Windows Vista, Mac OS X Leopard, & Ubuntu "Edgy Eft"

[Casio]

To buy an OS just because of its looks is not a very wise idea.

Especially when it has all that DRM crap built in.

I didn't mean physical looks, I meant that the features of it are pretty bad. I mean Windows Starter, 'only allowing a user to launch at most three applications with a user interface at once, will not accept incoming network connections, and physical memory is limited to 2 GB', Come on.

Home basic seems pretty basic, no aero theme, and only 8gb of memory. While it may sound like a lot now, in 2-3 years I'd except that to be close to the standard.

 

[GT4_Rule]

I don't think you'd get a reasonably priced PC with Ultimate on it. In the same way that computer now get XP Home, then XP Pro, then Media Center.

I actually don't think that 500$ is terribly expensive for it. I mean, it has HDTV support, up to 16gb of memory, podcast creators and a bundle of other stuff. If it's comparable to XP media center it's a TV and HD Recorder as well.

When you think about how much you actually use Windows in your day. Probably around 5+ hours per day, over a year it's probably not that much compared to the benefits you get out of it.

Not that I'd buy it, I'd get the Windows Vista Home Premium, anything under that looks awful.

But half of those things you mentioned I either don't need or don't have. Like HDTV, my family don't plan on getting a HDTV anytime soon, and I probably will play games instead of making podcasts. All I might need is Media Center.

On other news, Internet Explorer 7 RC1 is released - there aren't too many changes to it except for more stability.

 

[Midnight Runner]

I didn't mean physical looks, I meant that the features of it are pretty bad. I mean Windows Starter, 'only allowing a user to launch at most three applications with a user interface at once, will not accept incoming network connections, and physical memory is limited to 2 GB', Come on.

Home basic seems pretty basic, no aero theme, and only 8gb of memory. While it may sound like a lot now, in 2-3 years I'd except that to be close to the standard.

Oh I see...Your post left an impression on me that you're one of those people who will buy anything because it has [sarcasm]" shiny new buttonz lol lol !!!!!!!111shiftone"[/sarcazm]....sorry.....

 

[Casio]

Oh I see...Your post left an impression on me that you're one of those people who will buy anything because it has [sarcasm]" shiny new buttonz lol lol !!!!!!!111shiftone"[/sarcazm]....sorry.....

As cool as Windows Aero theme is. Like all themes it's just a resource hog and it's not really needed. Sure it's nice to have a computer that looks pretty neato, but I'd much prefer one that ran pretty neato.

Personally, all I do on my computer is play a couple of games, web browse, play music and maybe watch a DVD. For Games and DVDs the theme doesn't matter, for web browsing I'm much more concerned with the content and quality of the site I'm viewing, rather then the 'translucent' bars of my browser. Although, if I had a top end computer that could run Aero with minimal performance loss I'd for sure give it a go.

Back onto the price. People pay $649US for Photoshop CS2, which does pretty much everything they could want from a photo editing suite. 500$ for something that does everything you want from a whole operating system isn't terrible. I mean Sony expects you to play 700+USD for something that, um, plays games....

 

[dougiemeats]

Back onto the price. People pay $649US for Photoshop CS2, which does pretty much everything they could want from a photo editing suite. 500$ for something that does everything you want from a whole operating system isn't terrible. I mean Sony expects you to play 700+USD for something that, um, plays games....

Again, you may have a point. But when the competition (well when you have 95% of the market, what is competition?) offers an equal or better product that costs significantly less, then I cannot see why they expect us to pay that much.

As for the PS3; well, we're talking hardware and software. With Windows Vista, we're only talking about the operating system. So I can't call that a fair comparison.

Edit: Has anyone downloaded the pre-RC1 build? I'm going to skip this one and wait for RC1. It should be pretty stable by then.

 

[Burnout]

Again, you may have a point. But when the competition (well when you have 95% of the market, what is competition?) offers an equal or better product that costs significantly less, then I cannot see why they expect us to pay that much.

As for the PS3; well, we're talking hardware and software. With Windows Vista, we're only talking about the operating system. So I can't call that a fair comparison.

Edit: Has anyone downloaded the pre-RC1 build? I'm going to skip this one and wait for RC1. It should be pretty stable by then.

I'm downloading it right now - I'm going to install it later when I get back from college.

I'll tell you, I've been reading comments about it being 'suprisingly' faster than all of the last builds.. Well, I'm currently running 5472 and I was suprised at how quick it runs and how snappy the GUI feels. If pre-RC1 is any faster.. Rock on.

I'll report in once I've got it running.

 

[dougiemeats]

I'm downloading it right now - I'm going to install it later when I get back from college.

I'll tell you, I've been reading comments about it being 'suprisingly' faster than all of the last builds.. Well, I'm currently running 5472 and I was suprised at how quick it runs and how snappy the GUI feels. If pre-RC1 is any faster.. Rock on.

I'll report in once I've got it running.

Sounds good 👍 Once you've got it running, I've got a question about the Windows Standard theme (or Classic theme? whichever one is the Win2000 style).

...and yeah, I've been hearing great things about this build. I hope it lives up to all of the reviews I've read. I can't wait for RC1.

 

[Burnout]

Sounds good 👍 Once you've got it running, I've got a question about the Windows Standard theme (or Classic theme? whichever one is the Win2000 style).

...and yeah, I've been hearing great things about this build. I hope it lives up to all of the reviews I've read. I can't wait for RC1.

Fire away. 👍

About the build: It installed pretty quickly, and so far so good. Seems pretty dang snappy.

 

[dougiemeats]

RC1 is looking good then. My question is quite simple really: How does the circled part look with the standard (win2000) theme? In Beta 2, it looked horrible with the standard theme. It looked unfinished, since they've probably been concentrating on Aero and the new Basic theme. Just wondering if there were any improvements.

 

[Burnout]

Does this help?

 

[dougiemeats]

Great! Looks like they fixed it. Although, now that they have a new Basic theme (and it looks really good), I don't think I'll be using Standard anymore.

Thanks man

 

[Viper_Maniac]

Hey Burnout, I know you've prolly said it before but whats your system specs?

 

[Casio]

Is it possible to install Vista from a Network DVD drive?

I have 1 computer with a DVD drive, and one that doesn't. I really wouldn't mind installing Vista on the one that doesn't, because I just don't really use it anymore and it just sits around doing nothing. So is it possible to share the DVD drive with the Vista CD in it and install it from that? The one with the DVD drive, is the one that i use so I don't want to go installing Vista on it.

Can I just transfer the ISO over and run it in Daemon tools?

I suppose if worst came to worst I could buy another DVD drive, but then I might as well just buy another HD and put it on that?

 

[Iceman]

I have the same problem with my PC, I don't have a DVD drive. Is there any way at all to install Vista without a DVD drive? Possibly on multiple CD's?

 

[dougiemeats]

I suppose you can use Daemon Tools to mount the DVD image if you don't have a DVD drive. I haven't tried this method, but I'm sure it's been done before.

 

[Burnout]

Amazon.com is showing prices for a variety of Windows Vista versions, including $239 for Windows Vista Home Premium and $399 for Windows Vista Ultimate. The site lists a release date of Jan. 30 for the new Microsoft operating system.

Home Premium is cheaper than I remember hearing about. Honestly, $239 isn't too bad.

Hey Burnout, I know you've prolly said it before but whats your system specs?

Pentium D 2.8Ghz @ 3.5Ghz (Vista takes advantage of the dual-core processor far more than XP did)
1GB DDR2
250GB SATA3.0 7200RPM
6600-nonGT 256MB

It's certainly not a beast, but it runs the OS flawlessly.

Is it possible to install Vista from a Network DVD drive?

I have 1 computer with a DVD drive, and one that doesn't. I really wouldn't mind installing Vista on the one that doesn't, because I just don't really use it anymore and it just sits around doing nothing. So is it possible to share the DVD drive with the Vista CD in it and install it from that? The one with the DVD drive, is the one that i use so I don't want to go installing Vista on it.

Can I just transfer the ISO over and run it in Daemon tools?

I suppose if worst came to worst I could buy another DVD drive, but then I might as well just buy another HD and put it on that?

I have the same problem with my PC, I don't have a DVD drive. Is there any way at all to install Vista without a DVD drive? Possibly on multiple CD's?

I suppose you can use Daemon Tools to mount the DVD image if you don't have a DVD drive. I haven't tried this method, but I'm sure it's been done before.

I've installed various builds of Vista by mounting the image before. In my experience, this method is much faster than using the DVD to install it, so I use it even though I have a DVD burner.. The only trick is that you have to have the partition you're going to install it on created and empty already, as it has to copy all of the files before restarting to install the OS ( obviously the mounted image will not work in the booted Vista installer), and a working install of Windows to install it from.

By the way, if it helps, I used Nero ImageDrive.

 

[GT4_Rule]

But if you use a program to mount the image doesn't the setup cancel because you have to restart the computer which dismounts the image?

On the new Basic theme: that updated theme actually looks very attractive. I'll wait for RC1, but the biggest headache is still the internet connection....

 

[Burnout]

But if you use a program to mount the image doesn't the setup cancel because you have to restart the computer which dismounts the image?

On the new Basic theme: that updated theme actually looks very attractive. I'll wait for RC1, but the biggest headache is still the internet connection....

No, like I said, as long as the partition you want to install Vista is already created, then the setup will copy all pertinant information from the ISO before it restarts.

What about the internet connection?

 

[GT4_Rule]

My wireless card utility won't work with Vista Beta 2. And the manufacturer doesn't have the latest updates (USRobotics). So I'm left without an internet connection.

 

[Casio]

I've installed various builds of Vista by mounting the image before. In my experience, this method is much faster than using the DVD to install it, so I use it even though I have a DVD burner.. The only trick is that you have to have the partition you're going to install it on created and empty already, as it has to copy all of the files before restarting to install the OS ( obviously the mounted image will not work in the booted Vista installer), and a working install of Windows to install it from.

After I took all that time to download Vista, and patition my drive. I can't install it because it doesn't have 512mb of RAM!

Oh well....I was going to buy a new harddrive anyway...

 

[dougiemeats]

After I took all that time to download Vista, and patition my drive. I can't install it because it doesn't have 512mb of RAM!

Were you seriously going to run Vista with less than 512MB of RAM!?

 

[Casio]

Were you seriously going to run Vista with less than 512MB of RAM!?

Hell yeah! On my Athlon 1200! It has 384 so that should have been a blast of speed!

Out of curiousity, does Vista run fine on 512mb of RAM? Because usually the minimum requirements of programs make them horrendously slow.

 

[dougiemeats]

Out of curiousity, does Vista run fine on 512mb of RAM? Because usually the minimum requirements of programs make them horrendously slow.

Beta 2 ran well for me. I used Vista Standard and Vista Basic so it eliminated any slowdown caused by Aero. Don't expect it to be as snappy as Windows XP, but it wasn't bad at all. It wasn't any slower than Ubuntu running KDE. I'm sure it will be even faster once RC1 is out.

GT4_Rule's computer has almost identical specs as mine (even down to HDD size), but I don't know how fast it ran for him.

 

[Casio]

Well. I did it. Patitioned a spare 10gb on my primary computer to do a RC1 install.

I must say, while it took longer then I expected to install (About 45 minutes), it did it all by itself, so I went out and got a burger while it was doing it's thing.

First impressions are that it's pretty slick. Different then what I'm used to, but still familiar so I don't have to relearn everything again.

Aero runs without slow down, even on my average PC (AMD64 3500). I think I'll use it for the rest of the night, and check it all out 👍

(Although I must say, that 'User Account Control' window is driving me insane.

 

[dougiemeats]

Although I must say, that 'User Account Control' window is driving me insane.

I thought the UAC was under control with this build. The UAC/UAP in the earlier builds... now those were annoying! Any pre-RC1 users out there care to comment on the UAC? This is something I'd like to hear opinions about.

Anyways, glad it installed just fine and everything's working 👍

 

[Burnout]

Well. I did it. Patitioned a spare 10gb on my primary computer to do a RC1 install.

I must say, while it took longer then I expected to install (About 45 minutes), it did it all by itself, so I went out and got a burger while it was doing it's thing.

First impressions are that it's pretty slick. Different then what I'm used to, but still familiar so I don't have to relearn everything again.

Aero runs without slow down, even on my average PC (AMD64 3500). I think I'll use it for the rest of the night, and check it all out 👍

(Although I must say, that 'User Account Control' window is driving me insane.

Glad to see you're getting your feet wet.

About UCA: You can disable it with like three clicks (first thing I do when booting a new Vista installation). All you have to do is go to Control Panel, switch to Class View, go to User Accounts, click the bottom option "Turn User Account Control On or Off", uncheck the little box, apply and restart. It makes the Vista experience a lot less stressful.

As far as speed is concerned, I think it's at this point faster than XP. I don't mean it'll be faster on a slower computer with small amounts of RAM and what's not, but if your system is decent, I believe Vista handles it better (heavy PF load management, managing RAM, processor utilization, graphics load spread to the GPU).

 

[dougiemeats]

About UCA: You can disable it with like three clicks (first thing I do when booting a new Vista installation). All you have to do is go to Control Panel, switch to Class View, go to User Accounts, click the bottom option "Turn User Account Control On or Off", uncheck the little box, apply and restart. It makes the Vista experience a lot less stressful.

So the UAC is still annoying? I was under the impression that they fixed this.

I think everyone will disable the UAC once the final product is released. I will be keeping it on, since its purpose is to create a more secure environment. I don't even run with an admin account on my Mac. I'm prompted for more passwords than usual with the standard account, but it's certainly safer.

 

[Casio]

The UAC is very annoying because it asks it bugs you twice. If I want to delete something, and then I click 'YES I AM SURE' then it warns me again!

I understand why it could be in use for regular users, but for an Admin account it's stupid.

As far as speed is concerned, I think it's at this point faster than XP. I don't mean it'll be faster on a slower computer with small amounts of RAM and what's not, but if your system is decent, I believe Vista handles it better (heavy PF load management, managing RAM, processor utilization, graphics load spread to the GPU).

I agree. It's very slick. For me, I think it might have to do with the 64-bit optimization? I've got an AMD64, however, my XP is only the 32 bit version. I think Vista optimizes for both?

Although I had one other annoyance, when viewing on IE, the pages have amazingly high contrast, to the point I have to turn my monitor down.

EDIT: I just got this message, I think it's pretty funny.

'PROBABLY FULL'? It's that suppose to help me in anyway?! It's like it's saying, 'I think it's full, but to be honest, I have no idea....'

 

[GT4_Rule]

I see that there's been quite a bit of discussion lately.

My computer, with 512MB RAM and 80GB HDD, Pentium 4 2.8GHz, Beta 2 ran stably, but not fast. The CPU usage was always hovering at around 50% even at idle.

 

[dougiemeats]

Windows Vista RC1 is complete! (Windows Vista Team Blog)

TechBeta and TAP will get their hands on the build first, then MSDN and TechNet subscribers will be offered access to it next week. Microsoft did not say when they will make RC1 available to the public (via the Customer Preview Program).


Edgy Eft Knot 2 Now Available (Information and Download Links)

The Ubuntu team has made the second alpha release of Ubuntu 6.10 "Edgy Eft" available for download. Firefox 2.0 Beta, Gaim 2.0 Beta, and GNOME 2.16 RC1 are included in Knot 2.


New Build for Leopard Preview (Apple Insider)

The first update for Leopard Preview, Build 9A241e, is now available through Software Update for developers testing the next version of OS X. This update fixes some stability issues and provides minor fixes to applications such as AddressBook, Dashboard, Expose, Mail, Spaces, Spotlight and Time Machine.


So did Microsoft, Canonical, and Apple get together and decide that they were going to release updates on the same day?