And what's wrong with that? The less thinking and simplicity the better for your average joe's.

Underneath Windows, I have found my servers and workstation to be stable. You just have to minimize and restrict what your users can and cannot do. When you let them install a bunch of softwares and spyware, then yes, it's doomsday! However, equip them with the right tools and privilege and everything works fine. I have a few Windows Server 2003 boxes going and they all work fine and are very stable. I also administer about 100 Windows 2000/XP workstations at work and they all work fine.

Windows XP deleted from my system because my friend needed some scratched CD's recovered, and I decided to not take a chance with DMCA, so I deleted windows and installed Linux. The ripped copy had no skipping! I wonder if it was because I switched my CD drive to PIO mode before hand? Anyways, none were from Sony/BMG, and were analog, just didn't want to take a chance with one of the CD'a from 2001. DRM on CD's usually work by loading on to user's computers. But I burnt them, and I gave both copies back, but it still remains on my box in a LUKS protected partition on an external HDD. In VISTA, I think it would BLOCK IT BECAUSE OF THE COPYRIGHT MARK ON THE CD, AND AT THE OPERATING SYSTEM LEVEL! I HATE DRM!

By the way, I am happy with my new Linux system, Debian is the easiest to use for me.

I skimmed the last few pages due to lack of time, and likely I'll be repeating something that will already have been said.

I haven't really looked into Vista to be honest - I looked at the hardware requirements and really wasn't impressed. I mean, I'm sure that the people with the 1Gig of RAM and fairly recent graphics card will have no problems, but my computer doesn't have these and I can think of better ways to spend cash. I'm not cheap, but I honestly don't see any way in which such an upgrade would benefit me, and I get everything I want right now by using XP, IRIX, and Slackware together.

This is what I don't like about Windows: the way that it leaves people in the dirt or forces them to use the newest hardware. What happens to all those 'old' computers which are now unable to run the latest Windows software? Well if people are lazy they'll throw them away and just get something new, if they feel like investing their time they'll perhaps check out Linux, *BSD, or one of the other free alternatives. Regardless of the fact that most people will probably just suck in the price for an upgrade, reasoning that it will probably pay for itself in the long run; there will be more than a few people who don't agree with the mentality that they *must* upgrade to use the newest product. Unfortunately, too few people will complain, most will just accept it and tell themselves that they're getting a good deal.

I do agree that the biggest contributor to the rise of Linux is Microsoft, and that by continuing this 'requirement race' they leave lots of machines behind; although as an after-thought, I guess they have enough customers to not really care.

I'll be sticking with XP since I paid for it, and there are some things that neither IRIX, or Linux are able to do as well. Inevitably I'll have to get Vista some time, but I intend to wait until the price goes right down.

I am curious as to what that 1GB minimum of RAM will be doing though - either it's really bloated or they exaggerated how much memory is necessary.

When we create situations where people do not have to think, then we create people who can't think. IMHO, some portion of what is now spent on dumbing-down and automating everything should rather be spent on education and training.

A Linux system can be set up for a complete novice without cutting off that person from the opportunity to go deeper if they choose. That is illustrated in our house where my wife (the ultimate anti-geek) uses Linux 100%. Any instruction from me is flatly refused, but she ocassionally discovers a new trick on her own.

Exactly pixellany, you read my mind, that's precisely what i was gonna say, well, except for the wife part, i'm still single and afraid to mingle

You can "go deeper" into Windows too, editing the registry for instance. You can fill it up with Free/Open Source stuff, as I have. MSYS+MSYSDTK+MinGW, GnuWin32, GNU Emacs 22.0.50, etc, etc.

There have been a few posts here that state that some of us will buy Vista. I will not buy Vista, I will not buy a machine that has it pre-installed.

I would like to see what all the fuss is about, but I'm in no rush. Someone I know will get it, and I'll look around then.

jer

But you can go the deepest level because you don't have the source.
As simple as this.

You also can't modify low level things.
As for registry...as you take this example, it reminds me of the difference between regedit and regedt32. One had features that the other one didn't. Same for wordpad and notepad. One was able to view file while they were already opened by another process while the other couldn't. You had to switch to XP. I never did.

Windows is a joke.

Registry? LoL, someone must have been on some kinda crank at M$ when they invented the 'Registry'.

Did you get any feedback from microsoft about things like this:
http://nvd.nist.gov/nvd.cfm?cvename=CVE-2006-6696

The only one I saw (after 5 minutes search I admit) was this one:
http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archiv...erability.aspx
A blog . . . come on
What are they waiting for?
Give me 1 good reason.
Is it such a mess that they are unable to correct it?
This would N.E.V.E.R happen on linux

I'm not administrator but with things like this, I would have some problems to sleep. I'm probably too paranoid

I hate Windows as much as anyone here, and I haven't bought a computer with Windows preloaded since 3.1!

However, I'm getting a new laptop soon and I think it will need a Windows partition. The biggest reason for that is that I want to run GPS street nav software such as Street Atlas USA and Topo USA. Also want to use the laptop's camera with Skype to send video to my fiancee -- only possible under 'Doze.

XP would do for this, but I figure I'll get Vista just to play with it. I wouldn't use Vista for anything important.

It's just especially painful because I'll be buying from one of the few companies that gladly sells laptops without Windows -- http://powernotebooks.com
I had long admired them for that. Now I'll actually have to check the box saying I *want* to buy Windows. Ouch that will hurt ...

If you are suggesting that somehow you have more control over Windows, then I respectfully disagree. By mastering the registry, you may make yourself feel more in control, but all you have done is compensated for the poor design from Redmond.

I'm pretty sure that can be done with a Linux distribution.
You could always use a tool such as the GParted Live CD to shrink your windows drive, and install a Linux/Windows dual-boot to see if you really can get it going.

True, you haven't as much control over Windows as GNU/Linux, but you can tweak it to a certain extent. And, as I said, by installing your own choice of software make it what you want. I like GNU/Linux, I wouldn't have spent so much time trying different distro's if I didn't, but I also quite like XP Pro. What I definitely don't like is Microsoft's underhand dealings, and the creeps in charge of it.

Average Joe should buy a Playstation and stop polluting the internet with badly coded crap.

We do have some Windows boxes at work but don't plan using Vista on them. The cost would simply be way to high since none of our currently working hardware can run it.
Unless you get a free PC with every Vista installation it's not an option.