Official Windows Vista Versions...

[Teddy Rogers]

Vista, Microsoft’s new OS, will require a little more PC power than what users are normally used to seeing. Since a lot of customers are already waiting off for the release of Vista to purchase a new computer, they should know what the future holds. The typical computer you can now get for around $300 will need some hardcore upgrades if it plans on running Vista.

According to Dell, a dedicated partner of Microsoft, models for the home and home office, the recommended desktop for Vista is priced at $1,749. The laptop costs $2,699. If we were to take a look at the minimum requirements for Vista, one would understand why the price is so high.

These hefty requirements are: 512 megabytes or more of RAM, an advanced graphics card (preferably PCI Express, as AGP is said to not be "optimal" for Vista), and an optical drive capable of reading and writing DVDs. Both 32-bit and 64-bit processors are supported, with an advantage on the 64-bit side. Most new PCs should be able to handle Vista's basic requirements in every regard except for maybe the issue of the CPU. Since most computers currently being sold have 32-bit CPUs, many customers may choose to buy new hardware in order to properly run Vista. A Microsoft Windows Vista Display Driver Module (WVDDM) graphics driver will be required for a system to run AeroGlass, the highest level of Microsoft Windows Vista graphics.

Yet, if customers plan on waiting around for Vista’s release to buy a new computer, they might have to rethink their strategies. Vista has been pushed back a number of times already. With the possibility of yet another pushback, are consumers’ motives validated when they choose to wait until the end of the year to make their computer purchases? When consumers do start buying new hardware, prepare to see the old 32-bit CPUs drop in price dramatically, with everyone wanting the premium 64-bit CPUs, companies might want to analyze the cost/benefit of staying with the older versions of Vista until all the bugs are hammered out of the new OS.

Ted.

[Guest Hawk7]

Hi Ted. I heard rumors that you won't be able to crack apps, using this OS. Have you heard anything about this.

[Teddy Rogers]

I heard that they were thinking of limiting some debugging resources but I don't think they would dare to prevent debuggers from running, it just isn't practical or viable. All OS's need to be able to debug applications and programs if they want to have good programs running under them...

Ted.

[Guest Hawk7]

Mmm. Well hopefully it wont be as buggy as xp. I'll wait till it's out for a while and hear what others have to say about it before I jump on the vista boat... Peace

Edited January 19, 2006 by Hawk7

[MaRKuS_TH-DJM]

the requirements are bloated. and i guess i already know where all the resources will go: drivers for all that crypto-**** (PMP, PE, PVP, PUMA) protecting the content of film and music industry. Their aeroglass is implemented in a way which will be the death of the good old OpenGL (only software-emulated). as i said, i guess it will be a waste to buy this **** (or even pirate it).

at other companies, programmers are kicked out if they would waste resources this way. also a shame they kill OpenGL just to get their Direct3D on the top...

Edited January 20, 2006 by MaRKuS_TH-DJM

[human]

nobody will use vista till all DRM will be cracked, because system will useless without it, no cd burning until on network it will check if you have rights for it, no movie watching, because picture will be blured so you will see ****. xp64 will be a long solution for most of us. and vista is built over xp kernel just drm crap added, even now come out patches for bugs in beta ver that are exploitable also on xp. so dont expect miracle. i dont need os that will use Pixelshader 2.0 to draw icon or window, it will be slow like hell, even on xp we have to disable all animations,autoruns,fadings to have pleasure from using our computer.

xp is best os that microsoft did till now, and noob only can say its with a lot of holes, every popular system is exploitable, every program has bugs that can be used, its the price of microsoft monopoly, xp is faster than 98, due its doesnt use 16bit code, and if you were ever coding your own dos pmode extender you will know that swithcing from 16<>32 bit mode takes a lot of ticks,on 486 it was even 300 clock ticks.

xp64 now suffers from that problem, same will be with vista, but vista will not be 32bit at least microsoft said it months ago that they drop support for 32bit version, and good for them why use old cpus, soon there will be 256bit cpu but someone will say he wants 32bit ver. on 64 bit we can do lot more and faster in 1 instruction, for example add 64bit integers.

add rax,10000000000h

in 32bit we need 2 instructions and 2 regs

add eax,000000h

adc ebx,100000h

more complicated is compare

you will not do it with one but 5 or more instrcutions

because one 32bit part can be equal or higher or lower and you have to handle all cases

[Teddy Rogers]

Well... one of the whole reasons for all the requirements of advanced GFX cards and CPU's is to push the technology frontiers and create more hardware sales (dollars) for the hardware companies like that of Intel and ATI which, Microsoft are closely tied to. Plus the fact that M$ are designing operating systems with longevity in mind, OS's that will still look smart and modern years after their initial release.

Even if M$ try to curb the freedom of digital material in Vista I still think its inevitable that we'll all end up hopping on to this band wagon. There are too many companies frightened of missing out on the lucrative dollars of Vista plus hardware retailers will be pushing new systems with the OS installed. Then you'll just have the die hards that want the newest and best machines just for the sake of having it. It'll happen and you'll end up there. We all will

Let us hope some crazy Chinese company will come up with a competing OS over the next 10 years...

Ted.

[cektop]

I'm going back to Win98SE or porting to Linux. Imagine how that things will work there with that machine.

I also thought about competing OS within next 10 years, but I bet on Google. It doesnt matter. Its all good as long as it doesnt require 512MB and 3GHz to run.

Jerks...

[Teddy Rogers]

I'm with you on the Google idea. I keep my fingers crossed that they will take a look on AROS and really push some quality development on it. It would be really good to see that free OS hitting the mainstream. It just needs a big company to invest some money in to developing it further...

Ted.

[cektop]

Google is definantly the thing. I cant believe such company exist in rotten capitalistic society such as the one from which Microsoft summoned. Great and talented team of people, and above all enthusiasts which know the borders of needs of a human.

Why base new OS on AROS? I heared of it first time from you here. Is it any good. If Google doesnt start from scratch, then why not start from *NIX which is already got quite far? It basicly just needs marketing, not too much development.

[human]

well 98 is outdated like hell, you will run nothing decent on it, also its slower than xp as i said too much 16bit code, linux may soon end if all ****ers gonna sue them for software patents, now linux has to remove fat support due ms**** owns it, and have finaly patent, so also digital cameras have to pay or find own solution, and finaly i stoped using linux due too much there windows, all config helpers in cli were removed now you have to use gui or edit config files like in slackware

[Teddy Rogers]

I don't think file format is a big thing. There are already a few variants out there that can be used and developed on other OS's and a lot better than FAT and NTFS. I think the only reason why M$ called patents on FAT this time round is to extend their global dominance and control over media and hardware. Why else would they suddenly patent something 20+ years old and out-dated...

Ted.

[human]

fat32 r0x, ntfs is crap like hell, due those **** files not direct space in sectors like fat32, ms**** can improve it a lot, speed at least of filesystem when they put mft table etc again into sectors like fat32 not into hidden files, another thing move virtual memory like linux also to partition and sectors not file, this just slows all down. year ago even there were rumours that they want to make vista filesystem on mssql database, that would be crap of the millenium

[cektop]

o_O on MSSQL? Wow!? Why dont I just build a calc.exe on HL2 engine. Wouldnt that be so cool? Btw, I dont know if it's true, but couple of hours ago, I heared from a friend that Google signed some cooperation agreement with Sun. I hope something usefull gets out of that...

Oh yea!

http://www.sun.com/2005-1004/feature/

Also

http://news.com.com/Google+and+Sun+deal+Th..._3-5888798.html and

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1866536,00.asp

[human]

you can read about it here for example http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/Longhorn/WinF...FSDataModel.asp

if they do such thing then vista is lost, a big slow like hell ****, well maybe its good for fast lookup like in server but not for home usage, like this slowing all down crap indexing service in xp

but that crap sounds better

Microsoft executives have been briefing the company's largest corporate clients and partners about their plans for the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, and have included mention of a new SQL-based file system, sources said. That would require a SQL engine.

read here and rotfl

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,30850,00.asp

Edited January 21, 2006 by human

[cektop]

I doubt that they will push WinFS. Even when Vista gets released, WinFS wont be a default option I guess. Or they will postpone release of the new OS for a couple more years. Its actually an interesting idea to have a relational FS, but it's really not needed (at least I think so). Also, SQL is not used to have fast lookups, but to ease the programming, so that doesnt justify such FS.

[MaRKuS_TH-DJM]

WinFS won't be implemented in vista, microsoft plans to integrate it in a later service pack or another new OS, so the release date of vista isn't delayed.

[Guest Kakaru]

now, I heard all drivers must be digitally signed in order to install on Vista, even if you are an Admin.

[Teddy Rogers]

Since threats from kernel-mode rootkits have been on the rise, Microsoft’s planning a big policy change to block uncertified drivers from loading on X64 versions of Windows Vista. The kernel mode software of Windows Vista and Windows Server must have a digital signature to load on x64-based computer systems.

This is an attempt to restrict the spread of powerful rootkits that intercept the native API in kernel-mode and directly manipulate Windows data structures. Rootkits are components that typically use stealth to maintain a persistent and undetectable presence on a computer. This technology is used by hackers in malicious spyware programs and in identity theft schemes.

This policy is part of Microsoft’s SDL (Security Development Lifecycle), the required creation process used by Microsoft engineers to include security into all products that are connected to the Net. "By requiring digital signatures on all kernel mode software running Windows Vista on x64-based computer systems, this allows the administrator or end user who is installing Windows-based software to know whether a legitimate publisher has provided the software package helping limit the impact of kernel malware on customers' systems,” a Microsoft spokesperson said.

This change means that users who do not have administrative privileges are no longer able to install unsigned drivers. It means that drivers must be signed for devices that stream protected content (including audio drivers that use PUMA (Protected User Mode Audio) and PAP (Protected Audio Path), and video device drivers that handle protected video path-output protection management (PVP-OPM) commands). From now on unsigned kernel-mode software will not load or run on X64-based systems.

Ultimately this change will help diagnose system crashes better according to Microsoft. It will narrow the list of which publisher’s software was running at the time of the error. This will then lead to software publishers fixing the errors faster from the information Microsoft provides them.

Vista driver developers must obtain a Publisher Identity Certificate (PIC) from Microsoft. Microsoft says they won't charge for it, but they require that you have a Class 3 Commercial Software Publisher Certificate from Verisign. This costs $500 per year.

Ted.

[Teddy Rogers]

It seems that better security is part of the overall theme for Windows Vista. Vista’s Two-Way firewall will be one of the hidden gems of the next Windows Operating System. Microsoft is making the Vista version firewall one that is highly configurable and designed to give administrators greater control over managing system applications.

There’s been over a month of CTP (Community Technology Preview) user testing and the firewall is on track to be in the final release of Vista schedules for the second half of this year. Austin Wilson, a director in Microsoft's Windows client group said that Microsoft is actually considering adding a similar feature for its consumer users.

The new firewall’s advantage is that it filters both incoming and outgoing network traffic, so it can block outside machines that are trying to connect to the Windows PC as well as applications on the PC that are trying to connect to other systems on the network.

The new Windows Firewall in Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn" has the following enhancements over the current Windows Firewall in Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1:

-Supports both incoming and outgoing traffic

-New Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in for graphical user interface (GUI) configuration

-Firewall filtering and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) protection settings are integrated

-Exceptions can be configured for Active Directory directory service accounts and groups, source and destination IP addresses, IP protocol number, source and destination Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports, all or multiple TCP or UDP ports, specific types of interfaces, Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and ICMP for IPv6 (ICMPv6) traffic by Type and Code

The console has the ability to operate in two ways: the single-machine mode manages only the PC it has been installed in, but when configured using Active Directory, it can set up policies that apply to a large number of machines. Wilson added, "If I have 10,000 machines, I can set up a policy, one time, to block a given application. And that would propagate across all of my 10,000 machines."

The latest firewall is bound to catch a few eyes as it makes its way to Vista later on this year.

Ted.

[Teddy Rogers]

Almost a week after Microsoft had some unwanted information about the Vista versions leaking on the Internet, the Redmond giant announced yesterday in an official press release the complete lineup for the next operating system.

So, Microsoft has decided to hit the users with six versions: two for businesses, three for consumers, and one for emerging markets.

Here’s the list: Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate and Windows Vista Starter.

As one can notice, the number of Windows Vista versions is equal to that for Windows XP, the system to be replaced.

Microsoft says in the press release that each product is tailored to meet specific needs of various segments of customers and is aimed at bringing 64-bit, Media Center and Tablet PC functionality into the mainstream.

“We live in a digital world that is filled with more information, more things to do and more ways to communicate with others than ever. The PC needs to give people the clarity and confidence to handle this ‘world of more’ so they can focus on what’s most important to them,” said Mike Sievert, corporate vice president of Windows Product Management and Marketing at Microsoft.

In the Bussiness field, the Enterprise version has some components that are worth discussing:

- Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption helps prevent sensitive data and intellectual property from falling into the wrong hands if a computer is lost or stolen.

- Virtual PC Express is one of several built-in tools that improve application compatibility with previous versions of Microsoft operating systems. Virtual PC Express enables a legacy application to run unchanged on a legacy Windows operating system in a virtual environment on top of Windows Vista Enterprise.

- Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications enables users to run UNIX applications unchanged on a Windows Vista Enterprise-based PC.

For entertainment, Windows Vista Home Premium also comes with a few tempting offers:

- Windows Media Center capabilities turn the PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. Consumers can use Media Center to record and watch TV shows (even high-definition TV) and access new kinds of online entertainment content. It also provides the ability to connect Windows Vista Home Premium to Xbox 360.

- Windows Tablet PC technology, which enables interaction with the PC with a digital pen or fingertip instead of a keyboard, is also available in this edition of Windows Vista.

- Integrated DVD burning and authoring allows users to seamlessly burn personal videos photos and files to video or data DVDs.

If you want to have all the power of Windows vista, then the Ultimate version will be the best suited for you, this one integrating all the entertainment, mobility and business features of the others.

Microsoft mentions that all of them will be available toward the end of the year.

Ted.

[Guest Hawk7]

Hey Ted I heard that these new 64 bit OS's are not going to be reversable. I heard the encrytion is going to be so extreme

that if the right serial number is'nt used. It will render the hardware useless until you call microsoft to unlock it. I don't know if this is all true, it's just what I've heard. And I don't beleave everything I hear. What do you think...

[Loki]

Thats probably the only way they can protect it - I read somewhere that the CD you buy is the same regardless of Vista version. The version actually installed to your system is dependent on the serial number you use.

I hadn't heard the runour you mention, but if they don't do something extreme like that then it would appear to be a 'pirate me please' invitation

[human]

nothing is unreversable, and microsoft will never do it, even under preasure of mpass riass and us gov.

why?

because in most countries people cant afford to buy pc,system and original software, and that way they will not get new talented programmers that were learning on pirated software.

other thing like windows update why is it so lame.

if they make it hard to crack or checking on server side not client, then they will lose monopoly and everybody will migrate and support linux.

and who will win then?

they know it but dobt tell it.

and thats why all will stay same, mpass riass doesnt think about it, because they look on numbers of $ on their accounts now, they doesnt see what future they moves will bring.

there already was talking about drm in bios, all passes storage, licences and nobody did it, monitors with HDMI that scramble data and will show black picture if you dont have licence to watch that movie. what does it mean?

its old 2-3 years and no one gigabyte,asus,msi and other rls such mobo.

why? because it means dead for company, due everybody will buy other mobo that doesnt have it. well everybody are against piracy, but we dont like when someone tries to control us.

think now about france they changed law that you own original and cant do copy. we will see in short time how much selling of cd's will go down, why? because who will buy product that after one scratch is unusable, and riass mpass will not send you replacement cd/dvd. listening cd's in car means scratches because there is no place to put all cds in boxes or protect cds. soon they again will change law that you can do backup. because will you buy tv, and when it fails you cant fix it, because law forbides you to open tv and let electronics fix small part

[Guest Hawk7]

I agree... I was telling the guy who brought this to my attension that any lock and or protection made can be broken and or reveresed. But he seems to think that this one will be different. Hehe. Wishful thinking