Getting A Handle On Vista

visination.com wrote to mention a news.com article which runs down some of the basics on MS's new Operating System. From the article: "Among the key features of Vista as it currently stands are: security enhancements, a new searching mechanism, lots of new laptop features, parental controls and better home networking. There will also be visual changes, thanks to Avalon, ranging from shiny translucent windows to icons that are tiny representations of a document itself. On the business side, Microsoft said Vista will be easier for businesses to deploy on multiple PCs and will also save costs by reducing the number of times computers will have to be rebooted."

Comments

Darn!

[Average_Joe_Sixpack]

"... Microsoft said Vista will be easier for businesses to deploy on multiple PCs and will also save costs by reducing the number of times computers will have to be rebooted."

Reboot = Coffee Break

Re:Darn!

[Nirvelli]

Don't worry, less reboots just means each one takes longer, ergo longer coffee breaks. w00t.

Re:Darn!

[Ignominious Cow Herd]

All they really had to do was add a disclaimer to the standard installer message telling you to reboot:

"Disclaimer: You don't REALLY have to reboot, but we're too lame to tell all the developers to stop putting up this dialog box after their installation script is done. You really haven't HAD to reboot after installing things for years. It's just the damn Developers, Developers, Developers who can't get with the program. Oh, and you're too dumb to figure this out for yourselves."

Re:Darn!

[Cutting_Crew]

if(reboot = true) potty_break(); :)

Re:Darn!

[Anonymous Coward]

Warning: assignment in conditional statement

Re:Darn!

[Aeiri]

if(reboot = true) potty_break();

So, you are always on a potty break?

(Note: this is NOT a jab at Windows, reread his syntax, if you are a programmer, you should be able to notice the syntax error)

Re:Darn!

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh man you would not make silly errors like that if you use a language protected against them such as QBASIC

Reboot?

[guaigean]

On the business side, Microsoft said Vista will be easier for businesses to deploy on multiple PCs and will also save costs by reducing the number of times computers will have to be rebooted. Computers have to be rebooted?

Re:Reboot?

[ScrewMaster]

Yes. It's when a Windows computer stops working for no apparent reason, and receives a swift kick from its operator. Then, just out of irritation on the part of said operator, it gets kicked again. This process is known as "rebooting" and must often be repeated several times before the recalcitrant CPU becomes more cooperative.

Re:Saving costs?

[nxtr]

You're going to be saving that money by not rebooting. Geez, didn't you RTFA?

Re:i am hoping, but will it happen

[electrichamster]

I hear that IE has spelling and grammar checking in forms now!

Fewer reboots...we've heard that before

[chevybowtie]

Windows 2000 was advertised before it's release as only having 7 events that would necessitate a reboot.

Re:Fewer reboots...we've heard that before

[Hungus]

it does only have seven events that necessitate a reboot:
1) Installing anything
2) Uninstalling anything
3) Being connected to a network
4) Not being connected to a network
5) Running an application
6) Not running an application
7) Starting up

Re:Everything that the artical mentions is User Sp

[Xtifr]

There is no "userspace"! There is only MICROSOFTspace! I mean, what are you going to do, run the Win95 GUI layer on a XP kernel? Or vice versa? I don't THEENK so!

Under-the-hood features I expect to see: "improved" DRM, "improved" ability for IE to displace/take over from Firefox/Opera/etc., "improved" ability to prevent "untrusted" apps (like OpenOffice.org) from working, "improved" draconian license terms, "improved" patent coverage, and so on and so on.

Re:Saving costs?

[Anonymous Coward]

If you sell the gfx card you won't be able to run Vista...

Give a dog a bone

[infochuck]

"...a new searching mechanism..."

Finally, the searching dog will bark for us. Maybe it will follow the cursor. That's something we can all appreciate.

You know what I would really like to see?

[PocketPick]

A Windows OS that terminates an application when I tell it to do so. Why should I have to press 'End Process' 5 times and click on 2 dozen 'End Task' dialogs in order for the app to shutdown (if it even does). Is Windows second guessing me?

Only after the 27th time Windows XP does finally say 'You know... I think you might like me to close that process for you. Here you go peasant. No, you don't have to thank me! :)".

Re:You know what I would really like to see?

[sharkey]

load up the task manager, lick on a process

And I get bitchy when people put their FINGERS on my screen. Just stay away from my PC, dude!

People will pay for "Vista"!

[Anonymous Coward]

...and yet...most people will not load Linux of you gave them a blowjob.

Figure it out.

BSOD frequency vs. time

[Mr. Underbridge]

Or are you in the camp that still claims BSODs are as common now as they were in 98?

Nobody says that. BSOD in 98 was as common as the clap in a sorority.

That said, following the same analogy, I still wouldn't do XP without wrapping it up first.

Re:i am hoping, but will it happen

[Master of Transhuman]

/. Windows Shill Serial Number 127890...

You are required by /. policy to identify yourself as a Windows Shill by reporting the above number next to your /. ID.

Violators will be forced to watch reruns of Bill Gates interviews. (I know, it's not much of a punishment for guys like you, but it's the worst the /. administrators could come up with.)

Re:Will my PC run Vista?

[sootman]

How much you want to bet that if you disable whatever shitty built-in desktop search program they include and set it to "Classic Windows Look" you'll be able to run it on a 1.0GHz cpu with 256MB.

Sorry, "Classic" look only goes back one generation... so "Classic" in Vista will be like the default theme from XP. Aggh! *scoops out eyeballs with rusty spoon*

Re:i am hoping, but will it happen

[Anonymous Coward]

Forms? What, not for filenames too? What's the point of full system integration if you can't take advantage of such great new features absolutely everywhere?!

I've also heard that Clippy is built in to every dialog window :-)

What Vista stands for

[Anonymous Coward]

Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans, and Adware

Re:i am hoping, but will it happen

[GreatBunzinni]

this si graet news!!

Looks like it's not for me

[mrjb]

I'm truely happy to see that seemingly I'm already fine with the way my things are setup. YMWV.

security enhancements
Haven't had any virus or spyware in years. Nor has my pc ever been hacked (that I know of).

a new searching mechanism
This is nice but by itself not enough reason to switch, I usually can find back my stuff

lots of new laptop features
I only have a desktop

parental controls
I'm not a parent, grown up and vaccinated thank you. I'll check back in a few years.

and better home networking.
in other words "Samba team, are you listening?"

shiny translucent windows I'm a very boring person. Eye candy is nice but personally I always switch to zippy and functional.

icons that are tiny representations of a document itself.
Already have it.

On the business side, Microsoft said Vista will be easier for businesses to deploy on multiple PCs
One word- Xclients. Otherwise, SSH and shell scripts are your friend.

and will also save costs by reducing the number of times computers will have to be rebooted.
09:37:20 up 203 days, 18:38

Re:Innovation?

[Decker-Mage]

From the DSM VI: "Ballmeritis: A delusional condition whereby the patient erroneously believes products as released by Microsoft to be innovative. Frequently the patient also exhibits various symptoms of paranoia in conjunction with said condition."