Ten Reasons to Buy Windows Vista

pennconservative writes "Michael Desmond, writing for PCWorld.com, gives us ten reasons to buy the next version of Microsoft Windows. Some of his reasons sound compelling, and it definitely sounds like Microsoft has found yet another way to ensure market dominance for a few more years. Desmond also gives a few reasons not to buy Vista, but the most compelling of those is the hardware required to run it. Since Vista will likely ship on every new computer anyone buys, I don't see that being a major roadblock."

Re:can they all run it though?

[pennconservative]

The article points out that they actually give you two options for the desktop. If your computer can't handle the new, fancy look, you can simply use the Windows Classic look. That way users without the high-end hardware can still run it.

Can somebody name a distribution

[anandpur]

that support out of this box all this

1. Security : Something like Linux or OpenBSD
2. Internet Explorer 7 : FireFox 1.5.x is good enough
3. Righteous eye candy : Something like OS X
4. Desktop search : Google Desktop or bagel
5. Better updates : apt-get or yum
6. More media : Something DRM free
7. Parental controls : non root user?
8. Better backups : rsync
9. Peer-to-peer collaboration : wiki?
10. Quick setup : live CD to harddisk

Innovation?

[Karpe]

1. Security, security, security: How about no know viruses and worms, except for some proof of concepts which have never really proliferated?
2. Internet Explorer: Safari is a decent browser, with tabbed browsing, from day 1.
3. Righteous eye candy: Apple introduced gratuitious eye candy with Acqua, and made it usefull with Dashboard and Exposé.
4. Desktop search: Spotlight is a joy to use.
5. Better updates: Software Updates, since MacOS X 10.0
6. More media: Music and Photos? Add video, podcasts, simple web development, and call it iLife.
7. Parental controls: Done right in Tiger
8. Better backups: Ok, granted. Unless you count .mac, a paid service.
9. Peer-to-peer collaboration: First Rendezvous, then Bonjour.
10. Quick setup: Not only quick, but simple, in MacOS X.

Re:So...

[Quevar]

I went through the list and couldn't find anything that OSX doesn't already have. Keep in mind that OSX (10.4) was released in April 2005. Vista seems to be at least 2 years behind and it's still not shipping yet....

His top ten reasons to get Vista compared to OSX (10.4):
1. Security, security, security: Yeah, I've got that in OSX.
2. Internet Explorer 7: "IE gets a much-needed, Firefox-inspired makeover." Yeah, I've got Firefox in OSX, but I much prefer Safari anyway.
3. Righteous eye candy: Yeah, I've got that in OSX.
4. Desktop search: Yeah, I've got that in OSX.
5. Better updates: "Vista does away with using Internet Explorer to access Windows Update, instead utilizing a new application to handle the chore of keeping your system patched and up-to-date." Yeah, I've got a separate app to deal with updates in OSX.
6. More media: Yeah, I've got plenty of media in OSX - Macs have always dominated this market.
7. Parental controls: Yeah, I've got that in OSX.
8. Better backups: Yeah, I've got that in OSX. I've been using Apple's Backup and also rsync to backup to an external computer for my essential stuff.
9. Peer-to-peer collaboration: Yeah, I've got that in OSX - Bonjour comes to mind.
10. Quick setup: Beta code alert: Hmm, the setup time might beat OSX.

Check out these three movies to see a shipping version of Vista:
http://smartdelivery.watchmactv.com/mactv/mp4/102- TheRealVista1_Fixed.mov [watchmactv.com]
http://smartdelivery.watchmactv.com/mactv/mp4/103- TheRealVista2.mov [watchmactv.com]
http://smartdelivery.watchmactv.com/mactv/mp4/105- TheRealVista3.mp4 [watchmactv.com]

outnumbered

[geoff lane]

No matter how many new PCs ship with Vista, there is going to be 3 to 5 years before it dominates the market because that's the approximate time it will take for the existing installed base of PCs to be renewed. Can MS wait that long? Can apps writers? Can the media companies?

More than 10 reasons never to buy ANYTHING from MS

[truthsearch]

There are many more than 10 reasons to NOT BUY ANYTHING from Microsoft. [msversus.org]

Re:Opinion from a die hard Windows user...

[truthsearch]

That's great you're considering switching. There are many non-software related reasons for switching away from Microsoft [msversus.org] as well.

Re:Not really.

[Alcimedes]

Let's see. Starting from #1

1. Security. Most of the features mentioned OSX already has in place. It will be nice to have it rolled into Windows, but not a massive change to OSX users.

2. And I quote: "Internet Explorer 7: IE gets a much-needed, Firefox-inspired makeover, complete with tabbed pages and better privacy management." Yay! Windows users get Firefox. Again. Which they already had anyway. IE7 is a yawn. Welcome to the internet of 3 years ago.

3. Righteous eye candy: Wow. It's like a Stevenote timewarp listening to the writeup on this feature. Again, welcome to three years ago.

4. Desktop search: Already available in OSX, and Google and Yahoo are already there for Windows. Again this is playing catchup to the market.

5. Better updates: Central (non browser) source of updates. Ooh. Stale.

6. More media: This should basically be titled. "Windows Media Player, now with more iTunes!"

7. Parental controls: That could be very nice, and is unique. As I'm not a parent it's not as important to me, but could be nice for locking down labs etc. to standard hours. This is actually cool.

8 and 9 are both cool options.

10. This is actually a little lackluster for me until I see it in practice. Could be nice but as it isn't working yet, I'll hold off.

So of the 9 updates actually IN the product reviewed, 6 are YEARS old, three are new.

Reasons not to upgrade from Windows 2000

[Anonymous Coward]

• It kinda-sorta-works well enough so that our users will actually be able to accomplish their work in a kinda-sorta-effecient and kinda-sorta-timely manner.
• Because the transition would cost big, mega bux.
• XP was a fucking nightmare. We waited two years before rolling out a few nodes. Then we stopped rolling out XP nodes.
• The users don't give a fuck, why should I?
• Nothing suggesting that upgrading would result in prettier (as in values) financial statements for the company.
• Because I would really rather be doing something else (like eating glass).

Re:Such wonderful reasons!

[mrchaotica]

I wasn't talking about iLife. Mac OS comes with a bunch of other stuff, like Automator, that Windows doesn't have.

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One valid reason for not upgrading to Vista

[ravee]

Why upgrade when you have a robust, secure, beautiful OS in Linux available at an unbeatable price (free)?

Give Linux a try and you will never be disapointed!!

Re:Not really.

[sqlrob]

Parental controls: That could be very nice, and is unique

Uhh, no. It's been in Tiger. [apple.com]

Counterpoint

[winkydink]

DVDDecrypter, DVDShrink, Quicken.

There are some dvd rip&burn apps for the Mac, but noe that I have tried come close to these two Windows apps. Quicken for the Mac is a waste of good disk space. And neither GnuCash nor Moneydance come close to offerring the full feature set of Quicken for Windows.

I have migrated and consolidated all of my Windows/Linux/Mac stuff onto a new iMac. The aforementioned 3 apps, keep me from shutting off the Windows machine.

Re:One good reason NOT to buy Windows Vista:

[MindStalker]

Yes. THE HDCP protocol is what this is based upon HDCP is an encrypted HDTV signal that the final end display will only decrypt. Of course it will be broken eventually, but microsoft has declared that all they will make this technology available in Vista and use it for all Media player DRMd video content. Of course will the recent dicovery that many "HDCP" video cards do not actually support HDCP this may have to be revised. HDCP does allow for playback of low quality analog as well though, so it won't be the complete black screen mentioned, though that depends upon the video producers and if they wish to allow low quality unDRM content..

Re:Cool

[cthellis]

7. Parental filtering options -- Okay, I'm not aware of anyone else that bundles this in, so this may be new.

I don't see time-restricted computer use, but OSX has a pretty full control package:

Specifically add email addresses the user is allowed to correspond with, IM accounts they can talk to and websites they can visit (restricting all others), heavily restrict/customize what system preferences they can access or what files they can see in Finder, lock their ability to access printers or burn media, permit/deny their ability to run applications on an individual basis... Even, amusingly, looking up profanity in the Dictionary. ;-)

They should definitely add time-restricted access, though. That's a good tool for parental management. (And with things like the built-in webcams becoming more and more common, they should have device-by-device restrictions available as well and even lock port access.)

Re:Not really.

[aristotle-dude]

mac browsers suck.

Really? Have you actually tried Safari? I somehow doubt it.

Third Party OS X browsers:
Camino
Firefox
Mozilla/Seamonkey
Opera
Shiira
Omniweb

You were saying?

Re:One good reason NOT to buy Windows Vista:

[justsomebody]

DRM? Actualy there's no need for additional ones. Author named 10 reasons against already.

1. Security, security, security
Every OS had that department better than Windows.
2. Internet Explorer 7: IE gets a much-needed, Firefox-inspired makeover
Yeah, so why do I use FF then?
3. Righteous eye candy: For the first time, Microsoft is building high-end graphics effects into Windows
Again lagging behind others.
4. Desktop search
And in every other OS, it is nothing less than memory hog. I disabled it everywhere so far, even Longhorn builds, which are no better.
5. Better updates
Old ones, (pre XP, sucked major. In XP you have to disable this if you use Limited User. System just hangs on Updating... on Shutdown). And you have to update software separately from OS. BWAAAAH!
6. More media
But still supporting near zero codecs by default.
7. Parental controls
Can be avoided with any other browser, where is the point?
8. Better backups
What? Now backup will actualy work? No more buying expensive backup software?
- Microsoft also tweaked the useful System Restore feature--which takes snapshots of your system state so you can recover from a nasty infection or botched software installation.
Usefull System Restore? That should probably tell everything about author. He's an idiot. Only thing working with system restore were viruses. When I actualy needed it once it didn't work.
9. Peer-to-peer collaboration
Author just forgot to mention it is only MSOffice related.
10. Quick setup
Yeah, but still you need to install every god damn driver separately. CD Install was about 10% of actual instalation, not more.

Re:Ten Reasons NOT to buy Windows Vista

[kaptron]

Nonsense. A 3 minute call placed through Microsoft's activation phone support and your done. I work in a shop where motherboards are replaced every other day on all kinds of PCs.

Yeah that is true with XP, but the rumor (fact? not sure) is that with Vista they're not going to allow you to do that.

10 reasons NOT to buy MS Vista:

[Anonymous Coward]

10. System freezes. 9. New bugs same as the old bugs. 8. USB2 only works half as fast as Firewire in real world tests. 7. 165,000 viruses knocking on my internet door. 6. The Registry. 5. The Registry. 4. What do you mean my $1,500 2-year-old computer doesn't have enough power? 3. Hey, you said my old software would run with this. 2. Bill's wallet keeps get fatter and mine keeps getting thinner. and the number one reason not to buy Windows Vista: 1. I'm tired of paying a lot of money just to get half of last years OS X features!

Re:So...

[dryeo]

BTW, Microsoft was the first to ship a componentized internet browser that could be used by other apps, years before Apple, BTW.
Apple ripped off the task bar from Microsoft.

1994 OS/2 shipped with a small binary, explore.exe and a huge DLL webexwin.dll which was documented and meant to be (and was) used by other apps. Plus it was designed that it could be replaced by another browser quite easily.
Also note the name Web Explorer which MS basically copied.

Re:One good reason NOT to buy Windows Vista:

[$mooth]

You should try a soft rope, she really likes that. If you can't find any, I used to just use a necktie.

Re:Counterpoint

[geezusfreeek]

Well, for your DVD ripping, Handbrake is excellent. As for Quicken, I never much liked it anyway, but to each his own.

Re:Not really.

[mr i want to go home]

Err...no. Most things can be done by invoking applescript commands.

Re:In case of /.ing, the 10 reasons are

[Blakey Rat]

Ok, come on, be fair... your last three there are total bullshit.

8) 8. new backups almost as good as things not breaking in the first place

Backups are for *hardware failures* and *accidental deletion* more than software failures. Saying "having an OS that doesn't break" is a substitute for good backups is the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. And Vista including a built-in backup utility that doesn't suck is a *good thing*... even if all you do is work on a relative's PC when it breaks. (You now have a good reason to ask, "did you make a backup? The backup utility is right there.")

9) new P2P almost as good as turning off your firewall

Huh? That one doesn't even make sense. The feature is the ability to make ad-hoc file/print-sharing networks using a Rendezvous-like auto-detecting network protocol. What does that have to do with turning off your firewall? (And, BTW, no Apple doesn't have this... OS X can do media sharing via. iChar over Rendezvous, but it can't do file or printer sharing unless you specifically go to your control panel and turn sharing for those on and off as needed.)

10) new quick install almost as good as all the other planned features that don't actually exist yet

Given, it doesn't exist yet, but it's an exciting change if/when it does get released.

Re:Counterpoint

[ceoyoyo]

DVD2oneX and DVDBackup. Work just great. iSquint is indispensible if you want to stick the DVD (or any other video) onto your iPod (it's free too).

Re:Counterpoint

[davidkv]

DVDShrink works perfectly fine on linux + wine. Just soft-link your dvd-device.
(DVDDecrypter dosn't shrink, so vobcopy would be equivalent.).
Probably the other two too.

Re:One good reason NOT to buy Windows Vista:

[notaprguy]

Here are a few. Searched on "Windows Vista and Monitor and DRM" http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/12201 [cdfreaks.com] http://crn.com/sections/breakingnews/breakingnews. jhtml?articleId=167101066 [crn.com] http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/hd cp-vista.ars [arstechnica.com]

Re:And one big reason not to...

[miffo.swe]

Linux is more than ready for any use whatsoever. It can do anything Windows can and then some.

About DRM, have you really grasped the difference between XP's activation system and a real hard wired DRM solution? The thing is that parts of the OS lies encrypted and with the new DRM supporting CPU's you cant get to it. This DRM is noting like software copy protection that can be hacked in a heartbeat.

Re:Windows 2000 professional the best Windows ever

[TheNetAvenger]

Would I rather use OS X on the desktop and Linux or BSD on a server? Yes of course, but I do think Win 2K pro was the best version of Windows Microsoft ever issued if one is forced to use Windows for games or work

Do you really not understand technology, or just pretending you don't?

WindowsXP has a massive scale of compatibilty, security, application stability and even tons of kernel enhancements over Win2k. People that see WindowsXP as Win2k with prettier graphics must also see a porshe as just a VW Bug with prettier paint.

Add in SP2 that forks off after the Windows 2003 server security and optimizations. (remmeber the reports that when Windows 2003 was first released it was faster on the desktop than XP? Well that code was pushed into WindowsXP in SP2.)

WindowsXP is not only safer, more compatible, has a ton more features, a more robust kernel, but is actually faster than Windows2K, even with the 'pretty' themes turned on. Average tests in our labs show XP consistently 10% faster than Win2k.

Here are some 'real' tech points, and these are just the changes in XP prior to SP2.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/12/XPK ernel/default.aspx [microsoft.com]

Here is the MS version of some of the same topics:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/kernel/xp_ker nel.mspx [microsoft.com]

Happy reading and please for the love of God people stop believing that Win2k is A) Faster or B) more solid than XP. Both are false and just lead users to staying with an older OS and avoid XP when they could be benefiting from it.

Take Care,
TheNetAvenger

Re:One good reason NOT to buy Windows Vista:

[Alsee]

But does Windows Vista come with DRM of any sort?

For a fully functional system, the hardware specification requires that you must have a special new DRM-enforcing monitor, you must have a new DRM-enforcing video care, you must have a DRM-enforcing sound card, and that your motherboard must have a DRM-enforcment Trusted Platform Module (TPM).

The TPM is a boobytrapped selfdestructing microchip that contains the system's master cryptographic keys and lock. If the chip detects any attempt to get at your own master keys, the chip destroys them and effectively destroys all of your "secured" files on your computer.

This chip can be used to encrypt your files such that it is impossible for you to read or modify your files, except with strict approval of the chip and under the strict control of the chip and with only by using the approved and unmodifed software that was assigned to that file. This is called the Sealed Storage system.

The chip also contains a record of the exact hardware you have, and including a security rating andf other details about how the hardware is secured against any attempt you might make to "attack" your own computer and attempt to gain full control over your own computer. This is called the Platform Credentials.

The chip also spys on exactly what software you run. It logs your exact BIOS code, then it logs your exact bootloader software, and then it logs your exact operating system, and then it can log the various programs you have run since bootup. This is called the Integrity Measurments. They define the current state, or "health", of your machine.

The chip can also be used to send this hardware and software spy report to other people over the internet. You are denied any ability to control or alter the contents of this spy report. This is called Remote Attestation.

So... ahhhh.... I think the answer to your original question would kinda be a "yes".

If you're further interested in these issues, the Trusted Computing Group has the technical specifications for the TMP chip freely available on their website. The Microsoft Website and the Trusted Computing Group website and many other websites all offer explanations and documentation on Sealed Storage and on Platform Credentials and on Integrity Measurments and on Remote Attestation.

-

Re:Ten compelling reasons why not to upgrade!

[cowbutt]

Or even more cynically:

1) Windows finally gets a stateful firewall and su
[...]
4) Windows finally gets a decent grep/locate
5) Windows finally gets yum/apt
6) MP3 players and DVD creators? Yeah, we've had those a while, too...
[...]
8) Windows finally gets tar?
9) Windows finally gets Wikis
10) Most binary Linux distros have done a typical desktop install in about the same time. For years already.

I really can't see anything compelling there...