Vista will be available for download via the Internet on Jan. 30

[roma_turok]

Microsoft will be selling its latest operating system and office suite online for customers to download


Microsoft today detailed three new distribution methods for customers looking to buy, upgrade or license multiple copies of Windows Vista. One such method involves Microsoft selling a copy of its operating system via the Internet for the user to download onto his or her system, marking a first for the software giant.

Microsoft will make Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 available for direct download via Windows Marketplace starting January 30 at suggested retail prices (but without the discs, packaging and manuals of the retail version). Windows Vista editions offered through Windows Marketplace will be available in English only, in either 32-bit or 64-bit versions. Windows Marketplace visitors also can find a wide variety of Windows-compatible hardware and software, including products carrying the Certified for Windows Vista logo.
http://dailytech.com/Microsoft+Reveals+Downloadable+Vista+Office/article5762.htm

[Soopafresh]

There's a reason MS had to wait until 2007 to release Vista. Consider the revenue that they lost just by delaying for 1 short month after the holiday season. They would have gladly released it during xmas and then issued an SP if they could have. No, I won't get conspirational, but there has to be more to the story.

[canadateck]

Cool case

I'm really finding it hard to figure out if I should Upgrade. I looking to buy a New PC or laptop,But not sure if i should stay with XP. O WELL

[Soopafresh]

If you want to be MS's beta tester on your dime, then by all means...

[canadateck]

If you want to be MS's beta tester on your dime, then by all means...

exactly what I was thinking

[canadateck]

I see now they offer free upgrade,I should read into that,and the time limit,if there is one.

[Bjs]

Soopafresh could be on the money here ... it's very suspicious ... and may be how ms want's to control piracy of their product's .

You'd have to be short of a picnic to download it using dialup ... and the version chosen ... be carefull of choice .

Then the hardware it require's must exist before hand .

I'll be up to check it out when it's ready ... if I see so much as "funny bugger" happening's ... it'll be out of here so fast , you'll need to travel faster than light speed to catchup with it .

[canadateck]

"funny bugger" happening's ...

I must use that.

[JohnnyMalaria]

You'd have to be short of a picnic to download it using dialup

Culinary restrictions may also be appropriate via broadband.

I downloaded the ISO image of the Vista RTM DVD from MSDN. The download speed was throttled to 200kbps (using the Microsoft File Transfer program) on a connection that can often exceed 1Mbps. The image was 2.3GB. That's a l-o-n-g download!

I've been using Vista Ultimate (RTM) regularly for about two months now. Overall, I am impressed. But if you are in the market for a new PC, I'd recommend getting XP SP2 installed and have the upgrade option, then create a dual-boot machine.

A lot of "gotchas" with existing apps, especially those that haven't had any development in the last year, won't show up until they get used extensively on Vista - and that means when consumers start using it, not just the "fortunate" business users and MSDN subscribers.

The one thing that will take most people by surprise will be the audio changes, as I've posted elsewhere. Very frustrating even from the developers' perspective!

[zoobie]

I remember needing to dl win98 (128mb) for some missing files.
On dialup, it took me about 5 days...ha ha

[yoda313]

I do have a question about the multiple versions.

I think that ultimate or premium or whatever the top home consumer version is supposed to be the "most feature packed" vesion. Is the top line version the one that essentioally replaces Windows Media Center????

I think that the VISTA BASIC is supposed to be crippling for power users. My main question:

WHICH VERSION IS JUST LIKE XP HOME??????????

I'm seriously thinking about buying a new computer this summer but I don't know which version of VISTA I would get for it. I don't want a full media setup. I would want one that functions as a traditional OS but be fully expandable to do all the multimedia I want but on my terms.

So which one is like XP HOME????

[redwudz]

This page from MS does a good job of showing the different versions: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx

Probably 'Home Premium' would do what you want.

[yoda313]

Thanks redwudz.

I guess what I'm wondering is if vista basic would be "enough" to do everything I can do right now with xp home.

With xp home I can do anything I want. I can add on as many multimedia peripherals as I want. I can do any music stuff i need. Will vista basic limit this ability?????????

I mean I could really care less about "aero" or any tinkering with the displays. I would just want the one that comes out of the box without any hassles and can be expanded on at my own level like I can with xp home.

[redwudz]

I've only used a trial version. It's different from XP in a lot of ways. Just finding your way around takes a bit of learning. I had a difficult time finding 'Displays' as it's not there in the Control Panel anymore. (It is, sort of. But hidden in another folder.)

Drivers can be difficult and that took a while to find ones that work. But it does have quite a few already in the OS. Most hardware manufacturers are getting out updates, but if you have some older hardware or devices, you may have problems.

You need a minimum of 512MB RAM and I would have at least I GB. I had difficulty installing AVG. That took a couple of tries. And if you click on 'help' in one of your programs, you will find it won't work any more as Vista uses a different format for that.

But I really like it so far. It loads faster than XP and the graphics are nice. I had to change the icons to the XP style as they were way too large on my Desktop screen. The aero screen looks really nice on a good LCD monitor, and a 19" or bigger monitor looks even better.

The 64bit versions seems to be a problem at present and not many recommend them.

Presently, I would wait a little longer before jumping in to purchase it. About July there should be enough copies around and the flaws may be mostly straightened out. The home premium full version is about $240 US, so it's a big investment for most of us. I wouldn't even bother getting the update version as a clean install would be preferred.

As far as multitasking, it should work as good or better than XP. For music, I don't know. With DRM becoming common, I have a feeling that music won't be any easier.

[JohnnyMalaria]

And if you click on 'help' in one of your programs, you will find it won't work any more as Vista uses a different format for that.

That's true for applications that use the old WinHelp format (as of Windows 3.0!). Out-of-the-box, Vista no longer provides support for WinHelp. It does support HtmlHelp (which has been around for years). However, you can download the necessary WinHelp files from Microsoft if you have such antiquated help files!

For more info, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607

[yoda313]

You need a minimum of 512MB RAM and I would have at least I GB

I was under the impression that VISTA required 1gb minimium??

The home premium full version is about $240 US, so it's a big investment for most of us. I wouldn't even bother getting the update version as a clean install would be preferred.

I didn't realize that premium was that pricey. And as for the upgrade deal I would be most likely be buying a new pc in the summer with it preinstalled so as to avoid that hassle.

[redwudz]

But I like my 'antiquated' programs. True, I only noticed the problem with the help files on the few programs I had loaded.

EDIT: 512MB is minimum, but if you want to run the aero interface, 1GB is required. I noticed when I upped the memory to 1GB, then the aero started working. I thought it was a problem with my video card. This was just on a test computer I wasn't using and I didn't want to spend more for memory. Two 1GB RAM modules would probably be a better choice.

As mentioned, it's a big program, 2+ GB on disc. You need a bit of CPU and video power to make use of it. And likely hard drive space. I don't see it running on the average laptop around at present.

Provantage lists it for about $230US http://www.provantage.com/microsoft-66i-00002~7MCSW020.htm But they only have 100 copies and won't ship till after Jan 30.

I think the Ulitimate version is more like $400US.

[Soopafresh]

I do know that many companies are passing on this product. Too much grief to upgrade for too little a benefit. And the DRM restrictions will only get worse. Six years to work out most of the kinks in XP, and MS pulls their typical stunt - "What? XP is stable? People have figured out the interface? Vendors have written decent drivers for their products to work with it?...That's great ! Let's put a stop to this !" http://www.hasbro.com/jenga/

[stackner]

i had the aero interface working fine with only 512mb ram with early beta's rc1 rc2 and the rtm. i now have 1gb ram notice no difference apart from a slight improvement in speed.

[JohnnyMalaria]

I do know that many companies are passing on this product.

It's quite normal for large companies to "pass" on a new OS at first. The behemoth company I've worked for used NT 4.0 for its standard desktop until about 4 or 5 years ago. Completely by-passed Windows 2000 and, currently, uses XP SP2 as the standard desktop.

Actually, for large corporations - a significant filler of Microsoft's coffers - will benefit from the new features Vista provides. Many of the new features that make Vista a major release (i.e., Windows 6.0 vs. Windows 5.1 for XP and Windows 5.0 for 2000), have no impact at all on retail consumers. That's a lot of "under the hood" stuff.

Also, large companies will tie an OS upgrade to the scheduled round of hardware upgrading.

In heavily-regulated environments (e.g., the pharmaceutical industry), you also have to ensure that all existing computer systems are validated to work with a new OS.

So, the fact that only two months after the corporate release of Vista, there seems to be little uptake, means nothing. Yet.

Regarding the "stunt", without such things, we'd all still be using Windows 3.0. It's called innovation, progress and capitalism.

[oldandinthe way]

Lenovo which makes my notebook drive has posted information for customers planning to do a Vista upgrade. The number of programs that they recommend uninstalling prior to the upgrade and then reinstalling is daunting. As is the list of programs which do not have to be uninstalled but may have problems after the upgrade.

My current o/s on machines are WFW, NT4.0, 95, ME and XP, each remains due to applications issues. Looks like Vista will only appear here when it comes with a new machine for a new application. The cost of a new computer is less than the labor costs and other software costs for an upgrade.

[TBoneit]

I wonder if Vista Upgrade will do a full install if you show it the XP CD? I haven't tested yet. Older Windows upgrades always installed on a new HDD after checking the older windows install media.

[Soopafresh]

"Regarding the "stunt", without such things, we'd all still be using Windows 3.0. It's called innovation, progress and capitalism"

Come on, Johnny. You know that isn't what I meant. I'm all for forward movement. I guess I should praise MS for releases like this. I've built a career resolving problems as a result of their progress.

[yoda313]

have no impact at all on retail consumers. That's a lot of "under the hood" stuff.

Well what about improved 64bit usage and multicore enhancements???? Sure the average computer user doesn't throw as much at their pcs as we "techies" tend to but I thought part of the reason VISTA came out was to start taking advantage of 64bit processors and multicore chips???

[JohnnyMalaria]

have no impact at all on retail consumers. That's a lot of "under the hood" stuff.

Well what about improved 64bit usage and multicore enhancements???? Sure the average computer user doesn't throw as much at their pcs as we "techies" tend to but I thought part of the reason VISTA came out was to start taking advantage of 64bit processors and multicore chips???

XP already makes use of multicores/multiple CPUs and XP x64 takes full advantage of 64-bit processors (it was launched in 2001). So, there really isn't anything new on those fronts. Windows has been able to take advantage of multiple processors (multicore or otherwise) since NT 3.1 (July 1993). Until relatively recently, though, multiple processor platforms were expensive.

Microsoft has an interesting "Windows History" article at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryDesktop.mspx

[ChrissyBoy]

My 2 cents:

I also have be using Vista (Ultimate) RTM via MSDN since December. I DO like it.... In terms of look and feel (Gucci graphics and "new ways of doing stuff") it is a bit like the transition from 2000 to XP... I.e. after a while XP is starting to look a bit old!

However, I have Vista installed on my "family" PC. For the kids//wife and for media center activities.... Already i have found that about 50% of software doesn't work (although that may be down to the fact that NVidia have yet to release any other Forceware drivers for Vista, other then beta!)

From a "work" point of view Vista will not be on my "work" PC for a long time yet.... Why? Well because Vista and Visual Studio 2005 (my main dev env) ARE NOT COMPATIBLE!!!..... Thats MSFT for you!

[JohnnyMalaria]

(although that may be down to the fact that NVidia have yet to release any other Forceware drivers for Vista, other then beta!)

They've released them: see https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=320119

From a "work" point of view Vista will not be on my "work" PC for a long time yet.... Why? Well because Vista and Visual Studio 2005 (my main dev env) ARE NOT COMPATIBLE!!!..... Thats MSFT for you!

I'm using Visual Studio 2005 on Vista RTM without any problems.

Have you installed the Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 and the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Vista Refresh Beta?

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/support/vs2005sp1/default.aspx

[ChrissyBoy]

I am aware of those drivers... 97.46 is still miles away from what you would expect from nvidia (compared to the xp drivers):

Unfortunately, they have not included the advanced level of configuration available in the XP drivers. Most notably, you can't force S-video output to overscan. (Much to my frustration!)

Have you installed the Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 and the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Vista Refresh Beta?

From a work point of view i really can't be using beta stuff...

[roma_turok]

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition (seriously)
You have to be seriously freaking into Vista if you're even thinking about the Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition (seriously, we didn't even think Microsoft was capable of a title like that), but at least the price is on target for the upgrade ($259) and they claim it's signed by the man himself, Billy G. Something tells us it's just an embossed signature print or something along those lines, but either way it's down to you and 19,999 others prepared to get their fanboy on with the latest, greatest version of Windows.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/20/microsoft-windows-vista-ultimate-limited-numbered-signature-edit/

[Soopafresh]

A De-Bloater to reduce the size of Vista installations.

http://www.vlite.net/