Why I Don't Want Windows Vista

Published on April 19, 2006 By geekinthecity In Windows Vista

I’ve got a confession to make I’m one of the computer users on Microsoft’s hit list. I’m hanging on to Windows 2000. Microsoft has been running has been ads on television and in print still promoting Windows XP despite the fact that it will be replaced by Windows Vista in early 2007. When promoting a new upcoming release of Windows Microsoft promises the most revolutionary change to desktop computing since Windows 95. When Windows Vista is released at the start of 2007 Millions of people will be running out and buying it but I will not.

I skipped Windows XP because I am really bugged by product activation. While Microsoft has the right to do what they need to prevent people from stealing it’s products, but I have the right to not want to turn over certain information about my computer to Microsoft. Car buyers are under no obligation to tell the auto makers about the automobiles that they are buying and aftermarket upgrades they install. With more and more anti-piracy measures built into Windows it seems like the less and less that Microsoft trusts the people buying their products.

With previous releases of Windows Microsoft has packed more and more features then the preceding version but was the number of features in the operating system have increased, so too has the price. A copy of Windows 95 could be bought for about eighty dollars when it was released. Currently I have seen Windows XP Professional selling for over four hundred dollars. If Windows Vista costs more than Windows XP, which it probably will, that will be a paying a lot of money to get a lot of features that I’d never use.

One of things that is certain when it comes to the Windows operating system is that every new release will require more processing power than previous versions. I don’t feel like sinking yet more money into more RAM, a new video card and faster CPU. My computer should not become a money pit just because Microsoft releases a new product.

Microsoft is promising to put digital rights management (DRM) embedded into Windows Vista, this takes control of data away from a PC owner and can give it away to any third party. DRM technology can be used as an essential security tool for protecting sensitive data for corporations or government departments. If sensitive documents are leaked out of company or government because of a security breached they can’t be opened. DRM however is probably will be used by the entertainment industry to restrict how people use digital media. If I record my TV shows on my desktop PC, and then copy it to my laptop so I can watch at a more convenient time and place I should be able to without Microsoft or anybody else trying to dictate to me that I can’t do with my computers what I want.

My computers do a good job doing to the tasks that I do, I have absolutely no need or desire to spend yet more money on a new version of Windows just because Microsoft releases it. If I feel this way then other people feel the same way and maybe selling Windows Vista will be an uphill battle for Microsoft.

Comments (Page 2)

jrista

on Apr 22, 2006

First, why not learn some grammar? I was tempted to go back and read that twice, but decided against it because it sounds like a lot of blathering, uninformed, naive bull* anyway.

Second, Windows XP OEM costs $150 on average, if you build your own PC (which if your not buying a brand name, is probably the case). Check out Link. Newegg is only one of the many online sources, and some sell it for even cheaper. If you buy a new computer from one of the mainstream manufacturors, they suck up some of the cost, which is considerably lower than what consumers pay anyway due to bulk liscensing. Windows XP doesn't cost $300 for the majority of people, and those upgrading can purchase upgrade versions at around $100.

Finally, Windows Vista is only the beginning. What were all going to get the end of 2006/beginning 2007 is only the first round of new things due to come out of Microsoft. WinFS, the much touted and sorely missed feature of the Longhorn betas is due out in 2007, along with several other "behind the scenes" products like Windows Presentation Foundation and WinFX. These things make up a new platform, not just a new desktop operating system, and will give programmers (which I am myself) a far better technology platform with which to develop the future of computing. There is more comming from Microsoft this year and next than just a glossy new interface and a sidebar, things that companies like Apple and organizations betting their futures on Linux can't provide.

I personally commend Microsoft for taking the time that was neccesary to weed out the unneccesary additions in Vista, delay useful but less important features, and polish what they could in the windows update they will actually release. No, Vista is not the Longhorn vision, and no, it doesn't deliver on all the promises Microsoft made. For that I'm dissapointed, and I hope Microsoft learns a lesson about promising and failing to deliver. In the end, though, I would rather have something less thats polished and relatively stable, than have everything cobbled together with chewing gum and toothpicks. Not only that, people complain about Microsoft not releasing a new OS every year to "compete" and "keep up" with OS X (which is just spit, polish and a shiny happy interface, with no substance underneath, completely lacking the technology platform that Windows and other MS technologies provide). For me, I'm just glad I don't have to spend $150 every year, and if I have to wait a few months before I can download WinFS and WinFX for free when they are completed in 2007, thats fine by me.

jrista

on Apr 22, 2006

Oh, and one other thing. You might want to check out the Vista product sheets, because there are about a dozen possible versions of Windows Vista, covering all sorts of price ranges, from the very cheap to the overkill expensive for those obsessive types. Not only that, Vista comes with a realtime upgrade tool that will allow you to purchase additional features if you need more but started out with a low-end version, delevered instantly and seamlessly. Vista doesn't lock you into the Home or Pro split anymore, and you choose how much you spend and when you spend it.

Jafo

on Apr 22, 2006

First, why not learn some grammar? I was tempted to go back and read that twice, but decided against it because it sounds like a lot of blathering, uninformed, naive bull* anyway.

Oops....lost count of spelling and punctuation errors in #16.

Probably best to tend one's own house first.... Spell checker

jrista

on Apr 22, 2006

I think there were 3 punctuation errors (all apostrophes, which I tend to ignore as a product of bad habit..its a programmer thing

), and about 3 or 4 spelling errors (unless you count the numerous abbreviated terms such as WinFS). You might want to revisit the third grade and learn how to keep count again, as you didn't even need all your fingers to cover everything.

Jafo

on Apr 22, 2006

your

manufacturors

liscensing

were

comming

neccesary

unneccesary

dissapointed

thats

True....only 10 fingers needed there...

Sadly that makes me two short, as I have but 8. [or do you wish to include thumbs?].

I didn't take grammar into account, BTW....

seldomseen

on Apr 22, 2006

Just paid thru the ________ [fill in orifice of choice] for WIN XP PRO Upgrade[from WIN XP Home]on new laptop. Also needed Publisher for daughter's schoolwork/homework compatibility. Was using Office 2002 just fine, but no Publisher. Shopped at Best Buy, as usual: $199.00 for Upgrade, $499.00 for Office. Seven beans to Redmond. Whatryagonnado?? Me? I'm on my way to the local 'car-title loan' so I can pay the 'payday loan' I paid the hockshop with that paid the DSL 'til the SSDI check comes...[lessee, what key's that in, D or B7 ?]

seldomseen

on Apr 22, 2006

[Jafo has astonishing presence of mind here. I am in awe]

Fuzzy Logic

on Apr 22, 2006

"Oh, no!!!! My super-dooper PC only gets 96 fps in NFSU at 1600x1200!!! My life must end NOW!!!"...

In my case no. When you see a rather ordinary UT2004 map everyone raves about chug along at 10- 30 fps then it's time to end it all... The 3dMark 2006 score of 176 doesn't bear comment, especially when the replacement scores about 5500... No relevance in the real world, but an accurate indicator of how pc technology has moved on in the last 3 years.

The old girl needs to retire while she's ahead. One of the drives is giving the occasional clunking sound (ominous) and I don't feel like buying another IDE. Best let her slip away quietly

And of course the new pc is 'Vista ready'

on Apr 22, 2006

Curse of the correction... you point out errors, your post WILL contain said errors...

Besides for some of us, English is second language. For one, me.

Jafo

on Apr 22, 2006

Rolf...that was my reasoning behind #18, but perhaps it was too subtle, considering the response.

The odd grammar error should not be a reason to dismiss someone's argument as "blathering, uninformed, naive..."

But, when it's suggested to think twice before doing so the response is that I need to go back to third grade to learn to count. Now, considering the last time I was in 'third grade' was about 24 years before this person was born maybe I actually should be allowed to now count poorly....senility and all that...

It really is important to be well aware that the skinning community knows no social or geographical boundaries, and nor should it do. The next person you correspond with could very well know NO English at all and is relying on Babelfish [I hope not....'cos it's not the world's best translator]...

on Apr 22, 2006

Indeed. I happen to be American, however.

Born and raised one.

I'm trying to keep spelling straight, since that's more important, you do remember posts in skinz?

Not everyone is rich enough to just buy a new computer, even at low prices lately. Like I said, it's worse when your main computer is a laptop like me. More money to replace that.

steelsnake

on Apr 22, 2006

Honestly I don't see the point in updating to Vista just now. Maybe after it has been out for a while, and the REAL good&bad lists are out. At the moment it's too early to say anything. Looking at XP... the ONLY reason I ever upgraded to that one was the better stability, and the better support for power saving features.

Most of the features on Vista are, so far, completely irrelevant for my home use. WinFX? Who cares. Display Foundation stuff? Who cares. WinFS? Last I checked it was slower than molasses in January.

I skipped Win2k, never missed it. I might skip Vista, unless there is really a compelling reason to buy it. Which there is, at the moment, none that pertains to me.

Vailene

on Apr 25, 2006

I have nothing innovative to say about Vista. All I know is, I'm keeping XP Pro.

I don't feel like shelling out another ($600 expected) for perhaps a "midgrade" version of Vista. Not me, not this time.

Pwnz0r

on Apr 26, 2006

I agree.

Microsoft has never been able to support their OS with all the features that OSX and Linux (yes, I said linux) have already. What makes them think they can now? I feel that these features in Vista could easily be done through third-party applications (such as using AppRocket for the Spotlight search....). I don't want my OS to do ****. I want to run the programs that I want to run, and deny access to those that I (myself, not Microsoft) deem inappropriate for my system. If OS makers continue to throw these features into the computers of people who don't them, I'm going to get very pissed off. I'm definitely getting Linux on my system, hopefully by the end of this week.

Unless Vista comes with some free RAM and a hell of a good processor, I'm just not buying it.
It will be typical to see Microsoft sell Vista to the uneducated people around the globe (if they have the money).

Adamness

on Apr 26, 2006

It will be typical to see Microsoft sell Vista to the uneducated people around the globe

Or to people who want the features Vista has.

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