“Windows Phone is fighting an uphill battle. Microsoft still has work to do in terms of user experience and the big hardware partners like HTC and Samsung are starting to lose interest and putting in only token efforts. But Nokia is keeping the platform in the conversation. We’re not willing to consign Windows Phone to the same level of hopelessness as the open-source webOS or the out-to-pasture BB OS precisely because Nokia is too big and too active a partner.” Having a big partner is by no means a guarantee. Microsoft is doing whatever it can – both legal and should-not-be-legal – to get people to buy Windows Phone, and it isn’t working. A brand only gets you so far – you need a compelling product, too, and as much as I like Windows Phone, it’s just not there yet compared to iOS and Android.
“Windows” is a negative brand. Tablets or Macs wouldn’t be so popular otherwise. People uses Windows because they have to, not because they like it.
They should have gone with “XPhone” or something like that, but now they are doomed. To make matters worse, it seems Windows 8 will replace Windows Phone so their long term strategy is suicidal.
The question is, when is Ballmer going to resign?
Edited 2012-04-09 15:05 UTC
They should have moved to a new name – and only one comes to mind: Metro.
That’s not true. I use Windows because I like it.
IIS? Check. Apache? Check. Photoshop? Check. Visual Studio? Check. MySQL? Check. SQL Server? Check. Games? Check. MS Office? Check.
All popular apps, apps that matter, are there. No other OS gives you that.
Edited 2012-04-09 15:58 UTC
You listed one app exclusive to Windows.
Which one? “Games”? 🙂 Or Visual Studio? Or SQL Server? IIS, perhaps?
Oh, you want more?
IE? Check. Safari? Check. Chrome? Check. Firefox? Check. Opera? Check.
No virtual machine or some kind of emulator required.
Please.
Edited 2012-04-09 16:21 UTC
Someone willingly uses IIS or IE these days?
Most of the things you mentioned run better and are far easier to set up on Linux or other Unix platform.
IIS? Yes, very much in biz environments. By the way, don’t see anything wrong with it, especially with 7/7.5. Next version (Server 8) is even better, many new features for true throttling and large scale sites.
IE? You may want to check browser market share.
It’s not that I use it (I use Firefox), but others do. I have to test my web pages in IE too. And in Safari, etc. Every important browser is available on Windows.
Yeah, right..
Edited 2012-04-10 03:02 UTC
You are not a prime example of a typical Windows user, please don’t assume the rest of the world is like you.
You are the one making assumptions, pal. Joe Sixpack wants it all. Do not underestimate good ol’ Joe.
Good old Joe is not buying Windows Phone, that’s not an assumption.
You were talking about Macs are popular and how “people use Windows because they have to”, so I guess you were talking about Windows (desktop), not Windows Phone.
Which one is it now?
The assumption is simple, please think a little and do some reasoning instead of being a troll.
I think we can agree on the following:
1) Most people that uses macs do it by choice, hence Apple is cool.
2) People loves Google and also use their services by choice, hence Google is cool.
3) Some people may love Windows (like you), but most don’t use it by choice. It either comes pre-installed or runs applications or games needed, hence why Windows is not “cool”. It’s a different story with XBox brand.
So, the assumption is that Microsoft Windows brand is not “cool enough” for people to feel the need to get it, or bet on it, despite the OS being superior or the hardware good.
People, in contrast, did bet on Google when the market was 90% iPhone and Symbian, the same way people did bet on XBox when Sony and Nintendo had most of the cake.
So it pretty much comes down to that, lack of consumer loyalty towards the Windows brand.
I don’t understand. Where does it come preinstalled? On Macs?
It runs apps/games needed, hence it is not “cool”???
WTF?
Edited 2012-04-09 16:52 UTC
Well over 95% of all laptops and prebuilt systems under $999. Or is it news to you?
Have you ever seen a average person come into a shop and ask for Windows? “Everyone” assumes that is has “those Windows”.
It’s preinstalled onto so many PCs that I will not be able to buy my next laptop without Windows7 bundled. Even though the first thing I will do, is remove it.
Most people don’t buy Windows by choice.
How do they buy Macs then?
First you say people buy Macs because they are cool, then you say people are forced to buy Windows.
Which one is it? 🙂
I mean, if you buy Mac, OSX is pre-installed, is it not? How come you’re not complaining about that?
Is Microsoft stopping HP or Toshiba from selling computers with Linux pre-installed? I don’t think so.
Edited 2012-04-09 20:15 UTC
And somebody else wants Mac laptop with Windows 7 pre-installed.
Guess what?
In your infinite fanboy rage, you haven’t noticed that I never claimed that Macs are “cool”.
I have other things to complain on the Mac side. Apple, however, never abused their dominant position to force anyone into adopting Apple products.
Economically, they do. Or at least they did force the market to be like it is today.
True.
However, what you said, is still invalid. Nobody is forcing people to buy Windows, they do have choice.
@gonzo
Yes, people are forced to buy Windows. Microsoft uses it market power in an unhealthy way. For instance, it is hardly possible to buy a laptop with no OS installed. If vendors would sell Linux-preinstalled laptops, Microsoft punishes them by no longer giving them discounts. Only very few large vendors may, on a small scale, sell linux laptops. Such as Dell. Somewhere 12 levels deep in their website you might find a linux machine. This seems to serve as an excuse to the authorities “look, there is free competition!”
There is lots of documented proof of this. For instance, the first netbooks had often Linux, until MS killed that, with a combination of stick (“if the manufacturer would install Linux they would lose the Microsoft discounts) and carrot (extra discounts, money).
The analogy with Apple is flawed because of market shares. Having 90% marketshare means that that company must comply free competition laws. Apple is smaller and therefore is given more leeway.
I am not an Apple fan, I think Apple is a patent troll. Especially in the mobile market. But in the PC market, Apple never tries to limit the general public’s choice. They only limit Apple users’ choice by tying them to their iWorld.
If you look at the technical OS quality, I think it’s fair to say that Linux, Windows and OSX are all fairly good. Of course, in my view Linux is the absolute leader in terms of innovation, speed & stability. Amazon has the same experience. If you look at cloud prices, you will see that linux machines have better uptime and lower costs. By a fair margin!
http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/
No. You can buy Mac, can’t you?
People don’t want Linux, it’s that simple. It sucks.
Not so sure. Until 2000., maybe, but after DOJ took action against MS, I don’t think that is longer the case.
Why can’t you accept that there is no enough demand for Linux?
For example: piracy is high with Windows. So, those people DO have a choice: steal Windows or use free Linux. And what do they do?
Edited 2012-04-10 18:10 UTC
I was discussing desktop systems mostly.
MS is not aiming for lower prices than Linux, same way Apple doesn’t want to compete with PC vendors on price point.
Theats because they don’t need to choose they are already getting what they want. If they wannted OSX they’s have bought a Mac instead they bought a Windows box because they wanted Windows. People have plenty of choice, don’t twist things to support your agenda. Nobody complains that Macs are bundled with Mac OSX, cleasrly Apple is forcing me to use it at gun point and taking away my choice.
I fail to see where those people actually make a concious choice. That is because “no one” is asking for Windows when they buy a computer.
And I can guarantee, that there are a lot of people that are surprised that their Mac does not have the software that they are used to.
Lots of Windows installations are illegal, piracy.
Those people DO have a choice: steal Windows or use free Linux. And they chose to steal. Consciously.
That’s how bad Linux on desktop is these days. It may change one day.
Coming out of a part of the world that has that rampant piracy, I can tell you that the absolute minority actually care for Windows. They care if they can run games and edit documents(Open/Libre Office does that quite well).
Lately, with most focus oriented towards the web, I install more Ubuntu than Windows for my technically inept friends. Even though under certain cases(high end games and very specific software packages) I do install Windows.
I find your use of word “Consciously” amusing. Because neither most of them are aware of the alternative nor do they make the choice. That pretty much rules out “Consciously”.
That bad Linux allowed my 7 y/o niece just sit down in front of my desktop and occupy it for the whole weekend without ever bugging me beyond password.(They have Windows7 at their home)
When Microsoft is entrenched so deep that it gets paid twice for corporate laptop purchases(license with the laptop and VL agreements), then I’ll dismiss my claim that Microsoft isn’t using the benefits of their dominant position to cram Windows into all and any laptop.
You still don’t get it, if everyone was like you, Windows Phone would be a critical success.
Nope, I use Android phone (Samsung). Same reason: acceptable price and user experience, plenty of applications.
See, again you are making wrong assumptions.
“That’s not true. I use Windows because I like it.
IIS? Check. Apache? Check. Photoshop? Check. Visual Studio? Check. MySQL? Check. SQL Server? Check. Games? Check. MS Office? Check.
All popular apps, apps that matter, are there. No other OS gives you that. ”
Who decides which of apps matter? You?
Apache, Photoshop, MySQL, Games(yes, games) and MS Office I can get those on Mac OS X. The only one I really miss is Visual Studio, but I use eclipse now, so it doesn’t matter. Also, there is a way to install many opensource console and gui apps that are available for Linux. OS X has xserver and ssh client installed out of the box and I can easily run remote GUI applications on my server while controlling GUI on OS X.
Windows is a design mess compared to Mac OS X. Retarded and limited console, application files are stored all over the place when installed, registry, drive letters, need to inject new drivers/reinstall windows when moving to another hardware. No built-in and easy way to create full backup and then clone it to second partition. Idiotic analog of symlink that doesn’t work with some applications properly.(IIS for example)
So, keep using your windows while I enjoy my unix-based hackintosh OS X. If mac hardware was the same price as pc hardware, Windows would probably no longer be dominant OS on the market. Unfortunately, Apple is a hardware company and get their profits from hardware.
Edited 2012-04-09 17:52 UTC
Why do you think people buy iPhone and Android and not WP7?
Could it be because of all those apps and games?
So, you can run Eclipse. I can run both Eclipse and Visual Studio. Or, I can run Safari, IE, Chrome, Firefox and Opera, easily, no emulator/VM needed. Can you?
It’s that simple.
Actually, PowerShell is great.
What?
What about it?
Since Vista, parts of registry are virtualized and stored in user’s profile. Never had problems with registry. I know people run those optimizers, I never did, never had any problems.
Yes. So?
Don’t know about that, I moved recently to new desktop and all drivers were there, Windows 7 installed them for me.
But then, people usually just buy new computers with Windows pre-installed, all drivers are already there.
How often people move to new hardware anyway? Oh, please.
Are you serious?
Not sure what you mean? Care to explain?
Edited 2012-04-09 19:41 UTC
I can run unix gnu software on my OS X. Can you run gnu software without Cygwin on Windows? And oh yea it’s my dream to use the worst browser on the market.(IE) I can easily run other browsers without “no emulator/VM needed”.
Some of the program is stored in program files. Other part could be somewhere in windows folder. Most of them write into registry. Making it very hard to move to another computer without breaking it. On mac whole program is contained inside one(!) folder. That folder is also acting as executable. It’s super easy to delete, copy or move to another computer.
Part of the problem is what described above this question. “Most of them write into registry. Making it very hard to move to another computer without breaking it” Also, should something happen to it, not only will you be required to reinstall programs again, you might also get un-bootable system.
Yes. So?
When everything is under root, it’s much better approach than drive letters. Your whole system appears as if it was on one big drive, while in reality some folders point to other partitions. On windows some programs force you to install most/full of the program to C drive. And you can only only can only install operating system to one letter drive.
Don’t know about OS X, but Linux can be installed on multiple partitions just fine, because it doesn’t care about letters only paths. Can you type relative paths with drive letters? I bet you can’t.
I very often get BSOD error when I move to new hardware. Sometimes it moves smoothly, but most of the time it doesn’t. I upgrade computer parts about once every 1-3 years. I have 4 computers at home and when it’s time to upgrade I also try to get rid of slowest pc.
slowest -> slower -> fast -> fastest.
So, I basically move slower to slowest, fast to slower, and new pc to fastest.
Also, sometimes I need to boot from harddrive from another pc. For example, when I need some program that is hard to move because of all settings and files.
Ok fine they finally added it to all editions for windows 7, but still crippled(no backup over network) it for editions cheaper than “Professional”. Most laptops and home pcs come with “Home Basic” or “Home Premium”. Yea, you can move backup to network share and then back when needed, but it’s all pain in the neck.
On OS X, disk utility creates iso-like image that can be mounted as disk partition that you can easily edit to your liking. You can restore it to usb drive or any partition on your hard drive and then boot from that.
That’s actually a very nice feature of OS X. Most programs come in DMG images that have self-check mechanism for corruption. You mount them as partition and then copy application(usually a window pops up to let you drag app to app folder) to application folder and you are done installing it.
When I tried it, it simply didn’t work.(files actually linked, but IIS failed to work) I needed to list files from symlinked folder into the webpage. While I could easily to the same on apache linux. So, it left me with impression that it might fail with another program.
haha, GNU SOFTWARE 🙂 Please. Let’s talk about software that matters.
Windows has it all. If it didn’t it would not have ~85-90% desktop market share.
Yes, but many people do web design, etc. Pages must be tested in IE.
Some programs do that. Most don’t. But, even so.. so what?
Yes, but people DO NOT move to different computers that often.
Not an issue since people simply DO NOT move to different computers that often.
Should something happen to it, you can use system restore. Restore points are created automatically, when any significat change to the system (drivers installed, software installed, Windows updates, etc) is taking place.
Not an importan issue, again. But you can mount drives on Windows at different points too, you know?
Some programs… yeah, like those from 15 years ago, right? How many of them are still important?
So? What is the problem there?
Windows can be installed to multiple partitions too.
So? How is that important issue? It’s not.
I think you’re just making stuff up. I used to upgrade all my hardware (except mainboard and CPU) very often too, never had any problems.
But.. how often do you upgrade Macs? Like, you change what video card, or mainboard…? Oh, really?
I am not sure myself, but I think Windows too can be booted from external drives, even USB keys. Not sure though, haven’t tried it. But I think it can, or it’s coming to Win 8.
Again, over and over again you’re talking about things that majority of people just don’t do very often, if ever.
I haven’t tried it and am too lazy to do it now, but even if it fails, then just copy your web folder to where it works. Easily solved problem. (Having said that, I’d have to confirm that symlinks in IIS don’t work).
See, the problem is, not a single issue you listed is a deal breaker and you can EASILY work around it.
BUT when you *need* some specific software, software that is widely used (SQL Server or Mass Effect, for example) then it is a deal breaker if you can’t have it without spending days to maybe make it work and when it finally does, then it breaks after 5 minutes, etc.
Edited 2012-04-10 04:20 UTC
If you don’t care about those things I listed it doesn’t mean that others don’t care. Mac os x has enough commercial and non-commercial software for my needs. Most of the windows software is crapware and bloatware anyways.
“Yes, but many people do web design, etc. Pages must be tested in IE. ”
Those who need it for their jobs use windows at work and whatever OS at home.
“Yes, but people DO NOT move to different computers that often. ”
“Not an issue since people simply DO NOT move to different computers that often. ”
Maybe you don’t, but others do. It’s a very nice design to keep whole program in one folder, as you can move it anywhere on partition, even different partition and it will not break.
“Should something happen to it, you can use system restore. Restore points are created automatically, when any significat change to the system (drivers installed, software installed, Windows updates, etc) is taking place. ”
It doesn’t make it excusable to have it poorly designed like that.
“Not an importan issue, again. But you can mount drives on Windows at different points too, you know? ”
Your opinion doesn’t make it unimportant.
“Windows can be installed to multiple partitions too. ”
Not from the installer. And I am not talking about striping or raid setup.
”
I think you’re just making stuff up. I used to upgrade all my hardware (except mainboard and CPU) very often too, never had any problems.
But.. how often do you upgrade Macs? Like, you change what video card, or mainboard…? Oh, really? ”
1. I build my own pcs.
2. I never said I own Apple hardware. My OS X runs on pc hardware.
3. “(except mainboard and CPU)” That’s exactly why you never had BSODs. I switch hard-drives between different pcs and usually upgrade motherboards and cpus.
“I am not sure myself, but I think Windows too can be booted from external drives, even USB keys. Not sure though, haven’t tried it. But I think it can, or it’s coming to Win 8. ”
Yea, you would have to tweak it to make it work. While OS X just loads all drivers, so no need to tweak.
“BUT when you *need* some specific software, software that is widely used (SQL Server or Mass Effect, for example) then it is a deal breaker if you can’t have it without spending days to maybe make it work and when it finally does, then it breaks after 5 minutes, etc. ”
Why would anyone install SQL server on desktop version of windows? And there are other better cross-platform SQL servers than MS SQL. Those who need specific software either dual-boot or use emulator. I don’t see a problem with using emulator to be honest. On my hardware it works almost as fast as native boot. Yes, it costs extra money if you want to have it legally, but it’s not that big of a deal. And old windows licenses can be reused for emulator as long as they are not OEM.
No.
Most people use Windows at home.
What others are you talking about, when Windows still hold like 85-90% of desktop market?
What is poorly designed? If there is a problem, you can restore system to earlier system restore point, those are created automatically.
As I said, you can mount drives to any folders in Windows.. since Win 2000. It just shows that you don’t know Windows.
What do you mean? Yes, you can pick a partition from installer.
Man, have you ever installed Windows actually?
You are in a minority. Very few people do that.
Again, you are minority. Very few people need that.
So that they can do development?
Obviously, this is useless discussion. How can you even ask that question?
Yeah, right..
Oh, it’s not a problem except that it works slower, that it costs extra money and if it’s inside VM, then effectively you have 2 systems to maintain and use..
Yeah, why would that be a big deal for anyone? 🙂 How about simply use Windows alone and everything works, natively, etc? Oh, yeah, can’t do that, that makes sense, doesn’t it?
Actually it is.
Only because they don’t realize they have a choice. Given a choice and equal prices, people tend not to choose Windows unless they have a specific application that they need that not on the other platform.
Only 85-90%? Use to 95% or better. It’s slipping, and only going down.
In the end, it’ll probably be a 3-way split between Linux, Apple, and Microsoft; but both Linux and Apple marketshare on the desktop is growing.
The Win32 API for one – haven’t looked at WinRT yet, but I doubt they fixed some of major security issues that were present in Win32 (e.g. Handles and their use – it’s kind of a gaping whole when another application can without your permission change the interface of your application.)
But so is the whole Program Files structure – or Program Files (x86) for 32-bit software under 64-bit Windows. The Windows Registry was a great concept, but poorly implemented and completely unmaintainable. The list goes on.
Under Windows NT (of which XP, Vista, 7, and 8 are part of) yes, you could – but only if you used some very advanced tools to do so. Oh, and they don’t let you use those tools on anything less than the Professional versions (at least for Vista and later).
You cannot do what he is saying from the installer.
Yes, from the Windows installer you can choose which drive to install Windows to. But you cannot change where the Program Files, Program Files (x86). User Profiles, or other system directories go in the installer.
You have to move them after-the-fact, update the appropriate registry settings (if you know them, or know the tools to modify them), and then hope you don’t have any applications that require those folders to be on C:\; and yes, there are many applications out there that are hard coded for Program Files to be C:\Program Files, and for the Windows Directory to be C:\Windows, or for the System32 directory to be C:\Windows\system32.
Comparatively, when installing Linux you get to setup how your drives relate during the OS installation – deciding which drive is the SWAP partition, what is root (/), what is /var, /usr, /usr/local, /home, etc. They can all be on the same drive, or on different drives/partitions; and you can do that for any directory in the file structure.
More do that than you realize; but I do agree – it’s mostly the hardware extremists, and the people that are having broken computers fixed.
Not so much. To get Windows to do a lot of things you have to tweak it for your use; though most people just pay BestBuy, etc to do it for them.
Installing MS SQL Server on your desktop to do development only works for a very small usage of SQL Server. Any serious usage of SQL Server requires a dedicated server to host SQL Server.
SQL Server is not a very good database implementation. It’s almost on par with Oracle; however, unless you are building a major database farm (and sometimes even then) neither Oracle or SQL Server are very good as they are too feature rich and bloated.
Postgres, MySQL, BerkleyDB, and many others will do 99% of database usage far better than SQL Server or Oracle.
All my Windows development (yes, using Visual Studios) is now done under a Virtual Machine; and honestly, Windows runs better for me that way than it ever did as my host OS. For once, Visual Studios and Windows isn’t having major performance issues.
I use Linux for everything else.
Whatever.
What do you mean? Who’s buying Macs? Who’s downloading all those Linux distributions?
You think you’re so smart and others are so stupid? Get a life pal, you’re not that special.
No, actually, people tend to use pirated Windows, risking problems with law, etc. Yes, people do know about Linux and Mac.
Windows did not have any competition until Apple moved to x86 platform. And some people simply want something different. Nothing wrong with that.
Oh yeah, this must be year of Linux on desktop, right? I’ve been listening to that since like ’98 or so. Windows 7 is selling like crazy. Even more embarassing for Linux & Macs, people rather stay with Windows XP, 12 years old Windows than going Linux/Mac.
People tend to steal Windows, rather than to use free Linux. That says enough.
No system is perfect, but Win32 is just fine.
That is a good thing actually.
What do you mean poorly implemented and completely unmaintainable?
You’re just repeating usual /. trash. No substance in your claims.
What advanced tools? Since Windows 2000, you simply go to Disk Management and mount disk to a folder. I don’t think NT matters any more.
Not sure, I’d have to check, but if so, so what? Home users don’t do stuff like that. They simply plug new hard drive in, get new letter associated to it and that’s it.
Aha, OK. Yes, you can not.
You can use unattended installation actually to solve that problem.
BUT AGAIN, this is not an issue: in network environments, you have roaming profiles anyway.
On a single desktop, it simply doesn’t matter. You simply do backup of your files to a separate drive and that’s it.
Actually, I have to correct myself: how do they distribute system images where I work? They prepare images, then run sysprep (before, not sure it is still used with windows Vista/7) and then can “restore” that image to any new hardware. I think those images can also be maintained offline (patching, drivers, etc).
So, no, it is not a problem, it is solved long time ago.
Same applies to any database. If you need HA or high performance, you need server grade hardware and/or cluster environment.
However, we (programmers, where I work) all have SQL Server running on our desktops and we all have no problems doing our work. Databases are not that small. WTF are you talking about?
LOL. I won’t even comment this stupidity. Sorry, not trying to insult you, but you are just being ridiculous.
Haha.
Yeah right. Everybody knows running Windows inside VM works better than running in on bare metal 🙂
What else? Surfin’ the net and ping local host all night long?
Yeah, you can’t do that on Windows 
Bottom line:
See how great your Linux is, so you need Windows inside VM to get everything done.
I don’t need second OS. Case closed.
Edited 2012-04-10 17:58 UTC
Just to add:
And where do you go once you’re at that point? To 110%?
Duh.
Most people go to BestBuy/OfficeMax/Staples/etc and just pick something up. BestBuy does have Macs available, but they tend to steer people to the Windows systems any way. So unless people are aware of Linux or Mac, they tend to only buy Windows.
It has nothing to do with being special or anything. Just the dynamics of how the sales work. Most people are also too lazy to reinstall the OS to get Linux. So Linux on the desktop won’t really take off until you can pick it up pre-installed at one of those stores.
In the mean time, it’s mostly people in the IT/Software industry that do use Linux as well anyone they’ve exposed it to that didn’t have a reason not to, typically with their help getting the first install done.
Again, that’s only true where people think they have no choice but to use Windows. And there’s less piracy of Windows going on now, then there was 10 years ago – in part, because Microsoft is (ala BSA) trying to crack down on it even in countries like China.
Wrong.
Apple presented just as much of a challenge when on PPC. Their move to Intel had nothing to do with improving their ability to challenge Microsoft’s market share.
What changed was Apple’s focus from being a computer company to a consumer electronics company. By becoming larger than the Mac (e.g. iPod, iPhone, MacTV, etc.) they also increased their share of the desktop.
What also changed (in the last 5 years) with the advent of Android and iPhone/iPod is people are starting to understand that they don’t need Microsoft to use computers, etc. So more people are moving away from Windows.
MacOS itself hasn’t really changed. Just people’s perception of the market. This incidentally is also benefiting Linux, but to a smaller degree since many applications available for Windows are also available for Mac.
Not so much any more. I never said it’s be the “year of the Linux Desktop”, just that eventually it’ll be a split between 3 players. However, Desktop OS’s are becoming less and less important – and Microsoft will die as Windows Desktop declines since too much of their business is dependent on Windows and MS Office.
Win32 is a piss poor API.
It’s better to have something that is easier to understand and find things under, see the GP.
The Windows Registry was a great concept. However, the APIs to it are rather poorly implemented – they could be a lot better – and there’s no ability to maintain the data in the Registry.
Any application can write pretty much anywhere in the Registry; and no application is responsible for managing what Registry value belongs to what application. So there is no easy way to clean the registry – e.g. removing unused keys when an application is uninstalled since most applications don’t remove their own keys when uninstalled (sometimes on purpose, e.g. license keys).
As a result, Windows eventually slows down due to a bloated registry.
yes, there is software out there to clean the registry – but they had to go through a lot of research to determine what to remove, etc. Such functionality should have been built-in from day one.
For instance, WinNT has the idea of a Registry Hive. Each application could be (i) separated into its own Registry Hive, and (ii) have to request permission to access other Registry Hives with the other applications approving of it or not. In such a case the Registry Hives (stored in files) would be portable between systems. However, Windows does not use Registry Hives that way – again, poor implementation of their own specification.
Most users are not aware of the Logical Volume Manager (aka Disk Management) and associated tools. They are also not aware of NTFS Junctions; and Microsoft does a good job of hiding that functionality.
BTW, you’re using Windows NT.
But that’s the point. If you want to be useful it has to be functional on all versions of the system. Otherwise people won’t use it, and applications won’t support it unless they are targeting a minority of users.
Aha, OK. Yes, you can not.
You can use unattended installation actually to solve that problem… [/q]
It matters a lot more than you think as it directly affects the ability to switch software between computers, or to reinstall the OS without wiping out everything else. And no, Unattended installations – which are custom built, btw – are not a solution. Do a Linux install and see how easy it could be to have it in the installer.
That’s only a solution for Corporate environments where massive amounts of computers are being built routinely; not for home users.
So you are either using SQL Server incorrectly, ignoring a lot of its features, or not doing very intensive database functionality in your application, or need a very big database.
MySQL/Postgres can both do all of that, enable all features, etc. and run on your desktop with a large database without issues.
Your own ignorance and loyalty to Microsoft betrays you.
If performance is an absolute, then bare metal is better. No question there.
I pretty much do all my development under Linux. I boot up the Windows VM on occasion to use MSVS for a Windows build, and a couple pieces of old software my company insists on using. On average, I spend may be 2-3 hours a month using Windows.
Windows is not necessary to do business, live, etc.
Now that is simply not the truth. They actually always try to steer you to Mac, because profit margins are higher there.
Yeah, people don’t know about Linux
We could debate piracy levels, but my point is still valid: those people can steal Windows or use free Linux. They chose to steal, rather than Linux. ‘nough said.
Wrong. Apple presented a threat, with what 1% market share?? Haha. Even DOJ said Apple is not competition since it runs on PowerPC and thus concluded MS holds monopoly on desktop PC market.
It had everything to do with that. Otherwise they would not do it.
People want something different, nothing wrong there. But that is not to say Windows is poor choice. Some people will buy Honda, some will get Toyota.. nothing wrong with either. OK, Toyota had its share of fun recently 🙂
Yeah right, except that it moved to PC platform 🙂
Wake me up when that day comes.
Again, wake me up when that day comes.
Not saying that it won’t come, but we’re still far from there.
Whatever.
Not needed. See my previous answer.
On top of that, since Vista many parts of Registry are virtualized and stored in each user’s profile.
Many people not aware of many things.
What?
No.
Home users won’t use it anyway. See, you just said earlier that people are not aware of Disk management and junctions even when they are available.
Real world says different thing. Unattended installations work well.
LOL Again, when it’s not there you complain. When it’s there, you complain.
What’s stopping you from using sysprep. Nothing.
Now you are just saying things that are pure trash.
We use SQL Server incorrectly? How so? We are ignoring those features that we do not need, until we need them. What are you talking about — not doing intensive db functionality in our apps?
When we do need to work with VERY large databases (those that have copy of live data), then we connect to our QA or pre-prod environments. Our internal policy simply does not allow us to copy those databases locally. Local dev databases are smaller of course, no real live data there, but all the functionality is there.
You simply don’t know what you’re talking about.
And SQL Server can not run large databases on desktop workstation? WTF???
Yeah right, SQL Server and Oracle suck, MySQL beats them all. Hahahaha
Funny.
Still, you do have Windows under VM. I don’t need second OS.
You can lie (to yourself) all you want, but until you remove Windows from your system, all your talk is crap (not trying to insult you).
Edited 2012-04-10 18:55 UTC
Just to add: I can successfully run both SQL Server and MySQL on my Windows workstation.
So you only develop for a single platform – Windows; while I develop for multiple platforms – Windows, Linux, etc.
That’s the difference.
Your world is limited to what Microsoft gives you. You’re dependent upon them for your work; though you might use Linux at home (but I doubt it from this discussion as you seem to lack familiarity with other platforms).
Until you develop for multiple platforms, yeah – one OS on your system will be enough for you. Once you start developing for multiple platforms you’ll need multiple OS’s using Virtual Machines.
For me, my main work is done under Linux with only a cursory support for Windows. So, Windows under a VM is sufficient – and it doesn’t get run very long or for very much. It’s more stable because I’m not installing all kinds of crap on it – it only has what is absolutely necessary – so the Registry is pretty clean, and I don’t have a thousand different programs running all the time – just what I need to do the job.
Meanwhile, my Linux Desktop running KDE4 has all the stuff that use to bring Windows to its knees and more – and its still just as performant (or better) than the first day I installed it.
Personally, I’m glad to have left the “burning platform” behind. Microsoft has a limited life span left for various reasons, but namely the market is leaving them behind and Win8 won’t do anything to stop that – it might even accelerate it. How long Microsoft (and Windows, and Office) have left is all a matter of escalation curves – right now we’re near the bottom of the curve; but the tech is there to start escalating it pretty quickly, it’s just a matter of time.
And while Microsoft may have billions of dollars in the bank, in stock, etc – they won’t be able to survive the loss of either the Windows platform (even to the point of a 50-50 split with any other platform) or Office – and the market is starting to shape up to make them lose both.
And, btw, this will happen regardless of whether Linux becomes a bigger factor in the desktop market; though more likely than not, it’ll be that the market just plain leaves the Desktop behind with a few niche markets being the exception – those markets already have plenty of support from and software for the Apple/MacOS platform to leave Windows as well.
Sure, a lot of gnu software have FOSS and Windows ports. And most of the time, there are superior alternatives anyway. Of course, if you’re trying to get a *nix environment set up on Windows without 3rd party tools, that ain’t gonna happen, nor is there any reason to think it should. It IS a completely different OS.
Edited 2012-04-10 05:01 UTC
Technically, you don’t like Windows… you like what you can RUN on Windows
If you could run all those apps somewhere else, would you still be on Windows? I use Windows for the same reasons as you, but just different apps that I can’t get anywhere else. But Windows itself is a POS, and I DON’T like it. I mean, it’s usable, but I could think of at least a dozen different improvements that would make a HUGE difference.
Well.. yes, I agree.. to a certain degree: when I say “Windows” of course I am talking about the whole “ecosystem”.
I probably would still pick Windows, here’s why:
1) I know it well already. Would I switch to a different OS (given that I have all those apps available)? To what benefit precisely? So I have to spend my time trying to figure out how to have everything that I already have on Windows? What is the point?
2) It is WELL supported by hardware manufacturers (printers, scanners, etc, etc)
3) It lets me have similar environment at home and at work (I do realize this does not apply to everyone)
4) Windows 7 is VERY good when it comes to desktop experience: fast, stable, relatively secure. From what I see in Win 8 Consumer Preview, it’s going to be even faster than Win 7. Right on. (No, I am not impressed with Metro, but at least it’s bearable compared to all those let’s-go-full-retard-on-user OSX shiny icons and animations. God.)
No.
Edited 2012-04-10 03:52 UTC
The point is that there’s actually a lot you don’t have on Windows. For example, there’s no way to centrally manage and update applications. And hardly any of them are portable by default. If I need to format my hard drive and reinstall everything, that could take a least half a day. With Android, the install is about 10 minutes, and apps can be fully restored in less time than that. There’s no centralized spell checking, no multi-clipboard support, no app store (the one in Windows 8 only works for Metro apps), and the whole OS is very limited in the ways you can customize it, without 3rd party tools. That goes DOUBLE for the installation. When are they going to build tools that let normal users slipstream in drivers and service packs into the install disc? If my C drive gets corrupted and I need to get into the system, I can’t boot the OS off a USB drive. Anyway, you get the point.
And, let’s face it… the built-in apps suck ass. Not a huge deal when you’re at home, but if you work in an environment where IT locks down the machines, having to use Windows Explorer and IE as default file manager and web browser is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Oh, and let’s not forget Windows Update, which is goddamn annoying.
Again, this goes back to what you can run on Windows …
Yeah, and wouldn’t it be nice if you could sync all of your settings in the cloud …
You could say that about just about any OS these days, assuming your hardware is decent.
If Linux had the same apps and vendor support as Windows does, I’d happily use that instead. But as it stand, I’m stuck. I don’t *hate* Windows, but I can’t say I like it either.
Edited 2012-04-10 04:54 UTC
Because on Android you have games that easily take like 1.5 GB of disk space and apps that do the same?
Yawn..
+1.
The reasons Windows brand is bad in consumer perception (poorly controlled ecosystem that have put too much responsibility on HW manufacturers, API mish mash, complexity coming out backward compatibility) are the explanation why MS did drastic u-turn with WP7 and put all previous efforts (including all it’s mobile platform supporters work) into a dump.
The fact of the matter is that WP7 is in its core very un-Windows in both philosophy and goals.
Slapping a windows brand over it is not only hurting it but simply illogical and confusing.
One of the more reasoned ones I’ve seen on The Verge.
That being said, I take issue with the conclusion that “it isn’t working”, considering its a fact that Nokia has helped accelerate sales.
Its a gradual process to build momentum, but its undeniable its there.
I am supremely proud with the turnaround Nokia has done in direction in just a few months. It is still my firm belief that Elop will be vindicated.
How “gradual” do you want it? Its been TWO freakin’ years now, and they still have only 3% or less of the market!
So, Win8 is not even released yet, and MS already treats WP7 as a bastard child. Buying a WP7 phone this year is suicidal unless Nokia can guarantee a free seamless upgrade.
The rumor of Win8 is competing against WP7 in the minds of anyone willing to try it.
Most people don’t care. Stop making shit up.
Rumour has it that current WP7 phones won’t be upgraded to the NT-based version that’s coming out.
If so, the platform might as well jump off a cliff now and save us the trouble.
Sources?
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/microsoft_news/23260242…
Thanks.
Will be interesting, if it turns out to be true. We’ll find out soon enough,, I guess.
Rumor has it you’re a mermaid. See how easy that was?
See the difference in how you presented yourself compared to Gonzo? Learn, young grasshopper!
Its just nonsensical to knock a platform down based off of rumors and speculation. Or some weird contortion of comments, which are more PR than anything.
Its silly.
You do realise this comes straight from Microsoft, right?
Well, Ars has just posted article that talks about this.
The Nokia Lumia 900: A good phone at a great price that you probably shouldn’t buy
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2012/04/the-nokia-lumia-900-a…
I know I won’t be buying WP7 now (and I was thinking about getting Lumia 710 or 900).
Edited 2012-04-09 18:35 UTC
I understand that it’s a rumour. But these rumours are in high profile publications and Microsoft has yet to comment.
And, yes, ever since Win8 WP7 seems like a bastard child to Microsoft. It wouldn’t be the first time they act like that.
The funny thing is that Harmattan based N9 was universally knocked out in the blogosphere precisely for the very same reason, while the press is hush about the dead man in WP7 closet, while rumours circulate about reviving Maemo for mass market phones.
Edited 2012-04-10 11:38 UTC
You are assuming you’ll be able to upgrade WP7 to Win8. Don’t count on it. They’d rather sell you a new phone so they can sell you a new license. That’s how MS has always worked with mobile.
Apple upgrades iOS because its less maintenance for Apple; there’s no licensing fee, and they know the hardware will work with the upgrade.
Android vendors upgrade Android because (i) its less maintenance for the vendor, and (ii) there are no licensing fees to do so. However, they don’t put a lot of effort into it as the phone will likely be replaced at the end of the contract period, and some phones will be bigger issues than others; so they do what they can do easily and nothing more except on rare occasion.
Windows Mobile (WP7, Win8, WinCE, etc.) vendors don’t typically upgrade a device as they would have to pay for a new license to Microsoft for that device, and it won’t reduce their maintenance costs at all. So why bother, especially when the phone will (typically) get replaced at the end of the contract?
I don’t wish them success.
I completely agree. After all, they’re fighting the same uphill battle as they were in november 2010. There are almost no phones at the retailers.
I would love for NOKIA to explain to me how hiring a dubstep “musician” to put on a show in New York will fix the retail channel problem.
Maybe if they had actually stuck with the plan of Maemo / Symbian with Qt Awesome, they would actually be kicking some major butt right now. Then throw in Intel with the Linux Foundation around MeeGo and they had something great brewing, as proof of the N9.
But then they had to lay off all those talented people, and go down on Steve Ballmer.
Sad days.
I hope Elop burns on the platform he went with.
The alliance with Intel was misguided at best. Intel promised to deliver and they still haven’t. They rightfully got the kick.
Anyway, the N9 was Nokia breed mostly. I still have a tine bit of hope they will revive the platform for emerging markets (including the one I live in of course).
I love competition too. But Microsoft does not like competition. Therefore I don’t think that the mobile market at large will benefit from Microsoft’s presence in it.
Either Windows Phone (or Windows8 Mobile) stays small and remains an “also ran”. In that case, neither iOS or Android will innovate faster because of Windows.
Or, alternatively, Windows Phone WILL gain market share. In that case Microsoft will simply kill Android, just like they killed BeOS, OS/2, WordPerfect, Linux of Netbooks etc.etc. etc.
In that case the net effect wil be a duo-poly of Microsoft and Apple, just like in the desktop market. (The two friends MS and Apple).
So the article title should have been “Competition is King, why we don’t need Microsoft in the Mobile Market”.
They were not alone.
In many of such cases like OS/2 and WordPefect, their owner companies were actually responsible for the failure in the end, don’t put the blame only on Microsoft.
IBM never knew how to sell OS/2 to the home users.
WordPerfect was killed by the company’s own decisions,
http://www.wordplace.com/ap/
While it is true that Microsoft does not play nice, in the markets where it succeeds, it usually happens because the competition also does it own share of management errors.
What MS did they cemented their presence on the market and made preety sure the successor to WordPerfect would not emerge. It took years of antitrust actions and standards organizations stunts to have them lessen the grip so that at least Google docs could cater a nich emerge.
Please read the book written by one of the WordPerfect authors, from the link I’ve posted.
The company mismanagement was pretty bad.
+1 for that.
MS still twists b**ls of most Android manufactures using their lousy patents. Now they milk them, but nothing prevents them from crushing Android when WP stands on its own feet.