Windows Vista

nightdagger · 12-02-06, 01:31 PM

I just installed the full, final version of Vista Ultimate on my computer and it's great. It's a fast OS, a lot more polished than the betas, of course, but it comes with more features "out of the box" than any other OS I've seen, including some Linux distros.

Onkel Neal · 12-02-06, 04:21 PM

Give us a rundown on what is new, what to expect, etc. Thanks!

micky1up · 12-02-06, 04:40 PM

when do we get it in the uk

nightdagger · 12-02-06, 04:42 PM

There's so much new! The GUI is wonderful. It looks great, especially since I can enable so many features. It's a lot better than the WindowBlinds or whatever trying to imitate it. It has a pretty big footprint, right now it's using 640MB of RAM but I don't think that's just the OS. There are a lot more visible settings, so you can change more without a 3rd party app or digging deep. It also detects a lot of hardware right when it starts up, so it doesn't take long to get it up and running right. The installation is quicker than XP, even though it's far bigger (only comes on DVDs.)

All versions come on 1 DVD so the only thing you need to do to upgrade is get a new product key. There's just a lot like that.

It also comes with "gadgets" which are MS's version of Widgets. It doesn't install Windows Messenger until you tell it to, which is a godsend. It comes with additions/improvements to standard programs, like new games, and a DVD maker to expand on Movie Maker.

I haven't even scratched the surface, though. I'll post some more later.

EDIT: It comes out officially in the end of January. I was able to get one from MSDN, where all versions are out early.

The Noob · 12-02-06, 08:36 PM

Sounds not so awful at all. :hmm:

I get it in march when i get a PC that can handle it. I would have not upgraded at all if there wouldn't be Direct X10. I need it. Now!

andy_311 · 12-02-06, 09:10 PM

I tried the trial version and it would'nt let me instal Norton got onto them and they told me there will be a patch out shortly,sod that I went back to XP and am staying there for a while anyway.

nightdagger · 12-02-06, 10:01 PM

You have to get an AV program designed for Vista. I'm using Avast!'s free one right now.

fredbass · 12-02-06, 10:15 PM

Nightdagger, I'm sure we'd appreciate to learn of any problems you have with it as well.

Thanks for posting.

AG124 · 12-02-06, 10:42 PM

Is there any support for the following floppy types?

5.25", 360 KB
3.5", 720 KB
5.25", 1.2 MB
3.5", 2.88 MB

Windows XP removed the ability to format these disks, but it could still read from and write to them. There was no support for the 2.88 MB ones at all.

Of course, they are all obsolete (along with 1.44 MB disks

) but I would still like to know.

nightdagger · 12-03-06, 01:08 PM

I wouldn't know, I haven't tried any floppy, even 1.44.

The only problem I've had is that sometimes, WoW goes spastic and exits randomly.

CCIP · 12-03-06, 02:21 PM

Holy moley, that's some fancy shell it's running if it takes up over 600mb

Naaah, I think I'll stick with my current plan and keep off Vista for as long as I can, preferably until I buy my next computer which is scheduled no sooner than in 1.5 years. I've always been a bit of a luddite as far as "if it works, don't fix it".

I guess a big factor will be how the whole DX10 thing goes. If it becomes a mandatory accessory sooner than I expect it, I guess we'll have no choice...

nightdagger · 12-03-06, 10:29 PM

Even without the tons of games and crap that will only work with Vista, there are quite a few features that make it worthwhile, like the new versions of programs that are/will only be released for Vista.

d@rk51d3 · 12-03-06, 11:57 PM

The only thing that I'm not too keen on is the back door that is deliberately left open for various "law enforcement agencies" to access your files. I'm not too fussed about them checking out my PC, but if they can get in, what's preventing anybody else getting in?:hmm:

Kapitan_Phillips · 12-04-06, 03:09 AM

I dont like the idea of having to use Vista enabled AV software. Too much control for Microsoft right there. And who wants to bet someone's going to find some way of enabling the versions on a DVD so you dont have to buy a product key? XD

kiwi_2005 · 12-04-06, 10:44 AM

Does this Vista have activation rubbish, ive never had to activate windows so dont know much about it but heard alot of ppl complaining, eg if u activate then change your harddrive you can't install windows again?!! Win2k and XP have been OEM versions which their was no need to activate. But when i buy Vista it will be a retail, so im expecting the worse.

Have they dropped this activation with Vista?

12-02-06, 01:31 PM	#1
nightdagger Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 243 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Windows Vista I just installed the full, final version of Vista Ultimate on my computer and it's great. It's a fast OS, a lot more polished than the betas, of course, but it comes with more features "out of the box" than any other OS I've seen, including some Linux distros.

12-02-06, 04:21 PM	#2
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,385 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Give us a rundown on what is new, what to expect, etc. Thanks! __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

12-02-06, 10:15 PM	#8
fredbass Ace of the Deep Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Port Richey, Fl, USA Posts: 1,066 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nightdagger, I'm sure we'd appreciate to learn of any problems you have with it as well. Thanks for posting. __________________

12-02-06, 10:42 PM	#9
AG124 Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,878 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Floppy Support on Windows Vista Is there any support for the following floppy types? 5.25", 360 KB 3.5", 720 KB 5.25", 1.2 MB 3.5", 2.88 MB Windows XP removed the ability to format these disks, but it could still read from and write to them. There was no support for the 2.88 MB ones at all. Of course, they are all obsolete (along with 1.44 MB disks) but I would still like to know. __________________ DOWNLOAD GWX HERE: http://www.thegreywolves.com/index.html

12-03-06, 02:21 PM	#11
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Holy moley, that's some fancy shell it's running if it takes up over 600mb Naaah, I think I'll stick with my current plan and keep off Vista for as long as I can, preferably until I buy my next computer which is scheduled no sooner than in 1.5 years. I've always been a bit of a luddite as far as "if it works, don't fix it". I guess a big factor will be how the whole DX10 thing goes. If it becomes a mandatory accessory sooner than I expect it, I guess we'll have no choice... __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

12-02-06, 04:40 PM	#3
micky1up Captain Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: helensburgh Posts: 525 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	when do we get it in the uk

12-02-06, 04:42 PM	#4
nightdagger Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 243 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	There's so much new! The GUI is wonderful. It looks great, especially since I can enable so many features. It's a lot better than the WindowBlinds or whatever trying to imitate it. It has a pretty big footprint, right now it's using 640MB of RAM but I don't think that's just the OS. There are a lot more visible settings, so you can change more without a 3rd party app or digging deep. It also detects a lot of hardware right when it starts up, so it doesn't take long to get it up and running right. The installation is quicker than XP, even though it's far bigger (only comes on DVDs.) All versions come on 1 DVD so the only thing you need to do to upgrade is get a new product key. There's just a lot like that. It also comes with "gadgets" which are MS's version of Widgets. It doesn't install Windows Messenger until you tell it to, which is a godsend. It comes with additions/improvements to standard programs, like new games, and a DVD maker to expand on Movie Maker. I haven't even scratched the surface, though. I'll post some more later. EDIT: It comes out officially in the end of January. I was able to get one from MSDN, where all versions are out early.

12-02-06, 08:36 PM	#5
The Noob The Old Man Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: de_dust2 Posts: 1,417 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds not so awful at all. :hmm: I get it in march when i get a PC that can handle it. I would have not upgraded at all if there wouldn't be Direct X10. I need it. Now!

12-02-06, 09:10 PM	#6
andy_311 The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oldham, Lancs,England Posts: 1,312 Downloads: 82 Uploads: 0	I tried the trial version and it would'nt let me instal Norton got onto them and they told me there will be a patch out shortly,sod that I went back to XP and am staying there for a while anyway.

12-02-06, 10:01 PM	#7
nightdagger Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 243 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You have to get an AV program designed for Vista. I'm using Avast!'s free one right now.

12-03-06, 01:08 PM	#10
nightdagger Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 243 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't know, I haven't tried any floppy, even 1.44. The only problem I've had is that sometimes, WoW goes spastic and exits randomly.

12-03-06, 10:29 PM	#12
nightdagger Officer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 243 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Even without the tons of games and crap that will only work with Vista, there are quite a few features that make it worthwhile, like the new versions of programs that are/will only be released for Vista.

12-03-06, 11:57 PM	#13
d@rk51d3 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,952 Downloads: 207 Uploads: 0	The only thing that I'm not too keen on is the back door that is deliberately left open for various "law enforcement agencies" to access your files. I'm not too fussed about them checking out my PC, but if they can get in, what's preventing anybody else getting in?:hmm:

12-04-06, 03:09 AM	#14
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	I dont like the idea of having to use Vista enabled AV software. Too much control for Microsoft right there. And who wants to bet someone's going to find some way of enabling the versions on a DVD so you dont have to buy a product key? XD

12-04-06, 10:44 AM	#15
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Does this Vista have activation rubbish, ive never had to activate windows so dont know much about it but heard alot of ppl complaining, eg if u activate then change your harddrive you can't install windows again?!! Win2k and XP have been OEM versions which their was no need to activate. But when i buy Vista it will be a retail, so im expecting the worse. Have they dropped this activation with Vista? __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.