Incase you didn't know (me until around a month ago) Microsoft will be releasing a new version of the Windows operating system...called Windows Vista....very very soon.
The local computer store was advertising several systems that come with a Free upgrade to Windows VISTA! They listed the features of this OS under the heading “Advantages of Windows Vista”. Now, the price is expected to be around US$250.00 if I remember correctly…far too much for me, so I’ve decided to “critique the features”. The features are in BOLD. BTW, I consider myself to have an intermediate (at best) knowledge of computers...Joe Consumer you could say.
WINDOWS NEWEST OPERATING SYSTEM
Most secure Windows ever with Windows Defender and Windows Firewall: OK….the key to this sentence is the word “WINDOWS”. I downloaded Windows Defender and used it’s anti-spyware scan…got nothing….YAY!!!!!! 5 seconds after closing it, I used the Adaware FREE version spyware scan and found 47 items!!!! Goodbye to that!!!! And Windows Firewall????? Not when Zone Alarm is out there…..no sir!! Useless for me cause I wouldn’t be using either product!
Quickly find what you need with Instant Search and Internet Explorer 7: Eh. If you’ve got copious amounts of RAM and want to be still greedier in terms of performance (specifically speed) of other “search” features, then yeah……..but, I think that right now, the speed of searching for stuff is fast enough. For me, if I want a faster Internet connection, I would buy a new Modem (also expensive). As for this feature……….worthless!
Elegant Windows Aero Desktop Experience with Windows Flip 3D navigation: This is a SWEET looking User Interface, I must say. A lot of people might buy VISTA primarily for this! I would…..if it were cheaper! I can only wish they’d release a “VISTA-esque” theme for XP, cause man I need a change of scenery!
Best choice for laptops with enhanced Windows Mobility Center and Tablet PC support: Don’t have a laptop and never had one so can’t say anything about this….you’d have to figure that it’s useless for a desktop user (me) though!
Collaborate and share documents with Windows Meeting Space: What are they trying to do???? Replace MSN? I think this is primarily for Businesses as a means of saving money on travel…this would be great if several systems had it installed…otherwise, not really! Let’s call it ………….useless!
Experience photos and entertainment in your living room with Windows Media Center: Well, you know the advantages and disadvantages of Windows MCE….not a necessity though, so I’d say it doesn’t make too much of an improvement…especially if you’re not focused on “photos and entertainment” clogging up your computer! You will probably differ from me on this though……
Help protect against hardware failure with advanced backup features: Only time will tell how advanced ‘advanced’ really is! On the surface, it sounds like a semi-plus!
Enjoy Windows Media Center on TVs throughout your home with XBOX 360 and other devices: Don’t play those kinds of games so don’t have those systems…some of you younger ones will enjoy this though. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and call this a semi-plus….considering that gaming systems are so popular these days!
Business Networking and Remote Desktop for easier connectivity: Remote Desktop, for me atleast, has been useless.....with security such a big issue these days, the "other" computer required would not be one that I would trust to run Remote Desktop..they should've removed this feature...worthless...a huge minus!
Better protect your data against loss or theft with Windows BITLOCKER DRIVE ENCRIPTION: Like the backup features, only time will tell what “better” truly delivers. Again, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt here and call it a semi-plus.
Now there is one feature that was not listed, but crucial in my opinion:
ReadyBoost: Another major attraction for me.....VISTA will allow you stick a ***compatible*** flash drive (memory stick) into the computer's USB drive and a feature called ReadyBoost will ask you if you want to use that added memory to speed up your computer...I think this is great, but to see a significant improvement you'd probably need one GB of RAM. If you have 2 GB of RAM (consider yourself lucky and me very jealous of you), it won't be like saying you stuck in a 4 GB flash drive so you now have more than 6 GB of RAM....not so easy there tiger! Also, not all flash drives are compatible with ReadyBoost. Nonetheless, a big plus for me...
So lets add em up (assuming I can add): 6 useless features, 3.5 useful features (0.5 useful feature = what I have called semi-plus).
Alright Microsoft, now chop that price in half!!!!!!
Oh by the way, Windows Vista will be released on the same day as MS Office 2007.
The local computer store was advertising several systems that come with a Free upgrade to Windows VISTA! They listed the features of this OS under the heading “Advantages of Windows Vista”. Now, the price is expected to be around US$250.00 if I remember correctly…far too much for me, so I’ve decided to “critique the features”. The features are in BOLD. BTW, I consider myself to have an intermediate (at best) knowledge of computers...Joe Consumer you could say.
WINDOWS NEWEST OPERATING SYSTEM
Most secure Windows ever with Windows Defender and Windows Firewall: OK….the key to this sentence is the word “WINDOWS”. I downloaded Windows Defender and used it’s anti-spyware scan…got nothing….YAY!!!!!! 5 seconds after closing it, I used the Adaware FREE version spyware scan and found 47 items!!!! Goodbye to that!!!! And Windows Firewall????? Not when Zone Alarm is out there…..no sir!! Useless for me cause I wouldn’t be using either product!
Quickly find what you need with Instant Search and Internet Explorer 7: Eh. If you’ve got copious amounts of RAM and want to be still greedier in terms of performance (specifically speed) of other “search” features, then yeah……..but, I think that right now, the speed of searching for stuff is fast enough. For me, if I want a faster Internet connection, I would buy a new Modem (also expensive). As for this feature……….worthless!
Elegant Windows Aero Desktop Experience with Windows Flip 3D navigation: This is a SWEET looking User Interface, I must say. A lot of people might buy VISTA primarily for this! I would…..if it were cheaper! I can only wish they’d release a “VISTA-esque” theme for XP, cause man I need a change of scenery!
Best choice for laptops with enhanced Windows Mobility Center and Tablet PC support: Don’t have a laptop and never had one so can’t say anything about this….you’d have to figure that it’s useless for a desktop user (me) though!
Collaborate and share documents with Windows Meeting Space: What are they trying to do???? Replace MSN? I think this is primarily for Businesses as a means of saving money on travel…this would be great if several systems had it installed…otherwise, not really! Let’s call it ………….useless!
Experience photos and entertainment in your living room with Windows Media Center: Well, you know the advantages and disadvantages of Windows MCE….not a necessity though, so I’d say it doesn’t make too much of an improvement…especially if you’re not focused on “photos and entertainment” clogging up your computer! You will probably differ from me on this though……
Help protect against hardware failure with advanced backup features: Only time will tell how advanced ‘advanced’ really is! On the surface, it sounds like a semi-plus!
Enjoy Windows Media Center on TVs throughout your home with XBOX 360 and other devices: Don’t play those kinds of games so don’t have those systems…some of you younger ones will enjoy this though. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and call this a semi-plus….considering that gaming systems are so popular these days!
Business Networking and Remote Desktop for easier connectivity: Remote Desktop, for me atleast, has been useless.....with security such a big issue these days, the "other" computer required would not be one that I would trust to run Remote Desktop..they should've removed this feature...worthless...a huge minus!
Better protect your data against loss or theft with Windows BITLOCKER DRIVE ENCRIPTION: Like the backup features, only time will tell what “better” truly delivers. Again, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt here and call it a semi-plus.
Now there is one feature that was not listed, but crucial in my opinion:
ReadyBoost: Another major attraction for me.....VISTA will allow you stick a ***compatible*** flash drive (memory stick) into the computer's USB drive and a feature called ReadyBoost will ask you if you want to use that added memory to speed up your computer...I think this is great, but to see a significant improvement you'd probably need one GB of RAM. If you have 2 GB of RAM (consider yourself lucky and me very jealous of you), it won't be like saying you stuck in a 4 GB flash drive so you now have more than 6 GB of RAM....not so easy there tiger! Also, not all flash drives are compatible with ReadyBoost. Nonetheless, a big plus for me...
So lets add em up (assuming I can add): 6 useless features, 3.5 useful features (0.5 useful feature = what I have called semi-plus).
Alright Microsoft, now chop that price in half!!!!!!
Oh by the way, Windows Vista will be released on the same day as MS Office 2007.
...Leopard will crap all over Vista.
