability to get our arses out of our chairs and do something about it. I seem to recall that whenever america wishes to go to war they call upon us british to help them out. I dont ever recall britain doing this. So next time put down ure wendy burger and think b4 u slag off other countries and continents!
February 24th, 2006 at 12:13 am
*Ahem* World War 2 *Ahem*
The storming of northern European beachfronts like Omaha would have never been possible without the American troops used. England would have been stranded on their own land fending off bombers for the rest of the war if we didn’t help re-establish a mutual frontline We were late into the European front of the war, but we did make a difference. Whatever happened to that teamwork we established back then, anyway?
I’m not saying America is a better country. In fact, America has it’s flaws (like calling itself America instead of the United States? lol) and those flaws are very bad at that. Like with our congress making a special exception in law for DRM protection in songs and movies, simply because congress favors our motion picture and recording industries more than it favors the rights of our people. Oh, and Americans are also statistically overweight in general, so if you want to make fun of us in general there’s some truth to calling us fat I guess.
February 24th, 2006 at 3:27 am
I’ll choose the ultimate one, of course! Best of the best!
February 25th, 2006 at 4:15 am
Dan, not all Americans are lazy and fat. Just like not all Brits scrape their noses in the sky thinking they are above everybody else. If we, meaning human kind, didn’t make generalizations about people the world would be a lot better off. It’s not fair to judge a people based on the actions of their governing body. I’ve never been to Europe, but would still like to go even knowing that many of “them” share your point of view. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet a fair share of Euro’s here in the States and I liked most of them, but not all. Just as I like most Americans, but not all. We’re all people with a lot in common…most of us just want to have a peaceful, happy life.
February 25th, 2006 at 4:23 am
Why so many versions ?! =S
Just go Windows Vista – Basic (N) and Buisness (N)
Putting out 8, is probebly a bad marketing choice.
If there isn’t gonna be a pirated version I’ll stick with XP =D
February 25th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
No, because asshat lawsuits are forcing them to make more versions. One with Media player, one without etc.
If MS had the option, they would probably stick with about 3 like XP. A simpleton version for the idiots, a pro version for the rest of us, with a business version for companies.
They allow the likes of Apple to bundle in what they want, but not MS? Double standards anyone?
February 26th, 2006 at 8:52 am
Windows Vista will be like windows XP pritty on the out side shit on the inside… at first ull think its all nice then it’ll start skrewing with you ur head and then they’ll bring out a few updates n patch someshit that u didnt even know you had a few years down the track a NOTHER version of windows will come out to rape you some more….. me ill stick with xp…. its just getting to the stage now were you’ll just have to UPGRADE ur system to run your os, id like to see the min requirement for the ultimate…. if xp needs 512 ram to run properly wtf is vista gonna need??? all most people need is something what is gonna do what they want when they want how they want ( for this use linux) stick with what you can afford thats what i say and if u can get vista for free great for you but remember to share
February 27th, 2006 at 4:29 am
What kind of a monster have we created? Damn you microsoft! Damn you to hell!!!!
I have seen reviews of vista, and the file storage system is attrocious. Goodbye obscurely named files, because this system works similar to the search tool in your start menu. The file is stored somewhere decided by the OS and you’re only means of retrieving it is a puny search tool. Added support for filesize mean nothing.
I think this may be the beginning of MacOSX for me. I have seen it’s performance and I was impressed.
I would even prefer to take the leap to Linux rather than use this piece of shit. Red tape and boundries wherever you step “Windows vista could not boot because you are supected of using pirated hardware, the authorities have been notified and will arrive shortly”
Cya later windows you ungrateful company, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT
February 27th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
[Comment ID #1504 Will Be Quoted Here]
So your friend is another America-basher. Woop-tee-doo. Colour, armour, centre, etc, are all old forms of the words. Languages evolve, so those words, among others, have changed. All those “English” fellows over in Britain, England, what have you… I can’t understand a damn word they’re saying. But I have nothing against them. Get over our differences, already. These arguments are old.
Also, so are the Windows/Linux arguments. Use what you want and stop bitching.
February 28th, 2006 at 1:29 am
Hmm…I think I will stick with linux as well…
I will however pirate a copy of vista whenever I feel like testing it out
I guess its really only about the $$$ for mr gates
March 19th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
[Comment ID #1476 Will Be Quoted Here]
it is already out and I have it..man its good and fast to load
April 2nd, 2006 at 2:05 am
idiots they should just freakin make one GOOD VERSION of vista, instead they make 8 different ones that are all missing things. weak.
May 3rd, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Ill just wait for the torrent
May 13th, 2006 at 10:50 am
tell me if there is anything new pls..
seriously speaking MUI has been around since beta 2 of whistler … starter edition from year 2004 in brazil stores
N edition I ve read some reviews on 2005 .. m$ had trouble with european judges that don’t have two doors way windows on their house
Will it be ready on 2007?? stick this post on the real world … i.e whateverblogaboutlinux.com
June 10th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I can’t wait to get my hands on the ultimate edition.
I like the wireless networking and firewall profiles support in Beta 2 version.
Clearly going in the right direction. But most computers will not be able to run it as it requires a lot of juice.
June 17th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
I would like to add that while there is all this hype about vista and so many people are more than willing to move to mac or linux – what about Google?
I know it is nowhere near 100% sure but there is a lot of hype around the first Google OS.
Now personally – although it would be their first real OS – I’m pretty sure they will make a splendid job of it if it does come through.
And i know i would be more than willing to use a Google OS over windows if it’s decent.
Think about that….
July 6th, 2006 at 6:40 am
ill use vista… i use an Alien Ware CPU so im only in this for gaming,flash, and
internet… if it can give me that then HALLELUJAH!!!!
July 7th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
How many of you people are actually going to buy vista?, I’m not, what for, just pirate it, and now with apple using intel chips, you can dual boot to windows and mac osx so you can get best of both(With the right hardware ofcourse), i no thats what i’m gonna do!
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:35 pm
—evilkittypiro says:
As for the probable life of DRM, I say it will go the way of the self-destructing DVD. It was proposed that rental stores use DVD’s that only work for X number of hours/uses, then destroy the data on their own. It never stuck because it was too inconvenient and expensive for the stores and also for the user, as some proposed standards required the user to buy a special DVD player (sound familiar?). I predict the same will happen to (most) DRM systems. It’s extremely inconvenient to have to renew subscriptions to media files just to listen to/watch them, and then upgrade subscriptions to use the files on a second device. Also, you won’t be buying a copy of a song/movie/game/whatever. You’ll be renting it for all eternity. That gets too expensive for the average person. Convenience and cheap pricing are the two basic selling points in new product types, and DRM simply doesn’t have either. It will probably die off and another protection system will come into popular view.—
this made me think of all those 19.95 games on shockwave, etc…. you don’t get a disc, just a code. i don’t like it, i want hard copies of everything!
and does anyone remember windows 98 and 98se? i think i’ll wait until it screws up everyone elses computers first, then get the upgrade, if i do at all. this is sounding a little scary….
November 25th, 2006 at 1:56 am
While MS and Windows may be an EZ targe with all its (their) faults…. I am taking the EZ route and moving to Vista. If you follow what is happening in the rest of the world…and have half a brain… you realize that protection of intellectual content … and improvement on those techniques will be critical to continued performance of the U.S. economy…
We have lost manufacturing to China, contact centers to India, clothing to Malaysia, Autos and LCDs to Japan and Korea… etc.
Protection of what we can create intellectually is our last hope for improving the position and life for our kids and grandkids…
OK… so much for pontificating… M
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:40 am
Ahhh come on, everyone that knows what he’s doing on a computer will get a pirated version on a bittorrent somewhere. Buying is for corporations not for consummers. Who buys Office these days? lol…
Gonna get ultimate from somewhere when it comes out named MEGA- FULL VERSION VISTA ULTIMATE – by VoXor-rolfcopter.rar
April 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
ill use vista… i use an Alien Ware CPU so im only in this for gaming,flash, and
internet… if it can give me that then great
June 24th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Vista is just a shit. I will not buy it EVER. It is a copycat of old versions of Mac. It is using the same icons of Mac and got the idea of gadgets from Mac also.
“Redmond has a cat too, a copycat”
July 21st, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Simple: If you are a gamer, wait a year before picking it up.
If you are not a gamer then by all means grab it. It has some cool features in it.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Ugh, one version is too many. I tried Vista and immediately went back to XP.
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:45 am
I have both the Ultimate and Business (since I got it free from school), but I’m still liking my XP.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:13 pm
If only one of the 8 versions was actually good :/
November 12th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
hey guys,i’m having problem for update my window..i duno how to look for it any1 know plz tell me
December 11th, 2007 at 4:37 am
If only one of those 8 flavors was actually good. Windows Vista is just not worth it.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:04 am
i don’t really have a problem with vista. but i think 8 is too many
February 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
[Comment ID #95782 Will Be Quoted Here]
As a user of Vista on a Mac, I have to agree, at least in a couple of aspects. But to say that Vista is a complete rip-off of OS X is absurd. The crash screen (which I rarely see) is still blue, as opposed to the black and gray kernel panic screen on a Mac (which I also rarely see).
[Comment ID #202190 Will Be Quoted Here]
QFT. I’m using Business, which is good because I do all my media stuff in OS X (what with Front Row and all), but it’s still not that great. What the f**k was Microsoft thinking, not including drive encryption in the BUSINESS version of Windows?
[Comment ID #5193 Will Be Quoted Here]
I bought my copy of Windows, not because I feel like I should pay for any of Redmond’s excreta, but because it’s the ethical thing to do. I pay for Apple’s software, so why not pay for Microsoft’s as well?