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You don't need a "heavy" cpu or cpu to run Vista. With a 128 mb video card and a athlon xp you'll run it fine.


This is all really "heavy" man!

I completely agree and that is the reason I want to get into Linux. Unfortunately, I'm constantly having to keep up with new developments in the Microsoft-world for my job, so it's hard to find the time (or energy laterly ) and learn yet another OS.

What I do like about Linux though, is that pretty much everything is available in source code. That appeals to my developer side. I just wish I had time.

for n00bing it up in linux, I would suggest Ubuntu for anyone wanting to experiment w/o needing a nerd-degree in sys-admin. It has a simple install that is familiar to windows users, recognizes all current and old hardware that I have seen. I have even installed it on Dell laptops! (laptops have proprietary hardware that is notorious for needing special drivers) It will setup a dual boot scenario for those not wanting to dump windows entirely.

Frankly, it is the easiest n00b-friendly linux I have ever seen. (not that I am an expert at all, but still)

Give it a look if you are interested.

Human Nature... That's what this thread should have been called. It was the same thing when XP came out. I squeezed 98SE to the last till I couldn't stand the constant random reboots in 98. By the time I switched to XP, SP2 came out. Before 98SE I stayed with 95B. Before 95B I stayed with 3.11.

Point is, it doesn't matter if Vista is a resource hog. The technology is going to have to compensate for the OS. I don't think Linux is going to take over the world as far as the OS to have. The world is Microsoft dependant. Period. There are plug-ins, add-ons and patches out there that can make a linux-based system compatible with most of today's applications. Problem is, not everyone is able to implement it.

I know people here in Germany still using DOS-based applications. Why, because the platform is stable. If you're familiar in DOS then you know.

I'm going to wait until I can afford a new notebook and seeing that it'll be Vista that's when I'll move. I'll keep my current system (dual-boot) with XP and SuSE Linux.

Vista is a bad concept. Okay, let's be fair.

In most respects, Vista is the best OS M$ has concocted thus far, except for unHolywood forcing them to ram their idiotic Digital Restrictions Management (I know what DRM actually stands for, and I consider that a severe lie - unless it's the record labels' and/or the studios' rights we're talking about) down the collective throat of their client base.

Enjoy.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71738-0.html
http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=882
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/%7Epg [...] _cost.html

EDIT: With all previous M$ OSes, I waited for service packs before using, so that I could use a stable, reliable and fast OS. As far as Vista is concerned, I'll wait for my competence with Linux to develop properly before switching from XP to Ubuntu or something. M$ has lost me as a customer, thanks to DRM idiocy.

Personally, I like OpenSuse.............. http://en.opensuse.org/Download

I even got lots of my DirectX 9 games running on it.

sure, there are "better" distros out there over ubuntu. I only suggested it for linux neophytes that want to get their feet wet. After a while you may want/need a different distro for better game support etc... but ubuntu is a great (the best?) start for the linux-phobic.

I tried Ubuntu...I'm an ultra-n00b I guess because installing crap was a pain in the @$$...not to mention there aren't drivers for my X-Fi card. So I dumped it...and that was a pain too.
ANYWAY, back to Vista.
I don't understand what ppl are bitching about.

(1) Why are we bitchin' about 'heavy' hardware it takes? If you are any kind of an enthusiast, you've already got the damn hardware you need. Also, if you're one of those people who like to get things asap like Vista, chances are you're the same way with latest hardware. It seems to me your personality is what determines if you like Vista or not. If you've got dated hardware and a dated OS, you're not going to accept Vista period (at least for some time). If you've got the latest hardware and love to be at the front of the line, then you've probably already ordered Vista.

(2) Do any of you people bitching about DRM know anything about music business? I saw someone quote earlier in the thread that music "is for the ppl and once you worry about money it goes to shit" (from some musician). (Which by the way, he probably stated as a marketing/sales statement to raise his public image) Until a band starts touring, selling tickets, selling swag, CD/music sales are their ONLY source of income. Even when they start selling CDs, they don't see A PENNY of it until their advance from the record label is paid off. Also...if they don't sell any records, the label drops them. If the label drops them, they don't have any financial backers for a tour, thus meaning no ticket sales or merch. I actually graduated with a Music Industry major which why this is a big issue for me. I am NOT defending record labels, and I KNOW that most of artists income comes from touring/sales. But really...wtf kind of fan are you if you download their music for free? Help them pay off their "loan" (advance) from their label for god sakes. If you're such a fan, dropping $15 for their CD won't kill you. This is why we have "one hit wonders"...because their label doesn't see good record sales, and they drop them before they have a chance to get out their. Again I'm not defending the labels, but paying for CD's/digital music is one great way to really ensure your artist's career.

(3) Finally, I say the same thing as everyone else...Ppl were crying when XP came out I'm sure. They cry that Vista isn't customizable enough...Not 'power-user' oriented enough. That's probably true. However, if you work an IT job such as myself...I get enough of scripts, servers, commands, and all that crap at work. When I come home I WANT something ridiculously simple to use. Vista is not a bad OS, its just trying to make things simpler for everyone. (And copy Mac OSx at the same time). If you don't like it, go use a bare bones dist. of Linux then you'll be crying for simplicity.

(Wow that was a big rant)

I'm sorry, but I see nothing to inspire me to spend the bucks for Vista, go through some form of learning curve, and find out some of my old favorites don't work.

My machine is working fine right now. I'd like to keep it that way.

Bill I

I don't have an issue with DRM per sae, but I do have an issue with companies telling me how many and which devices I can play my music on, attempting to monitor my music listening behaviour (Sony comes to mind), and restricting my right to make a backup of a CD (or a "mix" CD.)

DRM is fine in theory but it has a number of flaws. First off, you give an enormous amount of power to self-serving interest groups and companies that will undoubtly only consider what is in their best interest and not their customers'. The other problem is that DRM only hinders the people that actually purchase the music, videos, etc. Hackers and pirates already have ways around most DRM schemes so it doesn't affect them.

Another reason I don't have an issue "sampling" music from the internet is that here in Canada we have to pay a surcharge/tax on all CD media because we apparently have no legitimate use for CDs other than to copy music. Who would ever want to backup files, photos, or home vides onto CD/DVD! So if I'm being charged for something I don't do and, in essence, being labelled a pirate, then I might as well get my money's worth. Let me be clear about something, if I like a song or band, I always purchase their music to show support. Period.

Then there is that old argument that CDs were supposed to bring down the price of music but instead have raised it. Most bands only have one or two good songs on their CDs anyhow. I've been suggesting for years that music companies allow single-song downloads and now that it is finally happening, I think it is helping to reduce music "theft", regardless of what the recording companies say. I'm quite happy to spend .50 - .99 cents on only the songs I like. Once again though, the DRM schemes in place attempt to make it very difficult to transport or otherwise freely use the music that you pay for. It's like the music companies are trying to shoot themselves in their collective feet.

In my opinion, the more restrictive they make DRM, the more they are driving legitimate customers to piracy. I'm sorry but I should be allowed to do whatever I want with the music and videos I purchase, short of sharing them on the internet or making copies and selling them (both of which I have never done.)

Vista's DRM is primarly for HD and Blu-Ray DVDs. I don't see why that is such a big deal for some people.

It is really interesting to see all of the opinions from people who do different things on their PC.

I think that I know what the real problem is here. We all feel forced into transitioning to Vista. We have to ask ourselves if it is necessary to go through huge expensive transitions like this. For me the answer is no. I've used Vista RC1 for a while and last night decided to wipe its partition and install 32 bit XP for legacy support (since x64 still doesn't have full driver support from many 3rd party vendors). I'll be sticking with XP for a long time.

Also, it might be a surprise to those who don't use macs but I have a 6 year old machine (G4 @ 800MHz) running OSX Tiger with 768 MB of 133MHz SDRAM. No hangups or problems whatsoever. We'll also see OSX on a phone soon. All the features you will be waiting for to work in Vista already have been working in OSX for a long time now and its efficient use of resources makes this possible.

I see MS as a disgrace to the engineering community. It seems while every other engineer is trying to figure out how to cut down on resource consumption (especially in the automotive industry) MS is outright telling us that their new OS will consume far more resources than anything before it. Now we also see that performance is down from before?! That would be like ford saying their next truck will get you 5 mpg and you can't tow as much with it as the previous model.

As for all the people who are complaining about DRM, I feel your pain. If you are like me you pay for your music and movies and get the shaft cause it will only play on one player (m4a anybody?). I don't really mind but there is one thing that is for certain (and this doesn't apply to all of you):

THOSE WHO HAVE STOLEN ANY MEDIA HAVE NO ONE BUT THEMSELVES TO BLAME.

The OSX for the phone that you are talking about is the equivalent of Windows mobile.

Aye, forced we may be. I know MS already stopped support for SP1...and SP2 cut off is in a couple years I think (? May be wrong ?) I will say, I am perfectly fine with XP, I really haven't had many instability issues except a few blue screens when I'm playing a demanding game.
I actually ordered Vista last night. Why? Although I am fine with XP, I do desire something fresh. Something pleasant, pretty, and stable. (Which I guess Vista is supposed to be more stable...don't know how true that is or not) I know I've got sick and tired of having to have my floppy ready for my SATA drivers any time I want to format...Vista doesn't need that crap. You can also locate anything you need off of USB drives at the installation menu too. These are just things that XP SHOULD"VE been able to do. It's a shame that we have to pay more $ for the ability.
But I dunno guys...I got Home Premium, because I don't really need the features offered in Business or Ultimate...I got it from ZipZoomFly for $120 OEM 64-bit edition. I'm no rich man, but I don't think $120 is THAT bad. (Btw, I've never seen the sense in buying Retail. They claim you can't switch computers or have a new motherboard...but one 8 min call to Microsoft is all it takes.) $120 for a fresh new OS, which should be used for the next 5 years at least. Sure, it's going to take some learning and getting used to...But like I said, I personally am looking for something fresh. I got tired of XP.