How much is Vista worth to you?

[blastus]

Here's an interesting article I found; What's Windows Vista Worth? (http://www.mobilityguru.com/2006/09/14/guys_guesstimating_game/)

How much is it worth to YOU?

[qamelian]

I can't honestly say it's worth anything to me. Linux has been my primary OS for 8 years and Microsoft isn't providing any compelling reasons for me to want Vista. No reasons to want it = no reason to part my hard earned dollars.

[PhrankDaChickenGeek]

It's worth $0 for me: Because I get it for free through MSDN-AA.
Although I don't use it: I'm 100% Ubuntu, so I guess they'd have to pay me to use it. I just like Linux better

[joplass]

I wonder why anybody wants to leave Linux in general and Ubuntu particularly for Vista.
Linux all the way.

[cunawarit]

I wish it were $100, I think that'd be a fair price that a pauper like me could afford.

I’ll pay full price for it though, I just need to decide weather I get a new computer or upgrade mine instead.

[Smirre]

Since it's only worth anything to me as a games platform, I'd say... not much. Can't really think of a price. But I'd certainly not pay $400 for it in a million years.

[JLB]

I should be paid to beta test Vista for the next few years.
Sticking with Linux here. Have been for 11 yrs now.

[ShadowVlican]

if it were $100 or less, then i'd upgrade

$400 for the ultimate version is simply too much

[Henry Rayker]

A buck fifty for the typical home version. Five bucks for the ultimate whoopty-doo hyper business ridiculous version.

[Dr. C]

I voted $400 but I will not be getting it. The reason TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)

The cost of a Windows Vista License is only a small part of the total cost of ownership as Microsoft has quite rightly pointed out on many occasions.

Consider this:

The cost of maintaining anti virus and anti spyware subscriptions.
The cost of upgrading commercial software applications. The whole point of running Windows is for the most part to run commercial software.
The cost of monitoring license compliance, dealing with anti piracy issues such as activation, WGA and the new SPP (Software Protection Platform). This can be huge because the ability of Microsoft to cripple a Vista installation remotely in an attempt to fight piracy creates a singe point of failure for millions of PC's worldwide, and is vulnerable to all sorts of risks ranging from mis configured servers (this actually already happened with XP WGA) to a terrorist attack.
The cost of the risk associated with the DRM platform particularly on 64 bit Vista. Vista is designed to allow certain processes to be protected and hidden from the user in order to prevent copying of “premium” content from the MPAA and RIAA etc. The trouble is the same technology could also be used install malware and prevent it from being removed. If fact the user may not even know its there. Its like allowing a Trojan Horse into your system. What if a criminal or terrorist organization figures out a way to crack the DRM in order to use it to cripple millions of Vista PC's worldwide, and the users cannot fight back? I find it hard to associate a cost with this risk but it is a risk that I am not willing to take.
One can probably think of more “hidden” costs associated with Vista.

[rattlerviper]

Remeber that the prices we are seeing thrown around are suggested retail...and that most windows users will simply be purcasing a computer with it installed the next time they need to upgrade.

[knucklehead2354]

I can honestly say that I was not very impressed with Windows Vista, and I do not believe it is worth the money. If anything, some "new" features of Vista felt like a step backward *cough*UAC*cough*. I have also lost my trust of Microsoft, with all of these Genuine Advantage scandals and forcing users to upgrade certain parts of their software. That's pretty much why I've switched to Linux and I will eventually purchase my first Macbook next year.

[sloggerkhan]

It's worth $0 for me: Because I get it for free through MSDN-AA.
Although I don't use it: I'm 100% Ubuntu, so I guess they'd have to pay me to use it. I just like Linux better

I COULD get it that way, too.... but probably won't.

[BLTicklemonster]

Thanks to Ubuntu, Vista is the first version of Windows that I have no intention of using here at the house. We'll get it at work, of course... even though I tried to get the I(dio)T director to move us to linux.

[heathen]

I'm not arrogent (in my case) enough to say they should pay me. I've only been on linux since July, but I've no intention of going back to windows. I removed it from my HD after a month because I realized that I never booted to it anymore. My wife and I had talked about getting a new computer for her. We both decided that neither of us liked windows, but she's not ready for linux just yet. So her next computer will be a Mac (She cant get over photoshop)...

anyhow, for me, Windows doesnt offer anything that Linux/Ubuntu cant do or even do better.

[raqball]

Not interested in using anything made by microsoft, unless of course, they offer to float me some moola for using it :)

[NeoLithium]

I dunno; I had windows XP on my laptop when I had bought it; now that I have linux installed, I'm not having it on here anymore; it runs faster now with my needs compared to the out of the box speed.

Some people like Vista, and whatnot; more power to them; but I won't ever purchase it; chances are if I happen to buy a new PC; I'll still remove Vista from there as well; but that's just my personal preference really.

[sloggerkhan]

the only interesting thing I've learned about vista other than that it's price gouging is that it will be able to use flash memory card/keys as additional system memory, suppoesedly for performance enhancement on low end systems... that does sound interesting. But otherwise I can't believe they're trying to sell it. $400 dollars for a version that does jack? No thanks!

[TMM]

As far as functionality goes, vista doesn't bring much to the table for me ... function over form FTW. I already run blackbox on my XP install as the windows GUI/shell is rubbish imo - Vista just makes a worse case of this. I'll be sticking to linux/XP dualboot unless dx10 never gets hacked into XP ;)

[mdsmedia]

I voted $10 because, like any of those little programs on a single CD, like old games etc., you buy from a computer store, it might be worth $10.

I still dual-boot XP because I have to and haven't yet learned to put some of the programs I have to run on Linux, and some probably just won't run on Linux yet. So it's still worth $10 to me.

But $400 is for an operating system with ALL the bells and whistles. When is Windows going to catch up with Linux in that respect? $400 for a half-baked buggy beta program that wouldn't rate a chance in the Ubuntu repositories?

I have an OS which does all I want it to do. I ALREADY pay for my Windows software. Why would I pay more than $10 for the platform on which to run it?

[lazyart]

What is Vista worth to me?

"A good laugh."

[argie]

To me, it would be just another coaster. My computer doesn't pass the minimum system requirements test.

What is Vista worth to me?

"A good laugh."

That goes really well with the avatar :)

[at0mic]

most die-hard linux users wont have any use of vista. however, hardcore-gamers wont have much of a choice in the matter with proprietary dx10 being vista only. need to start growing money on trees shortly. vista + Geforce 8800 + new powersupply = expensive as hell

[Shay Stephens]

I am not going to ever buy vista, however, If I were to place a personal value on an operating system in general, it would be $100. More than that and I don't want to buy it because the price is just inflated. $400 is crazy.

[lazyart]

Well, the funny thing is that I was set to work my way towards Vista. Downloaded RC1, got the update for RC2 but had a problem with the motherboard and put it on hold.
Not long after I fired up Ubuntu.

For the record, I replaced the motherboard in the Vista box. Now it runs Ubuntu server with Xfce desktop (still needed a crutch) and Webmin.

[earobinson]

Personaly: $0
At work: Pricless (programer)

[mcglnx]

Personaly: $0
At work: Pricless (programer)

NO NO NO!!!!! For free you'll give people a good reason to try it! It must be so expensive and so secure that nobody wants to use it!!! :D

[earobinson]

NO NO NO!!!!! For free you'll give people a good reason to try it! It must be so expensive and so secure that nobody wants to use it!!! :D
Its not my choice, most of my software is for linux, but if the client wants windows then its windows.

But all of my software comes with source code :)

[Chinkostu]

Probably around £20. i have no need for it, XP's fine with me (and i'm comfortable with it) and as soon as i can be bothered to get a cedega subscription i'll never really need to use windows. Ubuntu has firefox, i can use aMsn, thats all i use on a daily basis, and when i need to do some graphical work or play guild wars i could boot up cedega and run photoshop from there. i'm not paying for something thats going to cripple my system (not that vista will like mine anyway)

[43moon]

After Vista comes out, I might actually pay for a real copy of XP if the discounted price is right. I am 99% Ubuntu, but there are always those odd times where you are forced into Windows.

[randomnumber]

I wish it were $100, I think that'd be a fair price that a pauper like me could afford.

I’ll pay full price for it though, I just need to decide weather I get a new computer or upgrade mine instead.

look to getting a OEM version like they offer on newegg of xp

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116056

you have to get a wire with it so that it counts as getting it with hardware but the wire is like 10 cents.

[WoodyMahan]

I'm still trying to convince my wife that you don't have to buy software in a box from a store. Her computer will be XP til it dies. My machine at work is Vista RC1 because it is a windows world and that is the next thing coming (I might as well be prepared when it gets here). I have never paid for an OS. Cracked versions have always been available. It seems now that windows is getting more savvy at detecting hacked installs. That would prevent me from using Vista on my machine. My laptop is mine, Ubuntu for me.

[viciouslime]

After Vista comes out, I might actually pay for a real copy of XP if the discounted price is right. I am 99% Ubuntu, but there are always those odd times where you are forced into Windows.

I think you'd be better off buying a copy of windows 2000. It is just as compatible with current software, but there is no WGA to contend with (which causes problems even for legit users) and bettery yet, no activation which is a real pain for people who reinstall a lot (and who doesn't as a windows user?) or for people who modify their PCs a lot. I have had to phone micro$oft so many times because windows won't activate even though it is a legit copy.

[Chinkostu]

^aye. w2k pro is basic but powerful. i've never had any problems with it. and our networking teacher seems to like it alot, since every machine in his room has it installed.

[Frak]

Why should I use Vista, my computer can do everything it can with half the parts, plus I've used it forever, even before Ubuntu when I used Mandriva.

They should pay ME to use it (not I pay $400, that's crazy)

[sloggerkhan]

Tech support people who think computers should only need 128 megs of RAM and like managing computers using deep freeze seem to love 2000.

Actually, I was fine with it, myself.Still, I've never had a problem with XP activation. Thankfully.

[araz]

I will only run (not use) windows if Microsucks give m one. If that happens i will run it in a vmware.

[megamania]

50 euros would be a fair price in my opinion, and that's what I voted.

however, I don't use Windows since the beginning of 2005 and I'm sure I'll not buy Vista. I could look for a pirated copy just out of curiosity, but I don't think I will.

[Dokatz]

Thanks to Ubuntu, Vista is the first version of Windows that I have no intention of using here at the house. We'll get it at work, of course... even though I tried to get the I(dio)T director to move us to linux.

Exactly my thoughts. I only upgraded to windows xp from 98 cause I was forced to. Now I am old enough to realize whats out there, And defend myself with a very pretty sheild.

I just love how we as the linux community smirk at those who haven't even tried it, Cause we know something they don't. We don't need to consider the faults of microsoft to be the faults of modern day computing. If it wasn't for my serious first dive into linux back when I played with Knoppix and eventually Fedora, (And finally Ubuntu) I would have never been able to consider windows vista just another garbage disc or two I'll never get. Not even for a coaster.

Vista is worth nothing to me. If they payed me to use it, I would. But it would still be a much smaller partition than Ubuntu.

[Cbotron]

I tried the vista beta and didn't felt anything new beside that I know that i'm gonna need a new pc for it.

[mcglnx]

:) I let the client deciding what he wants. I use excluisvely Linux at home since 1996, but I write computer programs with Windows. All I can say is "I don't want this at home, even free of charge"! :)
So, let Vista be 400$ or even more! The one who is already paying is just trapeed and will have no choice.

[lyceum]

Anyone willing to pay more than $130 for an OS is getting ripped. Not because Ubuntu is free or Windows stinks or any of that. Because how many people have PCs? how many use and OS (duh! all of them!)? Linux is, an most, what $80 for Xandros, a very good OS from what I have read. OSX (Mac) is like $130. Windows is EVERYWHERE! Why should anyone pay more? That is why Linux and Mac will win. Microsoft is just too greedy.

[jhenager]

I doubt I would pay for it. Even if it was free, I'd probably not download it.
Until recently, my computers were Intel/Windows free.
I finally broke down and got a Pentium D-820. It's not bad. I have RC2 installed, but next July, it will be giving up its HD space to Ubuntu or files.

[daou]

It's worth nothing to me. Even if it were free, it still wouldn't be open source. That's why they would have to pay me to use it... and of course cover the cost of all the applications I get for free in Linux.

[izalac]

It's worth something to me at least. As I fix computers for living, I'll earn my living from fixing Vista and removing viruses and malware from my company's customers' PC's.

[arvster]

At the moment it is worth nothing to me. I just don't see a reason why I should update my laptop (the only computer at home that has Windows Xp) to it. Xp/Mac OS x86 dual-boot setup is all I need on it, as it is a computer my family uses. I would not even steal Vista, as there is just nothing new it could give to the laptop, that these two OS's on it already do not do. The other machine(the one I use the most) has only 256Mb of RAM and I see no reason why I should use a crippled OS on it, as it would never run on it in it's full glory. Strangely enough Ubuntu is able to run with Beryl without any problems on it. That's more eye candy that Vista has with less resources. The only way I see Vista getting on my computers is if I buy a new one and have no choice but to take the OEM version with it. In that case I would probably keep it on some partition for dual-boot, but it would not be the main OS there.

[hoagie]

Well it's worth a bit like $50, but since I have Ubuntu here, configured for my use, I don't bother.
I'm sick of ms, and I want to kill myself, when I hear people talking about the new interface, which is simply a new icon set, window border and they also added some widgets. I felt the same when I moved from windows ME to XP. But after a year I really didn't like it.

[the.dark.lord]

Even if they paid me I would NOT use coz I love freedom

[Circus-Killer]

Even if they paid me I would NOT use coz I love freedom

now thats just a lie. if someone offered you $2 000 000 to use vista for a week, i bet you would. i know i would. i would do for the money. heck, i'de sell my soul for money.

but, since no one is paying me to use vista (or sell my soul), it looks like its linux all the way. ;)

[kiyometane]

why sould i pay more for a windows Xp upgrade.
even the so caled aero on vista is not better than compiz. The graphism on linux is still better.

[cantormath]

Here's an interesting article I found; What's Windows Vista Worth? (http://www.mobilityguru.com/2006/09/14/guys_guesstimating_game/)

How much is it worth to YOU?

Microsoft owes me like OJ owes the Goldmen family...

[zetetic]

Well, I can only tell you Microsoft should pay me a lot of money in order for me to use Windows.

Why??

Cause I don't care to... much for money...
Cause money can't buy me LOVE....
can't buy me LOVE........
no, no no,
money can't buy me LOVE!

oh yeh...

zetetic

[mrsudo]

zippo. all the flashy doesnt do it for me. im not totally against it, i just think people for ubuntu is sush a nicer crowd :)

[Flying caveman]

Its too soon. I'm still mad about Windows 95.

[Tux.Ice]

im only 12 and have been using xp for 3 years and ubuntu for2.5

and microsoft would have to pay me to use vista and even then it would be dual boot.

tux

[Antman]

I gave it a ZERO worth.
It just doesn't bring much to the table. I am testing Vista Ultimate (provided by job) on my laptop.
The two features I like about it are:
1. Media Center - I just plug it into my HDTV and it autodects the screen and sends the video to it. I can then stream.
2. Laptop support - suspend and all the other features work well.

Cons - TOO many to list, but here are just three:

1. NO productivity software included on the install DVD (so what the heck is on the Dvd, just the OS?); I had to download Openoffice, VLC (to play divx and such), GIMP, etc.
2. I have a WinXp machine that I sometimes need to connect to via the network. I can connect to this machine via linux, MAC, or Winxp. But Vista just won't see the machine. GOD... wtf?!? After turning off firewall and such I just gave up for now.
3. Makes my laptop run HOT. When I run Sidux, OpenSuse or Debian it's nice and cool.

[No Whammies]

In general? Not much. On the computer I'm running now? It came with the box and is the only OS that works with it and my hardware, so it's got some use. I had to trick it out mightily to get the RAM usage to an acceptable level and have a platoon of antivirus/antispyware/antigeneralcomputerstd software running, but the RAM is staying at a steady 35-50% normal use and spiking at 75-80% when using Google Earth. Actually, my Vista experience is turning out to be similar to my Dapper Drake experience. A little different, took about an hour to install, a week to trick out, a month to get comfortable with it and now it's just normal to me. Not great, not horrible, just there. I do miss the Ubuntu experience and FULLY plan on having it on my next computer (GOD, I miss Synaptic, GNOME and 15% RAM usage!), but this is what I have now and I'll make it work.