If Microsoft Gave Away Windows Vista Ultimate Edition For Free.... Would You Use It?

[StGeorge]

This one of the best questions posted.
NO is the answer.
I removed XP of all my machines.
I use 98se.
This is still the best Windows OS.
I also have Ubuntu on my machines too.
I find the bloated XP and the ridiculously bloated Vista a waste of time, disc space and memory.
My 98se runs fasted and leaner than XP or Vista.
My last trip to a store to buy a new desktop I asked for manufacturers drivers to install 98se and was told it was not possible.
Sod that I said, no purchase.
There is a movement to make 98se open source, but surprise, surprise Microsoft won't have it.
Just imagine an open source 98se. It would destroy Vista.:lolflag:

[LaRoza]

This one of the best questions posted.
NO is the answer.
I removed XP of all my machines.
I use 98se.
This is still the best Windows OS.
I also have Ubuntu on my machines too.
I find the bloated XP and the ridiculously bloated Vista a waste of time, disc space and memory.
My 98se runs fasted and leaner than XP or Vista.
My last trip to a store to buy a new desktop I asked for manufacturers drivers to install 98se and was told it was not possible.


You might be interested in this project: http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html

Windows 98 is just DOS with a GUI, Windows 2000 is NT based, and is better than DOS in general. Have you tried Windows 2000?

[StGeorge]

Thanks LaRoza.
No I haven't tried 2000.
I thank you for the link also.
Will have a look later.
The reason why I keep to 98se is that I have made it suit me.
Made it secure, (updates no longer supplied).
There is also alot of stuff out there made by like minded people for 98se.
Although not open source OS it has made programmers work on software to augment the OS.
Besides if one is to have multiple OS's then 98se is small enough to do that.

[ComputerHermit]

I would not use vista if M$ gave it away I would take it because it's free but I would not use it. nope

[LaRoza]

Thanks LaRoza.
No I haven't tried 2000.
I thank you for the link also.
Will have a look later.
The reason why I keep to 98se is that I have made it suit me.
Made it secure, (updates no longer supplied).
There is also alot of stuff out there made by like minded people for 98se.
Although not open source OS it has made programmers work on software to augment the OS.
Besides if one is to have multiple OS's then 98se is small enough to do that.

I have Windows 98 also, in a VM. If it works for you, there is no need to change.

The ReactOS project isn't very stable, but it works to a degree.

[StGeorge]

I have Windows 98 also, in a VM. If it works for you, there is no need to change.

The ReactOS project isn't very stable, but it works to a degree.

I agree with if it works don't mend it.
I had a look at ReactOS and liked the look of it.
I would say however that Ubuntu, although a big learning curve for me is advanced enough to eventually be my working OS.
I keep 98se cos I understand it.
The problem I see with ReactOS is that it will be playing catchup with linux distros.
Once I am used to Ubuntu I cannot see any reason to add yet another OS to learn.
It is surprising though how many people like to have multiple OS's.
A good hobby I suppose.
The reason I am learning Ubuntu, although at times I feel like pulling my hair out, is the reason why this post was started by John.
Microsoft treat their programs as a way to fleece the public and create sales for the computer industry. I am not saying that it is a bad thing to create commerce. Just that once you are caught, you end up in a keep net until they devour you.
Shame not many manufacturers promote Open Source on their machines. The community could do with the income.

[nikoPSK]

I'd take xp from them...

[kenono]

Not really, I already have the home premium version of Vista, so I guess I'd use that.
There isn't anything ultimate about the ultimate version anyway.

[articpenguin]

I simply don't use windows xp or vista, not because I hate them, but because they aren't interesting to me.

[jacob01]

yea i would take it just to mess with it set up a virtual machine and do stuff pick it a part i would also take a mac book air if some one offerd me that but like most things it isnt going to happen and if id does there is most likely strings attached

[Dojan5]

I already have all Vista verisions, tho, i don't like it.
And they broke my RAM >:'(

[syms]

i dont care, cuz if i want i can download windows piracy copy.

[nikoPSK]

i dont care, cuz if i want i can download windows piracy copy.
lol, but don't say that here! ;)

[CrazyArcher]

I can't afford the minimum h/w requirements.
Same here :D

[rasmus91]

No!

I use my XP as little as possible, i hate the whole microsoft thing!

i do not use it by principel, i dont like the idea of their "monopol" rights...

But besides of Principel, i have my experiences with microsoft products, and to say it in the nicest way i can: No matter if Vista was free, i wouldn't use it, its the most *** licking OS ever! so no, im never going to use vista, EVEN IF IT WAS FREE!!!

[sayakb]

I would be happier if Apple did the same :D

Edit: I really don't know why I love Mac OS X (Maybe becoz I haven't used it yet!!!)

[sayakb]

i dont care, cuz if i want i can download windows piracy copy.

Piracy is a crime for me. I would definitely go for genuine software anyhow.

[Midwest-Linux]

You might be interested in this project: http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html

Windows 98 is just DOS with a GUI, Windows 2000 is NT based, and is better than DOS in general. Have you tried Windows 2000?

Windows 2000 is a good OS with lower requirements than XP, plus there is no WGA or online activation requirements to deal with. There are a fair amount of programs that can still run on Windows 2000. I still use Windows 2000 on two of my computers.

[mfkoc14]

i have vista in my machine installed and i have xp in my machine installed and i have ubuntu in my machine i use it. and vista came me free upgrade i dont use it. they are for my game lover chidren.

[UbiOneCanubi]

This is plenty out of date but I thought I'd add my two cents anyway.

I have found in the past that Microsoft make a criminal out of me. I cannot afford their software nor the software that is produced for their OS. To justify what I was doing I would tell myself that I would buy the OS or software when I could afford it.

Waiting until that time is not sufficient however. Ubuntu solves the cost problem.

However, I dislike Microsoft and their business philosophy as well. I have viewed Apple as the means to escaping MS, but Apple's policy of making the consumer pay for their OS on an over-valued piece of underperforming hardware is annoying. Not as annoying as MS's heavy handed business model mind.

So yes, Ubuntu/Linux kills two birds with one stone. I don't think I'll ever own a personal computer with an OS or software I have to pay for ever again. The difference is I'll gladly donate money to the organisations that create this stuff rather than pay for and be frustrated and disappointment by the limitations and problems of either MS or Apple.

Ubuntu has already thoroughly exceeded my expectations of it, and it's provided a good challenge in switching to the OS. It's almost like Ubuntu is communism working, whereas Microsoft is like the communism of history.

[eragon100]

I don't give a damn about open-source and I sincerely hope lot of propietary freeware apps such as I tunes come to ubuntu once we get more users, but I do care about quality, so no vista ultimate for me :lolflag:

[yaztromo]

I used to be a big Win XP user but I changed for several reasons.

1 - I already paid for XP. I can't afford Vista.
2 - My PC is too slow for Vista.
3 - Windows Genuine Advantage and Vista Activation. There's a big brother feeling to it.
4 - Ubuntu is free! How can MS compete with free?
5 - Compiz and preload :)

Now I'm not gonna mention the usual security and stability arguments because I never had a virus or crash with XP. I still think XP is awesome. MS threw my custom away with Vista.

[heartburnkid]

If I got it for free, I might dual-boot it just because. However, I wouldn't use it on a day-to-day basis. What I know about what goes on under the hood scares me enough; I'm sure what I don't know about it is even worse.

[Frak]

It's almost like Ubuntu is communism working, whereas Microsoft is like the communism of history.

Linux is not communism. Marxist ideas did not support the idea of voluntary communism. This is where the GPL comes in, i.e. you are not forced to redistribute anything you make [that is based off of another GPL program], but if you do, provide the source code with it.

[UbiOneCanubi]

Linux is not communism. Marxist ideas did not support the idea of voluntary communism. This is where the GPL comes in, i.e. you are not forced to redistribute anything you make [that is based off of another GPL program], but if you do, provide the source code with it.

Haha, I'm not going to get into a debate over what Communism is, but historically it's been characterised in reality by brutal, big brother dictatorships. (Just to be super clear I'm in no way am I defending this, nor do I think Communism will ever work as a political system).

I don't properly understand Linux or it's philosophy but the egalitarian nature of it is much more in line with the ideal of communism as I understand it - collective ownership of 'property' for the common advantage of all.

[Frak]

Haha, I'm not going to get into a debate over what Communism is, but historically it's been characterised in reality by brutal, big brother dictatorships. (Just to be super clear I'm in no way am I defending this, nor do I think Communism will ever work as a political system).

I don't properly understand Linux or it's philosophy but the egalitarian nature of it is much more in line with the ideal of communism as I understand it - collective ownership of 'property' for the common advantage of all.
I've taken courses concerning different types of governments and code-systems. Linux resembles none of those, it, in fact, has more of its own communal system (again, communal is not communism).

I would list a bunch of points, but this isn't the thread for it. Of course it has its communistic viewpoints, but overall, its more unforced-socialism (semi-Marxist) with a capitalistic development routine.

[vikasvishnu]

No matter paid or free, virus is a virus! :lolflag:

:Vikas:

[doorknob60]

I voted yes, but I'm actually between yes and the no for out of principal. I would use it, but only for games...and only when I get a new hard drive or computer to fit that bloated...thing.

[didooofidooo]

no way, using MS windows again is over my dead body because they still don't know what is the meaning of freedom.

[IHATEDLINK]

Yes, I would replace my dual-boot Ubuntu-XP for a Vista-Ubuntu.

[KaliVoid]

No.

its bad on resources ,bad for users , bad for privacy
and you never know whats really going on unless you
very good at reverse engineering and that kind of crap...

[garyedwardjohnston]

Vista would require I purchase a new computer or upgrade mine.

I only bought it like 2-3 years ago, lol.

[gypaete09]

What leads me to refuse M$ products (Vista will NOT make it onto my PC):

Unethical corporate behaviour, hegemony, spyware-ish operating systems, high prices, the list is long.

And, in my case, I have an additional grudge against M$:
Long ago, I had to re-learn from Novell certified engineer
to MS certified, then certify once again...
MS certifications expire faster than the working indiviual can train, not to mention the ridiculous amounts of money my employer had to spend on these trainings...

Finally, I quit the computer jobs, and since enjoy opensource software on my one-man company PC - which -for the moment- still has a abandoned XP partition.

Of course I start out a sa newbie *again* with so little Unix knowledge... (keeps my brain fit, huh?)

[vikasvishnu]

What leads me to refuse M$ products (Vista will NOT make it onto my PC):

Unethical corporate behaviour, hegemony, spyware-ish operating systems, high prices, the list is long.

And, in my case, I have an additional grudge against M$:
Long ago, I had to re-learn from Novell certified engineer
to MS certified, then certify once again...
MS certifications expire faster than the working indiviual can train, not to mention the ridiculous amounts of money my employer had to spend on these trainings...

Finally, I quit the computer jobs, and since enjoy opensource software on my one-man company PC - which -for the moment- still has a abandoned XP partition.

Of course I start out a sa newbie *again* with so little Unix knowledge... (keeps my brain fit, huh?)

Good choice, friend! Certifications doesn't matter in the case of open-source! Get used with it and you will really understand each and every part of it! With this amazing community help, you should prove yourself to be one of the best in computers. All the best! :)

:Vikas:

[vikasvishnu]

Vista would require I purchase a new computer or upgrade mine.

I only bought it like 2-3 years ago, lol.

Right said, Friend! I tried installing Vista Ultimate in my PC (which is brand new) and it performed quite fine. My little bro was quite amazed on its looks and wanted to have that installed on his machine (which is actually my old PC which is 4 years old) and guess what, it was horribly slow. My bro was really sad and I hated M$ the most at that moment

But I just installed Ubuntu Gutzy on his machine with Compiz-Fusion and all Desktop effects and he was once again the :KS among his friends! I loved that moment when he was showing off with his rotating desktop and fade effects! :)

:Vikas:

[mshiva]

it's the price

[mafutha]

Actually That just happened to me. I was part of their feedback program that, if you completed the 3 month time you were to be a part of it, you would get a copy (for free) of any of their major software. I chose Windows vista ultimate. I just got it from them. Came with 2 disks (1 32-bit, other 64-bit). Each with it's own key number.

For free I'll try anything. I just got a new dell laptop and I'm going to install it on that (The 64-bit version.) The 32-bit version is installed on my slower machine and works fine.

Not that i would use it on the slower machine but it's nice to play with. The dell comes with vista but the home version.

[candell]

Yes.

I purchased a Thinkpad T61p couple of weeks ago and am enjoying Vista Ultimate on this laptop as it's capable of handling the OS and its demand for resources. I did have to purchase additional memory, but this was something I was going to do in the first place so it didn't place any burden on me to begin with. i will admit the laptop ran like utter **** with 1GB DDR2 & T9300, while a Linux OS runs like a champ with the same amount, but if you know what the requirements are... whats the problem? I would not use vista on an older system as its a PITA in terms of resources, but it's been stable and have had no major issues with it other than the fact that it's bloated as **** and resource intensive. I initially started using FreeBSD and have since been on a Linux kick and have had nothing to do with Microsoft within my home since Windows ME and have to say I kind of got a little rusty in terms of how the operating system as a whole works. Ive purchased several laptops thru the years and have just wiped the HD with a Linux OS of choice and just been done with it. MS ME left a sour taste in my mouth but this time around I wanted to see as my curiosity and the fact that I waited +4 weeks for my laptop to arrive had me boot into vista to see the quality of the laptop before in case i wanted to return it.

I have an Xbox 360 and ATT Uverse which has MS IPTV platform and have no major complaints. I am forced to use a highly restricted XP setup @ work due to company policies and in my 5 years with said company not had one BSOD with XP which is what made me decide to give Vista a try. Do I agree with with their outrageous price? NO. Do I agree with their business practices? NO. Do I agree that the resources needed to run Vista are outrageous? YES! Is it horrible for new users who just click YES to every prompt and thus voids the new "security" features? YES! The Open Source community is making a lot of programs available on Windows which is great because I have people asking, "what version of photoshop is that?" or "wow, so thats the new office ultimate huh?" or "man, trillian is expensive" and them saying they cant afford them and going to their home and introducing them to the gimp, openoffice and pidgin and a few other nifty programs. The best is coming back months later and finding programs like vlc, jkdefrag, audacity, turbocash, blender and a slew of other OS products and just having a smile on my face waiting for the next time they have to reinstall so i can drop a distro on their box. Ive done it to a little over 15 people so far and all for not having an anti 98/XP/Vista mentality. There are many ways to introduce new people to the open source movement and a new way of recruitment of new fodder without trying to convert everyone to a linux or bust mentality, but thats for another thread. I believe vista is a better way of introducing people to Linux because its so resource intensive and with our current shitty economy, regular 9-5 people dont have $$$ to upgrade their systems every few years and buy $1500 worth of software. Thanks MS! ):P

I dont understand why so many people beat their Linux chest and yet silently dual-boot and still use MS products or better yet pirate the OS cuz they dont believe they should have to pay for an OS. These are the same people who would jump and throw their arms out in disgust if a small company was found selling a mysql variant within a preconfigured server without paying for a commercial license or releasing the application source code. I will raise my hand and be the first one to admit I was a silent windows user when I started using Linux as it seemed the community was so anti anyone who admitted to using a MS product or dual booter, but being that I'm now comfortable with my OS-uality (haha) and that I now consider myself a true computer user I can say this without really giving a **** what people think. Vista Ultimate has a subsystem for UNIX based applications, Interix, which is far from robust ((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interix)) - yet its there with enough CLI applications to get most jobs done. I just bought a dell desktop with a Q6600/4GB/500GB with Kubuntu on it and Xming ((http://www.straightrunning.com/XmingNotes/)) on this T61p and have no complaints. I can run any program I need off that box within my vista install and my gigabit network like its a native install.

I do have to say kubuntu has exceeded my expectations as it seems like it just works right after installation. I have always been a "sources based distro" kinda idiot with not enough time in my hands spending days recompiling software trying to squeeze every little bit of performance out of the system only to lose interest after years of spending hours debugging what happened with the build when it broke and constantly staring at putty within my nokia to see wtf was going on @ home, but the years of turmoil in a majority of sources based distros finally broke me and led me to try ubuntu and then kubuntu. i have my wife converted to kubuntu at this point as its easier to keep her from installing crap on her system and it just works, which leaves me with a tinkering type feeling as i have all this free time since updates are seamless and only downtime is when there is a new kernel.

this is the major reason for me trying vista. kubuntu just works and im bored, haha. seriously tho... i must say apple and then microsoft were my introduction into personal computers and without them being there and just working it would have taken me years to start using a computer. im sure many of you that still live in the same state you were born in have taken a quick drive past the home you grew up in or your old elementary school or places that made a huge impact in your day to day lives. wonder if thats what im doing, haha.

vista ultimate being free would completely change ms eula and a majority of what we hate about MS. i find it hard to believe that people wouldnt try out a Microsoft Linux distro if it released it with full driver support and was automatically available on all computers @ a B&M chain. But then again... thats the same as thinking Microsoft would release a free version of vista. im sure a majority of ubuntu users did not start on ubuntu and tried several distros because they were FREE. i did... im sure you did too. im sure if vista ultimate was permanently free with a completely altered eula due to its free status with 100% driver support and out of box installation from a brick and mortar retail chain it would stay on the hard drive or would be tried out like any other distro even if the operating systems source code was closed. how many of you sit there with a cup of coffee and a donut and read the linux kernel line by line? hell, people that have been using linux for YEARS still have a hard time properly configuring a customized kernel. we can discuss principle vs. price all we want. if it was free and open source then price and probably even maybe some principle is out the door. if it was free and continued closed source then price would be out the door - principle would depend on what their motives would be with the next release of the OS and why they decided to make it free in the first place. kinda like that $60 offer for office ultimate for edu users... hmm.

a reason why i continue using kubuntu is because it just works... and right now, vista on my particular laptop with a few tweaks just works.

will give an update in the future on how vista performs.

peace.

[yen223]

If Microsoft gave out Vista for free, wouldn't it make Vista an open-source software? Then it would be kosher wouldn't it?

:popcorn:

FWIW I would gladly use it, my laptop worked right out of the box with Vista, not with Ubuntu, and Vista hasn't done anything harmful to my laptop (yet).

[Canis familiaris]

Well I have the choice of using widely available and USED pirated version of Vista for free and my computer is capable of running it. But neither do I like to pirate, nor do I wish to use Microsoft products at all.
The only reason someone (honest) would buy Vista could be gaming, though I like to game, I try to game in WINE. And of course at the price of Vista or XP I could purchase a PS2.

[Frak]

If Microsoft gave out Vista for free, wouldn't it make Vista an open-source software? Then it would be kosher wouldn't it?

:popcorn:

FWIW I would gladly use it, my laptop worked right out of the box with Vista, not with Ubuntu, and Vista hasn't done anything harmful to my laptop (yet).
Freeware is NOT Open Source!!!!

Freeware is software released by the owner at no cost. This does not mean that the owner wants to release the source code.

Open Source software is software where the source is freely available for modification under some to no restrictions (Creative Commons being highly restrictive while the BSD holding the least restrictions to Public Domain which holds no restriction)

[Cpuboye11]

No - I'm not boycotting Microsoft software on price or principal, I just dont like it!

[Phrive]

I use Vista Ultimate on my main PC, ubuntu on the other. I feel 8 Gig of ram, and a q6600 is wasted in ubuntu, i also beleive that Vista is a better OS. It may need really good hardware, but isnt that the point of being into computers? Have the best software, and the best hardware? It's the same everywere if you buy a car you want a bigger engine, maybe you get stuff you dont need, stuff that you dont want, and quite often things that you would like, which arent included. It's the same with vista i beleive, you pay a high price but does it really matter if you enjoy. And the general users who do simply use it for spreadsheets would not be able to get on with a linux distro, they havent even mastered Vista or XP Yet. And there the kinda people that would get an OEM version anyway.

I love the principles of Open Source, i think firefox is 10x better than IE, I prefere gimp to PS. But currently i beleive vista is a better product, theres alot of work to gone into it, its nice looking, things are easy to use, and if there are things that i want to improve, 99% of the time there is an app that will give me the capabilities to do it, regardless of whether ms allows you to mod certain files.

I think most people views of microsoft are based on the film 'Anti-Trust'. They may buy companys and sell expensive products, but lets face it Apple sells hardware and software that is much more expensive, bundled with all sorts of software.

I'm sure this post will cause conterversy, but i think there needs to be some sort of balance.

[gameryoshi600]

No I am boycotting Microsoft. My last Operating system i used by them is windows vista home premium, last office suite was none i just used word 2003 or 2004 i think. why would i boycott microsoft? because all the problems i have been having with the new operating system (vista) are just bringing me back to the old days of windows 95

[jrusso2]

I was recently given a copy of Vista Ultimate by Microsoft and I decided to install it as a dual boot with Mandriva 2008 PowerPack which I got with a magazine I bought.

The computer its running on is a 3 ghz dual core with 4 gigs of ram and an Nvidia 8600 GT card with 256 mb of ram.

Vista runs well on it and its not slow at all. So far it seems pretty solid. I much prefer Mandriva however for everything except ripping encrypted DVD's because I have better apps for this on Windows.

But I spend 99% of the time in Mandriva as it just seems solid and I don't have to worry about virus and spyware and don't need to run a bunch of security apps.

[frogger255]

It's all about principal.

I'm all for free market enterprise but every economic theory that advocates free market principal as a good thing is made on the basis that fair competition exists, and also that its relatively easy to start a new enterprise.

I believe for this to occur we must have free and universal access to basic infrastructure, traditionally this was things like roads and rail power and gas.

Today this includes things like Telecommunications and software.
Using an analogy with respect to rail roads I should be able to lay track and make money by offering the service. I should not be able to patent the idea of using a train. :)

[frogger255]

I use Vista Ultimate on my main PC, ubuntu on the other. I feel 8 Gig of ram, and a q6600 is wasted in ubuntu, i also beleive that Vista is a better OS. It may need really good hardware, but isnt that the point of being into computers? Have the best software, and the best hardware? It's the same everywere if you buy a car you want a bigger engine, maybe you get stuff you dont need, stuff that you dont want, and quite often things that you would like, which arent included. It's the same with vista i beleive, you pay a high price but does it really matter if you enjoy. And the general users who do simply use it for spreadsheets would not be able to get on with a linux distro, they havent even mastered Vista or XP Yet. And there the kinda people that would get an OEM version anyway.

I love the principles of Open Source, i think firefox is 10x better than IE, I prefere gimp to PS. But currently i beleive vista is a better product, theres alot of work to gone into it, its nice looking, things are easy to use, and if there are things that i want to improve, 99% of the time there is an app that will give me the capabilities to do it, regardless of whether ms allows you to mod certain files.

I think most people views of microsoft are based on the film 'Anti-Trust'. They may buy companys and sell expensive products, but lets face it Apple sells hardware and software that is much more expensive, bundled with all sorts of software.

I'm sure this post will cause conterversy, but i think there needs to be some sort of balance.


I'm sure this post will cause conterversy, but i think we should smack you over the head with a brick.

just my $0.02 :lolflag:

[Frak]

I'm sure this post will cause conterversy, but i think we should smack you over the head with a brick.

just my $0.02 :lolflag:
Nah, In some points I agree with him. He has a choice to use whatever he wants. If he feels that Windows Vista is better than Ubuntu, then sobeit.

[Phrive]

I'm sure this post will cause conterversy, but i think we should smack you over the head with a brick.

just my $0.02 :lolflag:

I'll make sure i keep my Helmet on at all time then. :)

[Jiraya]

No. I won't use it principally because my hardware isn't enough :D

[kd5ful]

Hmm, a poorly designed operating system with more holes in it than a block of swiss cheese, then making it possible to sell the rube masses anivirus, anti- spyware, and a host of other garbage to slow their systems down, just to allow them to run.
THEN hit them up for more money in licensing fees, AND intrude on their privacy, all in the name of "Security"?
Yeah, Meglosoft is superior. (NOT!)
In Linux systems, the system is secure right off the CD.
No "Malware" can run in Linux.
It's all FREE!
I have joined the rebellion out of principle, as well as a genuine dislike for Meglosoft.
I think they are a bunch of freaking Nazis.
...Anyone recall the photoshop of what's his name in place of Hitler?
That was hysterical!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kd5ful/normal_nazi_bill_gates.jpg

[bobblehat]

I actually have a copy of Vista Ultimate sitting unused in my drawer :) Seriously - bought it, installed it, persevered for a few months, tried Gutsy, loved it. Vista now unused.

[kd5ful]

I just upgraded to Heron.
...I'm in LOVE!

[brigux]

No. Once M$ started with that "activation" and "Genuine Windows" crap for downloading patches, they lost me.

So you would say "yes" if money is the only issue (and "activation" and "Genuine Windows" are only thre because of money realted issue)... correct?

[brigux]

Hmm, a poorly designed operating system with more holes in it than a block of swiss cheese

What's worse? Windows out of the box or Linux incorrectly configured...? Not the subject here but I wouldn't bet...

[UnknownElement]

For free? Damn right I would!

I haven't bought a legit version of Windows since Windows 95 in... 1995, funnily enough. Sure, this laptop came with Vista Business and a legit key but I haven't got an outright legit copy of Windows to call my own.

[kd5ful]

What's worse? Windows out of the box or Linux incorrectly configured...? Not the subject here but I wouldn't bet...

Incorrectly configured Linux can be fixed for free (with a little help found here).
With Windoze, the call is more expensive than dialing 1-900-whatever.
Meglosoft charges and charges, that's what they do.
I bet they write Skynet (from Terminator) :D

[brigux]

Incorrectly configured Linux can be fixed for free (with a little help found here).
With Windoze, the call is more expensive than dialing 1-900-whatever.
Meglosoft charges and charges, that's what they do.
I bet they write Skynet (from Terminator) :D

I think you missed my point - no offense - I was not talkng about configuration error, but about configuration mistake.
Configuration error -> Error message, please please how can I fix this and then you're right it's either a free community, praying someone answer your post. Or an expensive Windows support, praying someone pick up the phone.

No, my point is configuration mistake. Everything is smooth and run like a charm, however you opened your ssh server to the world with user: test, password: test... would you realize? Are you confortable enough with your security to put your public IP directly on your box reachable directly from the Internet without having a router with NAT and FW in front of it...?

I'm personally glad that most people are using Windows. Linux is not "everybody" ready - no I dont want to start a new thread on this subject - I'm just saying that if everybody was using Linux, the % of compromised systems would be probably higher. I'm certainly glad my relatives are using Windows and not Linux even tho I would prefer them using OSX... Especially now I can tell them that I'm on Linux and I don't know much about Windows.. (bad me)

My personal opinion: Linux needs another 5 years to be general public ready.

[das letzte einhorn]

I am trying as much as possible to find replacements for Microsoft products / Windows compatible only products, mostly out of principal. I will still have a XP version on my upcoming computer, but it will be used only for applications which do not run on Wine / no Linux replacements.

[gregorio]

I said "no" with a qualification. First, I haven't the hardware to run it. Second (or maybe this should be first), XP does everything that I need when I need software that runs only on Windows. I run Autocad and Featurecam software and, not to any fault of Linux, am not capable of figuring these things out on Wine. Just don't have the smarts. I'm sure someone could figure it out, but besides the smarts, I really haven't the time. So, if in the future, I would need software that is Windows-centric, and XP couldn't run it, I guess I wouldn't have much choice but to get Vista, and if it was free.....

Wish I was smarter with more time on my hands. (PLEASE don't think I'm saying that all you that are successful with Wine just have a bunch of time on your hands. I just happen to be a caregiver at home, so I'm really tied up. Plus being dumber than a box of rocks)

[gregorio]

And I meant no offense to any rocks out there!!

[Frak]

I think you missed my point - no offense - I was not talkng about configuration error, but about configuration mistake.
Configuration error -> Error message, please please how can I fix this and then you're right it's either a free community, praying someone answer your post. Or an expensive Windows support, praying someone pick up the phone.

No, my point is configuration mistake. Everything is smooth and run like a charm, however you opened your ssh server to the world with user: test, password: test... would you realize? Are you confortable enough with your security to put your public IP directly on your box reachable directly from the Internet without having a router with NAT and FW in front of it...?

I'm personally glad that most people are using Windows. Linux is not "everybody" ready - no I dont want to start a new thread on this subject - I'm just saying that if everybody was using Linux, the % of compromised systems would be probably higher. I'm certainly glad my relatives are using Windows and not Linux even tho I would prefer them using OSX... Especially now I can tell them that I'm on Linux and I don't know much about Windows.. (bad me)

My personal opinion: Linux needs another 5 years to be general public ready.
This is where tests come in at. A *correctly* configured Linux system is more secure than a *correctly* configured NT system based on tests. By no means is an incorrectly configured Linux system better than a correctly configured NT system and vice versa.

Read my sig.

[will1911a1]

I wouldn't use it. I'm too used to being in complete control of my computer.

[brigux]

This is where tests come in at. A *correctly* configured Linux system is more secure than a *correctly* configured NT system based on tests. By no means is an incorrectly configured Linux system better than a correctly configured NT system and vice versa.

Read my sig.

Well... XP being easier to configure than Linux (as XP is a product idiot OS.. in a good way, in the meaning: we do it for you); Then it's easier to configure XP than Linux, means you just confirmed my point, thanks.

[timzak]

Unfortunately the OS won't do any good without applications to run in it. So I'd only try Vista if they gave me Vista AND all the applications I wanted along with it.

[Frak]

Well... XP being easier to configure than Linux (as XP is a product idiot OS.. in a good way, in the meaning: we do it for you); Then it's easier to configure XP than Linux, means you just confirmed my point, thanks.
Nah, the Gnome UI for Linux is much easier to configure than Explorer (I need special programs for Windows, a.k.a UXTheme Patcher or Windowsblinds. This confirms the point that there is no reason to hack an OS just for it to look better, perform better, or be more secure.)

[kenny1948]

:KSI might try it out. However I'm much happier with Linux, even if I get frustrated getting some things to work, at least I have a choice!

I am really much too left wing to support a money grubbing egomaniac like Bill Gates. Whose only interest is making more money.

[aikiwolfie]

I just don't like Microsoft products. Spending your days endlessly cleaning viruses from everybody elses PCs really brings home how badly put together Windows is. Then there are the other issues. Blue screen of death being one. Service packs that break compatibility. Why bother?

[mini_g]

NO!

I tested the B2 version, and I can understand why some people are attracted to it, however...

To summarize my opinion, to install XP over Vista is to upgrade.

[MeduZa]

If I got a free copy of vista, I will turn the bbq fire with it! ;) I already got a good fast and secure os and it name is Ubuntu ;)

[Jiraya]

I would use just for tests and study the system.

[Feenix3k]

With Vista they do own your computer. If you load a program they deem illegal they will come in and delete the files. The fine print in Vista's use agreement give M$ the right to come into your computer and snoop. Last but not lest , if you have a compleat system failure were over over a certain percentage is replaced you have to buy a new copy of vista. These little fine print things made me go Ubuntu, and once I learn how to use wine M$ is being dumped.


Wow a very though question.

I would say no because of the encryption crap, verisign stuff, "we own your desktop" attitude and the like.

I want people to communicate what they want and do what they want online and Microsoft tends to want a commercial internet.

So I say join the Linux rebellion and give the Internet to the people !

[Frak]

With Vista they do own your computer. If you load a program they deem illegal they will come in and delete the files. The fine print in Vista's use agreement give M$ the right to come into your computer and snoop. Last but not lest , if you have a compleat system failure were over over a certain percentage is replaced you have to buy a new copy of vista. These little fine print things made me go Ubuntu, and once I learn how to use wine M$ is being dumped.
Microsoft has even more control with the Trusted Computing chip being in almost all new computers.

[Jiraya]

With Vista they do own your computer. If you load a program they deem illegal they will come in and delete the files. The fine print in Vista's use agreement give M$ the right to come into your computer and snoop. Last but not lest , if you have a compleat system failure were over over a certain percentage is replaced you have to buy a new copy of vista. These little fine print things made me go Ubuntu, and once I learn how to use wine M$ is being dumped.

I didn't know about the part of buying a new license of Vista in cases of system failure! :shock:

[cardinals_fan]

With Vista they do own your computer. If you load a program they deem illegal they will come in and delete the files. The fine print in Vista's use agreement give M$ the right to come into your computer and snoop. Last but not lest , if you have a compleat system failure were over over a certain percentage is replaced you have to buy a new copy of vista. These little fine print things made me go Ubuntu, and once I learn how to use wine M$ is being dumped.
An excellent point, but please stop with the $'s! I'm losing my mind...:shock:

[MaxIBoy]

I remember first seeing Microsoft Genuine Advantage in my updates notification. The description said that the program would scan my copy of Windows XP to see if was genuine. Filesize: multiple gigabytes.

I don't think so. The same check used to be performed in less than a second when downloading stuff from the Microsoft website. My internet connection isn't that fast. Ever since then, I don't trust Microsoft, even less so since Vista.

Not to mention, XP takes hours to install, Vista even more, and Ubuntu takes 15-25 minutes. So basically, I'm boycotting on moral grounds, AND because it sucks.

[angry_johnnie]

No way!

I have used it, because I have friends whose machines came with Vista preinstalled.

I just don't like it.

Besides, I'm not a gamer... my computers aren't all that beefed up! I don't think they'd be able to handle windows Vista.

[Frak]

No way!

I have used it, because I have friends whose machines came with Vista preinstalled.

I just don't like it.

Besides, I'm not a gamer... my computers aren't all that beefed up! I don't think they'd be able to handle windows Vista.
Only the EXTREMELY hardcore gamers run Vista. Just for those 2 games that actually take full advantage of DX10.

[kkkkdddd]

I have Windows 3.1 - Vista for free from MSDN AA.
I also have quite fast computer-C2D, 2GB RAM, 7600GT.
Nevertheless, I do not use it.

I almost do not need any *Office.

In Open Office I have written only my CV. For everything else I use Latex(Kile to edit).

[Alucard-sama]

I selected option 2 but really it's both 2 and 3 for me.
I would however be more than willing to [probably illegally] install Workstation 2008 [Which is pretty much Vista with different boot options enable/disabled] in a virtual machine if they gave me a copy for free.

[inportb]

If I got a free copy of vista, I will turn the bbq fire with it! ;)

You want your BBQ to smell like plastic? Not just any plastic... proprietary-tainted plastic. Yuck.

[wolfen69]

No! price isnt an issue with me. if linux remained the same as it is now, i would pay for it. i just want to be in control of my computer.

[Jackelope]

I'd take a copy and just use it for gaming...thats basically the only reason I still use XP. But to use it instead of Ubuntu...you gotta be kidding. Then again, Vista probably wouldn't boot up on my machine, so its not really an option even for free :)

[Kurt Arndorfer]

I have Vista installed on my system but hardly use it. Some frustrating things about Linux that I don't yet know enough to fix. I can't yet get LCD tv working as second monitor, so when I want to watch movies stored on my hard drive I switch to Windows. I can't yet get sound working with flash plug in. The good news is that in the past two years I finally got my Broadcom wireless card working, surround sound now works, compiz is working, etc. I have solved dozens of little problems, it's only a matter of time before I never use Windows again. Truth is, my MBR failed a month ago and I haven't bothered to fix it. I'm almost there. Of course, if they gave me $10k I'd use DOS. Less than that, Microsoft can take a long walk off a short pier.

[love2learn]

I was given Vista for free from a co-worker. I have installed it on a computer I have but since I have installed it, I havent even turned that computer on. Better yet, I haven't even hooked that computer to my network or even the internet. So no, i havent used it.

[Goodbytes]

I'm a tech for a living and I "get" to work with/fix/reinstall Vista on a fairly regular basis. They've got some nice ideas (running the desktop on hardware's good, but it's not quite /original/ at this point) and then they pair it with Big No-No's. ("All that DRM Goodness, just baked right in.")

So yeah, long-winded way to say I'd use it, but I wouldn't trust it. There should be a fourth option on this poll -- "Yes. I'd use it for Halo 2, I'd never enable networking and it wouldn't be my main O/S."

My 2 cents. (Now worth about 5.025 cents, they're real copper.)

[MaxIBoy]

You realize that there's a hack for running Halo 2 on Windows XP, right?

[y-aji]

I wont say the standard thing.. Well, yes I will, let me just get that out of the way.. Vista sucks.. I digress.

I used Vista, quite excitedly, from the beta until about 2 months ago.. The longer I used it, the more annoyed I got with it.. I felt limited, things were not only moved around and renamed, but totally removed in some cases (telnet... bastards.. I suppose that wasn't too hard to reinstall). I dont have the greatest pc in the universe, but by no means is it totally crap, so I expect quite a bit from my operating system..

Vista is just sluggish and buggy. And everyone is hoping that the sp1 is going to fix it, but I have a feeling Windows is just going to release a spoofy SP1 just to get attention.. If I'm going to use Windows, I will use XP for ease of use or 2000 for security..

[akiratheoni]

Generally I would get Windows for free ANYWAY, but let's not get into that. So yeah, I wouldn't get it regardless of price.

[djdarrin91]

no,it's junk! I deleted it yesterday:)

[Goodbytes]

MaxIBoy said:
>You realize that there's a hack for running Halo 2 on Windows XP, right?

Yes, I know. I'm pretty sure I've got the hack for it around here somewhere, (Usenet junkie since ... '95? Something like that) and I've been meaning to get around to it for a while. I even saved up for a GeForce 8800 for my desktop, but then I got Oblivion, and now I'm in college, so I almost never use the desktop while sitting in front of it, I just end up remoting in to it and using it for NAS. 'Tis a shame.

[motoperpetuo]

i'd use it once in a while, just like i use my old laptop with XP once in a while for things i just can't do in linux. what are those things, you ask? mainly, studying for MS certifications. (don't hate me. i'm trying to destroy the system from the inside. and make more $$$.)

i also haven't quite gotten around to getting IE to run in linux, and there are those pesky sites that just won't work in anything else.

so...if anyone has a free vista disk they'd like to send my way...just lemmee know.

[dizzie]

Hell no... i've been Windows free since 2000, and i will continue that way :)

[billgoldberg]

I might use it to play with a bit or to replace my xp installation with for gaming purposes.

I wouldn't use it for my main machine though.

[VCSkier]

I would probably use it for 30 minutes or so, just to reminisce my Windows days, see what has changed, and just generally compare it to the linux distributions I've used.

Regarding why, with my previous experiences with Microsoft products, I have always found myself very frustrated and disappointed, so that would prevent me from using it for any substantial amount of time, but the primary reason I wouldn't want to use it would be a ideological one, like the reason I don't want to use Novell products. The makers need to know that users care about ideological/ethical choices that they are making. Even if Microsoft had a good product (like in Novell/SUSE's case) I still wouldn't use it (except for brief evaluation). I don't approve of the way they treat the user, the way they do business, the way they value their agenda over the best interest of the product/user, and the way they try to bully off other potential competitors.

[NovaAesa]

I didn't vote because there aren't enough options. I would use it, but it's not the price that puts me off. I would use if for gaming purposes rather than my *wink* copy of XP (which I feel slightly dishonest using, even though I have a lisence for XP, just not on that machine).

[Old_Gray_Wolf]

I have a computer that dual boots XP and Fedora, another that dual boots XP and Ubuntu. I got another comparable computer 2 weeks ago that came with Vista. The computer has the Windows Vista sticker, and not the Window Vista Capable sticker. I'm not completely Microsoft illiterate so I knew that the "Windows Vista" sticker didn't mean that the Areo interface would work. I read the specs.

So Areo didn't work -- I knew that was going to happen. :)

Next, I loaded OpenOffice, GIMP, Firefox, and other Open Source software. Had to reboot of course. After the reboot, things looked fine.

With my XP boxes, I never got the BSODs that other people have experienced. I decided to reboot the computer a second time just to make myself happy with the install. I didn't get the BSOD; but rather, what was labeled a "Crash Dump". OH, that sounded good!

Rebooted again. This time it came up; however, it said that there where updates available. I accepted the updates. And of course had to reboot. This time I got an update error, and it told me that Windows was not going to inform me of any further updates. WOW, that sounded good!

I rolled the computer back to a previous restore point, and rebooted. I got the updates available again. This time I only selected Security updates and not the recommended updates. Of course had to reboot again. It worked that time.

No Thanks, not going with Vista!

The only thing I liked about Vista was that it let you "shrink" the Windows Vista partition. Which made it a little easier to install Hardy Haron. :lolflag:

--------------------------------------

Update:
After installing and using several Linux distros (such as, Ubuntu, Fedora, SUSE) I decided an OS is just another tool like any other application (such as, word processor, spreadsheet, movie player).

I decided to use Vista for a day. I treated it like any other OS and customized it to my liking. I made it run the Anti-Mallware program I wanted, background, themes, and so forth (although limited options were available). I also downloaded the patches and fix the problems the patches caused.

It turns out it really wasn't that bad. There were the security pop-ups that I think are a good idea; however, Microsoft made it to easy. It became an automatic response to click the equivalent of OK (no password required).

I still don't use it; however, it is not a bad OS for those that have the HW to support it, and want Microsoft products.

[Scientia]

I didn't vote because there aren't enough options. I would use it, but it's not the price that puts me off. I would use if for gaming purposes rather than my *wink* copy of XP (which I feel slightly dishonest using, even though I have a lisence for XP, just not on that machine).

Yes, i agree. Not enough choices available.
Yes, I'd take it, because.. Hey, what gives? If it's free, no strings attached, then?
But then, i'd probably sell it or make copies of it or something, wouldn't use it...I wouldnt have the hardware anyways..:)

[Flintlock]

No, I don't need it. I have been free of windows for years. :)

[lisati]

Bloatware?

[hendoc]

Last month I bought an AMD64x2 Acer 4400+ with 2gigs of DDR2 Ram. It came with Vista. Since I had paid for it, I decided to keep it and use it. I bought it on a Friday night, and it lasted 6 days until the following Thursday. At that point, I had had all I could take and formatted it to hell in favor of Hardy Heron, which was already running on my other 2 machines. I don't need Microsoft crap, free or not free.

[schmidtbag]

i pirated vista ultimate just to see what it was like (i wasn't planning on keeping it even if i did like it) and i HATED it. i would rather go for linux and abandon all of my previous windows software than go for vista

[cprofitt]

I actually have two copies of Vista (one I purchased and one I got for free; yes after the purchase) both are collecting dust currently. I am not opposed to Vista and actually found it to be a decent OS. It, in fact, stopped a virus that cut through XP with Symantec like a hot knife through warm butter.

The interface, while lacking some of the compiz-fusion features is very aesthetically pleasing, but that just doesn't matter to me.

[Corfy]

For me, I guess it would depend in part on the terms of "free". Obviously, it won't be open-source, but "free" with Microsoft has different contexts.

For example, last year, I was given a "free" copy of Microsoft Office 2007 Professional because I attended a Microsoft Vista/Office 2007 Launch event (which I hoped might be somewhat informative about the new MS products so I would be ready at work when I saw them, but turned out to be a 4-hour commercial for Microsoft). However, the terms of the "free" copy of Office is such that I can't use it for production use, only for evaluation purposes. (Of course, it probably goes without saying that I can only install this software on one computer.) So, even though Microsoft probably can't tell what purpose I am using it for, I have never bothered to install it, not for evaluation purposes, not for production purposes, and not for personal use. Unfortunately, another term of the "free" copy of Office is I am not allowed to sell it. So I am stuck with a "free" copy of really expensive software that does me no good at all.

Of course, I have been using OpenOffice.org long before I was a Linux user, so I wasn't in much danger of converting to MS Office 2007, but still...

(I knew beforehand that I would be getting this CD, which had no influence on me attending the event, and I almost refused the CD... do you have any idea how tempted I was to burn OpenOffice.org onto a CD and give it back in replacement for their "free" copy of Office? I still kick myself for not doing it.)

But to get back on topic, generally, "free" Vista from Microsoft would probably come with too many restrictions for me to bother with. But even if that weren't the case, there is nothing in Vista that entices me to want to try it.

[Spaceman9]

Back in the 1980's when MS was still just the name of a disease and windows were still just things people looked through and Bill Gates was not a household word yet a reported asked the young Bill Gates why he invented Windbloz. Little Billy said the thing that bugged him about the computers of the 70's was that nothing was compatible with anything else and he wanted to invent something that everyone would use so there would be only one OS so there would be no problems with compatibility.

To me that sounds like a dictatorship.

I wish linux would stick to it's guns and make the computer industry and the web adapt it's standards like ogg and odt and xcf. Just make the software compatible with all file formats. Then there can be as many OS's out there as people can invent and all the file formats will be compatible on all OS's and people can use whatever OS they want to.

Linux just has to stand up for it's self more.

So I don't use windbloz anymore cus I don't like dictators. Gates is slowly buying up the linux world even as I type this and that really burns my buns!

[chipmeister]

i have many O/Ss, win98, Millenium, XP, Vista loaded on pc's, and Mac OS X puma on an iMac, with Ubuntu dual booted with the Millenium. i dont like microsoft at all at all, but have to use it at college and at home as i need it for cubase (cant a fford a decent mac, before you say!!), but other than that, i do prefer Ubuntu and is my favourite choice for internet or typing.

[asmiller-ke6seh]

Let me state, right off the bat, that my point-of-view is that of a patriotic American who believes that the Constitution of the United States in general, and the Bill of Rights in particular, is one of the greatest doctrines in human history, worthy of our fullest support.

I am very uncomfortable thinking that Microsoft can give the keys to my computer to Big Brother. I believe that Vista has a backdoor ... but how would we know if this is true or not? One of the many wonderful things about Open Source software is that ANYONE can read the code - see how it works.

Now, if Microsoft published their source code ...

Supporting Linux in general, and Ubuntu in particular, is a great way to defend the U.S. Constitution -- especially the First, Third, Fifth, and Twelfth Amendments.

[Primefalcon]

I have a lot of reasons for switching from Microsoft, its not completely based on price but.. here are mine, I've been using Ubuntu for bit over half a year and I wouldn't turn back now, not even if Windows was made free

Price You buy windows and 2 years later, Microsoft expect you to upgrade again, so yes the multi hundred dollars every year just for the os is ridiculous, plus factor in office software and everything else, and it gets very costly.

Personal Principle Microsoft have far too much invasive breach of privacy that I do not like, they were caught using supercookies a few years back, what else do they have? Plus with digital rights management, thats overstepping the bounds and placing limits what I can do on my own computer....

General principle Microsoft have caused a lot of companies to go out of business, through unfair tactics, netscape is one, now they're trying to stomp on google, look at the tactics they're using here, blocking gmail from msn and hotmail. Blocking youtibe links from msn messenger. That's using unfair tactics when they're market leader, and it makes me feel ashamed I ever used their products to be honest

I just like freedom When I used windows I had cracked so much software it wasn't funny since I didn't have infinite money, but with Ubuntu, I have all that software, for free and in nearly all the cases, that software is better, any bugs that do pop up are usually fixed faster than in cooperate software, so honestly I find open source better quality and free, and able to use however much programs I want legally

[dustynus]

Nope, I wouldn't switch. Linux makes me feel safer using my computer, especially the whole, it's my computer thing. Vista bugs the hell out of me, all the popups of ''OMG you want to copy that photo over there? ARE YOU SURE !!!! FREAK OUT"

"oh cool you want to install something new ? Great click next!... oh wait, sorry that program you bought for 80$ last week doesn't work on vista, please pay another 50$ to Upgrade :) Love, Bill "

:guitar::lolflag:

[Primefalcon]

Nope, I wouldn't switch. Linux makes me feel safer using my computer, especially the whole, it's my computer thing. Vista bugs the hell out of me, all the popups of ''OMG you want to copy that photo over there? ARE YOU SURE !!!! FREAK OUT"

"oh cool you want to install something new ? Great click next!... oh wait, sorry that program you bought for 80$ last week doesn't work on vista, please pay another 50$ to Upgrade :) Love, Bill "

:guitar::lolflag:

$50 since when could you get away with just $50 upgrade the os, microsoft are making sure with their activation that no one will sell second hand windows.

so you have to pay the multi-hundred dollars

[tsayonara]

Third option, I wouldn't

I don't have a problem with Microsoft and I can actually get a Business copy for free (yes, legal :)) but I'm using XP right now (on main computer) and have yet to find a reason why I should install Vista.

Next time I format my PC I probably will, it's inevitable.

[rated_emman]

nahhh.. i've had enough crap with windows....

plus.. if you have linux, you dont need anything else!

[bobbyshane]

When I first got my new laptop last year it came with Vista. I thought, I'll give it a try. Within hours I was already wiping the drive. I would rather choke on my own blood than ever use Vista again!

[gettinoriginal]

Nope, dual booting with XP Pro, and when the support for that dies, then Ubuntu gets the whole hard drive !!! As someone said, "in an internet world without walls, why do we need windows and gates :lolflag:

[ComputerGeek31618]

Sure, I'd take it. In real life, though, XP is most stable and secure for the next two years. Windows is also the PC computing standard, and although Linux is gaining popularity, it has a long way to go. The market is too strong for an onslaught of free.

Vista would be cool to have though.

And I don't say that I'm in love with Microsoft, I'm just a happy user. Same with Ubuntu.

[Sand & Mercury]

I used Vista for about 8 months, then switched away from it. It wasn't a bad experience per se; it's just that XP and Ubuntu are better.

[ComputerGeek31618]

Yeah, my opinion is that XP is certainly better in stability and cost. It's tried and true (compared only to other Windows OS's), while Vista is still young. I just meant that I'd love to try it since it's the new one out.

[andyharney]

No. Having just come from Vista Ultimate 64, something which i paid for, to Ubuntu. From no Linux experience whatsoever i've found it to be the easiest thing to use. A little different at first, which is nice as I like the learning curve. I wouldnt want to use Vista/Windows again.

[BigRedButton]

I've been using Ubuntu exclusively for some time now and just today I had to use my computer at my dad's (which runs XP). Two hours and as many reboots later, I suddenly remembered why I switched to Linux.

I've used Vista a bit and from what I can gather (on the user end, that is) it seems to be mostly the same as XP except it looks fancier, is more of a memory hog, and less stable. Aside from that, I have yet to come across a program that WILL NOT run in Ubuntu, or at least has an equivalent (I'm sure there are some though). Compiz looks better anyway, and Ubuntu is fast and very stable. Granted, getting everything to work can take a bit but I think it's well worth it.

I don't hate Microsoft, I just don't really see the point in using their products.

[All the names were taken]

I just switched to Ubuntu 5 days ago from windows xp because my mind freaked upon hearing how much Vista Ultimate (the only worthwhile vista) cost and the minimum sys specs.

I would get it to complete my penta-booting obsession. Plus a lot of games pander to windows os. But it's not just the price, the desktop oozes pretentiousness imo, not to mention eating up sys resource, 2x time loading/booting, registry headaches, having to say "yes" to every single little change/access, and a lot of the features i wanted from Vista was available on ubuntu i.e. animated desktop/background.

[Gnometallix]

Good question,

I have used Vista only on the laptop of someone else and I was not impressed. I personally think Windows XP is the best Windows-version made, but started using Ubuntu after I found out it has many advantages over Windows. Vista would simply not be an option for me. So I'd stay with Ubuntu.

[paulderol]

since i would need to buy a new, fancy as lace computer to even begin running vista, it wouldn't exactly be a freebie anyway. ..plus the liscence is so gruesome that it no longer acts as a tool as much as a policeman standing in front of the tools.

i moved to linux because (1) i don't think monopolistic practices are good (2) egregious hardware demands are a waste of my money, and (3) Information Anarchism dictates sharing over secrets.

[paulderol]

I wish linux would stick to it's guns and make the computer industry and the web adapt it's standards like ogg and odt and xcf. Just make the software compatible with all file formats. Then there can be as many OS's out there as people can invent and all the file formats will be compatible on all OS's and people can use whatever OS they want to.


good news for the good guys via /.!

http://tech.slashdot.org/tech/08/06/20/137216.shtml

M$ spokesman says that ODF beat out OOXML, and will be the official, NATIVELY SUPPORTED standard on Office 2007 SP1.

I must say, this is a proud day for we penguins.

[t3h_g3n3r4l]

Would I use Vista? No. I actually felt dumber after having used it. I'd spend the money to buy XP and dual boot. I need Windows for a lot of apps that just simply won't run in Linux (not just games) because of hardware requirements but Vista is this year's Windows ME fiasco.

[greco8523]

Spyware intergrated into the system - no

[OutOfReach]

I wouldnt use it if they gave it away, Sure Vista's eyecandy can really suck you in for a while, but I just dont like windows, for example, the registry system (I really hated that), and all the processes that it initializes, and the amount of memory/CPU usage the eyecandy for Vista takes up.

[jnw222]

i would only use it to trash it (YAY TRASHING VISTA)

besides, the winvista upgrade anytime upgrade disk i got with my laptop has vista ulitmate on it for a free 11 month trial and i can keep using the trial

[jnw222]

but anyways i still HATE SUCKISH vista

[benthegreat]

I need to fill my gaming desires somehow, and unfortunately, ubuntu isnt really a gaming OS.

[omar8]

I would take the copy, and probably install it on a second hard drive, there's nothing wrong with it to be honest, and its not going to affect anything if I just leave it as a second OS that I only use for like Media Center Extender etc.

[radical3]

If Microsoft Gave Away Windows Vista Ultimate Edition For Free.... Would You Use


if i gave you free poison would you consume it?

[ComputerGeek31618]

if i gave you free poison would you consume it?

No way.
But I'd still try Vista. You don't know for sure what it will do unless you've seen it happen. And it cannot possibly kill me or my computer.

[Primefalcon]

I don't know. ceo's who throw chairs at walls don't inspire my trust.......

[AndMei]

I hate windows, on principal, and also as a practical matter. Any time I use a windows machine, I get agitated waiting for it to boot, or do anything without it sprouting up a window asking me if I'm sure I want it to do what I just asked it to do.. I enjoyed Windows2000, which I used happilly until my old computer gave up the ghost.

As far as principal goes, all of this encryption, verification, and DRM nonsense was the end for me. For that reason I also boycott almost any name brand hardware, such as Sony etc. If I buy music or film (which I actually pay for), I expect to be able to use it on whatever machine I choose.

I have been using a custom built machine for one year. Started with Feisty 64 bit, I have just done a clean install of Hardy 64 bit, and am thrilled it works with no issues,

Gigabyte 965DS3 Mb, Intel 6320 Core2 Duo 1.86GHz, 4GB DDRII6400RAM, Intel Integrated Graphics, 4*500GB Harddrives.

Cheers

[Perkins]

You left off the "Yes, but only for games" option. That's all I do with it anymore, and only for the games that won't run any other way. I don't use Vista either, too many bugs. Did you know that if it can't talk to M$ it assumes by default that the internet is down and won't let you talk to *anything*? Working around that at my office was a pain in the butt. How are you supposed to fix the network when your computer won't let you talk to any network devices because "the internet is down"?

[salefish]

The laptop I am responding on had vista ultimate on it. Now it has Ubuntu. The reason I made the switch is nothing so ethereal or lofty as ideology. My wireless would often not connect in vista and connects every time in Ubuntu

[Felicity_X]

I decided I was not going to go beyond MS2000 when I found out that with XP and above, MS can track your computer and know if you have paid for your licence or not. Many people do not realise that the licence you buy technically only lasts for one year when you are supposed to repurchase it. Many businesses are in the habit of doing this but most private individuals are unaware of it. So far MS has not insisted on annual relicensing for private individuals. But, in the event that they change their minds, I do not want to be the one being held to ransom!

I have only just migrated to Ubuntu on my desktop and I am finding things on the whole much easier than with MS systems. It cost me only $8.75 for the system disk to be posted to me and it has been trouble free except for when I messed it up myself. Even then it was remarkably easy to sort it out. O.K., I had to use a few "sudo" commands, but I had so much support from the community. Even though I ended up with a corrupted, unusable sun java bin file, the first time I loaded some software that needed it, the system reconstructed the file for me all on its own! I would not have known where to turn in a similar situation with an MS system, except to a professional geek who would probably have kept the computer for a couple of weeks and charged me handsomely for the privelege!

The system sorts itself to a far greater extent than MS systems do. Particularly with security and privacy, there are so many little things you have to get right and if you just have one little box checked or unchecked wrongly it can throw your whole system off and, unless you are an MS expert, you probably won't have the foggiest idea what is wrong. Nothing like that with Ubuntu!

I have just started using Gnucash and I was amazed to see that it looks as if, should I decide I have set my accounts system wrongly farther down the line, I would simply be able to go into the chart of accounts and correct the structure of the accounts and all amendments would be made to the transactions automatically. Also that if I mispost, I simply go into the transaction and change the account to the correct one. This to me is absolutely amazing. You certainly could not do anything like that with the version of MS Money that I was using. I do not know whether this is down to the software designers of Gnucash or down, in part at least, to the architecture of Ubuntu, but I have never come across such a pure relational database before.

[Corfy]

Many people do not realise that the licence you buy technically only lasts for one year when you are supposed to repurchase it. Many businesses are in the habit of doing this but most private individuals are unaware of it.

That isn't true... or at least, it isn't entirely true.

I think what you are referring to as "only lasts one year" is a "Software Assurance Program" that Microsoft offers busineses, but this is an option, not the default. Basically, you pay a fee, and then you can get upgraded software for a substancial discount from retail cost (until you factor in the cost of the program itself, which usually, but not always, works out to be more in the long run). Alternately, you might be referring to a volume licensing deal, but again, that is only for businesses, and is an option only.

But I have read the license for XP and for Vista, and neither say anything about the license only being good for one year. Granted, there are lots and lots of other restrictions built in to the license, but that isn't one of them.

[Frak]

That isn't true... or at least, it isn't entirely true.

I think what you are referring to as "only lasts one year" is a "Software Assurance Program" that Microsoft offers busineses, but this is an option, not the default. Basically, you pay a fee, and then you can get upgraded software for a substancial discount from retail cost (until you factor in the cost of the program itself, which usually, but not always, works out to be more in the long run). Alternately, you might be referring to a volume licensing deal, but again, that is only for businesses, and is an option only.

But I have read the license for XP and for Vista, and neither say anything about the license only being good for one year. Granted, there are lots and lots of other restrictions built in to the license, but that isn't one of them.
Correct, the license is indefinite and the use of the operating system is not restricted by time.

[trimmer]

Sincere apologies if this has been posted before, but I was just trying to gague the general "mood" of the community.

Let me explain.....there are 2 reasons why Windows XP Pro and Office 2003 Professional will be my last experience with Microsoft software:

1) Ridiculous Pricing - Who the hell can afford to pay those sort of prices for an OS and an Office Suite? Also, why would you want to? (P.S My current Microsoft software was heavily subsidised as I bought it through my University)

2) Principal - Unethical corporate behaviour, and the fact that my personal freedoms and privacy are being invaded through use of Microsoft software. (Activation, Genuine Windows, Intrusive Windows Updates, DRM etc...)

So.... even if Microsoft payed me say...... £100/$173 to use Windows Vista Ultimate Edition..... I would still say NO THANKS! As, even as the software would be better than free (i'd be paid to use it) my second reason for not using Microsoft software would still stand.

What about the rest of you guys and gals? LOL! :mrgreen:

Are you boycotting Microsoft on price or principal?

I would be interested to see what you all have to say....... :-k

Anyway, all the best!

John
I am a victim of corporate America. Even though I have operated some form of Linux at home for over a decade, I am still forced to use the piracy of Bill Gates in a corporate environment. Thankfully, right now we are at XP service pack 2, but I am afraid to say that if Microsoft does give away Vista, my execs would jump at it.

Too bad.

[gfk]

I would try it out of curiousity.

[jedistorm]

I got it for free, installed it and got rid of it in two days.

[jerome1232]

I thought vista was pretty nice (the ten minutes I've spent on it so far) Very dumbed down for the common user, great for them but not so nice for us people that have half a clue, it seems like 32 bit machines are at their limit with vista, I bought a laptop with 3 GB of DDR2 ram, 2 GHZ AMD X2 64 bit processor, (32 bit windows) and it's slightly slower than my desktop, Athlon 64 2.3 GHZ (3700+) 1 GB DDR ram, 64 bit 2.6.24 Linux. I honestly don't see how Windows competes in any way to Linux in the server environment at all, other than in general people are more familiar with the Windows way of doing things.

I guess it's more the ridiculous prices for Macintosh and Microsoft software in general that turn me off. Mac does have very good multimedia editing software by default. Windows Works with practically everything, yet I still prefer Linux, the one that gives me the most choice about how I run my computer, has decent capabilities all the way around, and doesn't pick up maleware within the first 10 seconds of being online.

But all told Vista seems... well I'm okay with it being on that laptop (seeing as that HP absorbs most of the cost of windows for me), I do wish hp would've let me have a Vista install disc, and I wish I didn't have to pay $400 dollars (well probably 3 hundred something) to try the 64 bit version (I'm thinking about calling microsoft tomorrow and seeing if I can't get a trial version of 64 bit or something), not to mention all that pre-installed crap.

Open source Software is great, I love it, but other OS's do have their merits. Linux does give me the desire to learn more about programming just to assist with it's advancement.

[Newuser1111]

Free?
If free, YES!!
But I already have Vista Home Premium, Would I be able to use the Home Premium until I find the time to put Ultimate on the computer?


(As said in another thread, I like both Windows and Linux.)

[socngill]

I would take it.

Not for my main personal use computer, but for the other machines in the house. i have a media machine in the front room which currently runs XP, but I'd upgrade that to Vista for free simply because it works better than Ubuntu. I use Nero recode for storing our DVD collection digitally, and the graphics are just far superior in Windows machines (I have ATI graphic cards and find getting full use out of them from Ubuntu a pain). Plus my TV Tuner card isn't supported by ubuntu.

I'd prefer if it was the Premier version though, as I found Ultimate to just be far too bloated.

But for me, I find Ubuntu to be all I need.

[parhyang]

for my home PC ... hmmm, no thanks.

[rushikesh988]

when The microsoft will give Windows Vista free !!! It will indicate that we won the battel against paid softwares:lolflag:

[Primefalcon]

I really don't see why you'd want to pay for windows anyhow.

the only thing windows has over Linux straight is games, if you use cedega with linux, windows doesn't even have that, cedega is superior for games consideri9ng you can resize screens and everything.

Btw I actualy got XP for free, I dumped it for Ubuntu, cant see vista being better

[JC Cheloven]

As far as I could choose, I'd never use vista, no matter if for free. I'd rather using linux even if apps were worse than in win. Only if one app lacks a basical level of functionality in linux, I resort to use an equivalent under xp. But I don't know exactly why.

- Perhaps is the philosophy of free software, and the feeling of community (I do believe in the POSSIBILITY of an open world with people sharing and helping each other, just as Mandela says in the Ubuntu video).
- Perhaps it's all about the fairly unethical behaviour of M$.
- Perhaps I like the feeling of being different.
- Perhaps linux is a chalenge for me, as I have to learn a lot.

Good question anyway ;-) Greetings

[Captain panda]

There are enough programs I use that need Windows that I would probably take Windows if it was for free.

[RATM_Owns]

I just don't like Windows.
http://i29.tinypic.com/10gidzr.jpg

[bodaciousllama]

M$ did send me 2 free copies of Ultimate (x86 and x64), but after a week in it, I went back to XP Pro/Ubuntu.

And I'm dual booting until I can run AutoCAD and Solidworks in linux.

EDIT: If anyone wants a Vista Ultimate x64 license key, come and get it

[MaxIBoy]

I just don't like Windows.
http://i29.tinypic.com/10gidzr.jpg

That is the funniest thing I've seen all day. Guess who has a new desktop background.



EDIT: If anyone wants a Vista Ultimate x64 license key, come and get it

*Crickets*

[cometa2k7]

I love Linux, and I don't think I'll ever stop using it, but I still use Windows a bit.

I have to use it in school, and when I buy a new laptop in September I'll probably have Windows with it. However, I may dual-boot Ubuntu with Windows (Hopefully XP, I don't really like Vista).

I still maintain that the best version of Windows so far is either 95 or XP.

Although actually, if it was free, I would take it, but only because of a few programs that I would need to run on it, I would still dual-boot it with Linux.

[nivethan]

All MS products are based on Windows, But the windows it self a Bulky OS furthermore gives us very less freedom in the computer, less security, poor performance, unstable! Their main target is selling their product! but Linux targets real users and it's community not the money!

The only thing MS uses to attract users is UserFriendlyness of their OS and Products!
We should not shoulder their unfair business by buying their product!

[ronnielsen1]

I have a much more secure desktop with linux. It allows me complete control of my desktop. The poll answers really surprise me. I think some of the poll answerers haven't been using linux long enouigh. I have no interest to go back to defragging my hard drive and babysitting an operating system that they should have fixed the security issues a long time ago. Oh that's right - they're making too much money off of the fixes

[luckyuser]

The only thing worse than Windows Vista is Windows Mojave. It is deceptive - and only makes Microsoft look more like a company that is taking advantage of people. Are people really so ignorant that a new name like Mojave will make Vista better, or to believe the approval of vista from people who have never used vista (over people who have used it and switched back to xp)? I guess I have really going off on a tangent to say that the Mojave Experiment is a flawed and deceptive marketing operation...but it goes back to principle.
Vista has been the last straw - it put Microsoft in more control over my computer and I've gone pure Ubuntu. I you asked me a couple years ago, i would've said YEAH, DUH...but since then my answer has been NO, which is why I'm here in this forum.

[Sycron]

LOL. i would never do that since with 915GMA (64MB) 630Mhz i would never have Vista Aero working properly...

With linux I can have Compiz Fusion working so great....

[Bachstelze]

Why Ultimate? They gave me Business for free and I'm happily using it. Then again, I need Windows, so I'd also have used Basic... or stayed with XP ;)

[Flyers2391]

I had to test Vista at work on a fairly new laptop ... that amount of frustration was all I needed to never want to work with it again. I have an XP box (that isn't even plugged in at the moment) if I absolutely need Windows for something.

[pigphish]

No.

This point is moot because most people here have given up some form of windows they have paid for with a new system. I happen to have switched from Vista Ultimate myself with my new laptop purchase. It was an effort but i am happy with my decision. The one thing that i genuinely miss is MS Office.

I firmly believe people who bash MS software genuinely don't know how to use it well and are not power users. This is doubly true for mac users which from what i see are just sheep following trends. Apple is perfect and can do no wrong they shout.

[insane_alien]

recently got my hands on a computer with ultimate installed(i was cleaning out some major virus infections the worst i've seen on vista, 12462 viruses, more secure my ***. put a moron at the helm and its buggered). i didn't really notice much difference from home premium which i actually own a copy of and don't like.

If it was free(as in beer) i would take it to replace my copy of premium but it would only be booted to test out troubleshooting steps.

PS. i managed to get rid of all the viruses(i would like to have just formatted but that was a no-no from the customer for some reason) and a lot of bloatware from Pc-world and slipped him an ubuntu disk so he can try it out(even offered to install it for him for free if he wanted to switch over to it).

[Joe_Strummer]

I'm sick and tired of using Windows . . . be it XP or Vista. I legally purchase Vista Ultimate Edition when it was released and in the past two years I have had a legal copy Microsoft has claimed that my copy was not "genuine" on several occasions, usually whenever the WGA (some advantage) is updated. ](*,) WGA is what is killing my interest in continuing to use Windows. I'll probably buy a Macbook as a Christmas present to myself and use only Ubuntu on my desktop.

[rockface]

No.

This point is moot because most people here have given up some form of windows they have paid for with a new system. I happen to have switched from Vista Ultimate myself with my new laptop purchase. It was an effort but i am happy with my decision. The one thing that i genuinely miss is MS Office.

I firmly believe people who bash MS software genuinely don't know how to use it well and are not power users. This is doubly true for mac users which from what i see are just sheep following trends. Apple is perfect and can do no wrong they shout.

'I firmly believe people who bash MS software genuinely don't know how to use it well and are not power users.'

Many of these 'power users' you speak of openly shun Vista (and to a lesser degree Office 2007). They have for over a decade championed the use of Microsoft products and have updated their various accredited certificates regularly. When these people bash Microsoft, have they no credibility in your eyes.

I thought Microsoft software was so easy to use, you didn't need to be a 'power user'.

[vikasvishnu]

All MS products are based on Windows, But the windows it self a Bulky OS furthermore gives us very less freedom in the computer, less security, poor performance, unstable! Their main target is selling their product! but Linux targets real users and it's community not the money!

The only thing MS uses to attract users is UserFriendlyness of their OS and Products!
We should not shoulder their unfair business by buying their product!

I disagree a bit regarding this post by "nivethan". Windows is not totally un-secure. If you get a licensed version of Windows and do updates regularly and have a good antivirus/spyware detector, then you have a chance that your box don't become a resthouse for others in the Internet ;-) But its true that why should a person take that much effort to be safe? With Linux, we have that freedom that we can do anything with it.. nothing to fear like getting spyware or viruses, default firewall rules are to block everything except outbound and established connections etc.. So Linux gives more freedom when compared to Windows.. And yes, user-friendliness.. that's one advantage that MS still holds.. Linux distros like Ubuntu are a lot better now when compared to older versions of Linux.. but still, we got to make this more and more user-friendly so that it gets the attention of newbies. I love to see Linux take over Microsoft.. since Linux takes only Love and participation in return and not money :-)

[kvncortez]

I do use Microsoft products. However I would not switch to Vista due to software/hardware compatibility issues, as well as the system requirements. Even though my computer is above and beyond the requirments I like having those resources fully available for my games, or software! I may be wrong on the overhead of running Vista but thats been my impression.

Also the UI drives me nuts! Having to navigate menu after menu to change one system setting is not fun.

I'll stick to my XP Pro!

-Kevin

[cometa2k7]

I would take the Vista Ultimate disk, and install it side-by-side with Ubuntu. And if I didn't use the Vista partition, I'd just replace it with more space for my Ubuntu files.

I actually use both Ubuntu and Vista Home Premium at the moment, although on separate machines. I use them for different purposes, Vista for schoolwork, Linux for playing on the internet and downloading files.

I always end up trying to use Linux features whilst on Vista, and really miss them (like multiple workspaces). And when I use Ubuntu, I miss the search box in the start menu.

[Liviu-Theodor]

For my home PC, I wouldn't use Windows Vista not even if I were paid for it. Just for free (as in free beer) is out of the question. And I have a system quite capable of running Vista. For my workplace, is another issue, but even there, I installed ubuntu on some of the PCs that came with "genuine" Vista Ultimate. I find use of Windows Vista very unhealthy.

[dinofelis]

If vista became open source, why not ?

[Sycron]

If vista became open source, why not ?

Would be nice, but it's not possible, i think. Microsoft HATE open-source.

[broken tibula]

Similar to cometa2k7, I have a partition and have Vista Home Premium on the other side, but I only use it when I have to print something (no linux drivers for it, as far as I can tell). It's just awful. Whenever I have to go on it, I'm ready to beat my head against the wall just waiting for the stupid thing to do something. I wish that my computer had come with XP.

So no, I wouldn't take the Vista Ultimate. It's just not a good OS.

[thepizzaman]

i would use it only when i had to (as of now i have to until i get grub working) not that its good but for games sometimes u have to use it

[cometa2k7]

Similar to cometa2k7, I have a partition and have Vista Home Premium on the other side, but I only use it when I have to print something (no linux drivers for it, as far as I can tell). It's just awful. Whenever I have to go on it, I'm ready to beat my head against the wall just waiting for the stupid thing to do something. I wish that my computer had come with XP.

So no, I wouldn't take the Vista Ultimate. It's just not a good OS.

If Vista is running slow, try disabling unused services and start-up programs. Then use CCleaner to get rid of all of the junk, then Auslogics Disk Defrag (it's far superior to thw windows one).

Vista not actually too bad if you tune it a bit and REALLY keep it clean. Pain to do so to start with, but it gets faster to do each time. But still, Linux is faster, and much less maintenance.

People who say that Vista is simple rubbish haven't really tried it. Although Windows is easy to break.

[Lysander10]

On the poll I answered "no", but this isn't entirely true. I would consider running Vista on my spare desktop, just so I can become acquainted with it. I'm a business major, and unfortunately, most of the business world uses Windows. So I need to understand how to use it, whether I really like it or not. And to all those who hate Microsoft and would never use Windows, I think you're forgetting one of the basic rules of warfare: "Know thine enemy."

But personally, I don't like Windows either. I first switched to Ubuntu about two and a half years ago. I was running XP with AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot S&D, and Ad-Aware all installed and used regularly, with updates applied everyday. I used good security practices, but a virus broke my install anyway. I reformatted and reinstalled XP, only to be greeted with "Microsoft thinks you are running a pirated copy of Windows", or something similar, when I tried to activate my perfectly legit copy of XP. By that point I'd had it with Windows, so I decided to try Ubuntu, and haven't looked back since.

I tried Vista briefly when I bought my new Vaio laptop(I hadn't heard of System76 at the time), but despite exceeding Vista's hardware requirements, it ran horribly, and didn't stay on my computer for very long. For some odd reason, I was having problems booting Ubuntu until I took Vista completely off...

[Zero Prime]

If Vista is running slow, try disabling unused services and start-up programs. Then use CCleaner to get rid of all of the junk, then Auslogics Disk Defrag (it's far superior to thw windows one).

Vista not actually too bad if you tune it a bit and REALLY keep it clean. Pain to do so to start with, but it gets faster to do each time. But still, Linux is faster, and much less maintenance.

People who say that Vista is simple rubbish haven't really tried it. Although Windows is easy to break.

Now why the heck should a person have to do all that just to speed their computer up. Installing a Linux distro is soooo much easier.

I for one have tried Vista. Think God it wasn't on my computer. I don't like it.

[god0fgod]

I'd need to be payed a lot of money to use it as my own PC.

[Primefalcon]

I for one don't miss having to use all the anti-viruses, add on firewalls and spyware detectors, and then having to watch every step. Not to mention defragging which was a major inconvenience with time.

Last Windows I've ever used and will use is XP, I installed Ubuntu back in version 7,10, and havn't looked back since.

another of the major draws is I like there are no hidden **** in my os unlike windows, Anyone remember all that super cookie crap from windows?

[jerome1232]

If Vista is running slow, try disabling unused services and start-up programs. Then use CCleaner to get rid of all of the junk, then Auslogics Disk Defrag (it's far superior to thw windows one).

Vista not actually too bad if you tune it a bit and REALLY keep it clean. Pain to do so to start with, but it gets faster to do each time. But still, Linux is faster, and much less maintenance.

People who say that Vista is simple rubbish haven't really tried it. Although Windows is easy to break.

I've tried it, it's slow, I've got a 2 ghz turion 64 (dual core), 3 gb ddr2 ram, vista laptop; and a 2.4 ghz athlon 64, 1 gb ddr ram, 8.04 box. the 8.04 box is faster, with much inferior hardware.

I probably used a semicolon in a completely wrong way in that sentence, luckily I don't pride my self on my grammer :)

[niccholaspage]

if vista="bad" {
switchtoubuntu=true
niccholaspage="happy"
}Short sweet code.This laptop use to have Vista on it And Everytime I would Run IE 7 the Laptop would go CRASH.

[cometa2k7]

LOL. i would never do that since with 915GMA (64MB) 630Mhz i would never have Vista Aero working properly...

With linux I can have Compiz Fusion working so great....

I don't know if Vista actually could install on that, and it most definitely would not allow the use of Aero.

It wouldn't allow me to use Aero on my brand new laptop at first, the graphics card is not brilliant, but it runs Aero; I had to install a load of updates, and a new graphics driver before it would allow me to use it.

And actually, Compiz is far superior to Aero, you can actually customize Compiz easily.

[Liviu-Theodor]

If Vista is running slow, try disabling unused services and start-up programs. Then use CCleaner to get rid of all of the junk, then Auslogics Disk Defrag (it's far superior to thw windows one).

Vista not actually too bad if you tune it a bit and REALLY keep it clean. Pain to do so to start with, but it gets faster to do each time. But still, Linux is faster, and much less maintenance.

People who say that Vista is simple rubbish haven't really tried it. Although Windows is easy to break.

In fact, I tried Vista (at my work we have the Ultimate Version, and I am the network administrator), and I repaired others' PC's with smaller versions. And I really dislike it. And indeed, Vista is not simple rubbish, it is complicated rubbish. And no, Vista do not run faster, but slower, each time. Vista is no only easy to break, but also difficult to fix, unless you reinstall it.

[Sycron]

In fact, I tried Vista (at my work we have the Ultimate Version, and I am the network administrator), and I repaired others' PC's with smaller versions. And I really dislike it. And indeed, Vista is not simple rubbish, it is complicated rubbish. And no, Vista do not run faster, but slower, each time. Vista is no only easy to break, but also difficult to fix, unless you reinstall it.

That's how microsoft forgets about user friend'nes ... You can't have FULL control of a computer only with mouse.

[Liviu-Theodor]

That's how microsoft forgets about user friend'nes ... You can't have FULL control of a computer only with mouse.

Especially if the mouse suddenly stop working, as is the case here with Vista (we have some Omnilab USB, with "tail", I mean they are not wireless). In fact, any USB device conected to Vista. And there is nothing wrong with the USB connections themselves, as with any other OS they will work just fine.

[Sycron]

Heh, I have Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 , which is VERY precise in my opinion. It's one of the best mouses that I've handled.

In Windows XP I can't use a first time plugged in USB mouse&keyboard to enter my password... that's BAD...

[fiddledd]

Especially if the mouse suddenly stop working, as is the case here with Vista (we have some Omnilab USB, with "tail", I mean they are not wireless). In fact, any USB device conected to Vista. And there is nothing wrong with the USB connections themselves, as with any other OS they will work just fine.

And yet my USB frame grabber was recognised, and installed automatically.

My Camera was recognised, and installed automatically.

Any memory card inserted into the card reader is recognised, and mounted automatically.

I guess I must be really lucky, maybe I'll do the Lottery this week.:)

[Liviu-Theodor]

And yet my USB frame grabber was recognised, and installed automatically.

My Camera was recognised, and installed automatically.

Any memory card inserted into the card reader is recognised, and mounted automatically.

I guess I must be really lucky, maybe I'll do the Lottery this week.:)

Read again: I said USB devices suddenly stop working, so they were working, and are recognized, even by Vista. And sometime (many times), they do not work even from booting up the computer on Vista. And I play a game of luck: disconnect, reconnect, if it works, good, if not, I try another USB connection, and so on. If still not working, reboot PC and try again.

And this is happening with any USB device I tried: mouse, keyboard (it does no matter if wired or wireless), memory sticks, printers, photo cameras, scanners, and so on. And if I try another OS on the same computer, there seems nothing wrong with the computer, devices, or USB connections.

So, in short: put Vista into equation, and there are a lot of problems. Take it out, and there are none.

[Sycron]

And yet my USB frame grabber was recognised, and installed automatically.

My Camera was recognised, and installed automatically.

Any memory card inserted into the card reader is recognised, and mounted automatically.

I guess I must be really lucky, maybe I'll do the Lottery this week.:)

And If you put that usb camera on another port, would be recognized again, lol ?

[fiddledd]

In fact, I tried Vista (at my work we have the Ultimate Version, and I am the network administrator), and I repaired others' PC's with smaller versions. And I really dislike it. And indeed, Vista is not simple rubbish, it is complicated rubbish. And no, Vista do not run faster, but slower, each time. Vista is no only easy to break, but also difficult to fix, unless you reinstall it.

Then, yet again, it seems I'm very lucky. I've had no need to fix anything in Vista since I've used it (6 months), because nothing has broken.

And Vista still boots in less than 35 seconds, and shuts down in 5 seconds. And that's after all the updates, installing new software, and using it 12 hours a day for 6 months.

I really can't believe my luck. ;)

[fiddledd]

And If you put that usb camera on another port, would be recognized again, lol ?

That's nothing to do with Vista, Windows has always worked that way.

Each USB port is given a unique ID. Yes it's odd, but it's not only Vista.

[Sycron]

That's nothing to do with Vista, Windows has always worked that way.

Each USB port is given a unique ID. Yes it's odd, but it's not only Vista.

It's VERY odd that thing with "virgin" ports. Linux just detect them everytime, on every port. It doesn't install or copy a file when detect something NEVER.

[fiddledd]

It's VERY odd that thing with "virgin" ports. Linux just detect them everytime, on every port. It doesn't install or copy a file when detect something NEVER.

Yes, like I said, it's odd. But I thought this thread was about Vista.

I'm not getting into a comparison of the advantages or disadvantages of each OS. That comparison has been made hundreds of times in this forum.

[Sycron]

Yes, like I said, it's odd. But I thought this thread was about Vista.

I'm not getting into a comparison of the advantages or disadvantages of each OS. That comparison has been made hundreds of times in this forum.

Yes, true.
I'm glad that windows vista can perform your tasks corectly so easy. :)

[manishtech]

Its not that am anti-Microsoft , but I know how this Corporation works as I have worked as an intern for two months in Hyderabad R&D,India.

The people are quite narrow minded and the devs take care more on looks rather than functionality. Speed is a secondary thing. Looks, appearance, beauty take the prime stand. They are never satisfied with whatever you make, no no they are not unsatisfied with your code but your design and looks. No wonder why Vista sucks so badly.

M$ is all about money, they take care of all their enterprise products and leave the non-enterprise like step-sons. Visual Studio, Windows and Office Suite are the most selling and source of major of income for this evil organization.

I have used Vista Enterprise, and for complete 2 months I cried for WinXP installation on my system, but nobody was ready to hear. Its not just the price, but the way they treat software.

[fiddledd]

Yes, true.
I'm glad that windows vista can perform your tasks corectly so easy. :)

Yes, it can. But it won't work for everyone. Some people won't like the lack of configuration. I mean, I can configure a Linux OS how I want, no limits really.
But I'm limited in Windows because it's not Open Source.

I can only do what Microsoft allows me to do. Which is one of the reasons why I also use Linux.

[rockface]

Yes, it can. But it won't work for everyone. Some people won't like the lack of configuration. I mean, I can configure a Linux OS how I want, no limits really.
But I'm limited in Windows because it's not Open Source.

I can only do what Microsoft allows me to do. Which is one of the reasons why I also use Linux.

'I can only do what Microsoft allows me to do.' Nuff said!

[fiddledd]

'I can only do what Microsoft allows me to do.' Nuff said!

It's true though, but I'm not going to post anti MS stuff now. Only the truth as I see it. I try to be balanced, I don't always get it right though.:)

Do you think I can join the Linux zealots club soon?. Or would they see me as a Microsoft plant.:)


EDIT:
I've just re read this post, and it almost seems like I'm suggesting you are a zealot. I'm not, and I don't belive that you are.

I still see you as a fellow Vista user.:)

[rockface]

It's true though, but I'm not going to post anti MS stuff now. Only the truth as I see it. I try to be balanced, I don't always get it right though.:)

Do you think I can join the Linux zealots club soon?. Or would they see me as a Microsoft plant.:)


EDIT:
I've just re read this post, and it almost seems like I'm suggesting you are a zealot. I'm not, and I don't belive that you are.

I still see you as a fellow Vista user.:)

'Do you think I can join the Linux zealots club soon?'

Remember that famous (or infamous) bedroom scene from the Exorcist near the end when Max von Sydow tries to cast out the demon from Linda Blair?

That is what you get when trying to to get a Microsoft user to consider anything other than Microsoft.

'EDIT:
I've just re read this post, and it almost seems like I'm suggesting you are a zealot. I'm not, and I don't belive that you are.

I still see you as a fellow Vista user.:)'

I was (past tense), it up and died on me. Pity, it was the only OS to come anywhere near answering my hardware conundrum. Too much overhead for an underpowered system...oh well.

I still use XP for what it's worth. And on these most hallowed forum pages I did proclaim 'Linux sucks, but Windows is a vacuum. Make of that what you will'. I guess I see the faults in all software too readily.

[porchrat]

I wouldn't use Vista regardless of price. I've tried it and in fact it dual boots on one of the machines at home (despite my objections), it's not the speed or anything like that as I feel it runs OK and doesn't crash that often. I just don't like the feel of it and I have had some problems getting it to run certain things.

I enjoyed XP and wish they would continue supporting it or at least move in a similar direction with Windows7.0. However that isn't going to happen.

Ubuntu is not without problems. Not by a long shot. However I'm willing to put in the time to research problems and sacrifice a little ease-of-use to avoid Vista.

[spynappels]

I enjoyed XP and wish they would continue supporting it or at least move in a similar direction with Windows7.0. However that isn't going to happen.

Ubuntu is not without problems. Not by a long shot. However I'm willing to put in the time to research problems and sacrifice a little ease-of-use to avoid Vista.

I can agree with this. I thought XP was useable, and for some things it worked very well (connecting to and synchronising WM devices) and I have it on a VirtualBox device, but I just do not like Vista. Not anti-MS, just anti Vista.

[Guilden_NL]

I am a former MSFT bigot. Way back in the days, they gave away soooo many developer tools, I received Alphas, Beta, fully working with no time constraint freebies, etc. Not that I was looking for freebies, but was learning computers with MSFT's generous help.

Over the years they pulled back from that (OK, didn't shove me off) but then came problems with performance, OS and apps, off putting license checking, and on and on. So I gave up on them. I have XP running virtual when I absolutely need it (Money on my Treo to connect to Money under XP to connect to my bank is about the only app, that and Tax Cut once a year.)

So I've gone over to Linux just because of the hassles of MSFT.
But I boybott all things Apple on principal.

Am looking forward to a new HTC phone running Google's Android layer on Linux to replace my 4 yr old Treo 650 which still does a lot more than an iPhone can.

BTW, Vista came pre-installed on our teen son's hot Acer laptop and it takes forever to shut down. He only runs Google Sketch on it, all other times he's running either SUSE or Ubuntu.

[seecoolguy]

I am a former MSFT bigot. Way back in the days, they gave away soooo many developer tools, I received Alphas, Beta, fully working with no time constraint freebies, etc. Not that I was looking for freebies, but was learning computers with MSFT's generous help.

Over the years they pulled back from that (OK, didn't shove me off) but then came problems with performance, OS and apps, off putting license checking, and on and on. So I gave up on them. I have XP running virtual when I absolutely need it (Money on my Treo to connect to Money under XP to connect to my bank is about the only app, that and Tax Cut once a year.)

So I've gone over to Linux just because of the hassles of MSFT.
But I boybott all things Apple on principal.

Am looking forward to a new HTC phone running Google's Android layer on Linux to replace my 4 yr old Treo 650 which still does a lot more than an iPhone can.

BTW, Vista came pre-installed on our teen son's hot Acer laptop and it takes forever to shut down. He only runs Google Sketch on it, all other times he's running either SUSE or Ubuntu.

I had a great time reading this thread, my helpdesk crew kept chanting the old, Vista sux etc but all of a sudden some consultants walked in with vista on their laptops all of a sudden Vista starts to show up on the guy's rigs!
I have gone to a few kick off show by ms and I do like getting free Kool-aid I drank it as I work with a lot of ms solutions but as of late I host my windows VM on ubuntu and at home I'm a mac user. One thing that I've come to find is that while mac has the GUI, linux the configurability , windows has not just the userbase, but the ease of use. Why do I say that? Beause when I talk to casual users (your market of any os). They commonly can move around windows with little problems as opposed to the other os's. People who are more computer inclined tend to breeze through windows but not so much with the other os's but can pick up Linux easier than mac IMHO

I'm not picking on one os over another but I think that you can't boycott the popular os much because we use them in every day life.
Case in point I'm a big proponent of VM and prefer to run my os in a VM vs live 'cept for ubuntu and mac wich tend to be my host systems. But just because I like vms sometimes I must conced that they have performance disadvantages so in those scenarios I must run those systems in the native os be it win/*nix/mac

Thanks for the great read!!

[gwenn]

I do vave a vista because I buy a new laptop.I found it a decent os,but I don't like some issues,and I find that is very difficult to learn windoz,because there are a absolute leak of information about.So vista is still there but I'm using it only for the updates :(.

[Sycron]

You can go back at the shop where you bought the laptop and say that you disagree the Microsoft EULA, you'll get the money back...

[pcjunkie]

You can go back at the shop where you bought the laptop and say that you disagree the Microsoft EULA, you'll get the money back...

I am so gullible...

[Corfy]

You can go back at the shop where you bought the laptop and say that you disagree the Microsoft EULA, you'll get the money back...

That is only if you disagree with the EULA upon the first startup, when it asks you if you agree to it or not. By saying no, you can return it. However, once you agree to the EULA, you can no longer return it.

YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE SOFTWARE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY, OR USE THE SOFTWARE; YOU MAY RETURN IT TO YOUR PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND, IF APPLICABLE.

[Liviu-Theodor]

That is only if you disagree with the EULA upon the first startup, when it asks you if you agree to it or not. By saying no, you can return it. However, once you agree to the EULA, you can no longer return it.

There is a problem here, of which Microsoft is quite aware of (and takes full advantage of it): on the shiny box with Windows, there is a sticky label on which is written that the fact of merely opening the box, you agree with the EULA, but you can not read the EULA until you can try installing Windows. And indeed, at one of the steps, you are asked if you agree with the EULA. But now it does not matter, because you already opened to box to be able to read the EULA, and that implicitly means that you agreed with the EULA, even if you have not seen it!

[porchrat]

There is a problem here, of which Microsft is quite aware of (and takes full advantage of it): on the shiny box with Windows, there is a sticky label on which is written that the fact of merely opening the box, you agree with the EULA, but you can not read the EULA until you can try installing Windows. And indeed, at one of the steps, you are asked if you agree with the EULA. But now it does not matter, because you already opened to box to be able to read the EULA, and that implicitly means that you agreed with the EULA, even if you have not seen it!

That is soooooo sneaky

[patrickaupperle]

yes, at least in a virtual box out of curiosity. It also has DirectX 10 which could be nice as a dual boot. I'd definitely keep linux around, though.

Edit: I did not read that this had turned into a conversation of sorts before posting.

You know, you could have someone else open the box. :lolflag:

[Half-Left]

You people are suckered into this type of agreement for your software, you just like it because it works for you and dont care when you should.

Honestly, if you give away your freedom just like that, they got you, this is why I dont use Windows anymore, OS X is just as bad if not worse, *cough iPhone *cough.

[fiddledd]

You people are suckered into this type of agreement for your software, you just like it because it works for you and dont care when you should.

Honestly, if you give away your freedom just like that, they got you, this is why I dont use Windows anymore, OS X is just as bad if not worse, *cough iPhone *cough.

Actually there's some other things in my life that I'm not sure if I should care about.

If I get the time I'll post the things I'm not sure about, and you can tell me what I should, or shouldn't care about.

Maybe there's others here needing the benefit of your advice as well.

[Half-Left]

Actually there's some other things in my life that I'm not sure if I should care about.

If I get the time I'll post the things I'm not sure about, and you can tell me what I should, or shouldn't care about.

Maybe there's others here needing the benefit of your advice as well.

All i'm saying is you should care about what rights you give away to a company such as Microsoft/Apple and Windows/OS X.

I dont think it's right that people should just say, well it works thats all that matters, when you get into trouble and call for your rights they will find they dont have many.

[fiddledd]

All i'm saying is you should care about what rights you give away to a company such as Microsoft/Apple and Windows/OS X.

I dont think it's right that people should just say, well it works thats all that matters, when you get into trouble and call for your rights they will find they dont have many.

OK, that's your belief, I'm not going to say what mine is.

But you have to be careful, as if you seem to be preaching, most people don't listen, even if you have valid points.

As I keep posting over and over here, I think posters should inform people of Linux's strengths.

I don't think that bringing Windows or Microsoft into every argument helps Linux at all. Remember the majority have never heard of Linux, and believe it or not, there are many who have no idea who Microsoft are.

Most average users just treat their Computers like a TV or DVD Player, they switch it on, use it, and then turn it off. They don't even know what OS stands for.

[Half-Left]

Well it's not about Linux is it, it's about what rights you give away to Microsoft when you buy or use Windows, which it seems people here dont care about whn they should.

But I guess most people have them selfs to blame when they give their rights away to big companies and have their nuts feed to them on a platter when things go wrong.

Microsoft giving Vista away for free does nothing, you still have to agree to their malicious EULA and abide by it. I would have thought your rights are more important that money every time.

[fiddledd]

Well it's not about Linux is it, it's about what rights you give away to Microsoft when you buy or use Windows, which it seems people here dont care about whn they should.

But I guess most people have them selfs to blame when they give their rights away to big companies and have their nuts feed to them on a platter when things go wrong.

Microsoft giving Vista away for free does nothing, you still have to agree to their malicious EULA and abide by it. I would have thought your rights are more important that money every time.

You just did it again
which it seems people here dont care about whn they should

You can't tell people what they should care about, and saying it to them doesn't work. Like I said they treat you like an unwelcome preacher at the door.

Well it's not about Linux is it
Well what is it about then? What other alternative FOS OS is there (OK, I know, BSD, OpenSolaris). But you can see what I mean.

You can point out the advantages of Linux, but, IMO, telling them what to care about won't work.

Let's be honest, the EULA is very restrictive. But AFAIK MS has never knocked on anyone's door and demanded their Software back.

If the Windows Licence just said "This Software is yours to own, but you can't make copies of it and sell it", would that be unreasonable?

All proprietary software has a licence of some sort. Is this wrong? If so, why?

I use Linux, and I use Windows. I also use OSS on Windows whenever I can. But there aren't Open Source versions of everything, yet.

EDIT: I've drifted off course slightly there.:)

[Corfy]

All proprietary software has a licence of some sort. Is this wrong? If so, why?

I'm not going to jump in to this discussion too much except to say that Richard Stallman started the Free Software Movement 25 years ago because he believed that proprietary software licenses were wrong. Consequently, whole books have been written on this topic.

If you are interested in reading a book about why Richard Stallman believes what he does, I recommend "Free as in Freedom". You can download an eBook version of it at http://manybooks.net/titles/williams0sametext04freed10.html.

I'm not going to say whether I agree with him or not, but without Richard Stallman starting the GNU project, it is quite probable we wouldn't have Linux today (or should that be "GNU/Linux"? That is another discussion).

But to give a quick summary, Stallman believes that everyone should have four freedoms with their software:

* The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
* The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
* The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
* The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.


Any software company that doesn't allow these four freedoms with the software they distribute are, in Stallman's mind, acting immorally.

[karellen]

I'm not going to jump in to this discussion too much except to say that Richard Stallman started the Free Software Movement 25 years ago because he believed that proprietary software licenses were wrong. Consequently, whole books have been written on this topic.

If you are interested in reading a book about why Richard Stallman believes what he does, I recommend "Free as in Freedom". You can download an eBook version of it at http://manybooks.net/titles/williams0sametext04freed10.html.

I'm not going to say whether I agree with him or not, but without Richard Stallman starting the GNU project, it is quite probable we wouldn't have Linux today (or should that be "GNU/Linux"? That is another discussion).

But to give a quick summary, Stallman believes that everyone should have four freedoms with their software:



Any software company that doesn't allow these four freedoms with the software they distribute are, in Stallman's mind, acting immorally.

not everyone must agree with Stallman ;)

[Corfy]

not everyone must agree with Stallman ;)

Perhaps not, but this month is the 25th anniversary of the start of the GNU project, so I thought it was worth bringing up.

For the record, I agree with Stallman on some things and disagree with him on others. I won't go into what I agree with and disagree with. But like him or hate him, everyone who uses Linux owes him their thanks.

[karellen]

Perhaps not, but this month is the 25th anniversary of the start of the GNU project, so I thought it was worth bringing up.

For the record, I agree with Stallman on some things and disagree with him on others. I won't go into what I agree with and disagree with. But like him or hate him, everyone who uses Linux owes him their thanks.

yes. better a little too radical into this direction (freedom) than into the other (patents, proprietary crap - Apple - and so)

[matey3]

Heh.. good question..
No hekk no I would not.. I mean I use XP a lot but Vista? NO WAY that is like win me if you ask me...its a flop"!

I could not use my brand new Netgear NIC, my Turtle beach sound card and a lot of my favorite hardware with Vista!
That really got me mad bcs I just had bought all these new cards!
in the sound card case it flat out refused it?!This was a while back and vista was new but I was using the ultimate pro. version of it...which is supposed to be better than home version but still.. and I dont like it whenever I plug some thing in my sound card it stops working bcs it was not the right thing? wth? never heard of the operating system getting as bad, nosey and evil as the government!!??

[jaqie]

I cannot vote, as my answer is not near any which are listed there.
My answer would be "I'll use it in a VM if it is free, just to stay familiar with it for when I am forced to work on other people's computers which have it".

[jerome1232]

I cannot vote, as my answer is not near any which are listed there.
My answer would be "I'll use it in a VM if it is free, just to stay familiar with it for when I am forced to work on other people's computers which have it".

Hehe, I have notice that happening to me, I have forgotten alot about where anything is under windows, I'll even pop open a command prompt (while on windows) and then stop myself as I type "sudo apt-get "

[ronnielsen1]

I have forgotten alot about where anything is under windows, I'll even pop open a command prompt (while on windows) and then stop myself as I type "sudo apt-get "
Yeah I sat there for a while trying to figure out how to become root

[sudo_chop]

Yeah I sat there for a while trying to figure out how to become root

:lolflag: good stuff


I just bought a new laptop (ASUS M70Vm-X1) that came with vista on it, and I was really excited when I got it to wipe that crap off of there and replace it with hardy... Only to find out most of the hardware was too new to have any linux support yet. I dont expect that laptop to be functional w/ Ubuntu until at least 9.04

There are features of the laptop though that i dont think will ever be supported in linux... like the webcam face logon and the media controller touchpad. idk, maybe this laptop will forever have vista. I hope not though, I am pretty new to linux but I really like it.

So, in my case I am using Vista bc it is the only OS that my hardware has drivers for...

[Halbarad]

The first thing I did when I bought my ASUS Z53H, a couple of years ago, was to try the Ubuntu Live CD -- which was more or less disastrous.
The second thing I did was to tell myself in very loud voice how idiot I was for not having checked Linux compatibility before buying the thing.
The third one was to eradicate Vista from the pc and replace it with XP -- Vista ate half the resources of my pc, it slowed down everything, many programs did not run... Funny when it said: "UNKNOWN software!!!" about MS Office XP... :lolflag: and when it asked ME if a program had installed correctly... Not so much fun when I realized that my Nero, my Acronis and other software would not work with Vista.
Ok, no drivers for XP on the ASUS site, but there was a forum there and we forlorn users helped one another find them. -- @sudo_chop btw, look for the ASUS forum specific to your machine and keep it checked, someone might know when suitable Linux drivers are released.
Hardy runs very smoothly now on my laptop. And now, I should be ready to pay in order to avoid Vista. I mean, if one told me, in order to go on working with Ubuntu you must pay 150 euros -- otherwise you'll be forced to use Vista, I think I'd pay. Well, I'd protest and I'd try several forms of rebellion, but if this was the ultimate choice, I'd pay.

In fact, Ubuntu is free, but I don't think this is its most important feature.
In my opinion, what really matters about Ubuntu is in its background philosophy. Its pervasive feature is a profound respect for the users' freedom -- freedom to choose what one's operating system should do, in the first place: open software also means freedom, in a very strong sense. And the procedures for dealing with bugs, making changes and improvements also emphasize freedom, because they are open, they invite cooperation and control at all levels. And also, freedom from the golems of the global market which want to take the decisions which are ours. And the freedom to work for free and to cooperate. This is of special importance. Ubuntu testers, programmers, people who write how-tos or who just try to help someone fix a problem, have an important and meaningful view of what working is, and of what is of value. This view is freely worked out and chosen, against an extremely strong pressure to become cogwheels in an ever more demanding market. I love all this: all the aspects of it, even if my first attraction to Linux was because of its structure, of its more technical aspects.

And so, I do hope that the main strategies in Linux development will not lead to Windows-like modules, I mean to producing systems which progressively get farther from the average user's capability to understand them and to partly customize them. Because the most important feature of Ubuntu is not merely that it's free.

Ok, this was far too long a post! ;)

[doas777]

I'd upgrade my (legit) xp box if it were free, but my main terminals will remain linux.

my reason for making the switch, was that under windows I couldn't trust the pc. it was in control of my use, not the other way around.

[Primefalcon]

reason I switched is too much crap going into the computer such as drm and automatic reports being sent to Microsoft. that I had no idea of.... plus there seems to be an awful lot of communication over the net when there shouldn't be

Since that super cookie issue amongst other things. It really made me ask this Question.

How much information about what I am doing is being sent back to Microsoft, And do they have any right to know any of my usage and what I do?

No the only answer is to stop using Windows.

With Linux when your not using the net, bandwidth usage is 0

[sudo_chop]

In fact, Ubuntu is free, but I don't think this is its most important feature.
In my opinion, what really matters about Ubuntu is in its background philosophy. Its pervasive feature is a profound respect for the users' freedom -- freedom to choose what one's operating system should do, in the first place: open software also means freedom, in a very strong sense. And the procedures for dealing with bugs, making changes and improvements also emphasize freedom, because they are open, they invite cooperation and control at all levels. And also, freedom from the golems of the global market which want to take the decisions which are ours. And the freedom to work for free and to cooperate. This is of special importance. Ubuntu testers, programmers, people who write how-tos or who just try to help someone fix a problem, have an important and meaningful view of what working is, and of what is of value. This view is freely worked out and chosen, against an extremely strong pressure to become cogwheels in an ever more demanding market. I love all this: all the aspects of it, even if my first attraction to Linux was because of its structure, of its more technical aspects.

And so, I do hope that the main strategies in Linux development will not lead to Windows-like modules, I mean to producing systems which progressively get farther from the average user's capability to understand them and to partly customize them. Because the most important feature of Ubuntu is not merely that it's free.



Wow dude. Very well put. I have to say, that was a bit of brilliance.

[dewclaw82]

Some version of Vista was pre-installed when I bought my newest CPU. I spent about 20 minutes looking at it, then trashed it and loaded Hardy. I don't need or want an OS that "calls home" to report on the status of my computer; if I want someone to know that status, I'll call them.

[sargetech]

H E DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS.........NO,NADA,NOT, ILLOGICAL CHOICE!!
Not even if Bill Gates himself, personally delivered the OS
to my house would I take it, I have totally dumped windows forever.
Good bye Microsoft!!! Hello freedom,and security!!!!:popcorn:

[debiant]

Hallo darlings,
Good question. No-I definitely wouldn't.

The lamentable campaign to relaunch Vista by claiming it can perform just as well as XP whilst doing so much more for you like indexing, scanning itself etc tells you all you need to know about their attitude to their users. The confused thinking about people believing in a flat Earth if they didn't want digital rights management etc-oh dear.:confused:

I still have XP on a drive to run my music recording stuff, Cakewalk Sonar and FL Studio-I've been buying the updates for years so I've got a bit of investment in there.
I've uninstalled Internet Explorer, shut almost every process down and got it running faster than Bill Gates ever saw it go!
:guitar:

Ubuntu is what I run for everything else I do and I'm just starting to play with Ubuntu studio. Its partly politics but also because I really like the way I run my PC!
O:)

[Isaac Karjala]

I don't have very many games for my computer right now, but once I get a little bit of money I plan to re-buy the CC series... ReactOS does not look like it's quite yet up to snuff, and I've not heard good things about Wine... so, when I get the CC series I will have to bitch at Toshiba and get them to send me an install CD and hope that Vista will run in a virtual machine fine (my concern is that my copy of Toshiba installed Vista is already registered to one hardware configuration and that Vista will report the VM as a new configuration).......

[losbey]

Well at the moment I feel the price of Ubuntu is way too much and would prefer to pay Microsoft for something that works the way I want it to

[jerome1232]

Well at the moment I feel the price of Ubuntu is way too much and would prefer to pay Microsoft for something that works the way I want it to

So.... would you prefer to be paid? I'm so confused by this post.

[crjackson]

I have it, don't use it, don't like it.

[syadnom]

Not Vista! I use Vista business at work and it is terrible. I would use XP if it were free but that is only because game companies distribute mainly for windows. I prefer my ubuntu desktop! though also like the fedora desktops!

[tuskenraider]

id probably install it... and as soon as i heard it load up id say what the EFF am i doing??? and reinstall ubuntu! :lolflag:

screw that hog of an O/S!

tusken

[cometa2k7]

So.... would you prefer to be paid? I'm so confused by this post.

I think that that person either:
- was stupid and paid a lot of money for Ubuntu.
- is being sarcastic, but very cryptically and in a strange way.
- or, they actually would prefer to pay for Windows than be paid to use Ubuntu.

[LinuxFox]

I wouldn't use Vista, even if it was free. Besides Linux, I use Windows XP and I'm just fine with that. Besides I read Vista had to many problems anyway, and I don't need more computer problems in my life. ;)

[noneofthem]

I wouldn´t even use Windows Vista if I got paid for that! Windows Vista and its "features" made me change to Ubuntu/Linux in the first place. Now that I fell in love with Ubuntu/free software there is no way I am going back. There is too much that I would miss. At this stage Ubuntu has already left Vista behind if you ask me.

[Inane_Asylum]

Mostly 3, but a little bit of 1. Generally, I don't like the way Microsoft programs (especially Windows) work. I'm 4 months into Linux exclusiveness (?) and I'm beginning to realise how much I love being able to use my computer without the OS starting CPU and bandwidth-draining processes without telling me, and the general big-brother attitude of the OS creators. All the user-created, feature-rich, free(!) programs frankly rock, and the sheer flexibility of it is amazing to me. Tack on the total lack of adware/spyware/viruses, and I'm sold...if there was actually anthing being sold...

That said, despite the unbelievable greed and megalomania that goes on within Microsoft, they own the OS that I need to run *some* of the programs I need/want. Granted, Wine and VBox take care of a lot of my Windows programs, but sadly not all.

The biggest motivation for me to move to Linux was price, but that reason slowly but surely changed to preference. Windows and its applications are expensive, and their business practices suck, but I'm not necessarily "boycotting" them. I'm definitly not going to be buying Vista (I guess I sort-of bought it as it came installed on my laptop), and woudn't even use it if I were paid to, because it caused more headaches than I'm willing to put up with (can you say "Windows Explorer has stopped working and needs to restart"?), and the near-$200 price tag doesn't help their case. </rant>

Hello there, Ubuntu, sorry it took me so long. :p

[karellen]

So.... would you prefer to be paid? I'm so confused by this post.

maybe he meant Ubuntu's price in time spent/learning curve or something like that

[RedPandaFox]

Ok, there is no option for "I already use Vista so its just better if its free"

I know "Software is like sex, its better if its free" but there are alot of people out there who making a good living from payments so obviously there are people who pay for both.

[Pharohs]

I do not enjoy it when Microsoft treats me like a criminal AFTER I purchase their lousy product. If I need to reinstall my OS because my machine is overrun with viruses, due to thier shoddy workmanship, why should I be interrogated by someone on the otherside of the planet via telephone?

I will continue to struggle with Ubuntu until I learn it.

[rockface]

I do not enjoy it when Microsoft treats me like a criminal AFTER I purchase their lousy product. If I need to reinstall my OS because my machine is overrun with viruses, due to thier shoddy workmanship, why should I be interrogated by someone on the otherside of the planet via telephone?

I will continue to struggle with Ubuntu until I learn it.

I have lost all credibility on this forum (by my own hand), but bsell made a valid point. If you need to be productive and interact with the outside world, you need a Microsoft product.

We can all argue about how this came to be, but none can say how it will end. If you listen to bsell and his ilk there is no choice but Microsoft.

The fact that this is on a Linux forum, well that was not by accident. Since I have nothing to lose, does anybody have any contradiction with anything I say?

[Primefalcon]

You in no way need Microsoft products, really try OpenOffice for word docs and such....

[AVeryLongNickname]

I get Vista Business for free from my university. I use it, but for gaming purposes only! It's on a separate drive, and I've deactivated as many of the "report this and that to microsoft"-features as possible.

I can honestly say I really dont like vista.. It's slow, unstable, and the "security" is best described as a bad joke.. so for school work and all my other computer-needs, its Ubuntu all the way..

If I was able to play games in linux with the same graphics and fps as in vista, I would never use vista again..

[modmadmike]

No way in hell are you ganna make me!:mad: lol

[Halbarad]

@ Sudo-chop and Liviu-Theodor: you're welcome! -- but what I've written is not really new: I've just put it together ;-)

[matey3]

I cannot vote, as my answer is not near any which are listed there.
My answer would be "I'll use it in a VM if it is free, just to stay familiar with it for when I am forced to work on other people's computers which have it".

you got a point.
I mean about keeping up...

[Kinetic_lord]

In Romania, Vista is free! But i don't want to use it. no legal stuff or something...it just makes me sick (Wrecked keyboard... Destroyed mouse... restart... restart...restart...restart...) ...