No kidding. Cooper starts the article discussing OS relevance and attempts to prove it by stating two companies are pissed Microsoft is going for their market. Pretty lame. I guess OS relevance is measured by when there are no companies selling product for the OS.
Sounds like something Dvorak would have written. Cooper has lost it IMO.
probably right since IIRC, it was over 2 years after MSFT was found guilty that MSFT paid IBM for damages to OS/2 business. The press never mentioned IBM going after MSFT for this but did mention the payment. I do wonder if IBM has to act on this sooner rather than later since the DOJ settlement is still in effect.
Would love to see this blow up in MSFT's face. Their business practices are sickening.
not one organization at the state or local level took any action when the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) put out a warning against using MS Internet Explorer when a major risk was found and left open by Microsoft for over 3 months. Heck, three departments in my city were shutdown for a day when one of the Microsoft Windows bot software was 'failing' and resulted in some of the infected computers to constantly reboot. Yet, after that, questions presented about continued use of MS IE resulted in answers like, 'with limited budgets they are doing the best they can' and 'balancing financial impacts and security risks results in some tough choices', etc.
So it does NOT surprise me to hear that there is a massive bot network running inside many state, local, and federal government systems. And, like how the TSA handles 'threats' in a RE-active manner, so too will this be addressed when something wicked this way comes. IMO.
I figured that what they were saying is how much they WOULD save IF a new power supply/system power configuration was produced. To that, I was saying that they could build their own power supply to realize much of that savings.
For mass produced PCs, wouldn't it also be wasteful if every device had to have its own down converter? I've got 4 harddrives in one box and they are probably driven by a common supply circuit in the PS. Putting a down converter in each HD would be wasteful and more costly than the current configuration. Maybe a more modular PC PS design would be better for THEIR uses but I doubt if it'd be cheaper for the public in general. One option might be a disabling facility for those unused voltages/outputs...
true but I don't believe such a small board would cost much. And if it caught on, they'd be able to purchase from others. Just the projected cost savings should be enough to justify an internal design. Unless it's smoke and mirrors.;-/
given the number of Google uses, why can't they do this themselves? What they are calling for is for DC-DC converters placed on the MoBo with a 12V input supply. So, why can't they build a board with the DC-DC converter(s) on it, a 12VDC input connection, and a MoBo power connector on one end of the PCB? If it is/was going to save them so much money, they'd be doing THIS now and be showing it off to the MoBo makers to entice them into doing it too.
And their server racks should be built with this in mind also. Heck, have one of the vertical support rails made of fiberglas and run a 12V bus bar up the outside surface( recessed maybe ). Then they could pull power up from the floor to the bus bars and a clamp/cable assembly connect 12V to the servers.
they purchase enough of this to do it themselves IMO. But I guess they want someone else to do it for them. What gives?
Not all of Windows performance and reliability issues are related to virus and spyware. For some reason, it slowly starts falling apart( don't know about XP with this regard ). But, time after time I see people doing presentations for 'tech' groups and they are running IE many many times. Not sure if they end up with spyware/virus problems but the odds are against them.
And don't go balls to the wall about this either. Linux and even Mac is not going to work for everyone. Not sure how the Mac running on x86 magically enabled all x86 software to run on it but I guess it'll make virtual Windows running faster and makes porting OSS slightly easier.
Oh and from my experience has been that with VMWare, I can put most home users on Linux without much of a learning curve if they are willing to try something else to get away from reliability issues of Windows. Atleast this way, they are not being required to purchase a new computer, as the Mac requires.
atleast with pool care there IS a required periodic maintenance issue to fund the pool maintenance business. There is nothing like this in the computer business, well, there shouldn't be if the OS was stable.
I agree that any business with scheduled maintenance is better off doing a good job and keeping the maintenance job instead of doing poorly and making the task more expensive for the customer. A reliable income/customer is better than an ever changing customer base where you're maximizing profits but losing customers over and over.
My guess is that the 25% of the customers this threadster is able to convert to Linux are probably sick of paying to have Windows fixed and since they only do browsing, email, and standard office docs, Ubuntu is and easy option that'll work well. But, he'll probably not see or hear from them again for quite some time. I will bet he'll get a few calls from those customers asking him if they REALLY don't have to worry about the latest virus or security threat. My experience is that it'll take 2 - 3 assurances before they stop asking and go on just using their 'new', more reliable, and stable computer.
Since so many businesses rely on a large portion of their income from fixing broken Windows, those businesses are NOT as likely to promote something that'll immediately reduce a large part of their income. Look at Dell. They get in the range of 25% of their PROFITS directly from Microsoft Marketing Programs. If they were to start promoting Linux on their standard desktops, Microsoft would stop those promotions and Dell would lose 25% of their profits. HP had a couple of Linux based products they terminated because Microsoft promotional dollars would be lost from existing productlines if they commercialized these Linux based products. The small mom-pop service companies are even more tied to this kind of cycle. Notice how the original poster/threadster does this on the side and not as his main business? Not everyone is going to do what's best for them or their business at the expense of the customer but in the Microsoft Windows world, I think most will take care of themselves. Especially since their customers are mostly clueless with regards to the world outside the Windows. IMO.
I think it's going to be a hard sell to have repair technicians providing something that'll reduce their profits. I have a few experiences with friends who've finally got tired of needing their computers/Windows fixed and I've switched them to Linux. I've only been called a couple of times over the years(2-3) for things like help replacing a printer, when the wireless mouse batteries ran out, or to help teach them how to use a spreadsheet or something like that. With Windows, my wife and I could count on atleast one evening every 1-2 months spent having dinner with friends and fixing their computer/Windows.
Can you imagine people who make their living fixing computers wanting to put themselves out of business? Well, it might not be THAT bad but I would venture to guess that more than 50% of their business is fixing software/Microsoft issues.
So, keep up the good work. You are a rare bird IMO.:-)
That means it'll cost businesses( in 2010 ) $19.9 Million for Linux. They also say that businesses, etc already pay $200 Million annually for Microsoft Windows software but leave 2010 number out.
No wonder Indian schools are looking to Linux, they'll save huge sums of money this way and at the same time, be building a workforce capable of supporting this shift.
Who knows, in 2010, we may be seeing only IDC numbers on revenue from services around Linux and OSS.
It sure seems strange that these kinds of numbers always seem to be equated with how much money Microsoft makes or how big their market is when infact, it's all about how much it's costing businesses. After all, they are not talking about services and are all about software sales.
When US companies 'see the light' and realize these numbers are leaving THEIR pockets, they might be willing to look toward Linux on the desktop too.
This is a well known tactic for the IT press since viewership is far lower on Thu and Fri and almost zero on weekends. When we start seeing THESE kinds of articles published during "prime time", then we'll know that Linux and open source has arrived and the press is not worried about 'exciting' a particular advertiser.
Seeing this in printed form would be a good indicator also. IMO.
really now, since the 9/11 attacks, people no long play victim and let hijackers do what THEY decide. Also realize that the 9/11 attackers were not stupid by any means. ANYBODY who tried to attack someone on a plane with fingernail clippers is going down and the initial attackee is not likely to have life threatening injuries. I agree that a pen is more dangerous but is also not going to be capable of more than one or two injured.
For goodness sake, they were taking fingernail clippers from people visiting the Statue of Liberty! When I heard that security personnel knew of liquid explosive attempts since the late 1990s, I could not believe we were not told to keep all POTENTIAL liquid substances in checked bagage and out of carry-on.
We don't have to fly naked but we could streamline the system so that carry-on was a special form of checked baggage and thereby greatly reduce potential assembled weapon type of issues. I don't think that laptops and cellphones should be allowed in the cabin because of the potential energy of the battery packs. Light one of those foam seats on fire and all hell is going to break loose. And I don't think an LiOn battery fire is going to get put out very easily.
But the TSA will probably wait til some faulty battery goes up or someone actually does it on purpose before they 'decide' it's in our best interest to not fly with these. I'd rather see them pro-active in a 'smart' way than freak out and look like dumb shits everytime something happens. IMO.
to explode or burn in cascade? Ya, some Sony batteries might catch fire but NOBODY would EVER think of causing any other laptop battery to cascade. These 'experts' have no clue IMO and just wait til they find some attempt or information on an attempt. THEN they go and collect every instance of the offending material from passengers while they take a few months to figure out things like fingernail clippers are NOT a threat.
Virgin should ban all laptop size batteries or any LiIon battery which is large enough to be uncontrollable in failure in the cabin or in cargo. IMO.
laugh and LOL and laugh hard. This should not be a surprise to anybody except the idiots who think just because Microsoft has billions, they are more than a marketing company.
Can't wait to see the Cray settop box, and fiber channel required to show HDTV over MS-IPTV and still have 5+ second channel change delays. But who knows, maybe they'll find that by putting a SAN disk on the telephone poles will help and nothing else but wait for the next version of MS-IPTV will save them. Promise, the next version will be the best MS-IPTV ever. Honest. It's SOP for MS and the fools who use their stuff. IMO.
So laugh and laugh long and hard. I almost couldn't type this since I got the hiccups from laughing so much.
the money is responsible beyond a certain point. Obviously the theifs are ultimately responsible but to blame the business? I don't think so. They could advertise indemnity or something to gain customers but that's an optional feature IMO.
The business site must have some ability to validate a customer and attempt to prevent phishing site copies.
what about the 50,000 used car salesmen who will find employment in the IT industry after purchasing their Vista MCSE diploma? They'll be able to instruct businesses that they need to purchase a new computer with Microsoft Windows Vista and that it'll save them so much money they won't know what to do with it all.;-)
Too tell you the truth, I laughed out loud when I saw the headline of this Microsoft funded 'study'.
"customization"? Heck, I went the easy route and went with Knoppix. In all cases, they weren't as confortable remembering where the icons/menus where for the applications I showed them so I put links to those applications on their desktops and the one really 'custom' thing I did was install the printer in the OpenOffice admin screen so it showed up as a printer. Oh, I set up GAIM for the highschool age daughters of one friend sense Linux was a non-starter without IM capabilities.
Nothing really "custom" there and the main reason for my post was to show that we've given them far far far less 'support' after installing Linux. I've only been called to help with a real problem once in 2 years and that was to add a new printer after the old one gummed up and wouldn't work anymore. They really can't call on any friends to help them IF they had a problem but so far, there have not been any problems. Very much unlike their experiences with Microsoft Windows which was custom designed and configured specifically for the computers they purchased.
well, they are 'mystery causes' to my mother-in-law when here Dell computer with Dell supplied Windows drivers for the Dell supplied hardware under the Dell provided copy of Microsoft Windows. Same goes for two other people I know but have HP systems. All three have had to reinstall Microsoft Windows as directed by the manufacturer after support calls could not fix the problems. The is before they asked me to install Linux after their systems failed for the last time.
So here we are in 2006 and Microsoft has yet another 'new' operating system that'll be more reliable than the previous version blah blah blah. But somehow, a bunch of hackers can put together a system and drivers for Linux which work on a good deal of existing systems that Microsoft can't do with billion of dollars over a decade of development and with thousands of developers paid top dollar.
But hey, I do know of two friends who say their Microsoft Windows systems have run without problems for over a year. Everyone else has at one time or another complained of some problem or another and a handful have paid out about $200 to have someone reformat and reinstall their system but still continue with MS Windows.
BTW, Parental Control is an application which requires lowlevel kernel mode drivers and can take out the OS? It sure sounds like a user space tool to me but then again, who know how/why Microsoft 'designs' its OS the way they do. Well, marketing people probably understand though.;-/
I once hear of someone using Microsoft Windows for a server project and claimed it ran for over a year straight without problems. Then, I found out that it was actually so unstable that it was automatically rebooted nightly to keep keep it going because of memory leaks outside of the application space( ie in Windows system calls ).
Remember that it was 1999, yes 1999, that it was found that many Windows 9x computers would fail after 49.7 days of continuous operation. Why did it take so long to find this out? Because they were being rebooted for one reason of another as standard operating proceedures and people accepted this.
I wonder how often Patch Tuesday does NOT require a reboot????
actually, this just sounds too much like a marketing pitch. I mean come on, one guy said he's using it for his everyday business computer yet also says it crashes and hangs much less than expected? Crashes less and it's only been out for 5 days? A single crash or hang in 5 days is unacceptable.
Those little inconsistencies just seem too much like this is all another Microsoft PR stunt. IMO.
I wonder what 3rd party drivers and apps are being loaded on these 'critics' machines and causing them to say that MS Vista RC1 crashes and hangs are fewer than expected IN LESS THAN 7 DAYS? It was just released 5 days ago and they can't even say that it has not crashed or hung. And this is a release candidate?
Driver or no drivers, it sure seems like way too many applications or mystery causes can take out Microsoft operating systems. And isn't Vista based on NT which in 1993 stood for New Technology. Just why is it that an ancient design like UNIX can be far more stable and secure? Don't worry, I know the answer, Microsoft is a marketing company and not a software engineering company. Your problems are their financial gains. IMO.
I find it funny that people are talking about stable OS's released just 8 years ago. It was only about 7 years ago that it was found most Microsoft Windows based computers could only run for 49.7 days before crashing( http://news.com.com/Windows+may+crash+after+49.7+d ays/2100-1040_3-222391.html ). Even OS/2 had stablility licked years earlier. Let alone this thing called Linux which was stable enough for corporate use about the same time it was found that MS Windows can't run for much more than a month without automatic or manual reboots. And Linux was/is put together by a rag-tag group of developers from around the world. Many who've never seen or spoken to other developers they are working with.
Anyways, it sure looks like all signs point to this 'product' from Microsoft being yet another money maker for the Microsoft Windows Keep-Windows-running business sector. Imagine if all that effort could be put into something offbeat like solving business process problems instead of rebuilding or repairing the Microsoft Windows Registry/etc.
from the article: "The OS does not hang, lag or crash as consistently as it used to. The performance has been greatly improved."
I don't know about you but these 'critics' sure seem to be overly positive. I mean really, it doesn't "crash or hang as CONSISTENTLY as it used to" yet it's ready to be used as an everyday desktop and some of the 'critics' are doing just that? The thing was just released days ago and anything less than 'we've had no crashes or hangs at the OS level or application level' is what I would expect from such a commercial product in such a short period of testing.
I think there's a good chance that this article or these 'critics' are being overly friendly to Microsoft for one reason or another. They are amateurs at best IMO.
Slashdot Mirror
No kidding. Cooper starts the article discussing OS relevance and attempts to prove it by stating two companies are pissed Microsoft is going for their market. Pretty lame. I guess OS relevance is measured by when there are no companies selling product for the OS.
Sounds like something Dvorak would have written. Cooper has lost it IMO.
LoB
probably right since IIRC, it was over 2 years after MSFT was found guilty that MSFT paid IBM for damages to OS/2 business. The press never mentioned IBM going after MSFT for this but did mention the payment. I do wonder if IBM has to act on this sooner rather than later since the DOJ settlement is still in effect.
Would love to see this blow up in MSFT's face. Their business practices are sickening.
LoB
not one organization at the state or local level took any action when the Department of Homeland Security(DHS) put out a warning against using MS Internet Explorer when a major risk was found and left open by Microsoft for over 3 months. Heck, three departments in my city were shutdown for a day when one of the Microsoft Windows bot software was 'failing' and resulted in some of the infected computers to constantly reboot. Yet, after that, questions presented about continued use of MS IE resulted in answers like, 'with limited budgets they are doing the best they can' and 'balancing financial impacts and security risks results in some tough choices', etc.
So it does NOT surprise me to hear that there is a massive bot network running inside many state, local, and federal government systems. And, like how the TSA handles 'threats' in a RE-active manner, so too will this be addressed when something wicked this way comes. IMO.
LoB
I figured that what they were saying is how much they WOULD save IF a new power supply/system power configuration was produced. To that, I was saying that they could build their own power supply to realize much of that savings.
For mass produced PCs, wouldn't it also be wasteful if every device had to have its own down converter? I've got 4 harddrives in one box and they are probably driven by a common supply circuit in the PS. Putting a down converter in each HD would be wasteful and more costly than the current configuration. Maybe a more modular PC PS design would be better for THEIR uses but I doubt if it'd be cheaper for the public in general. One option might be a disabling facility for those unused voltages/outputs...
LoB
true but I don't believe such a small board would cost much. And if it caught on, they'd be able to purchase from others. Just the projected cost savings should be enough to justify an internal design. Unless it's smoke and mirrors. ;-/
LoB
given the number of Google uses, why can't they do this themselves? What they are calling for is for DC-DC converters placed on the MoBo with a 12V input supply. So, why can't they build a board with the DC-DC converter(s) on it, a 12VDC input connection, and a MoBo power connector on one end of the PCB? If it is/was going to save them so much money, they'd be doing THIS now and be showing it off to the MoBo makers to entice them into doing it too.
And their server racks should be built with this in mind also. Heck, have one of the vertical support rails made of fiberglas and run a 12V bus bar up the outside surface( recessed maybe ). Then they could pull power up from the floor to the bus bars and a clamp/cable assembly connect 12V to the servers.
they purchase enough of this to do it themselves IMO. But I guess they want someone else to do it for them. What gives?
LoB
You claim dual boot is what enables Mac with all that???? geesh.
LoB
Not all of Windows performance and reliability issues are related to virus and spyware. For some reason, it slowly starts falling apart( don't know about XP with this regard ). But, time after time I see people doing presentations for 'tech' groups and they are running IE many many times. Not sure if they end up with spyware/virus problems but the odds are against them.
And don't go balls to the wall about this either. Linux and even Mac is not going to work for everyone. Not sure how the Mac running on x86 magically enabled all x86 software to run on it but I guess it'll make virtual Windows running faster and makes porting OSS slightly easier.
Oh and from my experience has been that with VMWare, I can put most home users on Linux without much of a learning curve if they are willing to try something else to get away from reliability issues of Windows. Atleast this way, they are not being required to purchase a new computer, as the Mac requires.
LoB
atleast with pool care there IS a required periodic maintenance issue to fund the pool maintenance business. There is nothing like this in the computer business, well, there shouldn't be if the OS was stable.
I agree that any business with scheduled maintenance is better off doing a good job and keeping the maintenance job instead of doing poorly and making the task more expensive for the customer. A reliable income/customer is better than an ever changing customer base where you're maximizing profits but losing customers over and over.
My guess is that the 25% of the customers this threadster is able to convert to Linux are probably sick of paying to have Windows fixed and since they only do browsing, email, and standard office docs, Ubuntu is and easy option that'll work well. But, he'll probably not see or hear from them again for quite some time. I will bet he'll get a few calls from those customers asking him if they REALLY don't have to worry about the latest virus or security threat. My experience is that it'll take 2 - 3 assurances before they stop asking and go on just using their 'new', more reliable, and stable computer.
Since so many businesses rely on a large portion of their income from fixing broken Windows, those businesses are NOT as likely to promote something that'll immediately reduce a large part of their income. Look at Dell. They get in the range of 25% of their PROFITS directly from Microsoft Marketing Programs. If they were to start promoting Linux on their standard desktops, Microsoft would stop those promotions and Dell would lose 25% of their profits. HP had a couple of Linux based products they terminated because Microsoft promotional dollars would be lost from existing productlines if they commercialized these Linux based products. The small mom-pop service companies are even more tied to this kind of cycle. Notice how the original poster/threadster does this on the side and not as his main business? Not everyone is going to do what's best for them or their business at the expense of the customer but in the Microsoft Windows world, I think most will take care of themselves. Especially since their customers are mostly clueless with regards to the world outside the Windows. IMO.
LoB
I think it's going to be a hard sell to have repair technicians providing something that'll reduce their profits. I have a few experiences with friends who've finally got tired of needing their computers/Windows fixed and I've switched them to Linux. I've only been called a couple of times over the years(2-3) for things like help replacing a printer, when the wireless mouse batteries ran out, or to help teach them how to use a spreadsheet or something like that. With Windows, my wife and I could count on atleast one evening every 1-2 months spent having dinner with friends and fixing their computer/Windows.
:-)
Can you imagine people who make their living fixing computers wanting to put themselves out of business? Well, it might not be THAT bad but I would venture to guess that more than 50% of their business is fixing software/Microsoft issues.
So, keep up the good work. You are a rare bird IMO.
LoB
That means it'll cost businesses( in 2010 ) $19.9 Million for Linux. They also say that businesses, etc already pay $200 Million annually for Microsoft Windows software but leave 2010 number out.
No wonder Indian schools are looking to Linux, they'll save huge sums of money this way and at the same time, be building a workforce capable of supporting this shift.
Who knows, in 2010, we may be seeing only IDC numbers on revenue from services around Linux and OSS.
It sure seems strange that these kinds of numbers always seem to be equated with how much money Microsoft makes or how big their market is when infact, it's all about how much it's costing businesses. After all, they are not talking about services and are all about software sales.
When US companies 'see the light' and realize these numbers are leaving THEIR pockets, they might be willing to look toward Linux on the desktop too.
LoB
This is a well known tactic for the IT press since viewership is far lower on Thu and Fri and almost zero on weekends. When we start seeing THESE kinds of articles published during "prime time", then we'll know that Linux and open source has arrived and the press is not worried about 'exciting' a particular advertiser.
Seeing this in printed form would be a good indicator also.
IMO.
LoB
really now, since the 9/11 attacks, people no long play victim and let hijackers do what THEY decide. Also realize that the 9/11 attackers were not stupid by any means. ANYBODY who tried to attack someone on a plane with fingernail clippers is going down and the initial attackee is not likely to have life threatening injuries. I agree that a pen is more dangerous but is also not going to be capable of more than one or two injured.
For goodness sake, they were taking fingernail clippers from people visiting the Statue of Liberty! When I heard that security personnel knew of liquid explosive attempts since the late 1990s, I could not believe we were not told to keep all POTENTIAL liquid substances in checked bagage and out of carry-on.
We don't have to fly naked but we could streamline the system so that carry-on was a special form of checked baggage and thereby greatly reduce potential assembled weapon type of issues. I don't think that laptops and cellphones should be allowed in the cabin because of the potential energy of the battery packs. Light one of those foam seats on fire and all hell is going to break loose. And I don't think an LiOn battery fire is going to get put out very easily.
But the TSA will probably wait til some faulty battery goes up or someone actually does it on purpose before they 'decide' it's in our best interest to not fly with these. I'd rather see them pro-active in a 'smart' way than freak out and look like dumb shits everytime something happens. IMO.
LoB
to explode or burn in cascade? Ya, some Sony batteries might catch fire but NOBODY would EVER think of causing any other laptop battery to cascade. These 'experts' have no clue IMO and just wait til they find some attempt or information on an attempt. THEN they go and collect every instance of the offending material from passengers while they take a few months to figure out things like fingernail clippers are NOT a threat.
Virgin should ban all laptop size batteries or any LiIon battery which is large enough to be uncontrollable in failure in the cabin or in cargo. IMO.
LoB
laugh and LOL and laugh hard. This should not be a surprise to anybody except the idiots who think just because Microsoft has billions, they are more than a marketing company.
Can't wait to see the Cray settop box, and fiber channel required to show HDTV over MS-IPTV and still have 5+ second channel change delays. But who knows, maybe they'll find that by putting a SAN disk on the telephone poles will help and nothing else but wait for the next version of MS-IPTV will save them. Promise, the next version will be the best MS-IPTV ever. Honest. It's SOP for MS and the fools who use their stuff. IMO.
So laugh and laugh long and hard. I almost couldn't type this since I got the hiccups from laughing so much.
LoB
the money is responsible beyond a certain point. Obviously the theifs are ultimately responsible but to blame the business? I don't think so. They could advertise indemnity or something to gain customers but that's an optional feature IMO.
The business site must have some ability to validate a customer and attempt to prevent phishing site copies.
LoB
what about the 50,000 used car salesmen who will find employment in the IT industry after purchasing their Vista MCSE diploma? They'll be able to instruct businesses that they need to purchase a new computer with Microsoft Windows Vista and that it'll save them so much money they won't know what to do with it all. ;-)
Too tell you the truth, I laughed out loud when I saw the headline of this Microsoft funded 'study'.
LoB
hey, if you can't stay on the Segway to begin with, why shouldn't it feel the need to kick you off again? Bush's bicycles should be so smart. ;-/
Quick, someone stick a couple of auto-iris CCD cameras( with plate aluminum sun visors ) on the Segway handlebars and call it a 'Johnny 5+'!
LoB
"customization"? Heck, I went the easy route and went with Knoppix. In all cases, they weren't as confortable remembering where the icons/menus where for the applications I showed them so I put links to those applications on their desktops and the one really 'custom' thing I did was install the printer in the OpenOffice admin screen so it showed up as a printer. Oh, I set up GAIM for the highschool age daughters of one friend sense Linux was a non-starter without IM capabilities.
Nothing really "custom" there and the main reason for my post was to show that we've given them far far far less 'support' after installing Linux. I've only been called to help with a real problem once in 2 years and that was to add a new printer after the old one gummed up and wouldn't work anymore. They really can't call on any friends to help them IF they had a problem but so far, there have not been any problems. Very much unlike their experiences with Microsoft Windows which was custom designed and configured specifically for the computers they purchased.
LoB
well, they are 'mystery causes' to my mother-in-law when here Dell computer with Dell supplied Windows drivers for the Dell supplied hardware under the Dell provided copy of Microsoft Windows. Same goes for two other people I know but have HP systems. All three have had to reinstall Microsoft Windows as directed by the manufacturer after support calls could not fix the problems. The is before they asked me to install Linux after their systems failed for the last time.
;-/
So here we are in 2006 and Microsoft has yet another 'new' operating system that'll be more reliable than the previous version blah blah blah. But somehow, a bunch of hackers can put together a system and drivers for Linux which work on a good deal of existing systems that Microsoft can't do with billion of dollars over a decade of development and with thousands of developers paid top dollar.
But hey, I do know of two friends who say their Microsoft Windows systems have run without problems for over a year. Everyone else has at one time or another complained of some problem or another and a handful have paid out about $200 to have someone reformat and reinstall their system but still continue with MS Windows.
BTW, Parental Control is an application which requires lowlevel kernel mode drivers and can take out the OS? It sure sounds like a user space tool to me but then again, who know how/why Microsoft 'designs' its OS the way they do. Well, marketing people probably understand though.
LoB
I once hear of someone using Microsoft Windows for a server project and claimed it ran for over a year straight without problems. Then, I found out that it was actually so unstable that it was automatically rebooted nightly to keep keep it going because of memory leaks outside of the application space( ie in Windows system calls ).
Remember that it was 1999, yes 1999, that it was found that many Windows 9x computers would fail after 49.7 days of continuous operation. Why did it take so long to find this out? Because they were being rebooted for one reason of another as standard operating proceedures and people accepted this.
I wonder how often Patch Tuesday does NOT require a reboot????
LoB
actually, this just sounds too much like a marketing pitch. I mean come on, one guy said he's using it for his everyday business computer yet also says it crashes and hangs much less than expected? Crashes less and it's only been out for 5 days? A single crash or hang in 5 days is unacceptable.
Those little inconsistencies just seem too much like this is all another Microsoft PR stunt. IMO.
LoB
I wonder what 3rd party drivers and apps are being loaded on these 'critics' machines and causing them to say that MS Vista RC1 crashes and hangs are fewer than expected IN LESS THAN 7 DAYS? It was just released 5 days ago and they can't even say that it has not crashed or hung. And this is a release candidate?
Driver or no drivers, it sure seems like way too many applications or mystery causes can take out Microsoft operating systems. And isn't Vista based on NT which in 1993 stood for New Technology. Just why is it that an ancient design like UNIX can be far more stable and secure? Don't worry, I know the answer, Microsoft is a marketing company and not a software engineering company. Your problems are their financial gains. IMO.
LoB
I find it funny that people are talking about stable OS's released just 8 years ago. It was only about 7 years ago that it was found most Microsoft Windows based computers could only run for 49.7 days before crashing( http://news.com.com/Windows+may+crash+after+49.7+d ays/2100-1040_3-222391.html ). Even OS/2 had stablility licked years earlier. Let alone this thing called Linux which was stable enough for corporate use about the same time it was found that MS Windows can't run for much more than a month without automatic or manual reboots. And Linux was/is put together by a rag-tag group of developers from around the world. Many who've never seen or spoken to other developers they are working with.
Anyways, it sure looks like all signs point to this 'product' from Microsoft being yet another money maker for the Microsoft Windows Keep-Windows-running business sector. Imagine if all that effort could be put into something offbeat like solving business process problems instead of rebuilding or repairing the Microsoft Windows Registry/etc.
LoB
from the article:
"The OS does not hang, lag or crash as consistently as it used to. The performance has been greatly improved."
I don't know about you but these 'critics' sure seem to be overly positive. I mean really, it doesn't "crash or hang as CONSISTENTLY as it used to" yet it's ready to be used as an everyday desktop and some of the 'critics' are doing just that? The thing was just released days ago and anything less than 'we've had no crashes or hangs at the OS level or application level' is what I would expect from such a commercial product in such a short period of testing.
I think there's a good chance that this article or these 'critics' are being overly friendly to Microsoft for one reason or another. They are amateurs at best IMO.
LoB