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Microsoft Vista Info Leaked
slashnutt writes to tell us Yahoo News is reporting that Microsoft accidentally released information about Windows Vista earlier than originally planned. From the article: "Microsoft disclosed information about a plan to release eight different editions of the new operating system on a company help page that was under development. The company has not made any official statements about the different versions of Windows Vista it plans to offer. The company has since taken down the Web site and declined to confirm the information and said it will offer more details about the Vista launch, targeted for the second half of 2006, in the coming weeks. Microsoft spokesman said in a statement 'This page has since been removed as it was posted prematurely and was for testing purposes only.'"
Windows Vista Starter (designed to combat piracy of Windows overseas; probably won't go on sale in US)
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business Basic
Windows Vista Business Premium
Windows Vista Corporate Basic
Windows Vista Corporate Premium
Windows Vista Ultimate
While I'd really like to believe otherwise, I cannot help but think that this will turn into a nightmare for application support. The ones that worry the most are the two at either end of the line: Starter and Ultimate. Will you need Ultimate to run top-of-the-line games or use top-of-the-line hardware? Will people with Starter not be able to use your program because they're missing certain functionality? Will you be able to burn DVDs with Home Basic, or does that functionality only come with Premium and Ultimate?
Sure, each version will be tailored to that particular end user's most likely needs. You can bet, however, that there'll be all sorts of "incentives" to bump yourself up to the next level of functionality in the form of "well, that functionality only comes with version X"...
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
What?
M$ screwed up? Not possible.
Maybe they were just desperate for some media hype, God knows they aren't getting much of it.
Why'd they release anything?
FP
Too bad Microsoft didn't put Allah on the page. Then Yahoo would be censoring this report too.
Which basically confirms the 8 versions. It's not like the web developer pulled them out of his bum.
Of, course, when clicking on this story, the first thing I got was "Nothing for you to see here. Please move along.", which is probably pretty similar to what MS has at that URL now.
/. out there.
At least there aren't 8 different versions of
The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
So does that mean that there will be 8 different versions? Or just 8 different help sections on the help page? I must admit that my mind somehow automatically checked when I read this if we are already at the beginning of April...
I don't read replies by ACs.
There will be several different versions such as Windows Vista Red and Blue. They are all pretty much the same, but if you want to complete the game you'll need some friends with the other versions, and some link cables.
My Greatest Heist - Muisc partly inspired by the unbeatable Qwantz
With its thousands and thousands of "versions" (distributions).
I'll take eight, over eight-thousand.
Modesty is one of life's greatest attributes
'This page has since been removed as it was posted prematurely and was for testing purposes only.'"
Testing what, the waters?
-- Alastair
I'm sorry to hear that Microsoft is the latest sufferer of this common problem. I'd like to help them out; I get a number of advertisements in my inbox each day offering various treatments for premature release. Perhaps someone can forward these emails to Microsoft?
From the MS spokesman: "We are known for giving our users choice, this is what's great about capitalism!"
I already imagine chairs flying around in Microsoft's dark office...:P
Per Aspera Ad Astra.
This is how the government in the UK operate, they float an idea in public to see what they can get away with, which be considerable. Microsoft did the same to generate publicity for Windows prisonOS.
Someday we'll look fondly upon the days when you could just ask if someone is running "98" or "XP," maybe with "SP2." Very soon the abbreviations alone will take up several alphabets.
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
Microsoft needs to go away. F-them. Why "f-them", they are just trying to make more money, like every other business on this planet.
Cheers, Jared
http://phoenix-network.org
Have they leaked which of these versions will run Halo 2?
Or will it be included as a pack in?
There is no spork.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/19/which-windows-
"Windows Starter 2007 - Vista without Aero, probably meant for developing nations.
Windows Vista Home Basic - Basic Windows Vista for your single PC fam, doesn't sound like much going on here. Analagous to XP Home.
Windows Vista Home Basic N - European version of the same, but without Media Player (because of antitrust rulings against MS in the EU).
Windows Vista Home Premium - This is the one we're all probably gonna own. It's got Media Center functionality, Cable Card support, the whole home-media shebang.
Windows Vista Business - Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista.
Windows Vista Business N - Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista, but Euro.
Windows Vista Enterprise - Business version of Vista with numerous enterprise features, like Virtual PC, volume encryption, etc.
Windows Vista Ultimate - Love that name. This one does all of the above (and more); what else do you need to know? It's ultimate Windows.."
More choices are rarely a bad idea. I dislike bundled crapola that I'll never need or want.
How about kill them? That any better for you?
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Windows Vista for Developing Nations Windows Vista for Dummies Windows Vista for Planned Obsolence Edition Windows Vista for Virtual Vista Deployment Edition - Professional Windows Vista for your Inner Fast(tm) Edition Windows Vista with Digital Rights Management Media Edition Windows Vista Corporate *Windows Vista for Secure Computing * please note this edition will be released at a future unannounced date.
I like the comment that was made on Blue's News about the Vista line when the story first broke.
Vista DOS
Vista WFW
Vista 95
Vista 98
Vista ME
Vista XP
Vista la Vista
Perhaps it's more a case of bad feedback which resulting in them pulling a 180 on the whole 8 flavors idea?
I am amazed at the amount of times this sort of thing happens with Microsft. And I have to agree with some of the sentiment about how lame Vista is looking. You sort of wonder if one day we are all going to say, "Wow, this is actualy cool. Microsoft has managed to reinvent the wheel and advanced the whole world of technology..."
What? It could happen.
Oh, ok. It's all good as long as they were just trying to turn a profit. "That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard" "No, you don't understand - they want to make a buck" "Oh, I didn't know that.... in that case, it's fucking brilliant."
Cheap shot even by Slashdot standards, I know.
EvilCON - Made Famous by
I found a pretty good analysis of the various editions.
Windows Vista for Developing Nations
Windows Vista for Dummies
Windows Vista for Planned Obsolence Edition
Windows Vista for Virtual Vista Deployment Edition - Professional
Windows Vista for your Inner Fast(tm) Edition
Windows Vista with Digital Rights Management Media Edition
Windows Vista Corporate
*Windows Vista for Secure Computing
* please note this edition will be released at a future unannounced date.
Uhh, I just did a school report on Vista; This was all on wikipedia last week.
Microsoft is creating multiple version so they can continue to, or try to, hold their OS prices at pre-Linux levels.
Much like someone selling a glass of water for $1.00 and a public well is discovered. So new 'products' are created of 1/2 and 1/3 full glasses that cost $0.50 and $0.33 respectively to try to generate a perceived value in the customers mind for the full price glass.
Will most likely work no better than developing countries version of their OS has been doing overseas. Kind of like the bartender at the start of Hitchhikers Guide asking if he should put a bag over his head when he learns the Vogons are about to destroy the Earth.
Well, the Linux fleet is hovering above Redmond and is ready to fire. This is Microsoft's version of the bag over the head.
There's only 2 current versions of Linux: 2.6 and 2.4 . And you can run any software on top of those that you choose, no one will dictate your use.
More like 'How can we see how people will react to this idea but maintain deniability if they hate it?' If it's liked, fine. If it isn't the story will be 'oh that was an old plan - here's what we're really doing.'
R: That voice. Where have I heard that voice before? B: In about 365 other episodes. But I don't know who it is either.
adsf
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
The real story is that, like with many MS products, there are different versions for different levels (and budgets) of users.
There's really only five versions, the other three are stripped down to comply with EU rulings or to (try to) thwart piracy.
I don't think those three versions should be thought of in the sense of the traditional home/pro/enterprise/whatever.
I hate the idea of having 8 editions. For one, as already said, application support will be a nightmare. Also, all 8 editions aren't going to be widely used.
Only one Official Linux Kernel exist !
A lot of distribution exist !
But, exception of application, all version from a same vendor have all the same base !
Look at Mandriva Linux, you get get three versions of the last (2006) distribution, the only difference is the application that come with. You can run a Apache server on all of them !
Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
Similar reasoning applies to the Windows operating system (OS). The American market is already saturated with an over-featured Windows (i.e. Windows XP). Microsoft maintains a lock on this market by offering Windows Vista Home Premium. Microsoft then branches into alternative markets, like Uganda, by offering a gutted version: Windows Vista Starter 2007.
Frankly, I live in the USA, and I would prefer to buy the stripped-down version of Windows Vista. I do not need the "power" features of Windows Vista Home Premium. The gutted version is good enough for writing and submitting insightful and provocative articles to Slashdot.
If an online Ugandan store wants to sell me the gutted version of Windows Vista, I am ready and waiting with my Platnium American Express Card.
Windows Vista Home Basic (also in N)
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business (also in N)
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate
In the US there should be just 5 versions, currently counting media center they have 3 versions of XP. I would have to see what they come with and how much they are charging for them before I decide if the extra 2 version are a good idea or not.
Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
fedora, ubuntu, suse, debian, rhel, slackware.... the list goes on and on. There are many things to complain about with Microsoft software, but let's not be hypocritical.
1) Whoever pirates Windows won't bother pirating anything but the "Ultimate" version, whatever that will be.
2) Legit users will get frustrated when they find out feature X is not included in their version of Vista. They will want to know why and will become angry. This anger will soon make them want to change to something more simple.
3) Something more simple will eventually win the hearts of legit users.
4) Whoever pirates Windows will follow whatever is the most popular/compatible OS.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
I wonder if this is on the internet archive... If it is we need to watch out to make sure Micro$oft doesn't change history.
Most of the windows fanboys are going to download a copy of Nemesis ANYWAY. Us Gentoo/Debian ites got rid of releases AGES ago!
I'll go with the 9th option, Any thing BUT Vista!
What next, Apple suxor!?!
The world is indeed cumming to an end! And I hope to be cumming when it does.
All functionality is available or is installable with one command-line (even if it's "tar xzvf some.tgz; cd some-versin; make; sudo make install" in most (all?) linux distros; nobody is hiding anything nor making anything incompatible on purpose. So, no, the 2000 different linux distros will be actually less confusing than the eight Windows Vistas.
It's better to be the foot on the boot than the face on the pavement. ~~ tkx Kadin2048
I mean, when we use FCKGW to start entering the serial number, I'm sure it wont be the home edition we're using.
Or Insightful, +1 or Underrated, +1 -- if you with mod points want to give Yaa 101 a boost on his karma.
It's better to be the foot on the boot than the face on the pavement. ~~ tkx Kadin2048
You don't know that. When I used to develop databases, I would fill the test databases with dummy data. Sometimes it was complete nonsense utterly unrelated to the purpose of the database (and obviously incorrect--e.g., a customer list database could contain names of characters from a TV show). Sometimes, I would fill the test database with information that was my "best guess" as to what would be in the database. E.g., one may fill a products database with their best guess of what the names of the products are. That could easily be the case here. The web designer filled in dummy data to make sure the layout of the page is correct.
This isn't any big deal, other than it gives the slashdotters something else to exagerate and complain
about. MS Office was released in several different versions as well (Standard, Small Biz,
Professional, Premium,... student edition].
It's not a big deal. I'll tell now you know that although 8 versions of Windows are offered, only 2
version will primarily be sold. Homes will buy one version, while corporations and 'power users' may
buy another. I have no clue why they are offering so many versions this time, the only thing I can
think of is that it's worked well in the past so they are going to milk that cow again. No one is
forcing us to buy all 8 versions, it's simply an option.
the posters on this board from complaining tho.
It's not like the web developer pulled them out of his bum
:)
However, that would adequately explain why Windows is shit
Matt
I'm sure Gentoo will have something to say about stealing their business model.
Does anyone else see this as a manufacturer and consumer nightmare? Selling 8 versions of the same PC with nothing but different OS version? I mean, will different machines be tailored to different versions of the OS in retail stores? If that's the case then you'll not only have to choose the OS based on it's own merits, but on the merits of the machines that will run it. I can only see this as a huge leap backward in every computing aspect, but then again, it's the world that chooses to follow MS, so we have but ourselves to blame. --- Go Linux!
Semper Fi
Starter
Home
Professional
Media Center (in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2005 Update Rollup 2 variants)
Tablet PC (2003 and 2005)
What? MS is bending to the will of a foreign land and obeying their laws? That makes them as bad a
Google! Let's start protesting!
... yes, it's sarcasm.
I'm highly annoyed at the fact that there are even plans for different tiered versions of one operating system. It's really, really lame to restrict a users ability to use his own hardware by the OS that's running on it. Essentially, that's what these OSes do. The OS's job is to manage the hardware in that box and allow it to be used to it's full extent, and not limit what you can do with the hardware you have purchased. This is the same reason that Linux is actually useful on a 486 or P100 and versions of Windows are not.
Is it just me or does this seem like a free marketing campaign?
;)
I mean seriously...we "leaked" this info...oops (::wink wink::)
Plus, wasn't this news months ago ?
Oh, I guess they added another one
Given that Vista is going to be here from 2006 through to 2009 at least one big concern is surely how it supports multi-core as Windows hasn't always been the best SMP machine (event Data Center tops out at 64 way, 64 bit). With people like Sun releasing 32 way CPUs recently its not unreasonable to expect AMD and Intel to be pushing that barrier or more in 2009.
I've not seen much around Vista and SMP, which is odd given that its the current hardware buzz in the market.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
I think all the versions are just to confuse the pirates. Man, I hope I download the proper one...
Saving the World: One Drink at a Time
Darnit, just eight versions? What about Embedded Home, Embedded Automotive, Embedded for Point of Service, Mobile, Workstation, Media Center Edition, Datacenter Edition, Server, Server System Home, Storage Server, Small Business Server Edition, and Compute Cluster Server edition?!?!? I feel shortchanged already!
And Yahoo!, I hope you don't really think that this was an accidental blunder on MS's part. If so, then I have a bridge in San Francisco I'd like to sell you...
Flying is easy, just throw yourself at the ground and miss. -Douglas Adams
it terminates your license and removes your computers hard drive with a 12 guage. It's then known as "Hasta-la-VISTA", babee.
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
... http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_edit ions.asp
The above link was out for quite a while. Not exactly sure how accurate it is. But it seems pretty close.
Windows Vista Tabbed
"More choices are rarely a bad idea. I dislike bundled crapola that I'll never need or want."
I agree, but I think eight baseline distributions will be a nightmare for them to support, and a nightmare for us to choose and upgrade between. One baseline "Windows Vista" would be sufficient, plus something like apt-get (ms-get media-player) or a nice little entry on the Microsoft Update page to "Install Cable Card Support", or "Install Media Player Support". You could even be guided through a shopping cart type environment, so they could charge for the "upgrades".
Why sell 8 distinct versions? Maybe better answered with another question - if I buy "Windows Home Premium", can I "upgrade" to "Windows Vista Business" for a reduced cost?
10b||~10b -- aah, what a question!
Because there is no -1 Fucking Moron.
I always find it amusing that on every Dell ad, they show off how cheap you can buy a Dell box, and thus show a Dell with Windows XP Home. Then in the fine print, it says "Dell recommends Windows XP Pro". So Dell recommends I don't buy this Dell computer? OK...
I love being in school right now--I will be able to get vista as soon as the school does. I currently download the site-licensed winXP off the school's intranet at no cost to me. Same for Office. Yes this is factored into my fees, but the assistantship I have reduces my cost considerably.
The truth? I hope the school gets vista before I finish my PhD or that I end up in a big corp where I can afford to make the purchase.
Why? Because although I love linux, there are certain apps that I need (SPSS anyone?) that I will either have to pay for myself or convince my company (whereever I end up) to purchase a linux version of the app or are simply unavailable on linux or OSX.
This is important. It cannot be avoided. Where I currently work Vista will only show up once Dell no longer offers XP. And maybe not even then.
"We don't know what we are doing, but we are doing it very carefully,..." Wherry, R.J. Personnel Psychology (1995)
Comment removed based on user account deletion
What are you talking about? There are atleast 13 different versions of slashdot.
Would you kindly mod me +1 insightful?
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060220-6224 .html
She then heads home and proceeds to configure her new computer, but to her absolute dismay, she finds that she's unable to do everything that she was previously able to do (like burn CD's, or use DirectX applications) on her old Windowsw XP box. She calls MS support who gingerly inform her that "Oh, that functionality is only included in Windows Vista Ultimate Edition, which you can have for the low low price of $300". Sally has no choice but to pay for another copy of Windows
Or she can take the $400 she spent on the new PC and the $300 Microsoft wants for Windows Vista Ultimate Edition and just buy a fully loaded Mac Mini, thereby saving her the yearly AV subscription costs, the time running spyware scans, ect.
I already imagine chairs flying around in Microsoft's dark office...:P
Only in the rooms with sufficient processing power.
In the other rooms, you have to settle for flying chairs using the Classic Vista scheme, and no fade-in or fade-out effects.
Now if I could just get my sound card supported I'd be able to hear the crash from the flying chairs - instead I just get lockup and "Incompatible sound card" errors.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
I've been to trying to switch from Windows to Linux for a year or so now, there are like a billion different distributions to choose from. 8 version of windows is alot of easier than say 100 or so linux distributions. Then you've got KDE vs Gnome and a whole bunch of other stuff.
I don't know, in the tech industry most web slip ups have revealed real info, like Apple's G5 slip. As webpages go, a lot of times the info is filled in and they are just waiting for the order to post it.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Think you can replace Solitare with Halo 2 for Vista Ultimate?
nope sorry, just doesn't work as well.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Didn't it occur to anyone that Microsoft wanted this information to get out so that they could see what the reaction of the marketplace would be? My guess is there is will 4-6 versions of Vista max (Starter, Home, Pro, Europe, Ultimate, and possibly Media).
This was the exact thing he was worried about. When Jobs took over Apple in '97 or so, he found a company that had numerous product lines: 6100, 7100, 9600, 6113, and such. He asked a simple question: What would the customer think upon looking at all of these choices? When would a 6100 be appropriate but not a 6312? As he took over Apple, one on the best choices he made was slashing down the expansive product line, down to a.) the power Mac, and b.) the iMac (and of course the portables). (Refer to Macworld Conference 97)
What Microsoft has done has basically taken this principle and thrown it out the window. I have a feeling that aside from the estute few, most customers will not know which "version" of Windows Vista to pick. Contrary to what Microsoft thinks, sometimes a plethora of choices doesn't lead to customer happiness. If anything, the Microsoft support lines are going to be innundated with customers who _just can't understand_ their product scheme. (And as a side note, this may serve to drive buyers to a company that doesn't offer "limited" versions of its OS (e.g. Apple) ).
Haggador Sparticus.
-- Christopher M. Scordinsky Graduate Student Instructor Cell Biology and Biotechnology University of the Sciences i
The 'N' versions of Windows (Europe-only) will be simply ignored by the vast majority of buyers and retailers. Some retailers (maybe most) will not even stock the 'N' versions. Source:
Vista Enterprise Edition will only be available through volume licensing, so retail buyers won't see this version either. The IT folks who can buy Enterprise Edition are knowledgable enough not to be confused.So far, that leaves:
Since Vista Ultimate Edition is probably only for the uber-geek, most retail buyers will probably only need to choose from three versions: (1) Home Basic, (2) Home Premium, and (3) Business. For buyers of Windows PCs, that choice is similar today: XP Home, XP Media Center Edition, and XP Pro.TO START
PRESS ANY KEY
Where's the 'ANY' key? I see Esk, Kitarl, and Pig-Up...
I think all of you guys are idiots. Most of the IT news are about Linux and FOSS, MS feels left out. MS is looking for some attention and you guys fell for their stunt.
I bet MS really needs all this free promotion Slashdot always gives them
Yea there were actually nine. But M$ decided to drop Windows Vista Mega Super Extreme.
God knows why, that's the one I wanted!
I do not respond to cowards. Especially anonymous ones.
Thank allah, it's about time. With motherboards, video cards and sound cards using every combination of kewl letters and numbers that exist, it's about time that we throw a little more confusion into the mix. I am hoping for a line-up from budget to pro they will title,
$200 Windows Vista LS X-700
$250 Windows Vista ES 400z
$260 Windows Vista X2 700
$320 Windows Vista X 600
$320 Windows Vista Quick Zip A++
$320 Windows Vista Ultimate A-200+
$400 Windows Vista Exxtreme Ultimate A-100+
$400 Windows Vista Standerd 100-A
Thats a numbering and a pricing system that would put even nvidia and ati to shame.
Two versions:
OS X
OS X Server.
You choose what you want installed, plus they include developer tools with the regular version, and you get the full capability of the OS. Not only that, but any computer you buy includes the full install CD's, not just some "restore" CD's.
I don't see why Microsoft can't do that.
Maybe that's why it's taking eight times longer than planned to get Vista out the door. They should be satisfied to get one version released.
I think this is one way of advertising their new product. Well I wish them more luck because Open Source Techonolgy needs no advertising like what others do.
Sure, 8 new versions of Windows, but erhm, how many different flavors of Linux are there based on the same kernel? :)
"Microsoft Vista Info Leaked" is the title, but "Microsoft disclosed information" is in the summary. Which is it?
t ions.asp
See also: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_edi
http://brandonbloom.name
ROFL dude.. "Vista for Developing Nations" and it will come bundled on that new bright-green $100 laptop... !! hahaha
.. rofl
Practically spat out my coffee on the screen when I saw that
I'm sick of idiots saying this. This first post IS FUCKING REDUNDANT. Why? Because this same 'joke' have been made hundreds of times before, and IT IS NOT FUNNY. mm'kay?
I remember one time from my days working at a grocery store. I know that sometimes leaks for people can be a problem, so I would help them out by directing them to isle 12. Bill, for your leak problem, here's a solution.
We're all hypocrites. We all have hidden parts, it's the contrast between them that make us more a hypocrite than others
all those unintentional leaks, just to stay in the media while indeed, there's nothing interesting but only betas and promises.
:)
on the other hand... does not sound that different to google
(*doh* blaming google on slashdot... ok... i'll put the allah cartoon back in)
No, because unlike Windows, Gentoo will compile on more than just x86 hardware. I guess that's what they mean by "portable." For a long time I just thought that meant I could move the install media to a different pc and do it again.
Then I discovered where Linux is all about offering users choice whereas Microsoft is all about offering users restrictions.
Vista will become the new definition for cripple ware. Oops, sorry can't run more than 10 network connections with that version, you need the business preimum version. That will be another $100 please. Oh, you want to run a web server, that is the business deluxe version, another $100 please and another $250 for the web server.
Oh, and by the way, if you want to upgrade from the home version to home premium version you have to reinstall. There will be no upgrade method provided. But then most Windows users are used to having to reinstall their systems at least once a year anyways to fix the mangled registry.
And the really neat feature is the license system will keep most people from being able to install the full blown non-crippled version of Vista. You won't be able to snag a copy from work and load it on your home systems, assuming you have powerful enough hardware, because it will have to check back with Microsofts central site before it will work. The same thing will happen when you change hardware on your system. Upgrade that harddrive, call Microsoft to reenable your system. Swap out video cards, call Microsoft to eanble it. Add more memory, call.......Oops! You have modified to many things and Microsoft won't reenable your system for you this time. You have to buy a new license.
Plan on using Vista on an isolated LAN with no Internet access? Sorry, you have to expose the machines at least once to the Internet to get them activated. Whoops! There goes security.
I'm guessing that Microsoft will create a choosing guide, or a webpage that lets you select the options that you want and tell you which edition you should get. It's similar to those ISP companies who had several tiers of Internet access flavours ("I want speed", "I want to check my email", "I want 24/7 access", etc., to allow the customer to determine whether he/she get dial-up, ultra lite, lite, high speed, extreme, etc.).
So, 1 normal version and 7 artificially limited in some way.
It's so confusing, it's like not having a choice. Those mother fuckers.
SLOW adoption. Even slower than WindowsXP. But in the end, as long as the industry chokehold lasts, people will buy the hardware so they can run the software because at some point there will be no choice. But let me tell you -- people are really starting to notice. Businesses are really starting to resent. At my company, we have an ambiguous goal to get off of Microsoft software. Server stuff is easy, but the desktop is simply unimaginable at the moment. But when the budgets start being examined after the question of replacing thousands of desktops is raised, they'll weigh their options once again and likely put more effort into a Linux desktop standard. I know my company isn't alone.
"Leak" a "test" website, and gauge the potential customer response.
Quite clever.
http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
The Wikipedia Windows Vista page has had the list for months now. Either Slashdot is reporting this story really late, or Microsoft's leaks are really late.
Any program relying on (nontrivial) preemptive multithreading will be buggy.
fedora, ubuntu, suse, debian, rhel, slackware.... the list goes on and on ... let's not be hypocritical.
Oh really, so all those Linux distro producers are also creating artificial market segmentation in order to practice price discrimination in different markets with different points of elasticity?
No??
Then STFU, because the two situations really are completely different, and hence, nothing hypocritical about it at all.
The vast majority of current software designed for Win32 runs on any of their platforms from the past 10 years
IBM will see your 10 and raise you 20 (or more). See the Z Series (formerly OS360 (1960's), OS370 (1970's), OS380 (80's) and OS390 (90's). Many applications first rolled out in the 70's are still functional. And did I mention no down time?
See also most Unix utilities first designed in the 70's and 80's still run on modern Unices.
10 years is no big deal.
Can you run a 10 year old application on OSX?
Unless you have an Intel mac, yes you can.
Can you run an OSX app on a 10 year old Mac? I'm running running OSX right now on a 7 year old computer, and I've read about people have gotten old performas (around 15 years old) to run Mac OSX.
CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
So which one is the correct version to use if I just want to surf for lots and lots of porn with all the protection I need? Better yet, where is the "Windows Vista Porn" version? Heck, I mean they are releasing a "Windows Vista Ultimate" for the hardcore gaming junkies!
It's called BitTorrent. It gave a good bit of Vista publicity.
"I'm a well-wisher, in that I don't wish you any specific harm."
Market segmentation (with rate fences and aimed at price discrimination) is not the same as substitute competition. The latter is actually good for you.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
This principle has won Apple what percentage of the desktop market?
I think the fact that I have more than a 1,000 Processor/MotherBoard/Memory/Video Card options is a blessing not a curse.
This is going to be the thought process of the average consumer: "Home... basic, sounds nice I live at home, hmmm premium sounds better maybe I'll get that. Business... I don't own a business... must not mean me. Corporate... how am I even finding a bulk license at Wal-Mart... this doesn't make any sense. Nerfed... Wow, I found one of 3 stores in the EU selling it, I should buy this and put it on Ebay as a collectible. And finally starter... well I am starting out, but it's in a gray box, and I'm standing in sewage in bengal, I think I'll buy food instead."
When I retire the Windows 2000 machine, that will be the end of Microsoft here.
Two pages of posts on this topic, the results are humerous.
/tmp/art* | grep -i linux | wc -l
/tmp/art* | grep -i vista | wc -l
[3]$ cat
115
[3]$ cat
132
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In an alternate universe, Dashslot has a story about Wicrosoft accidentally leaking information about Mindows Vista having only one version. A reader commented about how disappointed he was that Wicrosoft is forcing you to pay for a million features you won't use, and how much more efficient it would be to purchase only the features you will.
Reminds me of a cashier who, when a co-worker pointed out his mistake in calculation, said to the customer (me): "Oops! Just testing!"
...that was a craftily constructed press release, to get the rumor mongers looking the other way while the REAL Micrsoft Vista editions were being prepared. Our crack team of industrial spies and leet haxors has penetrated their secret "moat of delusion" defenses, and we have "gotten the facts":
The Microsoft Vista "Training Bra" version, for those who really want to be a boob, but aren't smart enough yet
The Microsoft Vista "Mommy, I'm a Big Boy Now!" edition, designed for those rascally young tykes who play videogames 24/7, but are going to "be into computers" at their daddy's firm once they get their degree.
The Microsoft Vista "Mom and Pop Store" edition, for those pretentious little merchants in downtown smalltown, USA, who "need" a computer with "sophisticated business software" to "leverage and maximise profitting potential" for their hotdog cart they keep parked out in front of Sam's Tire and Lube.
The Microsoft Vista "Money has No Conscious" edition, a special "hardened" military/industrial complex edition, which only has video support for black and white with no shades of gray, and has a biosensor to activate it that flashes "with us or against us" as a user boots it up.
The Microsoft Vista "CEO" addition, which is a special customised software and hardware edition that combines the exceptional ease of use and display qualities of an etch n sketch with a fabulous crystal decanter.
The Microsoft Vista Live CD "Certified Engineer Limited Edition" edition, which only works with the 102 key "natural" keyboard with that special "reinstall OS, print invoice" button
That's GNU/Leenux, thank you very much.
Its chosen for them, by the whoever sold them the PC.
So if Dell chooses to go with Home Premium, or whatever its called, then thats what ~70% of the people who buy Dell will use. Chances are, with no questions asked.
Have you ever been to a turkish prison?
My father had to pay when he installed a freakin' dvd burner (which pushed him over the edge and now he's using Ubuntu with no plans on getting Vista). Two guys in my comp sci class had to pay (One bought a new motherboard - just the mobo: same processor and everything, one had a fire in his home and had to rebuild from scratch - but he was smart enough to keep weekly backups, so not much of his data was lost). It happens all the time. Of course MS would say it doesn't. They lie all the time. That's business.
There would be only one edition of Vista: The best one. Even the Ultimate edition is crippled on the server side, as to not compete with Server 2003. If Microsoft's market share were much smaller, they wouldn't have such an incentive to divide it up like this.
I'm not saying Microsoft should change their plan, or that they should be criticized for this. They're just reacting to the market in the only way a company of their size can be expected to. Consumers are just stuck with intentionally lower quality software, at the maximum price they'd be willing to pay for it.
With FOSS you get everything plus the kitchen sink, for free, with virtually no limitations. But now the problem's reversed. Instead of there being an incentive to provide a lower quality product as in Microsoft's case, there's a lack of incentive for users to pay the bills, except when they want support or a warm fuzzy feeling that they're making a difference.
Over time, I expect the restricted (thought not necessarily closed source) and free open source software markets to reshape to complement each other, to compensate for each other's inefficiencies. Common software will generally be free (as in freedom) open source. Restricted commercial software will fill in the gaps where free open source has trouble growing, like games and other non-essentials, requiring a relatively competitive price to be paid to cover the development costs. Until then, we're going to see a lot of funny shit like eight desktop editions of Windows Vista, all of them crippled on purpose.
It would be SO much easier for Microsoft to just put Windows Media Player in the Add/Remove section of the regular versions of Windows Vista, and it would make many people happier too. (Programs that need it would then just check if it isn't installed and ask if the user wants to add it). The entire reason they are making entirely separate versions, of course, is just to be difficult.
1) I'm going to have to learn a new OS anyway;
2) Maybe I'm getting old, but stealing OS's just doesn't excite me like it used to;
3) Planned obsolence (they're dropping support for XP, right?) and market segmentation speak volumes about the commitment to a low TCO.
4) No matter how much they want me to, I still don't trust them.
Maybe it'll be a good time to switch.
I would suggest you look at z/OS, where I am currently running a module that a predecessor wrote back in 1975 (way before I was born).
Not to mention the iSeries lot, where they have changed the hardware architecture twice (ala the PPC to x86 mac change) without any recompiles, let alone source changes.
And again, OpenVMS where I can run stuff written for VMS 2.0 on VMS 7.3.
The software industry is more than just Microsoft.
Hence there also being 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 different versions as well. However, picking 8 fits the story a little better, don't you think?
The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
My father had to pay when he installed a freakin' dvd burner (which pushed him over the edge and now he's using Ubuntu with no plans on getting Vista). Two guys in my comp sci class had to pay (One bought a new motherboard - just the mobo: same processor and everything, one had a fire in his home and had to rebuild from scratch - but he was smart enough to keep weekly backups, so not much of his data was lost). It happens all the time. Of course MS would say it doesn't. They lie all the time. That's business
They had to PAY? Really... So even though Windows will reactivate itself a set number of times before you are forced to do a manual reactivation, they had to pay to reactivate Windows?
Explain this to me further, give us a receipt where they paid, and how they paid. From my understanding the Activation Center at Microsoft is not even setup to bill users, so I find this facinating that they would of had to contact Sales, and reactivate.
I also find it suprising you know so many people that have had to do this, and yet we work have worked with thousands and thousands of users since XP was released and have not seen one instance EVER of MS asking for EVEN AN EXPLAINATION for the reactivation.
Our only known cases of users having to pay, were users using a hacked key and were directed to sales to get a real licensed copy.
I truly don't dismiss your claims, and I would seriously like to see evidence of this. Anything, a receipt, something from Microsoft about the reactivation license and requesting payment, anything that can confirm this has happened.
Something I can take to the people at MS I know and go, what is up with this, and get an answer...
I bought my OEM copy of XP Pro along with a hardware upgrade a couple of years ago. Last week, I performed a major system upgrade - processor, motherboard, RAM, hard drives, graphics card, PSU. I had a little trouble with the drivers for my RAID array, which lead to me installing XP a couple of times in a three day period.
I reactivated XP twice in that period, with no problems at all. I've reactivated several times over the past couple of years due to various hardware tinkerings, and I have never had to pay or had any problems - I've never even had to speak to a human about it.
I don't know what your father or your friends are doing, but it's certainly a lot more than just installing a DVD burner (which I did without needing to reactivate, by the way).
It's official. Most of you are morons.
How quickly we forget Xbox 360 basic and premium...
Maybe the old fallacy is in need of modernisation: "They wouldn't leak it if it wasn't true"
Don't let THEM immanentize the Eschaton!
According to this page Vista Starter will only support 256mb of ram. So the OS is the first thing you'll need to upgrade!
I'd love to see the error message when you try to boot it up with 512 mb of ram, oh how things have changed....
So *that's* why they're called "micro-soft"
None of those upgrades required a reformat, they were all inplace installs, that preserved all settings and installed applications.
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/11/054 7247
ok ok now it seems it's a bit more "official"~
Leopard or Linux?
I guess it comes down to whether you want to switch hardware while you're at it, or get in on the Mac hacking scene!
Microsoft just tries to build-up the buzz-word about windows with this and other recent articles ("10 reasons why to buy Vista" - should be - "10 ways Vista tries catch up to Linux and Mac OSX". No interesting information content here... I bet that accident was intentional.
xp pro 64 bit edition. trust me, it's different.
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
Oh they joy when vista's next CTP build will be leaked... ... it will include:
*lots of bugs
*lots of security holes
*lots of MS crap
*lots of new, not-so-exiting-features (because you have already seen them on GNU/Linux and OSX)
*a little of effort for taskbar.
I hope that vista will be expensive as possible since everybody knows that only vista people will buy is Ultimate edition and only Vista computer suppliers are going to offer is Vista Home Lite edition...
-Seeing the problem is ½ of solution-
Only a true, dyed-in-the-wool, ignorant Microsoft sycophant could possibly make such a statement.
You've obviously never heard of Sun Solaris.
Even you can try it, for free, legally, but you won't since you can't see past Microsoft.
The company is basically or at least, in the past has attempted to be, a giant meritocracy of competing subgroups, ideas and people where the best ideas kind of bubble up. The problem with this is in the UI design area and I didn't think marketing had the same problem.
UI design at MS just kind of gets designed at the beginning of the project by so called Program Managers who are kind of like "technical directors" or technical coordinators, I think its a unique MS function in that they are typically people who can code, but who choose to do management from the start of their careers. They lay out their designs in specification documents and then that gets reviewed by the team, implemented and sent to usability to be iterated on by, again, the managers. The flaw is that instead of PMs primariliy coming up with designs, serious and skilled industrial and graphic designers should be involved from the beginning on ! I don't know how Apple works exactly, but I think they are more akind to that, meaning I would guess that dedicaed industrial and interaction designers probably have power to have input from beginning to end.
Program Managers at MS definitely have their place as leaders, but they need to take a step back to graphic designers and interaction designers when it comes to UI. Right now using PMs as the primary designers, and only letting graphic designers in afterwards to clean up the details, is kind of a "hacker" approach to UI design because PMs usually strutt the line between development, testing, and marketing and aren't really dedicated to design.
Well it seems like the same kind of "hacker", unstructured approach now surfaces in the marketing which is weird because I always thought of MS as very marketing savy... Are they finally losing the plot ? Am I drawing the wrong parallell ?
ian
Now, according to the script this is where the Toyotas and Hondas start kicking them in the balls.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887212 as someone who has a domain controller at home, I know I cannot have a media center pc
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 does not support a scenario where you join your computer to a domain. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is designed as the foundation for a premier home entertainment system. Media Center lets you share Media Center content with other locations in the home by using Media Center Extender devices. Media Center Extender devices require concurrent connections, and these connections are available only through the Fast User Switching component. Therefore, the domain join functionality in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is disabled.
as the main point of pro over home is in fact, the ability to join a domain- I'd say it's really not the same thing at all...
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
Vista Bob ;)
Since we now know that Microsoft considers the motherboard to be the computer, there's no reason for Windows to check anything else on the list. Swapping out any other combination of hardware shouldn't be an issue.
I've been asked for an explanation. I was trying to use Ghost to image a bunch of our PC's with our standard software load and then run the mini setup wizard so that I could enter the particular key for the box being installed. The problem is that OEM keys will NEVER activate via either the web or the automated phone system, so I had to talk to a person each time. I ended up having to get in writing from MS that I could use a volume license key to mass reinstall OEM licensed PC's.
I never even implied that it wasn't dumb!
I simply stated there was no need to say "f them" when they are simply trying to make money.
Cheers, Jared
http://phoenix-network.org
Yes, some versions of Linux are intentionally crippled. It's mainly because of software patents rather than business strategy, but nevertheless, it's one of the main obstacles to the widespread adoption of OSS. (The other obstacles being competing sound APIs, all of them shitty, and, relatedly, the non-existence of commercial-quality games.)
"How quickly we forget Xbox 360 basic and premium..."
Is this comment in response to the parent (my grandparent)? The thing about the xbox is that alot of players WILL want the premium, since its not just useless little extras. Getting the harddrive and HD cables makes a big difference. Without the HD cables, there's really no reason to even buy a 360 over an old xbox...
Han shot first.
...the ninth choice: Windows 2000 Professional. Still haven't seen a good reason to upgrade my Windows partition to XP, much less Vista. It's not like any software developer other than MS is going to be making critical software that only runs on Vista (they don't do it with XP NOW, Vista isn't going to change anything), so why bother?
I also find it amusing that a number of posters here are claiming that MS is "kind" and "forgiving" for allowing them - just think about that, ALLOWING them - to reactivate their XP license more than three times due to hardware upgrades. Oh yes, Big Brother is so *nice* for granting me the boon of letting me run the software I purchased with my hard-earned money on the machine that I own!
Sheep sucking at the MS tit, and thanking MS for allowing them the privilege of doing so. Good to see that so many so-called geeks - people who pride themselves on their superior intelligence - acting like such brain-dead fanboys...
Max
My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?
The biggest complaint I've heard as a system builder is that Windows is so freaking expensive. We have 300$ PC's but XP costs another 200$ (canadian dollars). If Microsoft could release Windows Idiot Edition for 50 bucks that just lets them surf/email/WoW, those cheapasses would stop whining.
The best part is when they bring in their PC for service because "Windows Update is broken". Then after 5 minutes of lies they finally admit they used a warezed OS, and so I slap them with 2 hours labour PLUS the cost of Windows. It's my job after all, but it's all Microsoft's fault. How much did Win95 cost back in the day ? 70-80$ maybe.. I can't remember but it was little more than the common game or app. Granted, XP does a lot more stuff than 95, but how many people really care about these features ? XP Pro for power users, that's fine, but there needs to be something "lower" than XP Home for the majority of non-techies.
-Billco, Fnarg.com
that would involve modular programming techniques. MS prefer monolithic programs. So you have to ciompile a different version for certain integrated features.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
"Joe User" gets what comes on his PC. He rarley buys an OS from the store.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on