Windows Archive

Microsoft released several updates to Windows Vista Monday, the day before the new operating system debuted for consumers and landed on retail shelves. None of the updates were security fixes. The five updates for the 32-bit version of Vista - one was immediately replaced Tuesday with an update to the update - fix difficulties installing the OS on PCs with more than 3GB of memory, troubles connecting with a VPN server, and performance problems with Internet Explorer 7 and its anti-phishing feature. The largest of the five updates, however, is one that addresses incompatibility issues for a host of applications and games.

While the BBC features reviews of Vista by ordinary folk, someone dove into Vista's EULA only to find that when you upgrade from a previous version of Windows, the license of that product becomes invalid. What this means, basically, is that after you've upgraded your XP install to Vista, you cannot use the license of your old XP install on another computer. Tom's Hardware, in the meantime, published an in-depth benchmark comparing Windows XP to Vista, concluding that "Vista is the better Windows, because it behaves better, because it looks better and because it feels better. But it cannot perform better than Windows XP." APCMag, lastly, wonders what can be learnt from the Vista launch.

To avoid having 8573 stories related to Vista atop one another, this item groups some of them. Fortune: "After five years in development, Microsoft's new operating system is finally about to hit the street. Is it a keeper? Fortune's Peter Lewis takes it for a test drive." eWeek: "Some have taken exception with Vista's permission-asking proclivity, but it may be that we've just become too cavalier about making fundamental changes to our systems." eWeek: "We check out the first systems bundling Microsoft's newest OS and tell you what you will, and will not, be getting with Vista." Click read more for, well, more items. This item will probably be updated regularly.

A Microsoft representative confirmed that users may buy an OEM copy of Windows Vista at a substantial discount, provided they adhere to the terms of the license - which, incidentally, may mean providing support for family members. In addition, users should still be subject to the same familiar re-activation restrictions as users of a retail Vista license and Windows XP, a spokeswoman said. Users can alter the PC's hardware substantially, but they will be forced to reactivate - not repurchase the OEM software - if they do, she said. Elsewhere, AppScout wonders, is Vista relevant?

Tomorrow, Microsoft will release all 6 versions of Windows Vista; some of us will rush out to buy themselves a copy, some of us will, like, not do that. OSNews will be bombarded with Vista related articles until old CRT monitors will have faint imprints of the word 'Vista' scattered across their tubes. So, to start the whole barrage of Vista articles off, here is a promotional video of Windows 386, released in the late 80s. This video is nothing short of brilliant. I suggest you make yourself a nice, warm tea (or coffee, if it's morning) and sit back to enjoy the wonders of multitasking, the 'just like OS/2' interface, the 80s music, and, lest I forget, the fashion in spectacles. Update: I am currently watching the 1982 classic The Thing, and there's a character in there named 'Windows'. Coincidence? I think not!

Microsoft's quest to closely control the way Windows Vista can be used on PCs has taken a turn for the worse, as new information indicates that the company is breaking tradition when it comes to Windows Vista upgrades. With Windows Vista, users will not be able to use upgrade keys to initiate completely new installations. It is a change that will affect few users, but enthusiasts will certainly be amongst those pinched.

"There have been some comments on the blog recently suggesting that the UAC dialog boxes in Windows Vista are not accessible and I just wanted to clear up the confusion here. First, to set the scene though. When a user attempts to access an application or setting that requires elevated privileges to run, they are presented with a UAC prompt, the appearance of which will vary depending on the type of user they are or the type of application that is trying to run."

"Does performance suck on Vista when compared to XP? That's what I was set out to find out. I was worried at first, since the performance in Beta 2 was quite bad. While there is indeed a performance decrease, it's quite minimal as you'll find out."

CNet has reviewed Windows Vista, and the concluded: "Perhaps we're spoiled, but after more than five years of development, there's a definite 'Is that all?' feeling about Windows Vista. Like cramming an info-dump into a book report the night before it's due, there certainly are a lot of individual features within the operating system, but the real value lies in their execution - how the user experiences (or doesn't experience) these - and like the info-dump, we came away shaking our heads, disappointed." Additionally, Vista's OEM pricing details are out and about.

Microsoft announced that it was extending technical support for home Windows XP operating systems, a signal that it was not abandoning them for Vista software launching next week. The Redmond, Washington software giant said the 'support life cycle' for Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Media centre Edition would be stretched to April 2009. Similar support would be provided for users of Windows XP Professional, according to Microsoft.

"With the Vista launch imminent, you may be wondering what version you should be buying. Thanks to the four primary versions available, this is no easy task. Many will be swaying towards the Ultimate Edition, but should you save your cash?"

"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."

Reckon you won't upgrade to Vista until the first service pack is released? That's looking likely to be the second half of this year, according to Microsoft's latest email blast. The company has put out a call for "customers and partners (to) actively test and provide feedback on Windows Vista SP1 to help us prepare for its release in the second half of CY07". Microsoft hasn't released details of exactly what changes will be wrought in Vista SP1, which has been assigned the codename 'Fiji' but some OS components which missed the RTM cut-off will almost certainly be rolled into the update. One of the candidates for this better-late-than-never brigade would be the Windows PowerShell, previously Microsoft Shell - a .NET-based command line shell with its own scripting language.

Yesterday we reported on 'Ten Reasons Not to Get Vista', featuring two rebuttals. APCMag, the publisher of the first article, now also published a rebuttal. "I've been running Vista at APC since the earliest leaked builds, and witnessed its extraordinary evolution as Microsoft meandered its way towards the final product. Sure, the earlier versions included some bold features which were dropped for the sake of familiarity in the final version, but there's still lots to appreciate about the 'RTM' version of Vista. I'm not talking here about a nicer user interface or security - I figure APC readers already know how to run a secure XP box and how to de-Fisher-Price it. Here are the real benefits: things that will actually make a difference to you day-to-day." Instant Update: The original author has now published a rebuttal to the two rebuttals. Isn't the internet fun?