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New Vista
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Vista is available today to the unwashed masses, and the initial reviews are not exactly stellar. The three big complaints seem to be that it is a rip-off of Mac OS X, peripherals like scanners, cameras and Zune media players don't have much likelihood of working yet, and in order to get most out of the new features, most people will either need to upgrade their systems or simply purchase new ones.
Not exactly the reception you want after working on a product for five years.
Being primarily a Mac geek, I haven't spent any time with Vista, so I'm not terribly objective or informed. I remember hearing these same objections, however, whenever Microsoft has released a new version of Windows - XP, 2000, 95. None of the new features are so exciting as to entice me to try it out. Mostly, I dread the headaches that a new Windows has in store for techies - just like I dread a new version of a browser and whatever incompatabilities it might cause.
Some folks will run right out and upgrade. And then upgrade everything else they own. Not terribly practical for most people. But really, it's a new version of Windows, and a lot of people will be running it soon as they buy new PC's. Peripheral makers will upgrade their drivers and old stuff will work with it eventually. And the fact that it's a Mac OS X rip-off? Immaterial to users. If the features in Mac OS X are really better than the features in XP, is it any surprise that Microsoft would copy them and try to provide their users with the same benefits? For all the whining us Mac geeks do whenever Microsoft rolls out a product with blatant rip-offs of Mac features, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. It's just not a reason for us to switch from the OS that provided the innovations in the first place, and implements them in a cleaner fashion.
As far as upgrading goes, I'd wait a little while. The first Vista service pack is already on the way, so I would at least wait for that and make sure that whatever peripherals you have that are essential are supported.
The most important new feature to me is the upgraded security. I have lost countless hours over the years to fixing Windows systems that have been inundated by viruses, spam, malware and spyware, so I was disheartened to see that MSNBC's reviewer found Windows Defender to be intrusive. I don't care how intrusive it is, I would leave it on and deal with it rather than have my system crippled. CNET is also not impressed with the security features.
Slowly but surely, Windows users will migrate onto Vista. 90+% of the market is not going to sit on their old machines or switch to Mac or Linux. The complaints you hear are valid, and were overcome by previous incarnations. I would be more concerned with a good security package first, however. If Vista had delivered that, then I think the upgrade decision would have been a lot easier.
I'm looking forward to installing Vista soon, and taking a look up close at the glossy new interface in particular. It looks pretty, if still cluttered. But I'll do it with Parallels on my Mac, mainly so that I can do compatability testing with it.
Not exactly the reception you want after working on a product for five years.
Being primarily a Mac geek, I haven't spent any time with Vista, so I'm not terribly objective or informed. I remember hearing these same objections, however, whenever Microsoft has released a new version of Windows - XP, 2000, 95. None of the new features are so exciting as to entice me to try it out. Mostly, I dread the headaches that a new Windows has in store for techies - just like I dread a new version of a browser and whatever incompatabilities it might cause.
Some folks will run right out and upgrade. And then upgrade everything else they own. Not terribly practical for most people. But really, it's a new version of Windows, and a lot of people will be running it soon as they buy new PC's. Peripheral makers will upgrade their drivers and old stuff will work with it eventually. And the fact that it's a Mac OS X rip-off? Immaterial to users. If the features in Mac OS X are really better than the features in XP, is it any surprise that Microsoft would copy them and try to provide their users with the same benefits? For all the whining us Mac geeks do whenever Microsoft rolls out a product with blatant rip-offs of Mac features, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. It's just not a reason for us to switch from the OS that provided the innovations in the first place, and implements them in a cleaner fashion.
As far as upgrading goes, I'd wait a little while. The first Vista service pack is already on the way, so I would at least wait for that and make sure that whatever peripherals you have that are essential are supported.
The most important new feature to me is the upgraded security. I have lost countless hours over the years to fixing Windows systems that have been inundated by viruses, spam, malware and spyware, so I was disheartened to see that MSNBC's reviewer found Windows Defender to be intrusive. I don't care how intrusive it is, I would leave it on and deal with it rather than have my system crippled. CNET is also not impressed with the security features.
Slowly but surely, Windows users will migrate onto Vista. 90+% of the market is not going to sit on their old machines or switch to Mac or Linux. The complaints you hear are valid, and were overcome by previous incarnations. I would be more concerned with a good security package first, however. If Vista had delivered that, then I think the upgrade decision would have been a lot easier.
I'm looking forward to installing Vista soon, and taking a look up close at the glossy new interface in particular. It looks pretty, if still cluttered. But I'll do it with Parallels on my Mac, mainly so that I can do compatability testing with it.
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