The long march from Longhorn is ending: Microsoft this morning announced that Windows Vista is in shipping shape.
The company said Jim Allchin, Co-President of Platforms & Services Division, would be hosting an 11 a.m. PST teleconference to announce the release to manufacturing (RTM) of the long-awaited new version of Microsoft's flagship operating system (which was code-named Longhorn for the first few years of its development).
RTM is industry jargon that historically has denoted software code delivered to a duplication facility for commercial distribution. However it's not entirely clear that the version announced today will be on the Windows Vista DVDs that are slated to appear at retail in late January.
For starters, Microsoft earlier this year announced a two-tier release schedule for Vista. Volume-license enterprise customers will be able to get Vista at the end of November, and these folks don't typically get (or deploy) their operating systems in shrink-wrapped packages anyway. Their IT departments will get the code and create their own custom versions.
Individuals who want a shrink-wrapped Vista DVD (to install the OS on an existing PC) or a new PC with Vista preinstalled will have to wait until the end of January for general retail availability.
Of course, it takes time to manufacture, package and ship those shrink-wrapped DVDs. And PC vendors also need time to manufacture the PCs with Vista preinstalled and ship them to their retail partners. So some weeks before the end of January Microsoft will have to provide code to its DVD manufacturing facilities and PC vendor partners, but will it be the exact same RTM code announced today? We've asked, and nobody at Microsoft has given us a definitive answer.
Whether or not Microsoft sneaks in an additional build or two before shipping to PC makers and duplicating facilities, Vista will likely remain a work in progress for at least some months to come. When you install it yourself, or boot up a new Vista PC, one of the first things it will do is try to go online to check for updates (not to mention the whole Product Activation drill). It's highly unlikely that very many people will be running version 1.0, with no fractional point releases, for very long.
That said, we'll be posting a review based on a near-final, feature-complete release candidate in the next few weeks. And as soon as we get our own copy of the RTM code, we'll start performance testing to check out Microsoft's claims about system requirements, the impact of resource-hungry Aero graphics, whether your apps will slow down if you upgrade, performance-enhancing features such as ReadyBoost, and more.
It's been a long time--five years--since Microsoft last launched an operating system. Soon we'll start to see--and hear from you--whether the new one brings worthwhile innovation to the table.
"Windows Vista is in Shipping Shape -- What does this mean to you?" -- it means NOTHING to me. I would NEVER install a brand new OS as soon as it's released. I always wait a while, and let all of the other fools out there install it and beta-test it for Microsoft; then, when it is sufficiently stable, I install it.
XP and 2000 are working fine for me; I am not one who has to have the latest and "greatest" from Microsoft, or from any other company for that matter.
Here is what I have to say, strange as it may sound. I only use Vista out of necessity. No distribution of Linux will install correctly with my hardware, Mac OS X x86 will not work right, and Windows prior to Vista will not detect my SATA correctly. That being said, I am a victim of the ACPI failures, with the spontaneous shutdowns and all. IF, and only if, Microsoft resolves these ACPI failures, I will be content. However, as of now, say no to Vista.
I have vista rc1 and rc2 is supositly better, the os is defenently ready.
Who is going to either be brave enough or crazy enough to risk their computers with an early version of an os created by Microsoft? Can anyone remember Windows 98 first edition and the bugs that came with that one? What about Windows ME. I think that I will be one of the smarter ones and wait for it to have sp1 before I consider it for my computer or for my customers computers.
Woo hoo!! Yay, FINALLY. One thing to say: Cluttered with bugs so WAIT 4 months prior to release before purchasing it.
I have been awaiting VISTA since the release of the Intel Core 2 chips ..... FINALLY I will be able to buy a new computer. In fact our small business is purchasing all new computers as soon as VISTA is released on Jan 30.
Yep, we are going to be the first in line. We were first in line for XP and Windows 98, so why not first in line for VISTA?
And by the way, with the exception of some off the wall software not being compatible with XP, we have never had a problem with purchasing software and equipment as soon as it was released.
Be positive, smile often and everything will be great.
"Be positive, smile often and everything will be great."
Sure, StevenJD. Lol. This reminds me of Monty Python's song "Always look on the bright side of life".
For those of us with their feet firmly planted on the ground: steer clear of Vista for at least a year, if you value your business and your peace of mind.
Better still: consider switching to an easy-to-use free Linux distribution, like Ubuntu Linux. Bye bye viruses, spyware, adware.....
Greeting, Pjotr.
Linux and "easy-to-use" in the same sentence is an oxymoron. No matter how backward Vista may be (and it's actually really nice from an ease of use standpoint), there's no way it could be as hard to use as Linux.
For example, have you ever tried to print something with Linux? It can be done (if you're lucky enough to have a supported printer), but it's a huge pain. As opposed to just plugging in the printer and hitting next, next, next through the found new hardware wizard on Windows. Which would you prefer?
True, Linux used to be difficult. You certainly have a point there. And Vista is easy to use. But nowadays some Linux distributions are... easy! And the easiest of all is Ubuntu Linux. My HP Deskjet 5440 printer worked straight away, by the way, no action needed on my part. Why don't you see for yourself and give Ubuntu a try? It's free and fun. Please share your experience with us here! You can choose two versions of Ubuntu: 6.06 and 6.10. For beginners in Linux, 6.06 (Dapper Drake) is the best choice: stable, reliable and tested. You might even decide that you can do without Vista...
Regards, Pjotr.
I plan on purchasing a new PC after the new year. Is it true the Windows Vista will be available sometime in that time frame?
Any opinions on Apple computers? I currently spend my time on a Dell 8250.
@jellybn:
Apple's operating system is far better than Windows. Stable, intuitive, easy-to-use.
More importantly: there are hardly any viruses, no spyware, no adware.
Regards, Pjotr.
As PC builders we are ecstatic about Microsofts requirement that its "partners" will not be allowed to build XP based PCs after the release of Vista. It means that we will continue to build XP based systems and Dell etc cannot. We can even use the XP OS license from a 6 year old system and save our customer the cost of a new OS. Whoopee. Let the good times roll.
As PC builders we are ecstatic about Microsofts requirement that its "partners" will not be allowed to build XP based PCs after the release of Vista. It means that we will continue to build XP based systems and Dell etc cannot. We can even use the XP OS license from a 6 year old system and save our customer the cost of a new OS. Whoopee. Let the good times roll.
I think I will go for it; it all depends on how much trouble it will be to install it. I've never done that before and that scares me a bit. Other than that, I will buy the product.
Foxylady48180
Vista has been in the hands of testers for quite some time and is working very well. The negative comments seem to be coming from people who haven't tried the OS and are just rants against Microsoft. They are right and the rest of the world is wrong. Not!
Tried Vista Beta and IE 7 Same stuoid problem can't copy paste addresses.Lost a lot of email I enjoyed because of those delightful features.Besides now registering MN software is worse than hemmorhoids and bo medication for it. Contacted MS for instructions to install MS windows live care one.Never got such a run around in my life from people dumber than I.Back to good old cheap and reliable software for about 50$ and under..Only thing I found about Vista was When I deleted them I went back to XP the Crippled child Of MSN.
Bob Sr.
Tried Vista Beta and IE 7 Same stuoid problem can't copy paste addresses.Lost a lot of email I enjoyed because of those delightful features.Besides now registering MN software is worse than hemmorhoids and bo medication for it. Contacted MS for instructions to install MS windows live care one.Never got such a run around in my life from people dumber than I.Back to good old cheap and reliable software for about 50$ and under..Only thing I found about Vista was When I deleted them I went back to XP the Crippled child Of MSN.
Bob Sr.
Since the beginning of Windows 98 til XP there is a lot o problems, patches that needed to be download, errors that cause your daily live to be a blunder. And the greatest thing is XP still has a problem. What good is Vista then?, I have enough time just handling handling XP alone. Sometimes i wish that i can install Mac OS inside my PC for a change, more reliable eh!
Since the beginning of Windows 98 til XP there is a lot o problems, patches that needed to be download, errors that cause your daily live to be a blunder. And the greatest thing is XP still has a problem. What good is Vista then?, I have enough time just handling handling XP alone. Sometimes i wish that i can install Mac OS inside my PC for a change, more reliable eh!
Since the beginning of Windows 98 til XP there is a lot o problems, patches that needed to be download, errors that cause your daily live to be a blunder. And the greatest thing is XP still has a problem. What good is Vista then?, I have enough time just handling handling XP alone. Sometimes i wish that i can install Mac OS inside my PC for a change, more reliable eh!
Wow, we all are ready to pay Microsoft to be a Vista beta-tester, and to start again with a new bug-ready product: prepare yourself with a barrel of patience, tons of compatibility problems, and an overload of update.microsoft.com.
Just a suggestion: whichever will be the MS announcements about this product (stability, security, compatibility, and other blah blah blah), Vista should be bought (!) ONE year after its first release. As for each other Microsoft product.
I for one will not be buying Vista untill they get rid of the registration process going by the number of times that I have to reinstall my current operating system W2K.Reregistering each time would be just too much of a pain.
For the next 6 months Vista will be a work in progress. That means bugs galore. I agree with Pjotr. Ubuntu Linux is a thing of beauty. Most of my colleagues use Ubuntu for just about everything. Open Source is the way to go. You don't have to spend big bucks to get an application that works. Ubuntu has just about all the apps you will ever need right inside the OS. And the price is right. (Free). Give Ubuntu Linux a try and let Microsoft continue to push out their junk.
I am one of the testers of Windows Viista, first I tested Vista Beta build 5386, and then build 5600. There was an improvement in the build 5600, and the operating system was very stable. It is still up and running smoothly, with many beta software apps. running on it. After reading all the BS about Vista I felt someone that actually knows should speak up. I built a computer for $500 that installed Vista Ultimate first time out without any hitches. Speed and Performance cost money, but the $86 motherboard with onboard video runs Windows Aero. When Vista is released with the added improvements it can only be more reliable. Don't base anything said about Win. 98 or ME as being true to form about Vista. This is 2006, technology has grown by leaps and bounds. Microsoft will be on top with Vista, and the improvements in Vista are intense.
Oh great, another gem from Macroshaft. Calling all exterminators......
It;s true what rmarsh said that this is a leap of tech for the microsoft guys, but we have to remember when XP came out it was same thing back then when Microsoft deploying they so called "the next leap of technology" with XP. They are unstable then and unless they can make their ads like the Mac OS "The, Hey i am PC and Iam Mac" or more to say SHOW ME YOUR BEST SHOT! I heard about open source like Linux Ubuntu its quite stable but never seen used widely or someone u know even in Asia countries like where i am, But compare that to XP or Vista, my bet is on Mac OS or Linux Ubuntu.. Need to study more on Linux eh
Johnybbad, you'll find Ubuntu Linux very easy to download and run. It is user friendly. Mac OS is another stable system. If I was starting out with Linux I would go to Ubuntu 6.01 Dapper Drake distribution. Microsoft is in the habit of touting too much garbage. As I said before, Vista may work well within a year. Many companies are now using Linux as their main source of computing. It's free and fun and all the apps are free. Can't beat that.
I don't know what all the crying is about, the only operating systems i have used that wasn't stable were Win98 & WinME. Microsoft should have recalled all of WinME & trashed them. I strted useing XP in 2002 & the only time i had to reinstall it was because of hardware or hard drive failing. I use Vista's RC1 a few times & i do like it. I don't however like the amount of hard drve space it takes up or the amount of memory it uses. It's a memory HOG. For know i'm sticking with what work.....XP!
I don't know what all the crying is about, the only operating systems i have used that wasn't stable were Win98 & WinME. Microsoft should have recalled all of WinME & trashed them. I strted useing XP in 2002 & the only time i had to reinstall it was because of hardware or hard drive failing. I use Vista's RC1 a few times & i do like it. I don't however like the amount of hard drve space it takes up or the amount of memory it uses. It's a memory HOG. For know i'm sticking with what work.....XP!
I don't know what all the crying is about, the only operating systems i have used that wasn't stable were Win98 & WinME. Microsoft should have recalled all of WinME & trashed them. I strted useing XP in 2002 & the only time i had to reinstall it was because of hardware or hard drive failing. I use Vista's RC1 a few times & i do like it. I don't however like the amount of hard drve space it takes up or the amount of memory it uses. It's a memory HOG. For know i'm sticking with what work.....XP!
I always have to have the latest Windows even before it goes public. I love testing it.
I have been using Vista for about a month+ and I love it. There are still a lot of incompatibilities with certain programs, but over all it works faster, hardware is easier to install and setting up a wireless connection was much easier than with XP. I am very excited about it. Once you use it you won't want to go back to XP!