SE4, SE5 and Vista?

Fyron · #1 April 2nd, 2007, 09:58 PM

There are a lot of "wizards" you can't disable in XP Home that make it a pain in the arse to use (its network file sharing mechanism comes to mind). It doesn't remember network share and printer info very well, which makes it a pain to keep my mother's laptop able to use the network-shared printer (shared by a 2k machine)... The compies with XP Pro and Win2k here have no such troubles, and don't even need to think about hackish solutions like making sure all the account names and passwords are the same on every machine.

You can always install a non-MS media player to play unencumbered media files if they make WiMP screw with them. DRM is nasty crap, certainly, but its only there because the MPAA and RIAA are obsessed with the stuff and demand it for digital distribution and the next-gen disk formats. MS doesn't care enough about their content to try to take complete control of your media playing capabilities...

But yes, the DRM is only applicable to DRM-protected files. It has no bearing on unprotected files whatsoever, and you will never have a situation where you won't be able to play unprotected files in Windows; it just isn't in MS's interests to do that. I currently have no problems playing any such unencumbered files in Vista... Its pretty paranoid to believe you will.

There are lots of good reasons to use Linux; unmitigated paranoia about DRM isn't really one of them.

Atrocities · #2 April 3rd, 2007, 09:04 AM

Well despite my warnings my Mother bought a new lap top with Vista basic pre-installed and guess what, none of her programs work. Oh they told her they would all work, but they don't. She was mad about it that she returned to the store and in front of the store manager called the salesmen a "God damned liar!" for telling her that all of her programs would run on Vista.

Oh well.

Suicide Junkie · #3 April 3rd, 2007, 09:40 AM

Oh, man, I wish I could have seen that.

Fyron · #4 April 3rd, 2007, 01:41 PM

I've yet to find a (non-ancient game that requires dosbox anyways) program I use that won't work in Vista.

Raapys · #5 April 3rd, 2007, 02:20 PM

But if Vista doesn't even include the new file system, what is the point with it?

It can't be just a slower version of WinXP, can it?

GuyOfDoom · #6 April 3rd, 2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Raapys said:
But if Vista doesn't even include the new file system, what is the point with it?

It can't be just a slower version of WinXP, can it?

It's going to "revolutionize the world." But yeah it's just an excuse to force an upgrade and push the need for spending more money on computers.

Baron Munchausen · #7 April 3rd, 2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Raapys said:
But if Vista doesn't even include the new file system, what is the point with it?

It can't be just a slower version of WinXP, can it?

It most certainly can be! They cancelled most of the 'innovative' features, such as the new file system (WinFS), just to be able to get it out the door. The primary changes are the fancy 'Aero' interface, the DRM garbage, and a bunch of API changes to make old programs incompatible.

Fyron · #8 April 3rd, 2007, 09:14 PM

That isn't true, BM. Old programs _are_ compatible, for the most part. The old APIs are still supported in compatibility layers, much like Win9x apps are still supported in Win2x/XP (and so are those ancient 16 bit win 3.1 type apps, for the most part). You only have issues with programs that would access the low level parts of the kernel (like some AV software), that is now impossible due to the improved security model. I have yet to have any software or game compatibility issues with software I use/used on XP or Win2k. Then there is the new driver model, but that doesn't really hurt much of anything; any basic peripheral will have most likely have workable drivers already included with the OS, and more advanced stuff (eg: video cards) have new drivers available from the vendors. DirectX 9 and below games are still supported.

Vista probably isn't worth buying to upgrade your current computer, much like WinXP wasn't if you had Win2k (though it could well have been if you were still in the dark ages of Win9x). But if you are buying/building a new computer, you will be better off getting (non-Home Basic) Vista instead of XP. Some vendors (eg: Dell) have even been running "free upgrade to vista home premium" type offers lately.

AMF · #9 April 9th, 2007, 01:42 AM

Ok, So, can I ask some advice, then, for the linux guru types out there? If I were to buy a totally new computer, with the intention of running Linux on it, and I wanted to be able to do everything I can do with a new XP machine, what would be the best system/linux version/etc... to get? I've used linux boxes in the past, and even once set one up on my own, but I am only moderately wise to the whole thing, and would love any and all advice on pitfalls etc...

The only time I set up a linux box, I had lots of problems setting up the DSL connection, video and audio drivers, and installing new software...so I guess I'm sort of an idiot when it comes to all that...but I retain a perhaps vain hope that I could run a linux machine at home to entirely replace my Windoze one...

So...anybody know of a good website for linux quasi-newbies like myself?

Thanks,

AMF