arstechnica.com — The first time you see Windows Vista in action, it's readily apparent how much different it looks compared with Windows XP. But the differences are more than skin deep. Ars takes a look under the hood to explain.
Mar 20, 2007 View in Crawl 4
mbsjoblomMar 20, 2007
I have tried Vista and it looks OK but I'm not going to use it because of all the DRM stuff built in it. I wonder why the article did not highlight DRM "features" more? I really can't understand why someone would want to buy an operating system with DRM built in. It's like paying to be handcuffed.I'm currently using Ubuntu with Beryl and I must say it looks at least as good as Vista with Aero. Ubuntu with Beryl is free, secure, goodlooking, easy to use and does everything I need without DRM. Tell me why would I need Vista? After reading the article I still don't see any reason.
everton1878Mar 20, 2007
While not exactly revolutionary it is evolutionary (American friends can I still use the 'e' word? ;) )I like Vista a lot been using it on my live system since beta 2 and currently using Home Premium as Ultimate isn't ultimate enough for the price tagI love the sidebar and all the gadgets out there for it although the earlier Longhorn sidebars looked better in terms of space and functionalityThe thing I miss most when using XP back at work is the search on the start menu - having to look for the program I want to launch instead of typing a few charactersEven so I find it hard to reconmend that anyone should dash out and pay full retail if they currently have XPNot a great fan of UAC as I think most users will just allow everything without reading itI've had it switched of from day one as some programs constantly ask for permissionPrefer the implementation in Linux where you log on as a seperate user to Admin but have to enter the admin password to complete some tasks
diggggggggggMar 20, 2007
@RedLion - Nice job in citing prior art, but both concepts have been introduced way before 98/2000. For indexed searching, take a look at the "locate" utility. It's a command that was present in 4.4 BSD, which was introduced in the mid 90's. For features present in Dashboard, consider the "Desk Accessories" from Mac System 6: <a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_Accessory">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_Accessory</a> . I'm not saying that Microsoft copied Apple. In fact, I doubt it. However, I just thought that I'd point out that Microsoft wasn't the first mover either.
roybertitoMar 20, 2007
Go play with my Linux, jackass?Wow, that was almost as intelligent and thought out as the jokes on Family Guy.Being dugg down for saying that Aero is ugly rocks.
miche1987Mar 20, 2007
First off, the purpose of the article is NOT to try to sell Vista to you. It's a technical discussion of the changes made from XP to Vista. So you're not any more convinced to buy Vista than you were before? Whoop-de-do, have a cookie.As far as the DRM stuff is concerned, I hate it just as much as the next person (read: Digg user), but from a business perspective, did Microsoft really have an alternative? They could've followed one of two options...1. Use the PMP as they did to allow users to play hi-def formats on Vista. When Joe Schmo looks at a new computer a year or so in the future, the only thing he'll be wondering is "Can this thing play my [insert winning format here]?" Not, "How will the DRM implemented by Vista cripple my rights?" In this case, the answer will be, "Yes, Windows Vista can play your [winning format]."2. Take a stance against the DRM enforced by the companies pushing the hi-def format. In the eyes of Digg users and the tech-savvy, Microsoft would be taking the noble stance. However, enter Joe Schmo off the street again. Now when he looks at a computer with Vista and asks if it can play his hi-def content, the answer will (likely) be no, since Microsoft didn't "implement the technology necessary". Therefore, they sell less.In the end, most computer users don't even know what Digital Rights Management is and at this point could care less about it.EDIT: Before the accusations start flying, no, I don't work for Microsoft, and no, they're not paying me any money for this comment, kthx. :)
miche1987Mar 20, 2007
Tiling, Expose style? If so, then that's very interesting, and a feature that no one (meaning press, Ars, etc.) seems to have caught.
da5idMar 20, 2007
People seem unduly impressed by the "Ultimate" in Vista Ultimate compared to Home Premium. You can see a feature/edition matrix here:<a class="user" href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx">http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx</a>Essentially, Premium has everything back Ultimate has except: (1) Windows Fax and Scan; (2) complete PC backup and restore; (3) BitLocker drive encryption; and (4) Remote Access Connection.Number one is self-explanatory -- personally, I deleted WinFax from my XP PC a long time ago. Number two involves a complete mirror kind of backup system if I apprehend its description correctly. Home Premium does have a unattended, scheduled, configurable file backup capability adequate for most home users. Number three involves encrypting your entire drive -- this is, of course, personal decision. Most of my home financial information is either encrypted by Quicken or held off-site by my bank, brokerage, etc. However, I can see someone who would want to protect sensitive information from a thief of their laptop or a business machine. Number four is described as:"The Remote Desktop Connection feature in Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions enables easier remote access to any resource or application that your organization has made available to you.For example, if you are a salesperson who requires remote access to a financial application or a CRM application, Windows Vista enables the corporate IT manager to place an icon for that application on your desktop. You just click the icon, and an automatic Terminal Services Remote Program connection is made back to the company over the Internet and to the Terminal Server in Windows Server (codename "Longhorn") with no need for a VPN."This seems to be targeted at the business user. My employer uses a VPN and they're not likely to change just because I install Windows Ultimate.That's it. That's everything. Vista Home Premium can do everything else that Ultimate can. There are no other differences. You can pick up a copy of Home Premium for $120. I do not believe anyone should feel they are getting a second-rate operating system or compelled to get the Ultimate edition unless one or more of these features is absolutely essential.This post might be long because I dictated it directly into Windows Explorer with Windows Home Premium Speech Recognition.
aristotle0dudeMar 21, 2007
Guys, Jim Allchin was at the 2004 WWDC and had a number of things to say about Tiger.<a class="user" href="http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=45037">http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=45037</a>Tiger caused them to switch their strategy and focus. Part of that included dumping WinFS as it was unworkable.
obkenobiMar 22, 2007
You MS apologists are still here? You sad sacks of s**t. You've gotta be getting paid for this. I refuse to believe anyone could be this pathetic and spend so much time apologizing for Microsoft.
vajra918Mar 22, 2007
I'm pretty sure everybody copied Xerox... so, right, I agree. Damn MS stealing overlapping windows!!!
crazybritJun 8, 2007
"This post might be long because I dictated it directly into Windows Explorer with Windows Home Premium Speech Recognition."no you didn't.
driversplazaJan 10, 2009
yup you are right but we can fix those problem here - <a class="user" href="http://www.techlookz.com/windows-vista-errors-tweaks/">http://www.techlookz.com/windows-vista-errors-twea ...</a>