We shall have to agree to disagree about Vista, Kona - I like it and you're not too fond of it - but no to worry, when all is said and done, we're just a couple of ordinary blokes who enjoy frequenting 'personal computing' discussions.



Me too...a bit over 5 years or so, and what a learning curve it has been...always interesting, frequently fun....sometimes frustrating.

I began with 98SE, but upgraded to XP Home within a few weeks due to the better security and functions it offered. A couple of years ago I upgraded to XP Professional cos I desired an 'elevated status' and found the 'Upgrade' on special for just AU$90.00 (normally $360ish).

Being a hardware/software upgrade junkie, the next natural step for me was an upgrade to Vista...of the Ultimate variety, and I've not looked back since. I find Vista to be faster, more stable and easier to use....as in, it don't crash every time I manage to cock something up.

Hey Gideon - I have and do use Linux - heck I use all of them - it really is hard to compare one to another - hardware makes such a difference - as well as what you do with your computer - business apps or really getting behind the curtain as to what makes this thing tick.

I guess my position on all this is use what you like - and as long as it is done in fun then fight for your brand...have fun with it...and at the end of the day...it really is just a computer.

Oh man - I have GOT to get me one of those!! I like how you think!

In my book, Vista is over. I'm typing this on a freshly formatted machine reverted to XP after suffering 6 months of hell in Vista.

Its an arrogant user-hostile OS. M$ for some reason thinks that when you put Vista on your computer, they have the right to tell you how you should do things, and that somehow they bought controlling stock on YOUR machine. Have I got news for them.

That plus the system is so fragile that an AIM update can take the system apart. Just Google "AIM 6.5 Vista problems". Anything that flimsy and arrogant had to go. If they stop supporting XP before Vista's replacement comes out I'm off to buy a Mac.

A USB missile launcher. Now that's something I gotta have!   

Did you think the problems could be from the AIM , it's not like AOL. isn't a HOG..
I had problems with the AIM (after the beta update) be none before that. I just figured it is something that AOL has to fix. Time will tell....

At present, while I dual boot Vista and XP, I'm now running Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon on an external drive to evaluate/play with it prior to installing it proper on my other box when it arrives next Jan/Feb.

Yeah, there's a bit to get used to, and there's a learning curve that's different to Vista's, but I'm enjoying it thus far and will report back with my thoughts/opinion when I'm a lot more qualified/experienced in its use....but so far so good.



Now this is one thing I am not happy about with Vista...Microsoft's decision to impose its will with regard to Stardock changing Windowblinds and Iconpackager, etc, skins storage to the Public Documents Folder. Supposedly, the argument is to make the skins accessible to all users, but to me that is a crock of sh!t. First of all, why does MS assume there are any other users on my PC, that I'd even let anyone else use it?

Secondly, I am the Administrator of MY PC, so I should be the one who decides on the storage on MY skins and downloads, whether or not I allow other users...and if I do, whether or not I want them to have access to MY skins, etc.

Microsoft overstepped the boundaries here big time...it assumed wrongly! There are NO other users on MY PC...nor will there ever be, and it had NO effing right to make decisions regarding MY property. The hardware is mine, the 3rd party software is mine by virtue of the licenses with developers, etc...and the OS is mine to use as I see fit within and by virtue of the terms of the EULA I entered into with MS. However it did NOT originally include proviso for MS to stick its nose into my personal affairs or designate itself Administrator of MY HDD space or the files contained thereon. That changed after the fact and it is patently wrong.

Frankly, the whole debacle is piss poor and I'm rather disappointed that Stardock caved in to MS' demands, that we, as Stardock's bread and butter, were not consulted...even notified that it was being done

Saw it for 179.00 (OEM) a moment ago... but the economics are more than just the cost of a new install. I think that's why a lot of companies prefer to wait, too.

Think that's a lot...here in Oz a full version of Vista Ultimate is AU$754 RRP, the upgrade is around $580, and the OEM is $330 RRP...The 3 Home Premium prices (on average) are $180 less per each issue. Last time I looked and did my math regarding the USD -AUD exchange rate, it worked out to be we were paying the equivalent of the US price plus 24%

I got my OEM of Ultimate for AU$320, but I got a great deal on the hardware I purchased with it, so I'm not complaining cos the overall cost was quite reasonable.

Same thing happened with XP. Most companies didn't have it till SP2. They are always slow in the adoption of a new OS, ALWAYS.

Anyone interested, here is a video about Windows 7 (internal codename) and the MinWin (codename) kernel.

WARNING: It is 1+ hour in length and ~143.2 MB and quite a bore if you're not into details

this is the first time I've tried to embed a link so I hope it works...

WWW Link

I would say it will be quite a while before Vista is used in business applications.

One of the reasons that I have had conversation on with some System Admins. is there are too many things a user can do with Vista that would affect workstation stability - especially with Dreams and sidebar issues. Another issue is - it would be a real challenge to really shut down all the openings in Vista from a security standpoint. Just a matter of time until the sidebar gadgets are hacked allowing open access.

From a personal perspective though it is a blast to play with!

This isn't the first time I've read this...a while back another article referred to the same security issues, particularly with sidebar gadgets that can access the net.

The article went further to say that lost productivity was another issue businesses had concerns with, being Vista offers more/greater distractions for employees to waste time with. Personally, I think that if employees desire to be distracted from their work duties, they will find ways regardless of the OS/what's on it. An active browser and internet connection can...will do it every time.