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Stories and comments across the archive that link to microsoft.com.

Comments · 34,132

  1. It's crazy, what they think you need. by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a WDDM Driver. Wonder how much the SDK for that will cost.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  2. It's crazy, what they think you need. by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a WDDM Driver. Wonder how much the SDK for that will cost.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  3. It's crazy, what they think you need. by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a WDDM Driver. Wonder how much the SDK for that will cost.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  4. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  5. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  6. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  7. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  8. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  9. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  10. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  11. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Pre mium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics .

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304, 000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performan ce. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is th ere, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis g ives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of comput er. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  12. Re:Most of us shouldn't have to worry... by hweimer · · Score: 1 · on MS Word Zero-Day Exploit Found

    Considering that MS hasn't added anything since Office 95 (I still run '97, myself), I expect only business users on SA should ever get hit by this exploit.

    Since Word up to the '97 version does not have reliable macro security, this point is pretty much irrelevant. Using these version to view Word documents is equivalent to starting an EXE file.

  13. Re:Question by MarkByers · · Score: 5, Informative · on MS Word Zero-Day Exploit Found

    Hmm the Wikipedia page doesn't really explain it very well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_day so let me try.

    It means that the exploit was discovered by crackers before any patch has been made available to the public. In other words there is nothing you can do except not open any .doc files unless you want to run the risk of being cracked.

    But of course, everyone knows that Word is full of holes because no-one has really attempted to use it as an attack vector yet since there are many easier ways.

  14. Just how much is 'exploited'? by Dimensio · · Score: 2, Insightful · on MS Word Zero-Day Exploit Found

    Is this an exploit that somehow grants malicious code access privledges even beyond the user's access level, or does this simply allow execution of arbitrary code at the access level of the user who is running Word?

    If it is the former, then it's a very serious flaw. If it's the latter, then it's a serious flaw, but one that will only really adversely affect people stupid enough to run as Administrator all the time, despite Microsoft's own warning against such idiotic practices.

    If it is the latter, then I have further justification to use against the users who have complained about using their Administrator privledges.

  15. Yes, but.... by MarkByers · · Score: -1, Flamebait · on Core Duo Reaches the Desktop

    is it ready for Vista Forever?

  16. Video card footnotes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

    Did anybody read the footnotes page?

    If you want the Aero interface:
    * Windows Aero requires:
              o DirectX 9 class graphics processor that:
                  + Supports a WDDM Driver.
                  + Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
                  + Supports 32 bits per pixel.
                  o Adequate graphics memory.
                      + 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels
                      + 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
                      + 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
                      + Meets graphics memory bandwidth requirements, as assessed by Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP

    Graphics card memory affects your maximum resolution? I didn't know we went back in time to 1994.

  17. Re:Count the pixels! by ironring2006 · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

    Well, seeing as how the Windows:Get Ready page can't even display in Firefox (1.5.0.3) without a horizontal scroll bar on a 1280x1024 display it's obvious Microsoft is trying to get everybody to "upgrade" to their standards (IE 7 anyone?).

  18. Software Restriction Policies by hweimer · · Score: 1 · on Alternative Enterprise Anti-Virus Solutions?

    Don't rely on a virus scanner since they are usually bloated and there is no guarantee they catch the latest malware. Windows provides a mechanism called Software Restriction Policies that allows you to prevent the execution of unknown programs. Might be a bit difficult to configure but eliminates the possibility of running a virus or other malware.

  19. Re:Irony! by Columcille · · Score: 2, Informative · on Symantec Sues Microsoft, May Delay Vista

    IIRC, MS isn't planning to bundle anti-virus software with Vista. Their own package, Windows Live Onecare, is a yearly subscription service which itself bundles spyware and virus protection, as well as general system maintenance tools. A challenge to Symantec, but not the bundled threat other MS products have been. Windows Defender, their anti-spyware product, is available as a free download (and I think it will be bundled with Vista), and all of the maintenance tools with Onecare are pretty much already possible with tools built into Windows, but MS's anti-virus software is not freely available, and the Onecare bundle is an attempt to make all of the tools a bit simpler and more straightforward.

    Myself, I've been using Onecare for a few months now after having used Norton products for several years. I'm pleased with Onecare and will likely continue to use it under my Windows install. I can't say just how good its protection is, being a Smart Internet User, I very very rarely come across anything that requires protection. But from what I can see Onecare is nice, and I do like handling a number system maintenance issues in one place.

  20. Re:5 year old machine by beavis88 · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

    Microsoft's requirement page simply states that SVGA (800 x 600) is the minimum requirement. TFA has "minimum supported" confused with "minimum required to get a Vista Capable(tm) sticker". Guess the education campaign is working ;)

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/sys temrequirements.mspx

  21. Re:Bah! by yukonbob · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

    Seriously - 1GB ram (512MB for low end installs) seems like an awful lot to me....

    Join the 21st Century... take a look at their features page and you'll understand what this is for:
    Windows Vista is designed to help make you more productive as you work with your PC throughout the day with new features like Sleep

    I can feel my productivity rising already *yawn*.

    -yb

  22. Re:Bah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

    Gentlefolk: in the detail is the devil's hand: for with some versions users will be forced to have a 'Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 chip' (built-in hardware Digital Rights Management) and for 'Premium' installations they mandate 'Internet access capability'. Locked and loaded, to extrapolate a militarised cliche: users will be unable to control their access rights to media that is legally owned, and will be forced to allow remote access to their machines (such as reporting software piracy, etc.)

  23. Re:Bah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements

    Gentlefolk: in the detail is the devil's hand: for with some versions users will be forced to have a 'Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 chip' (built-in hardware Digital Rights Management) and for 'Premium' installations they mandate 'Internet access capability'. Locked and loaded, to extrapolate a militarised cliche: users will be unable to control their access rights to media that is legally owned, and will be forced to allow remote access to their machines (such as reporting software piracy, etc.)

  24. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  25. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  26. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  27. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  28. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  29. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  30. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  31. Premium Ready, Suckers! by twitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

    "Premium Ready" is this and this:

    • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
    • 1 GB of system memory.
    • A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero, that is:.
      • Has a fucking WDDM Driver.
      • Supports Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
      • Supports 32 bits per pixel.
      • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels (1280 x 1024)
      • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
      • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels
      • Vista Upgrade Advisor running on Windows XP will tell you.
    • 128 MB of graphics memory. WTF? it't 64M but it's really 128M
    • 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
    • DVD-ROM Drive3.
    • Audio output capability. What, no mention of drivers?
    • Internet access capability.

    Oh yeah, and you paid a freaking Premium for what's going to be XP + 128MB RAM performance. 15 GB for the OS, 25 GB for Office, there's no room on this system for Linux now is there, chuckles Bill Gates to himself. Meanwhile, Mepis gives you all the same programs and features for a mere 2GB disk space and 128 MB of RAM, and not a lot of computer. I've run with a lot less.

    Hot Air Graphics are here compared to KDE :

  32. Re:Hdd requirements by Paralizer · · Score: 2, Informative · on Microsoft Releases Vista Hardware Requirements
    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/s ysreqs.mspx
    Windows XP requires:
    * PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

    * 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

    * 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space*

    * Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor

    * CD-ROM or DVD drive

    * Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
    So 1.5GB HDD space to 15GB is a huge increase. What's interesting is the HDD requirements increased 10 fold, the memory increased by a multipule of 8, but the CPU only tripled. Weird.
  33. Re:Completelyoff-topic but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Novell Delivers Device Driver Breakthrough

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.m spx

    That happened... No one likes rewriting from other people's interfaces...

  34. Re:Well, that explains it by vadim_t · · Score: 1 · on Blue Security Gives up the Fight

    Forgot to add that this would work right until the point the spammers start sending mail like the following:

    "Buy viagra xanax prozac at http://microsoft.com/"

    Just send spam that's so obvious that every filter in existence will classify it as spam, and you'll have a nice botnet doing your bidding.

    This, IMO, is the main problem here. This way of doing things certainly works. However, it requires coordination to avoid situations like above, and there have to be humans somewhere taking decisions.

    The problem with that is: How do you organize a system where a bunch of humans vote on what is spam and what isn't, and then communicate this result in a secure and distributed way to the clients? And how do you avoid making it vulnerable to attempts to disrupt it?

  35. Re:Microsoft submitted patches? by GuidoJ · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Flirts with Open Source

    How about this FrontPage Apache patch and they're probably referring to this quick thanks to the Samba team.

  36. Re:Microsoft submitted patches? by GuidoJ · · Score: 1 · on Microsoft Flirts with Open Source

    How about this FrontPage Apache patch and they're probably referring to this quick thanks to the Samba team.

  37. Yet Another Initiative to fire all the webdevs by Kent+Brewster · · Score: 2, Informative · on Google Releases AJAX Framework
    From the top paragraph of the Google Web Toolkit page:

    JavaScript's lack of modularity makes sharing, testing, and reusing AJAX components difficult and fragile.


    Beg to differ. JavaScript has just as much "modularity" as any other object-oriented language; methods like JSON and libraries like Dojo, Prototype, and the aforementioned Yahoo! Web Services APIs are proof.

    Every few years there comes along Yet Another Initiative to fire all the webdevs. No disrepect to Google's engineers, who are clearly brilliant, but we've been there and done that. For a good time, open up Firefox's DOM Inspector, crack into their Kitchen Sink demo, and boggle over the iframes and tables and embedded JavaScript, oh my!
  38. Re:ARRGGHHH by cmorgan47 · · Score: 1 · on IBM to Adopt ODF for Lotus Notes

    same thing happened here a couple of years ago. get this outlook connector. even outlook is better than notes.

  39. Re:Dell vs Apple Price Comparison by MojoStan · · Score: 1 · on Apple Unveils New Macbook
    Microsoft Works Suite 2006 is included with some low-cost laptops and is a cheap option for most configure-to-order laptops. If Works Suite is not included or a cheap option when the laptop is purchased, it can be purchased seperately for $75/$68 (retail/OEM) at Newegg (similar in price to iLife).

    Works Suite 2006 includes:

    • Microsoft Word 2002 (Word XP)
    • Works 8 (like AppleWorks plus iCal)
    • Digital Image Standard (like iPhoto)
    • Streets & Trips Essentials 2006
    • Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2006
    • Money 2006 Standard

    DVD creation software (like iDVD) is included with any laptop with a DVD burner. Decent movie creation software (like iMovie) is sometimes included with DVD burners, but not always. An inferior, IMO, movie creation app (Movie Maker 2) is included with Windows XP. For Front Row functionality (plus a lot more), make sure the laptop has Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or wait for Vista Home Premium) and buy the optional Media Center remote.

  40. I do care, but. . . by kimvette · · Score: 1 · on Do You Care if Your Website is W3C Compliant?

    I care, but unfortunately certain browser developers don't give a rat's ass, so attempting to get a page to render perfectly in ALL major browsers without being ultra-conservative and without having to rely on browser hacks like quirks mode or conditional comments is not an easy task.

    Furthermore, many open source projects generate HTML output that is so far from compliant that it's easier to just give up and rely on quirks and conditional comments to make things work, in comparison to spending the many man-weeks it would take to fix rendering problem of the various modules and plugins one would often use in conjunction with those projects.

  41. Re:Microsoft's version of NTP by Thundersnatch · · Score: 1 · on Computer Network Time Synchronization

    The WIndows Time Service in 2003 SP1 and R2 seems to be a full NTP server. It clock selection of multiple source servers, and keeps time to within about 15 ms of my real ntpd server for weeks, and polls servers at similar exponentially-decaying intervals. All earlier versions seem to be very much SNTP implementations. There's a Microsoft Technet library article describing all the new Windows time service functionality.

    That said, the diagnostics still suck; it only reports connectivity issues and insane time sources. The only real way I can figure to make sure it's not misbehaving is to monitor it with another real ntp server.

  42. Don't hold your breath by sootman · · Score: 1 · on Apple Unveils New Macbook

    Tablets are a tiny percent of the laptop market. Apple has a tiny percent of the computer market. Apple tablet = (tiny number) x (tiny number) = really tiny number. It just won't happen. Your best bet is to get a PC tablet and install OS X for Intel on it. :-)

    I've got a tablet from work. Great for surfing on the couch (though 'typing' URLs and search terms sucks) and fun to play with (I highly recommend 'dots' and the make-your-own-font app), and occasionally I use it instead of pen & paper for note taking, but overall, it's not especially useful. Plus I feel conspicuous taking it out in public in all but the geekiest settings. (And even at conferences, I feel like I'm showing off.) Given the price premium, I'd never buy one with my own money.

  43. Re:Not really by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 2, Informative · on Microsoft Flirts with Open Source
    Microsoft Research is also the primary party responsible for GHC, the Glasgow Haskell Compiler.

    That's because they bought^Whired Simon Peyton Jones into their British research lab, who was the inventor and primary researcher of Haskell. I doubt they'd cut his work off. If you want to really see what Microsoft wants to do in the functional space, look at LINQ. Simon might dream it in Haskell, but Microsoft is going to make sure it goes into VB.

  44. Microsoft is Open-Sourcing its own work by oliverthered · · Score: 4, Informative · on Microsoft Flirts with Open Source

    Microsoft have open sources a lot of their work, you can even get to look at Windows code if you pay them.

    Just the other day I was looking at the Enterprise Library for .NET Framework 2.0-January and guess what:

    Source code. Installing Enterprise Library places source code for the application blocks, configuration console, and QuickStarts into the installation directory. To execute the QuickStarts or the Enterprise Library tools, you must first build the Enterprise Library source code. For instructions about how to build Enterprise Library, see "Building the Enterprise Library" in the documentation.

    So Microsoft does do open source, just not the kind of open source most in the FOSS community (including myself) would like to see.

  45. Re:if it's done well, and some are by qbwiz · · Score: 1 · on People Suck at Spotting Phishing

    I was pretty surprised about this too, but Microsoft gives the URL of an example page that does this (if you're using IE5.5 for Windows).

  46. Re:More important question by zootm · · Score: 1 · on Creative Sues Apple

    That patent was filed by Microsoft (Research, so less evil) employee John Platt, rather than Creative, though.

  47. Principle of Least Privilege Whitepaper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Microsoft To Automate Malware Classification

    Principle of Least Privilege Whitepaper - MalcomVetter

  48. Principle of Least Privilege Whitepaper by malcomvetter · · Score: 1 · on Tech Fraud Beating Out Social Engineering

    Principle of Least Privilege Whitepaper - MalcomVetter

  49. Principle of Least Privilege Whitepaper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on The Economy of Online Crime

    Principle of Least Privilege Whitepaper - MalcomVetter

  50. Re:Software is the reverse by mrtrumbe · · Score: 1 · on Apple's Device Model Beats the PC Way
    Do you actually think one uses IE to browse their hard drive, HUH? Well, you are incorrect. Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer are two different programs integrated on the component level using libraries.

    Despite the executable names differing by a character in current versions of the OS (explorer.exe vs. iexplorer.exe), what is the material difference between the two? Try opening an "IE" window and typing c: in the location bar. Unless you've screwed with the menu/view settings the window will look nearly identical to a file explorer window. Now try opening a windows explorer window and type http://microsoft.com/ in the location bar. The window will now look just like an IE window. There is no material difference between the two. Microsoft has said they are tied on many occasions in the past. Who's exactly is nitpicking here? (Notice I left off the flamebait adjectives. I'll refrain from namecalling...)

    You're confusing things. The fact that Outlook does 8 things is an application design issue, not a technical issue with how the OS is put together. Groupware customers want "all in one". Maybe you don't, but who cares.

    I think you are the only one making this distinction. The original poster left it at "software," so where did you get the idea he was ony referring to OS components? In fact, I would say he was referring largely to non-OS components. Apple, in their overall application design, favors small and focused applications over large "do everything" applications. They are all designed to work well together, but that doesn't stop anyone else from writing applications that work equally well with everything else. Inherently, when components or applications are small and have a focused feature set, it is easier to swap out that functionality with other, similar software.

    Maybe you missed the part where I AGREED with you about Apple not making their components as easily replacable as they could be. Things like the Finder aren't easily replaced. However, there are many applications which ARE easily replaced (like the dock--see here for an example: http://www.softchaos.com/products/ws3/ove.html). If you hadn't noticed, I focused on the application design aspect of Apple and Microsoft's software. You, apparently, are only interested in what bits are replacable.

    Taft