At work, Vista is just a name of an OS that we hardly ever see. With Microsoft's release time between Vista and XP being around five-and-a-half years, we still see a majority of Windows XP systems in the store (and a frightening number of Windows 98 systems). But, we have seen a few Vista systems pass though our doors recently.
So far, reports have been bad. With Apple's suggestion of delaying upgrading (for their Windows iPod users), and with the recommendations [more details] for 1 GB of RAM for users wanting to use the Aero interface are just annoying. Mac OS X and it's interface work just fine starting as low as 128 MB of RAM, granted, things are better with more memory, but it's not a requirement like it is in Vista.
The security is quite a concern for me. Bill Gates has recently been quoted along the lines of saying Vista is extremely secure, enough to run as Life Support machines while daring hackers to break Vista. They've hacked Vista already, at least pirated it. Hacking Vista is going to be a chore of the serious hackers and crackers out there, but it is quite possible, and with Microsoft's recent statements of the intense security and the market saturation Microsoft has, I'm betting in a years time, I'll be seeing a rush of virus riddled Vista boxes with customers complaining that "Microsoft said I wouldn't get viruses if I used Vista." Note to everyone reading this blog: if you are using a Microsoft OS (hell, if you are using Microsoft software on your system) get an Anti-Virus... Microsoft software is just attacked too much. It's wise to have an AntiVirus solution anyway, just to be sure that your systems (including non-Microsoft OS systems) aren't filled with virus infected files that could infect Windows boxes that connect to you. For reference, there are free AntiVirus solutions out there:
Windows:
Mac OS X Users:
Linux:
Note: Vista versions may not yet be available. While Avira and Grisoft offer their software for free, they are distributed under an EULA that, from my understanding, requires their software to be used at home or not-for-profit industries. Clam uses the GPL EULA, which includes stipulations against such legal mumbo-jumbo. However, to be sure always read the EULA before installing!
After the release of the OS, I was glad to learn exactly what the OS versions are. Home Basic, to Business, things are looking okay, but Vista Enterprise still is a bit of a mystery to me. I'll have to delve into my IT circles to figure out the details on Enterprise... To a degree, it seems geared to replace Windows Server 2003, which I am throughly trained, however not certified yet... The most annoying thing for me would be to go in to be going through the MCSE process, only to get stopped mid-way by a OS revision.
This is something that Microsoft always does, and it usually does major OS revamps every two to four years, whereas Vista took five to six because of Microsoft's big security overhaul back in the first half of this decade, shortly after the XP launch. I shouldn't bother too much, for the Apple Certified Techs things are much worse, with certs costing ten-times as much as the MCSE, and occurring nearly annually, things must suck for them. However, at least their OS isn't going through such a major change as the XP and 2003 Certifieds are with the change to Vista.
Right after Microsoft releases a new revision to the Windows series, there comes new issues with installing. Not only is this is first version of Windows to be distributed on a DVD (as opposed to a CD), Vista also has a new activation routine. Back in the day, there weren't even product codes! Then came number codes, followed by longer codes, and then random letters were thrown in starting with Windows 98 and 2000. Windows XP upped the ante with activation and product lock outs if the program wasn't activated in a timely fashion. Windows Vista will take the XP activation to the next level, by not only requiring the system to be activated within 30 days, but also limiting functionality during that time frame, finally after the 30 days are up, users are limited to logging in and getting access to Internet Explorer for a period of 60 minutes before the system logs off, allowing no other functionality aside from activation of course.
This activation is unlike anything seen in the "Alt OS" department (dominated by Mac OS X and Linux derivatives), both of which have made it into the twenty-first century, without having such intrusive security requirements... With Apple being around for just as long as Microsoft, one would think Apple would have the same concerns... But Apple seems to trust their users, and the GPL and foundations of Linux in general are for freedom of source, nearly to the point of requiring the OS to be distributed freely.
Worst of all happens to be personified in a recent Apple commercial entitled: Security [caution: QuickTime Video link]. I've actually seen this happen in Vista! It can get quite confusing to the user, especially one not experienced with Microsoft Windows Vista security. I even find it hard to understand why it asks so often to "Cancel or Allow" actions that should be trusted in the first place.
On a side note, I still think it's too early to make a final judgment for or against Vista, only time will tell if the OS will "make or break" the Microsoft empire, but one thing is for sure... There are going to be some interesting times coming up at CyberMedics, as Vista makes its presence known in our humble repair shop... It might not be long before we're all running out to get Vista certified, or OSX, or L+.
Once again, in annoyance of Microsoft's recent business goals, this has all been proudly written on a computer running exclusively Open Source Software: openSUSE Linux (the OS), using OpenOffice.org for word processing and the Firefox web browser for research and blog management.
Research for this blog used the following sites:
Apple: iTunes and Windows Vista --Apple's notice about Vista screwing up iTunes files and iPod devices.
Apple: Still the world's most advanced OS --Apple's comparison about the similarities of Vista vs. OSX.
Microsoft: Vista --Microsoft's Vista "homepage" – check out the sub-sites in there to get detailed Vista info, including upgrade options and system requirements.
Will Your PC Run Windows Vista? --eWeek Contemplates having Aero interface as a main selling point, and not having that function in machines with low RAM.
MyMac.com: Vista better than the Mac OS X --MyMac.com's publisher Tim Robertson debates Bill Gates' recent statements about the security flaws of OS X while Gates' also touts Vista as the "most secure version of Windows yet."
Slashdot: Hack in the Box meets Windows Vista --Slashdot discusses having Microsoft security programmer Dave Tamasi and Microsoft penetration engineer (the guy that tries to break security) Douglas MacIver at the 2006 Hack in the Box conference.
InfoWorld: Vista: hard to crack, not to pirate --InfoWorld Daily discusses the new Anti-Hacking touts of Microsoft, while pointing out that piracy is already firing up for the final release.
ZDNet: Microsoft to lock pirates out of their PCs --ZDNet discusses the new lock-down features of an unactivated Windows Vista PC, and what preinstallers, after-market installers, and corporate installers can expect to have to work with.
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