Windows Vista Launches To Mixed Reactions

Several users have submitted stories reporting on the launch of Microsoft's newest operating system. The Guardian focuses on virus warnings already threatening the OS, while the New York Times discusses the bug hunt that's begun. With hackers writing scripts to attack, and well-paid bounty hunters looking for bugs to defend, Vista's first few months on the market are sure to be interesting. In the meantime, what is your impression of the OS? Have you had a chance to use the retail version yet? Are you supporting it in a business environment? What's the launch of Vista been like for you?

Comments

Vista launched?

[jimstapleton]

Sorry, I was busy not giving a damn.

Re:What I like about Vista

[Windowser]

Or just boot Knoppix and type "memtest" at the prompt

Knoppix : the first tool you need when you have to support PCs

Re:The more things change ....

[Anonymous Coward]

twitter, please read this carefully. Following this advice will make Slashdot a better place for everyone, including yourself.

• As a representative of the Linux community, participate in mailing list and newsgroup discussions in a professional manner. Refrain from name-calling and use of vulgar language. Consider yourself a member of a virtual corporation with Mr. Torvalds as your Chief Executive Officer. Your words will either enhance or degrade the image the reader has of the Linux community.
• Avoid hyperbole and unsubstantiated claims at all costs. It's unprofessional and will result in unproductive discussions.
• A thoughtful, well-reasoned response to a posting will not only provide insight for your readers, but will also increase their respect for your knowledge and abilities.
• Always remember that if you insult or are disrespectful to someone, their negative experience may be shared with many others. If you do offend someone, please try to make amends.
• Focus on what Linux has to offer. There is no need to bash the competition. Linux is a good, solid product that stands on its own.
• Respect the use of other operating systems. While Linux is a wonderful platform, it does not meet everyone's needs.
• Refer to another product by its proper name. There's nothing to be gained by attempting to ridicule a company or its products by using "creative spelling". If we expect respect for Linux, we must respect other products.
• Give credit where credit is due. Linux is just the kernel. Without the efforts of people involved with the GNU project , MIT, Berkeley and others too numerous to mention, the Linux kernel would not be very useful to most people.
• Don't insist that Linux is the only answer for a particular application. Just as the Linux community cherishes the freedom that Linux provides them, Linux only solutions would deprive others of their freedom.
• There will be cases where Linux is not the answer. Be the first to recognize this and offer another solution.

From http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/docs/HOWTO/Advoca cy

I doubt it.

[twitter]

Three of my computers went down in November. So, putting one Debian together from the leftovers still won't play my children's large collection of Windows-based games, in part inherited from me. So, forgive me, I'll buy Vista.

When you see the cost of buying a new computer with Vista on it, you might think better of buying a $200 used system or a sub $400 fire sale XP machine, to play those Windoze games. You might even buy a game console. For the price difference, you can have both.

Re:VMware / Xen compatable?

[Constantine XVI]

It is. Just disable Aero, or you will have the illusion of running Vista on a Pentium 133mhz

Re:No, M$ is going down.

[dedazo]

But he's not a kook.

He is, actually. He's one of those people whose insane hatred of a company probably affects them physically and psycologically in ways we could hardly imagine. There are literally thousands of those offtopic "I'm feeling especially hateful today" posts in both of his Slashdot sockpuppet accounts.

Note that the message in some (some) cases is not the issue - it's the deranged messenger. Unfortunately he's accumulated enough "karma" here that he's allowed to post at +2.

twitter the prophet

[dedazo]

It's safe to predict that 99.99999% of Vista sales will be OEM installs.

Like Windows 98, ME, 98SE, 2000 and XP before it.

high price of Vista will kill over the counter sales

Like... XP before it?

For the immediate future, forcing Vista will hurt computer sales because no one wants it.

Who is this mythical "no one"? You?

going to have trouble gettin money out of OEMs. The margins don't allow it.

Reality sucks, doesn't it?

The end of the M$ monopoly is here.

But wait, didn't you say this when Windows 95 came out? And then with Windows 98 and 2000? And then again with XP?

I guess it's kinda like predicting "the year of Linux" every year, isn't it? Your track record with prediction is 100% wrong so far, but then again you seem completely detached from reality anyway. Constantly harping that "M$ is going down" on Slashdot will not actually cause that. Hopefully some day you'll realize that.

Re:Thank you, brave gamma testers...

[nrdlnd]

Windows Vista is illegal. Microsoft is trying with the DRM that's against your right of free speech to further strengthen it's monolpolistic position on the market. They control the operating system of the PC, now they want to control ALL media including the hardware that it's going to be used on. Microsoft has declared war against your human right of free speech.

Re:Thank you, brave gamma testers...

[tallguywithglasseson]

Vista has built-in DRM, in that it allows you to play HD-DVD or Blu-Ray through an HDCP output. Otherwise it would be downgraded to 480p or whatever.
Don't like hamstrung hardware? You probably won't be playing any HD-DVD movies, so it will be a non-issue.

Apple will follow suit. Linux will be in a bind, and probably won't support copy-protected HD content.

Other than that, Vista supports DRM in that it will play DRM'd content. There's nothing in WMP11 that will stop you from ripping CDs to DRM-free MP3 format.

But it's easy to spread FUD about DRM. MPAA! DMCA! RIAA! Oh, my! Vista's gonna secretly call the feds on my when I put in my K-Fed bootleg!

That said, having tested Vista on several systems, it's a slight improvement if you've got great hardware and don't need 100% of it for performance (like gaming). Otherwise I can't see a compelling reason to upgrade until some DX10 games to come out.