Windows Vista Discussion

[KSoD]

It is most likely a driver issue. Since nVidia just released their RTM drivers just last week and ATi has yet to do it i can almost say that you have to update your drivers.

Mine load just fine and i use the new nVidia drivers.

 

[Osiris]

Top Ten New Features in Windows Vista
WeÂ’ve heard a lot of information from writers and our readers alike on what they do and donÂ’t like about Vista. BTX Form Factor throws their hat into the mix this morning with their Top 10 Features list on what they feel are the shining points of Vista.



Windows Vista, scheduled for release on January 30th, 2007 has something for everyone, from tight security and stunning new graphics to some new bundled applications. In fact, there is much that this new operating system has to offer, that it will be a real test for the hardware configuration of your PC. With its sleek new look and eye-catching interface, actually it's what's under the hood that impresses the most.


http://www.btxformfactor.com/item/34/1.php

 

[strangelife]

Me Too !

 

[Juice Daddy]

Windows Vista: The good and bad

Bad: Windows Vista ships in far too many product editions, requiring users to make hard decisions about which to get and, ultimately (pardon the pun) spend too much money to get all the features they want. For consumers, there are really only two choices: Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate. Both are expensive, but both are also feature-rich. To choose, simply look at the Ultimate features that aren't available in Home Premium and decide whether you can live without them.

Good: On the other hand, Microsoft is now making previously niche features like Tablet PC support and Media Center available to a much bigger audience than ever before. More to the point, these features are now available in retail versions of Windows for the first time. I cannot imagine why they waited this long.

Good: Windows Vista is easier and faster to install than ever before, and that's true if you're an individual user or a corporate admin seeking to deploy the system automatically across numerous desktops. Vista's componentized design makes this possible.

Good: Vista is beautiful, and all that FUD you read about needing new hardware to run the Aero user interface is false. If you have a reasonably new PC (i.e. one that is less than two years old), Vista should run just fine, and it will look wonderful doing so.

Bad: Like all Windows versions, Windows Vista is a memory hog, and you should take Microsoft's minimum RAM recommendations as the comedy they are. You will want at least 1 GB of RAM to run Windows Vista, and 2 GB is the sweet spot if you're a heavy multitasker like me, a gamer, or a frequent user of creativity applications. That said, RAM is cheap, so this isn't the huge problem some will make it out to be. But it is an inconvenience.

Good: The Windows Vista user interface is a big improvement over that of XP, with integrated search features that really work. It's also instantly familiar, because it uses the same Start Menu/taskbar scheme you learned years ago. It's also a bit inconsistent at times. Microsoft needs help with fit and finish as always, though Vista is more solid in this regard than previous versions.

Good: Windows Vista's security features are top-notch. It remains to be seen how this will play out in the real world, but my guess is we'll see a lot of security activity in the first quarter of 2007 and then things will settle right down. Microsoft did it right this time.

Good: Windows Vista performs as well or better than Windows XP on identical, modern hardware. No, your Celeron M system isn't going to be a screamer. But let's be honest here. It never was.

Good: Windows Vista is far more reliable than Windows XP, and its new instrumentation capabilities will help find and repair any problems that do arise more quickly.

Good: Windows Vista provides exactly the Internet capabilities that users expect, with a dramatically improved version of Internet Explorer that is no embarrassment (like previous versions were).

Bad: Friends don't let friends use Outlook Express, and despite the new name, Windows Mail is just Outlook Express.

Good: Windows Calendar, Windows Sidebar, and the new Games Explorer (and games capabilities in general) are surprisingly solid additions to Windows and applications that you will definitely want to check out.

Good: Windows Vista's digital media applications are generally excellent, especially the new Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Media Center.

Bad: Microsoft is sending mixed messages by releasing a separate media player application called Zune. Also, the company should have learned from Windows Me that bare bones media applications like DVD Maker are a mistake that reflect poorly on Windows.

Good: As you would expect, Windows Vista's networking capabilities are best of breed, thanks to a rewritten network stack and some well-considered UI work. Nice job there.

Good: Windows Vista is a first-class mobility solution with amazing Tablet PC features, a new Mobility Center, touch screen support, and more.

Bad: Windows Ultimate Extras should be made available to other Windows Vista users, at a price. Restricting these often-fluffy add-ons to only the most expensive Vista version is a slap in the face to users who can't afford Vista Ultimate.

Good: Windows Speech Recognition. Seriously, check it out.

Good: Windows Vista's hardware and software compatibility is excellent, and a major achievement.

Bad: Wait a year on x64 unless you really know what you're doing. Niggling software compatibility issues will dog most users until developers get up to speed with x64-specific issues.

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_08.asp

 

[Osiris]

Microsoft to offer Vista "Family Pack" discount

Even though the retail launch of Windows Vista just a couple of weeks away, Microsoft is still continuing to fine-tune its licensing and pricing details.

Sources said that Microsoft will announce some time over the next few days that the company will allow Vista Ultimate customers to purchase two additional copies of Vista Home Premium for somewhere between $50 to $99 a piece.

In order to qualify for the so-called "Family Pack" promotion, customers will first need to purchase at retail a copy of Vista Ultimate, which carries an estimated retail price of $399 U.S. The deal will not be offered to those who purchase Ultimate preloaded on a new PC, sources said; it will be for customers buying and/or upgrading via retail channels only.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=201

 

[Mentali$T]

Re: Microsoft to offer Vista "Family Pack" discount

Sources said that Microsoft will announce some time over the next few days that the company will allow Vista Ultimate customers to purchase two additional copies of Vista Home Premium for somewhere between $50 to $99 a piece.

That sounds good. Most homes now have more than one pc so its makes more sense having this.

 

[Cstrikedish]

Now Vista. It is long promised Longhorn that was supposed to include greatest technology. It does not seem there is a lot of new stuff in Vista. The interface looks clean and rich. I love search box in start menu (KDE has it too!) - end of endless reorganizing of programs and program groups. Major visible new feature - file explorer. File ratings and organizing by various parameters seems to be very useful. It seems to me it's rather "pro" feature than regular user's.

I think with all the technology that is built in Vista - it will shine when more apps take advantage of new graphical subsystem.

 

[Osiris]

Consumer Versions of Vista Available Early

mwave.com lists several editions of Windows Vista as in stock and ready to ship

Although the official launch of Windows Vista won't take place until January 30, that hasn't stopped some online retailers from making the operating system available early. mwave.com is listing three Vista SKUs on its website that are in stock and ready to ship.

The OEM versions of Vista listed on mwave.com's website are significantly cheaper than the retail pricing for Vista listed below:

* Windows Vista Home Basic, $199/$99.95
* Windows Vista Home Premium, $239/$159
* Windows Vista Business, $299/$199
* Windows Vista Ultimate, $399/$259

The editions available include Vista 32-bit Home Basic OEM (Microsoft Part Number: 66G-00576) for $89.90, Vista 32-bit Home Basic OEM 3-pack (Microsoft Part Number: 66G-00613) for $268.90 and Vista 32-bit Business OEM (Microsoft Part Number: 66J-02289) for $139.90. As of today, there were no listings for Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate on the site.

http://dailytech.com/Consumer+Versions+of+Windows+Vista+Available+Early/article5788.htm

 

[Mentali$T]

For people living in the UK visit http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=33&catid=20
This lists all the OEM and retail versions to pre-order

 

[talldude123]

Re: Consumer Versions of Vista Available Early

mwave.com lists several editions of Windows Vista as in stock and ready to ship

Although the official launch of Windows Vista won't take place until January 30, that hasn't stopped some online retailers from making the operating system available early. mwave.com is listing three Vista SKUs on its website that are in stock and ready to ship.

The OEM versions of Vista listed on mwave.com's website are significantly cheaper than the retail pricing for Vista listed below:

* Windows Vista Home Basic, $199/$99.95
* Windows Vista Home Premium, $239/$159
* Windows Vista Business, $299/$199
* Windows Vista Ultimate, $399/$259

The editions available include Vista 32-bit Home Basic OEM (Microsoft Part Number: 66G-00576) for $89.90, Vista 32-bit Home Basic OEM 3-pack (Microsoft Part Number: 66G-00613) for $268.90 and Vista 32-bit Business OEM (Microsoft Part Number: 66J-02289) for $139.90. As of today, there were no listings for Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate on the site.

http://dailytech.com/Consumer+Versions+of+Windows+Vista+Available+Early/article5788.htm

Link doesn't work. It's nice that Microsoft is admitting that their OS is going to be ready, but should we count on that?
Let's see how long it takes Vista to be pirated...