Comments

1. Michael_Moor

   
   Posted on: January 31, 2007 at 12:55PM  

   Hey "Nick White",thx for share

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   http://www.dl4all.com
2. mitchellk

   
   Posted on: January 31, 2007 at 1:36PM  

   I hope this is the correct place to post this, if not please let me know where is best and will duly post it there.

   Firstly I DO NOT work for Microsoft. That might just settle some of you Microsoft haters out there. I also work extensively with Linux and have done so for over 12 years and still do. I have also in that time worked extensively with MAC operating systems and still do. So you can say I have done them all. They are ALL great and I cannot stand these little wimpering idiots out there who cannot find any happiness in their lives except to run someone or something down at their every opportunity. Simply put Microsoft products are great, they are more user friendly, they cater to the masses and they work. Sure they have security holes but so does MAC, Linux and the rest. (Yes they DO !!!) And as I say Linux, Mac and the rest are also great products.

   I have been using Microsoft products since DOS version 1. I have really been through all the ups and downs and growing pains with Microsoft over many years now both personally and professionally.

   In years past each new operating system release was a nightmare to say the least with virtually 50% + of hardware never working after an upgrade resulting more often than not in an immediate downgrade and a WAIT until Service Pack 1 scenario. Well that has certainly been the case as far as most Microsoft OS Releases goes. I got Vista from MSDN during early December and did not install it until Mid-January when I got my new laptop. In fact the day I opened the box of my brand new Acer Laptop, I took a look around the preloaded XP for an hour or two and though what the hell let me load Vista. The drive was wiped and Vista was loading.

   The installation was the smoothest I have ever seen from Microsoft. It took the better part of 20 minutes and the system was up and running and Microsoft can certainly be commended for that. Not even Linux, Mac OS or anything I have ever worked with has loaded to completion in such a short time. For large corporations and system admins this is going to be the biggest time saver ever.

   I then took a look around this snazzy and snappy new Vista (Aero) interface. Of course Microsoft spent a lot of time on creating a really great interface. At first it's a bit confusing but it took me an hour or two and it was second nature. I did however turn on my Windows Classic start menu, the new start menu (while intelligent) is a lot slower than using the classic menu. The new visual features like page flipping are truly awesome and fast.

   I had to turn off User Account Control (UAC). Being an advanced user and a security expert it was very annoying for me BUT the new User Account Control is a great security feature and will certainly STOP a lot of this spyware, adware, conware, hoaxware and cr*pware from ever loading on your machine.

   Microsoft certainly put a LOT of hard work and actually listened to users input when they designed this OS. It's the first release EVER that I have not uninstalled within an hour. I got used to it quickly. Every piece of software I own (and I have lots) all work just dandy. All my hardware works although I had to download a few hundred megs of driver updates but STILL it all works just fine. Not to mention that Vista is fast .. much faster than XP ran on the same laptop. It really flies and is the snappiest (best word to explain it) interface ever that I have worked with.

   Now lets talk stability. Having been built on a Windows 2003 base I can certainly say this is the most stable Desktop operating system I have ever worked with (Mac and Linux included). In 10 days since I installed it I have had NOT ONE error, NOT ONE crash .. NOT ONE NOTHING !!!! Sometimes I think I must pinch myself because I must be dreaming but WOW this OS seriously ROCKS. Being a developer I was of course concerned about Visual Studio 2005 running but so far everything works. I had to apply a Visual Studio Service Pack which was minimal in size and so far everything I do in Visual Studio works just fine, despite there being a series of known bugs with running Visual Studio on Vista.

   Now that I am onto Bugs, lets talk bugs. So far I have not identified anything that I can consider a bug. This system just works and I have so far had nothing to complain about which is a LOT so say considering past Microsoft OS release which always left me bitching about something. Even though I have not identified any bugs that affect my workings, Microsoft and the Developer community certainly have. On the official launch day of Vista about 8 updates were released for Vista with only one being labelled as important. And the next day (today) another update was released. That is excellent as far as Microsoft goes, quick releases of patches means this product gets off the ground a lot quicker than any predecessor.

   Of course blogs all over the web say things like "just launched and already patches" ... YOU BETCHA !!! I do not know know of ANY other operating system that has released maintenance patches so quickly. That is a true committment to service excellence. Something which (I admit) Microsoft has been a bit snooty about in the past. Certainly Vista has brought a fresh vision and a fresh attitude to Microsoft and as a user since the beginning I can say I am certainly very impressed by the new attitude and commitment. It's a fresh OS and a fresh attitude and I hope it lasts.

   Of course as I say there are the whingers and whiners who NEVER have anything good to say about Microsoft but you have to ask of them "How would you know unless you use the products?" .... "Surely you must be using the products in order for you to have something whine about?"

   More than likely 99% of the Whiners out there are all using Illegal versions of Microsoft products and the only time they whine is when Microsoft introduces "Genuine Programs" which prohibit them from getting updates and addons for free. Which leads me onto the point of why there is so much whinging and whining about Vista. I BET YOU its because the activation cracks have all been identified and disabled by Microsoft ... so ... of course if you cannot get your free Vista from the Warez sites you of course have something to moan about. Well Microsofr products are not free like Linux and if it's free that you want then stick wih Linux but stop your whining ... it gets you NOWHERE and certainly does not make anyone take you more seriously. Mac OS is certainly not free ... in fact it costs a lot more to own a MAC than a PC with Windows. But seriously when I hear Linux people moaning about how bad Windows is I say to them "how would you know?" .... "Aren't you just whining because you can't have Windows for free?" ..... there is always a silent pause before they figure out something else to say about Windows. GIVE IT UP DUDES !!!!!

   Anyways I am just really sick and tired of the bitching I have seen in the last few days. Those of you running legit copies of Vista will know that this OS ROCKS !!! Those of you trying to run cracked copies are no doubt going to be disappointed. Microsoft is closing the gaps in their software fast. If you want it pay for it. If you want Linux download it for free. If you want MAC OS buy a MAC and pay for it ..... it really is THAT SIMPLE !!!

   I state again ..... I have been a user of Linux, MAC and Microsoft operating system for many years. They are ALL great. They ALL have their purpose in society. They ALL are great products and I really wish to see and end to this fraternity out there who choose to run down other products at every opportunity. The more I hear the Linux community bitching about Microsoft the more I try to stop using any Linux products. I have NEVER in all the years ever heard ANYONE from Microsoft EVER run down Linux or MAC products .. NEVER !!!!. That says a lot and the LOT OF YOU should be embarrassed as hell reading a statement like that. The software giant never mocks, never runs down anyone .... so STOP your whining.

   VISTA ROCKS !!! and the world of computing is going to become very interesting.
3. Lone Shepherd

   
   Posted on: January 31, 2007 at 4:07PM  

   I, too, would like to hear something about the Vista EU pricing, even though I'm in the USA.  I doubt Nick or any of the technical folks here on this blog will know much about that aspect of Windows, however.

   garyb -- the fact that your local Best Buy screwed up and gave you inaccurate information is irrelevant.  Why in the world would you want Best Buy to install Vista for you anyway?  Can't you install a hard drive yourself?  Copies of all versions of Vista are available at numerous retailers.  I bought my copies online and they arrive today.
4. susang

   
   Posted on: February 01, 2007 at 12:47PM  

   Nick:

   do you know of a Vista Training Disc?

   I work with best buy and would love to have something for training other than the best buy elearning.
5. Nick White

   
   Posted on: February 01, 2007 at 4:47PM  

   Hey garyb:  all versions of Windows Vista are indeed now available; it may be that you're looking for a version that is not carried by a particular retailer.  I do know that there are large online retailers who offer all versions, both full and upgrade, ready for order.
6. Nick White

   
   Posted on: February 01, 2007 at 4:50PM  

   Hey susang:  when we met with Best Buy employees and managers during our Coach Tour, they mentioned an internal set of trainings that were available to BB employees.  Alternatively, you might check out the WV Product Guide, which is linked to here on the blog in several entries.
7. infinidim

   
   Posted on: February 02, 2007 at 12:06PM  

   I have a real issue with Microsoft and it's ability to deliver " Express Windows Vista Upgrade " upgrades in Europe from it's distribution centre. All the people who have " Express Windows Vista Upgrade " upgrades seem to be having to go to one centre in Europe - isn't this a monopoly situation that the EU should look into.

   Not only that it is almost impossible to contact any one, there is nothing about delivery dates on the web site, in this centre to find out when you will get your upgrade as well...you either get engaged or nothing at all....if you do get through then you end up in a call waiting system.....for hours and then it drops out...

   Microsoft...are you listen... you may have written a better operating system this time round but your logistics of delivering it to your customer base ........is bad at best and is ru******h at best....
8. Nick White

   
   Posted on: February 02, 2007 at 3:07PM  

   Hey someone:  If you buy an upgrade to Ultimate from Premium using Windows Anytime Upgrade, you can order a 64-bit DVD as part of the ordering process of the upgrade.  When you receive the disc, you would need to install 64-bit version of Premium and activate it using the product key that came with your Premium edition, and then install the Ultimate key (which will be placed in the Digital Locker online for you -– see the confirmation email) and then perform the upgrade to Ultimate using the same DVD.
9. pee

   
   Posted on: February 03, 2007 at 1:42PM  

   hello. i have bought vista ultimate, and the problem is the next: i have 2 hard-drives, and i can install to drive"H" because on drive C and G not enough free space. but the installation process, cant see the drive H :(... i can install to the drive C, but i need my Xp too.. can you help me??

   pee
10. SthAus

    
    Posted on: February 04, 2007 at 11:56PM  

    I note the "rave" review by MitchelK and suggests he try to be a real user upgrading with a Vista Upgrade product. Noting the availability of a MS antivirus product, I thought I'd upgrade my Toshiba M40 notebook to Vista to get rid of the all consuming Symantec product.

    I bought a legitimate copy of both Vista and MS Office Pro 2007 from a large retailer in Adelaide, and went to install them. I activated my trial of MS Office 2007 with the new key, and it seemed to register. I then installed Vista upgrade over my XP SP2, latest updates etc system. After the more than 2 hour install, Internet Explorer would not work, Windows Explorer crashed every few minutes.

    I ended up doing a further install of Vista, this time as a "clean" install. I had all my files on my Genie Backup Pro data set on an external drive, and assumed I'd get a real "clean" install. Instead, all my files were shoved into a "Old.Windows" directory, and somehow apeared in My Documents, but with curious permission settings. Certainly most OS functions now seem to be there, but my accounting software (Quick Books) no longer works - it seems to have been  un-registered in the Registry, and Office 2007 went west. On re-install of Office 2007, it failed to register online, thinking there was a license exception - which cost a lot of time.

    Norton AntiVirus is now back on my machine,as is Office Pro 2007 after queueing on the phone registration system for a very long time. Ive spent two days working with licensed versions of Vista and Office Pro2007 to overcome the problems of this "commercial release". I am not impressed. And I'm no novice at computers - I started working with Control Data and Digital equipment in the late 1960s.

    My wife asks why I upgraded and I have to say, I have no answer other than temporary insanity!