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105 Comments
- Hellman109, on 10/12/2007, -6/+64Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Corporate
Windows XP Embedded
Windows XP Tablet Edition
Windows XP Pro N (Euro Version)
Windows XP Home N (Euro Version)
Windows (XP) Media Centre
Windows XP Starter Edition
Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PC's (XP Based)
10 versions of XP
Oops, did I spoil the fun? I didnt even touch x64
To be a bit more of a pain there is:
IA-64 "Windows XP 64-Bit Edition" (Itanium Windows XP)
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26And I'm modding you down for make the exact same post, 4 times (Is that a record for Digg ?), failing to use the reply button and failing to understand his post.
- nreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -4/+25Who's going to be buying the $400 Ultimate?
Someone who wants that version probably already has XP so they get the "upgrade" price. - nurriz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19@Aggaman
Is it possible that the lower price of OSX is because that a purchase of the OS kind of dictates that you at some point put money into Apple when you bought a computer from them.
Apple and OSX has a whole different synergy about them, since OS makers and makers of the machine to go with the OS, are the same. As such it's more difficult to compare prices. - Anpheus, on 10/12/2007, -12/+27No, they know that they can make the most money by splitting up the different editions.
*shrug* It's a pain in the ass, I know, but you have to consider that most software sells for far less than the OS, and the OS is extremely technical. There's no way Vista would have been coded by a group of open source people, because it would never get to the level of user-interface functionality that it is. On the other hand, you have to deal with the fact that without source-code transparency, security vulnerabilities can be more difficult to find.
Still, Linux has a ways to go before the level of user-interface functionality and operating system functionality reaches that of Windows. When it does, and when Linux coders figure out a way to 'upgrade' people's accounts from Windows to Linux (via some set of software that will take all of your current software and set it up to run under Linux, copy all of your documents, etc.) then it will overtake windows. As it is, there are only two confusing or nasty options for installing Linux for the average user: Partition your hard drive, or format it and delete all of your data. 95% of people don't want to deal with either. - liquilife, on 10/12/2007, -8/+23@pynej: Ubuntu is not even close to being userfriendly to the masses of pc users. Good grief. When your mom installs ubuntu and her ATI graphics card that came with her new HP is not working are you going to recommend her to this thread for support?:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=221320
Ubuntu is so far off from replacing XP it's just silly. - ggko, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18"Who's going to be buying the $400 Ultimate?"
I don't know. But every other person you & I know will probably pirate it. - nreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14@ brucebeth
Well Windows ultimate has Tablet in it, so that's one off the list.
I did my part, someone else figure out the rest. - brucebeh, on 10/12/2007, -7/+18and how do you know there wont be..
Vista Embedded
Vista Tablet
Vista Starter
Vista Fundamentals
Vista Mobile
I dont know.. anything else? ;) - theMurdocVolta, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Jesus Christ, How many times did you hit "Submit Comment".
- estvir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11@EasY_TargeT
> "HD dvd support is not in 32 or 64 bit. Third party must be used."
Native HD-DVD/Blu-Ray support has been there since RC1. You're basing your comment on the [inaccurate] story weeks ago.
http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/archive/2006/08/24/450081.aspx - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14Shows how silly this ranting is, like with complaining about the price of Vista, when you compare it to XP (Like that article that was on here last week or so) it's 'normal' and it hasn't destroyed MS in the past, so why would it now ?
- dkoon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14Let's all switch to Linux!!!!
ubuntu, kubuntu, edubuntu, xubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, OpenSUSE, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES, Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS, Debian Linux, Gentoo Linux, Fedora Linux..... and couple thousand more.
Take your pick!!! - NanoStuff, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10It's only a problem if people are unwilling to take a few minutes and use a few brain cells to solve it.
Google > Windows Vista Versions > Answer
If you're incapable of performing such a simple operation, windows vista is the least of your problems. - theuber1337, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Considering most people won't go out and buy from a choice of these versions it is a non-issue. If people do, they have more options, more options aren't necesarilly bad, they just pick based on their needs. The simple fact is that most users will buy oem pc's with everything already gift wrapped for them.
- gcauthon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Next topic: The problem with 100 versions of Linux.
http://distrowatch.com/ - theuber1337, on 10/12/2007, -10/+17Unreleated, troll, go put your penis in a light socket.
- estvir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8You missed a zero.
[quote]
LinuxCD.org - 1000+ versions Linux & BSD
[/quote] - rockforever, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Its pretty obvious why they are releasing 5 versions.
I just walked into best buy. I can take computer A or B. A has no-so-hot hardware and comes with Vista Basic or I can take computer B. B has better hardware and Vista Premium. You buy computer B. Now you already paid the Best Buy people for your windows, but you get home and you find your OS doesn't do EVERYTHING you though. You go to windows and you see "ULTIMATE" flashing and you re-buy your OS.
I don't see to many people doing this, but I'm sure they will make a pretty big chunk of change off this method. Obviously no digg user is going to be this stupid. This is the hypothetical situation of Joe SixPack - Promantarius, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9"theres no significant difference"
Other than the fact that review sites say it's software compatibility is far worse than it's 32bit brother, yeah. - EGOvoruhk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7What's the point of this article? It's just re-written from months ago when Microsoft announced the Vista versions to include a release date
- headzoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I have to assume the MS marketing department knows what they're doing. That being said, it seems like this is going to cause a lot of confusion amongst normal consumers. At least to those who walk into CompUSA and see five different colored boxes, with five different price tags.
Worse is many of those people will buy the cheapest version, and it's probably very crippled. - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7@quickcomment/Qoogirl
You only ever buy one DVD of Vista and depending upon which CD-Key you enter different things will be installed.
So, for the 5 versions it's a SINGLE DVD.
Do some freaking research and bad luck on your lame 'Too difficult' joke. I guess basic research is too difficult for YOU. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Sorry, I meant to say "know". Thought it was a significant enough typo to make me look like an idiot.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -9/+14Nobody will no which one to get, or know which one they actually leave. It would be nice if they made a home, and an office version, and leave it at that.
- lonnieh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5NanoStuff, your icon is so clickable.
- yaosio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5They do that because the people who will be confused by it (other than Digg regulars, whom use an OS they created in binary) will be buying their computer through an OEM. The OEM will choose what OS to put on the system.
- kennyvader, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Exactly. And people are complaining that there are going to be too many confusingly similar editions of Windows. In Linux world, it's a whole bucket of molten lava worse.
- nurriz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Seriously, hasn't there been enough of this whine about prices? As has been said before, very few will actually go buy the upgrade to the computers. The vast majority won't get Vista before the get their next computer and Vista comes along with it. The prices in this case are not the same.
The writer concludes that on release day hordes of users will switch to Linux. Why? If you have XP, why not stick with it? If you don't need Vista (very few does), there really isn't any reason. "Hardcore" gamers and tech-enthusiasts will most likely be the only ones that will probably change on release (they probably changed before being part of the beta program).
But why on earth would people switch to Linux on release day? I can't think of any reasons to do so if they have an XP license. Please don't use the virus/spyware/security argument as these things can be fixed and none of them justifies an OS change for a person that uses his computer but isn't particularly interested in it.
To sum up. On release day, very few users will be in uproar over the Vista prices and go to distrowatch.com and get Ubuntu or the likes.Not hordes. - flernk, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9It's priced like refrigerators.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I think someone needs to comment that this all has to do much more with marketing and much less with the technology. After all, the technology is all there, easily at Microsofts disposal. But, do people seriously think there are only 2 niche markets for OSes, "home" and "pro"? No way.
The OS for your computer-DVR has much different needs than the OS for your teenage kids computer, which has much different needs than the OS for your work-at-home-and-surf-the-net computer, which has much different needs than your business desktop, which has much different needs than the lab researcher's computer, which has much different needs than a top-secret-project computer, which has much different needs than a dual-proc computer, which has much different needs than a large server farm.
So, marketing's job is to make it so that people feel the OS they are using is crafted for their needs. But they need to make it so that people easily know which version they should get, which I think they've done (why would a grandmother who just checks her email ever think she would need anything called "Business Edition," "Premium," or "Ultimate"?)
Anyway, the point is, there are a lot of different applications of OSes these days, esp. with the expansion of what constitutes as part of the "OS." Microsoft is doing the right thing by specializing their OS to the different applications. - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7No, I'd really like to see you back it up as I'm yet to see someone do so on Digg, not once.
If you're going to make a huge claim like that you can't simply say ".. but I'm too tired" and expect not to be questioned.
"Either back it up, or shut up." - iamexcite, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5My proof of Riemann's Hypothesis:
1. First, please look at my notation shorthand in Appendix IV. It is only a few dozen pages of handwritten notes and will be invaluable for comprehension of the rest of this proof.
2. Begin by defining... you know what? I'm tired. Riemann is solved, at least for now.
3. QED - Whitey04, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Its very simple. Businesses will pay more so they take out whatever features are necessary for business (networking) and sell a price cut version to home users. Increasing the number of versions is designed to get everybody to pay as much as they are willing to. This happens in all industries and has nothing to do with the digital divide.
As for Microsoft offering a fee each year for progressive improvements and upgrades. They have that for business already.
*disclaimer: I hate Microsoft and have yet to be impressed with Vista (maybe because I care how it works not how it looks). - EasY_TargeT, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11HD dvd support is not in 32 or 64 bit. Third party must be used.
- Hellman109, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Atleast with Vista, to correct their stuff up it isnt 'buy a new version of XP Pro and re-install' its 'make sure you have your DVD, goto their website and upgrade to the business version and reboot'
The main reason customers hate it is because the process is a pain in the ass, now you just explain that Home is cheaper and doesnt have those features, but an upgrade and you can do what you want, problem solved.
Therfore its now not a big deal, they can do it in 15 minutes max, and customer is happy and you dont have any real work to do, unless you do it yourself as a favour. - bitbytebit, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@dacheetah
***** .. xp install way way way easier than ANY linux distro install
I love linux, have installed many different flavors from slack in the 90's to Ubuntu recently, but my linux love ain't making me spew blind ***** like you. - culbeda, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Guys, this article was about problems in Vista, not "Linux versus Windows", can you please direct the os wars into /dev/null or something?"
When it's purported to be another justification for using Linux instead of Windows, exactly WHAT do you expect to happen?
And for windows folks...
echo thispointlessflamewar.txt > nul - Katyusha, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Heres my take:
Vista Home Basic: For grandma & grandpa. Surfing, email, photo viewing. Idiot-proof, locked down / crippled. Ought to be enough for 90% of the users
Vista Home Premium: For the power user. Enhanced internet, sharing, gaming and multimedia
Vista Ultimate: Home premium + added features for HD content. Shiny fluff and DRM in equal measures.
Vista Business: Home basic, but with sharing and domain logon etc
Vista Enterprise: Corporate edition, for those who need to roll out and administer ths OS on 100s or 1000s of PCs
I think the different versions make a lot of sense, although the market-speak on the Microsofts page does is a bit tough to decipher. - drlog, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Well, it works now!
Go into a department store and have a look. There will be some idiot standing there asking the staff what the difference is. The staff will say "You need XP home" and the dumb guy will say "Nah, I'm a pro, I need pro!" Even though he will never log into a windows domain and his computer has one CPU.
The same thing will happen again. People are dumb and if they have cash, they will get the Ultimate because then they cant go wrong! - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -11/+14To save you all time, the real problem is: it will confuse people.
Yup, that's it, they turned a 10 word sentence into 2 pages of rambling.
".. but it could also be the day that hordes of Windows users make the move over to Linux."
Next a 11, OSWeekly predicts the sky falling !
Oh yeah, and this story is a dupe. - vdog, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I work for an electronics retailer, and I must say, I'm not looking forward to this. It's hard enough explaining to customers the differences between XP Home and XP Pro. Five versions of Vista is going to be a nightmare. Actually it'll be closer to 20, no doubt there will also be the OEM, Upgrade, and Academic versions as well.
I've been talking to our reps, and even they aren't sure what machines will come with which versions. Our store is a small store, we only keep about 2-3 of each model. If each model comes available with each different version of Vista, we're not going to have enough room to have any customers. - ggko, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8I buy a cheap car, it gets me to the store just as easily as an expensive one can (hell, it probably has just as much if not more trunk space.)
I buy a cheap refrigerator, it makes ice just like an expensive one.
I buy a cheaper washing machine, it still cleans my clothes.
I buy Vista Basic, what do you mean it doesn't do the same stuff as Ultimate?
And if you think there's a forced yearly upgrade with OS X, you obviously don't use a Macintosh. btw, they now have multi-button mice too. - thomasprebble, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2LMAO @ "Clarity to your life". As stupid as it sounds it will be said eventually :p
- EdLesMann, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I know I am probably going to get dugg down from the fanbois out right now but here it goes.
"There's no way Vista would have been coded by a group of open source people, because it would never get to the level of user-interface functionality that it is."
Doing a quick google search you can find a lot of information on usability testing. Quite frequently people with little to no knowledge find it easier to use a Mac and Linux then windows. The reason for this is because Microsoft tends to favor a tree structure of organization. These tend to be VERY confusing if you do not know where to look or do not know the short cuts. Once you know a tree structure you tend to look for it, and become confused when it does not exist. Don't believe me? Find out your IP address via the GUI. Seriously do it with default XP start menu settings. Here I will type out the steps for you.
Linux:Gnome = Applications->System Tools-> Networking -> Click Host tab.
1 "Start Menu", 1 Sub Menu, 1 Application, 1 Tab
Windows:XP = Start->Second Pane->Control Panel->Network Connections-> Local Area Connections->Support
1 "Start Menu", 1 Sub Menu, 2 Windows, 1 Application, 1 Tab
Yes they are both quite Logical Layouts, but one is very evident and in an easy layout, the other is buried under multiple layers of windows and panes.
Still don't believe me? Try this. Change your desktop resolution. Again as if it was your first time.
Linux:Gnome = Applications->Desktop Preferences-> Screen Resolution.
1 "Start Menu", 1 Sub Menu, 1 Application
Windows:XP = Start->Second Pane->Control Panel->Display->Settings.
1 "Start Menu", 1 Sub Menu, 1 Window, 1 Application, 1 Tab
Looking at the layout and simplicity, who can honestly say that they believe that XP is easier to find things and change information? Typically "Support" is equivalent to "Help" not "Oh here is more information". Tree structure Organization like this is typically VERY hard to work with and very difficult finding new tools.
Apple and Linux tend to score very high on usability tests when those performing the tests have not been exposed to deep multi-tiered tree structures (like the Windows examples). There is an entire website dedicated to helping Linux improve the usability even further! Check it out and see how "easy" it is to do things (I say easy, but again once you are dependent on a tree structure you tend to favor a tree structure regardless of its ease of use).
http://www.betterdesktop.org/welcome/
Lastly, I know Vista is still "Beta" but take a look around digg/google and look at the differences between Areo and XGL and the new Apple OSX interface. The layout, behavior, and requirements for the "next generation" of desktops is quite remarkable. From what is available right now, people are generally more impressed with XGL then anything thing else because it is easier to use, runs faster, and doesn't require the hardware backing that Areo does.
The Open Source Community (IMHO) deserves alot more credit then you are giving them.
#Note I am not trying to troll, I am trying to spark discussion. - kdehead, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Can anyone explain, in plain english, what the differences between the 5 versions are?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -15/+175 versions...Make that 10 when you add in the 64 bit versions.
- dr-steve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2EdLesMann,
Can you provide a couple of references to neutral (peer-reviewed) usability studies? You speak of multiple studies showing Linux is more usable than XP, it'd be interesting to review the sources.
Can you provide better examples of how Linux's UI is more usable than XP's? (To change screen resolution under XP, I right-click the background, select Properties from the menu, select the Settings tab, and change the resolution. Under Linux, OSX, and Windows, to find my IP address I bring up a browser (your choice) and go to www.whatismyip.com. Or bring up a command window and type ipconfig or ifconfig. Anyone can cherry-pick usability examples.)
Face it, all OSes have a learning curve, what is where. Linux still suffers the split-personality issue, especially if you install multiple window managers and laughingly watch as they merge their menu structures. XP and OSX suffer the "daddy"(/"mommy") knows best approach.
-Steve - adalgiso, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4@Hellman109:
First of all, you have to think of your audience when making a rebuttal, and the normal retail audience does not have the choice of purchasing XP Corporate (which is exactly the same as Pro), Embedded, Tablet, Media Center, Starter, either EU versions, or Fundamentals. And not many retailers carry the 64 bit versions anyways, which really only leaves 2 (4 including 64 bit). If the retail market doesn't have these options, then there is no rebuttal. There will be 5 RETAIL versions of Vista, however, they are all packaged in the same box, not 5 different versions sitting on the same shelf. A normal Vista installation CD includes all of the Ultimate software, but the standard SKU only installs the standard stuff. The end user has to purchase an unlock key to unlock all of the features of the specific version they buy. - jamesweston, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3There will only be one box on the self. "Windows Vista" then u go to the checkout and the ask u do u want Home, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate with that. so you say Home and they will try then to upsell you to Ultimate by saying it will bring new Clarity to your life.
Buying windows will be a bad as it is now. -
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