"Microsoft recently unveiled a new web site called 'Windows Vista Test Drive', designed to allow business users, consumers, and the merely curious to find out what running Microsoft's latest operating system might be like, without actually having to install it."
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I gave it a try on my XP machine since I never tried Vista and was curious to see how it looks like in action. So far, it has failed to start twice, showing me a "Preparing Windows Vista Test Drive" message with a full progress bar for more than an hour...
While I am not biased against MS-Windows, the first thing that came to my mind was: Buggy as ever. While I am fully aware that a Web test drive is no substitute from a real test installation, advertising something that doesn't work is certainly not the best way to generate positive feedback...
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Sweet, so you I can't use it because I don't use IE or use Active X, plus are out of the geography range.
Seems as crappy as the real thing =)
So it really does give you a good feel of Vista!, Problems problems problems.
Hehe, I'm joking btw, hard to come across in text.
I don't really see the point of this honestly, isn't this just a webpage that you can interact with?
That really doesn't give you a good test of Vista, all it gives you is what Vista looks like, which you can find from Screenshots.
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2006-05-11
As was said by shadowmane, this isn't helpful unless you're already running an operating system which supports IE6. I like to try and maintain a healthy, unbiased attitude toward operating systems. I currently run Ubuntu because I feel that it is currently the best option for me personally. I would be more than happy to switch to Windows Vista if I felt that it would provide a better alternative. This "test drive," however, presupposes that I am already running a Microsoft operating system (or possibly IE6 on a mac?), so I'm not really sure how this is meant to help people who are considering switching to Vista. I mean, let's face it, if you already are running Windows you're going to upgrade sooner or later. There aren't too many people still running Windows 98 anymore (NT is another story..), so I'm not sure what the legitimate purpose of this could be.
Member since:2005-07-06
It is all part of the "denial of alternatives" attitude that Microsoft has had for years.
They do not want the general public to think of Linux/BSD/Solaris as an alternative to Windows, so, they deny their existence.
By making sure the demo can only be viewed by Windows users, it maintains the idea in Joe Publics head that the computer IS Windows......
Also, Microsoft need to target XP users, as that is where the majority of uptake of Vista will come from.
Can you honestly show me 1 Linux user that is even tempted to switch to Vista ?
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This is Joe Public you are talking about.
Of course they will visit, and of course they will download everything blindly....
Especially one that netcraft cannot locate, exsilioinc.com !
Look a few posts above about ActiveX
Ohhhhhh the fun of IT support 
Edited 2007-01-23 10:22
Member since:2006-06-24
Well that's just it.
I mean, the folk who contribute here, are supposed to be 'net savvy', but look at the number of them on this thread alone who fell for this!
No official notice from Microsoft.
The site is called 'windowsvistatestdrive' - do me a favour!
And a quick domain check would show that it isn't even registered to Microsoft!
Member since:2005-08-18
"And a quick domain check would show that it isn't even registered to Microsoft!"
Indeed, why would Microsoft register a domain via proxy for an official project? Doesn't really add up.
It is also noteworthy that the site isn't uusing SSL making it even harder to verify if it's an authentic MS site. If this actually IS an official MS site it's not very well handled and doesn't exactly instill a lot of confidence.
Exsilio Consulting does exist though:
http://www.bristolagency.com/
Member since:2005-08-18
"And a quick domain check would show that it isn't even registered to Microsoft!"
After some more cursory investigation it appears the vista live test is hosted on the same machine as exsilio's website. Still pretty sloppy for a MS project though but maybe it's not actually official yet and arch has beaten the official launch.
I can't help but also notice that exsilio's admins are some of those misguided souls that wrongly think that blocking ping and traceroute serves some kind of purpose.
Member since:2006-10-11
Soulbender: I can't help but also notice that exsilio's admins are some of those misguided souls that wrongly think that blocking ping and traceroute serves some kind of purpose.
Have you never heard of the dreaded ping attack? That's when a ping with a red headband and a bare chest infiltrates your system, kills the scheduler and frees the POWs from the quarantine folder. Traceroute is even worse, it uses blue light!
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Hmmm, I have to have IE6 or better...I have to enable active X and install a plugin... In other words, I have to already be running a Windows operating system to try this out. I find it silly that Microsoft presupposes that users trying this site area already running Windows. If they wanted to maximize the impact of this site, they would have paid close attention to users NOT running Windows. No thanks...I'll be sticking with Linux.
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