Vista birthing pains
Posted by Ray @ 4:10 pmMicrosoft’s newest operating system, Vista, has just hit retail. The previews were a giant mixed bag, with the draconian built-in DRM, the incessant “Are you really, really sure?” dialog boxes and the sky-high system requirements on the bad side.
On the good side, we had security and eye-candy. Don’t knock the former, it’s apparently a huge improvement over XP.
In any case, it hit retail, and Bill Gates even showed up on The Daily Show to promote it. Field reports are just starting to come in.
First, the upgrade version of Windows Vista will invalidate your Windows XP key once you activate it. That means no re-installing that copy of XP, anywhere. Not to belabour the point, but that means your legitimately purchased copy of windows XP is no longer usable once it’s been “upgraded”.
Second, is the little workaround that lets customers purchase “upgrade” versions of Windows Vista and perform a full install. Full instructions are available, go and take a look-see before Microsoft sends a cease-and-desist.
Third, is the bewildering array of Windows Vista versions available to purchase. The Joy of Tech comic puts it more succinctly than I could. It’s an operating system, Microsoft, not a finely aged wine. Get over yourselves.
Then we get this story about internal Microsoft e-mails showing them drooling over Mac OS X. Specifically, Tiger’s spotlight. *Snore*.
If you’re having difficulty deciding, this flowchart might help (original).
Reports continue to trickle in. I’m waiting to see what’s going to happen, but I doubt I will be upgrading from XP any time soon.
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