Windows Vista

[WLeg]

If anyone fancys testing the software for Microsoft.....

http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/default.aspx

 

[Kinky]

Been running the alpha/beta 1 for a while now - but I did not think it was 'publicly' available yet.

The thing is the 2gig weekly download

K

 

[SEM]

The thing is the 2gig weekly download

K

Ouch
I would rather be 6 months behind on OS stuff, let most of the bugs be sorted.. too problematic for my daily use. I had calls off CAD companies that installed SP2 to find it rendered most of their exising software obsolete for a minimum of a month!
BUT i would happily test beta CAD & 3D progs to death if they were availaible (have done in the past)... Beta copies fly round the net for leechers to moan about but never report back for obvious reasons...

Shame more software houses dont trial them for heavy duty purposes, all they end up with bigger wish lists of a missing button that does'nt wipe yer **se.

 

[wallingd]

I'd rather stick to what works. IIABDFI.

 

[Chris_J]

I'd rather stick to what works. IIABDFI.

Mac OS X

I might well try and download Vista from the link, or borrow a CD from work.

 

[Spinal]

Mac OS X

I might well try and download Vista from the link, or borrow a CD from work.

I'm trying to get my hands on an old iMac... I saw this DIY idea that sparked my interest...

Think of this, take 1 iMac. Remove screen and internals. Pass by mapplins and get some sandpaper, a file and some of that mouldable plastic. File and sand down the insides of the iMac's plastic case, then smake a smooth surface with the mouldable plastic. Followed by another sanding to make it utterly smooth. No a touch of perspex to make a stand for it so that it stands "screen-up" (even though there isn't a screen)...

Voila, iTrash!

(Sorry, had to say that, but I do plan on getting an iTrashcan as soon as I find a broken mac )

(and before you mumble, "forgive him, hes never used a mac" I've grown up on macs. Until my last years in high school all I had access too were macs...

Michele

 

[Chris_J]

Did you ever see the fish tank made from the Cube? That was a genius idea.

 

[BenzComander]

Anybody looking to upgrade, and if so why?

Cheers,

 

[scotth_uk]

I'll be looking to my friend at Microsoft to get me a free copy of Ultimate, so that I can run it in a window on my shiny new iMac.



The launch was reported in the press here in the US as a bit of a flop, as the market doesn't really require celebrations of boxed software releases any more.

 

[Spinal]

The irony... I've bashed macs for most of my life (See above)... and guess what? My intership is a sysadmin and techs support in a company that uses 99% macintosh...

 

[scotth_uk]

My intership is a sysadmin and techs support in a company that uses 99% macintosh...

I used to hate macs with a passion. One day I used one running OSX 10, and the rest is history.

Let's be honest, OSX is just a shiny BSD Unix variant. Modern BSD is one of the most repectable, proven, mature, robust operating systems that you could ever imagine.

The main problem with the Mac world is the users.

 

[scotth_uk]

Whoops - double post.

 

[BenzComander]

Is it really a £200+ improvement on XP?

 

[HughJarse]

Errrrrrrr no its not!

I work in this field and we will wait at least a year.

I am typing this on a mac pro running windows xp.
I get the best of both worlds being able to dual boot my mac into OS or XP is fab

 

[scotth_uk]

Is it really a £200+ improvement on XP?

Absolutely not. The only push for Vista will be that it's installed on all new machines from next year.

I can't see much wrong with XP, anyway. There are some structural changes under the hood in Vista, but I'll wait to see how successful they are.

 

[wallingd]

I think 1 of the killer features is going to be the search facility.

Was thinking about it today - if you were to buy a fully legal copy of Ultimate, although it would cost you, it would be something you would use everyday, you'd be valid for all the latest updates, have piece of mind about the legality - and you get a sexy-design box !

http://www.aurum3.com/newtech/images/stories/microsoft-windows-vista-box.jpg

 

[agatward]

Actually running it now!

Apologies for resurrecting this thread; however it seemed silly creating a new one. I have been running the RTM version of Vista Business for a few days on my laptop now, so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you:

Likes:

• 20 minutes to install from scratch!
• Aero - very fast, very stable, and looks reasonably good!
• Boot time - about 25% faster than XP on the same hardware
• Security - most things are off by default if you select the "I'm connected to a public network" thing.
• Only needed one driver installing, the HD Audio one. Everything else worked out-the-box.
• Internet Explorer no longer takes over everything and it seems more Firefox-friendly. Once you set firefox as default, it stays, even after Windows Update.

Dislikes:

• Finding the damn menus in vista-styled applications.
• No "My computer" icon on desktop and still not been able to find where to enable it.
• Tries to be MacOS X but doesn't quite succeed.
• No Start -> Run any more. Windows + R still works though.
• The button on the start menu that looks like a power switch puts the machine into standby rather than shutting down.

So far I've not found any applications that haven't worked under Vista; but I tend only to use a few things - Office, various CAD programs (Visio, EAGLE and Pro/Engineer mainly), Firefox, Thunderbird, Windows Live Messenger and World of Warcraft.

I don't know if I'd had to pay for Vista whether it is worth a large amount extra over XP; however if it was the same price or even £10-20 more I'd definitely go with it.

And before anyone asks, yes this is a legal install. Both sets of install media are totally legit - one is under MSDN (the one I'm running) and I also have one under the "Schools Agreement" license as I work for a University.

Enjoy, and hope this post helped someone!

Andy.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I've been running Vista Ultimate on a laptop for a few weeks too. Just tried to install a Vodafone 3G Broadband card, it detected the OS as an unpatached Windows 2000 PC so wasn't happy!

Will wait a bit longer for more drivers! Anyway the boot time is definitely impressive, some cool features but will take time to get used to it. Definitiely won't deploy it at work for a fair while yet!

 

[WLeg]

This extract is taken from: http://apcmag.com/node/4714#comment-22089

"Read the EULA, they have taken the constitution and shredded it by allowing them to spy on your computer 24 hours a day . Defender will scan your computer on a daily basis and report back to MS about anything they feel is not legitimate on your computer. When did I give MS the right to spy on me and my computer. Well if you install VISTA that is exactly what you are doing.
They do not even have to ring the doorbell, you give MS the right to enter your home and go through your computer with impunity.

The DRM measures in VISTA will prevent you from viewing any multimedia content in its original form. It will disable anything that is not MS approved and prevent hardware from working.

Your brand new Flat Screen will not display HD content in Vista.

Read this and be very scared:
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt

I used to think people that criticized MS were nut cases but after reading about the new DRM measures, they are right! MS is trying to form another monopoly from everything to hardware to software to Hollywood content.

Why have all the major Tech reviewers not told the public about this? It seems their paychecks can be bought off with free software and hardware.

I am now in the MS is EVIL Camp."


- I haven't yet seen a release copy of Vista, but has anyone read the EULA and can verify if this is true ?

I assume that if it is, any comunication with MS could be blocked at the firewall.....


I was also amused by this .

 

[mapleleaf]

not sure if this has bene on before but here it is anyway.

http://windowssecrets.com/comp/070201#story1