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Now Is Not the Time for Vista
narramissic writes "With nearly a month of Vista availability behind us, businesses don't seem to be in any rush to take the leap. An article on ITworld cites two significant reasons for the foot-dragging. First, Microsoft's case-by-case approach to Vista patches, which is leaving some problems unpatched until after the consumer release in January. Second, application (in)compatibility. From the article: 'Some of the applications that still aren't compatible with Vista include IBM Corp.'s Lotus Notes e-mail and collaboration suite; Cisco Systems Inc.'s and Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.'s VPN clients; Intuit Corp.'s accounting software QuickBooks 2006 and earlier versions; and anti-virus (AV) software from Trend Micro Inc.'"
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Seems to me that it may also be that CEOs and others who make decisions haven't had the chance to experience it on a new home computer yet. I remember XP didn't take off for a while, but then was adopted by businesses more and more as execs started having it at home and liking the pretty colors and the bells and whistles. I suspect these decisions aren't based as much on stability as we'd all like to think -- I think a lot of adoption of Vista will happen when powerful people (not necessarily technical people) start wanting some of Vista's fun or pretty stuff at the office. And they just haven't had a chance to find out about it yet.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
This site has a picture of Bill Gates as the Borg. When did you think this site was ever not biased? I've been with Slashdot for a long time, and I have noticed that within the past year or so there was a SHARP increase in people who pro-Microsoft. It should be surprising when people constantly bash open source and promote Windows on Slashdot, since Slashdot IS a pro-open source anti-Microsoft news site. And yes, it is very suspicious, since Microsoft has already been busted astroturfing Digg.
So stop buying Shimano stuff. Install some open source gears and a free software chain...
Shimano has driven most of the competition out of the market. They have a virtual monopoly on OEM equipment. The shit came preinstalled.
Does this sound familiar?
The "Open Source" stuff, well, mostly kinda sucks. It's not their fault, it's just that the newer "innovations" are all still tied up in Shimano patents; and the entire industry has to play Shimano's game or, at best, be relegated to a small niche market.
Does this sound familiar?
On my other bike, however, I have a Campy Nouvo Record Grouppo that, although propriatary, established the industry's "Open Standard." Although dating from the early 70's it still functions perfectly. It has actually outlived three frames.
But you must access the system from a console shell and don't expect to play DVDs on it.
Shimano took over an industry where there was already an established giant by cheaply mass producing knockoffs that were of inferior quality; but with the addition of features that made the equipment more convenient to use for the nonexpert. Once they had become the new giant they began throwing their weight around, raised their prices to the premium level and introduced planned, forced obsolesence.
Sound fam. . . ooooooooooh, nevermind.
Within the context of the story, however, the fact remains that until such time as the "chain" on XP wears out:
Why bother upgrading? XP has all those nifty "consumer" features already. Your existing system still works. What does it matter that Vista needs a new kind of AV package? As the OP illustrates the average consumer (note the absence of scare quotes) has come to simply expect all the little balls of needless shit he has to buy in order to upgrade.
So that isn't the real reason that uptake is a bit slow.
No, the real reason is that XP still works and for first time Microsoft has not been able to put forward a single compelling reason for the business consumer to find Vista desirable. It only seems to exist for the sole reason that Microsoft wants more of your money. For nothing.
Ok, so we have to buy new AV software for Vista, but why should we buy Vista?!
For the first time they have introduced a "new" operating system and the majority response is:
"Right, Bill. Blow me."
And they ain't gonna change that tune until the chain wears out.
This isn't strictly an issue with Microsoft either; I'm posting this from a Mandrake 8.0 box, but I could fire up the Red Hat 5.2 or Mac System 7 box.
But it's getting harder by the day to keep them up and usefully connected. Sooner or later I'll just say "Screw it" and put the Kubuntu box into frontline service.
When all I really need for Mandrake 8.0 (which on the whole I like better) is an improved chain. Carving chains by hand, however, while possible, is a pain in the ass.
KFG