Feedback on windows vista
Biggest release in the history of Microsoft
At last, Microsoft released Windows Vista to world
wide customers in January 2007 over 70 to 75 countries.
According to Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, it is perhaps
the biggest release in the history of Microsoft. Ballmer
speaking to USA TODAY reporter Jon Swartz (with Ballmer,
crunching a handful of potato chips!) said that the
operating system will have many rich features in it.
He said that, in the past, the operating system Windows
95 certainly clicked off a new era in the development
of Windows based operating systems. He was of opinion
that, it also started creating new waves in system software
development and also in buying consumer technologies.
User interface is more exciting as per Microsoft CEO
When asked about dropped features, Ballmer simply avoided
it by saying a list of features which the operating
system included with it. He said that the user interface
is more exciting, easier and interesting to use. He
further said that they have strengthened the security
and introduced a much awaited feature, the parental
control.
There are photo sharing capabilities among other things.
He hopes that the major computer software will give
its best and finest performance to its users. He could
have explained more number of features that the operating
system has got. But, he might be thinking that users
should give a try on the new features, when the system
software product rolled out to the customers.
Vista customer feedback - What users expected in Windows Vista
Now, let me think from the user point of view. It is
quite natural that, when the new product is launched,
users expect more features when he compares the new
version with the immediate older one. Ordinary users
look for changes in screen designs and very simple n
ordinary easy-to-understand features. These features
are easily identifiable by him.
But, from the MAC user point of view, it is almost
the same GUI which the MAC users already enjoying. Some
users may feel discomfort while using the GUI, where
as others will be happy to use the new changed environment.
Microsoft has certainly developed a new feature called
as “Aero”. Aero gives amazing 3D, translucent
look for Windows Vista. Mr. Ballmer could have mentioned
about it, while talking about Vista features.
Media Center, tablet PC & security update SP2
Mr. Ballmer said that, it is wrong to think that the
company has not released any new versions of Windows
between Windows Vista and Windows XP releases. According
to him, there was release of new versions of Media Center,
tablet PC technologies, and a major security update
SP2 (Service Pack 2).
He further said that, the company is a good runner,
which will bring changes to its products as and when
new technologies got emerged in the filed of speech,
visuals and others. He further added that, they keep
the OS upgrading in smaller volumes, and keep releasing
updates periodically to Windows and also for the other
products.
Age of internet
Ballmer also said that, we are now in the age of internet
and should develop products and services as fast as
possible. He was of opinion that, the company has not
lagged behind, in faster developing of its products
and releasing them to the customer. He further added
in the fast moving world, people are willing to cope
with reliability and security issues. The internet applications
were developed with taking the users in to confidence.
File system
While reading the article “Microsoft CEO: 'Very
happy' with Vista” on the USA today, one will
come to conclusion that Mr. Ballmer has hesitated in
admitting that the file system WinFS will not be in
the list of new features. The new design may well attract
many people across the world. But, it however lacks
consistency. The design may be new to the operating
system, but, similar design has already been used in
MAC OS X. A world wide debate on this issue has already
started in the cyber world.
Buy a PC with Preinstalled Vista
Ok, let us now set aside the interview of Mr. Ballmer
and see how others reacted, prior to the operating system’s
release. Microsoft has brought some new features such
as video editing in Windows Vista, when compared to
its predecessor Windows XP according to Preston Gralla,
author of Windows Vista in a Nutshell.
He also felt that, Vista is not for every one, who
is still using older versions of Windows. He has got
some amazing tips to follow before and after upgrading
or installing Windows Vista. He says if one looks at
the price, it is better to buy a PC with Vista being
preinstalled rather than upgrading the old stuff.
Windows Vista is available in different versions starting
from Home Basic for homes to Vista Enterprise for Corporates.
The prices vary from $99.00 to $400.00. He also pointed
out that there will be a lot of discounts available
for Windows Vista upon its release. One of them is the
Amazon.com. Another seller named Circuit City is offering
a free printer, router and other some extras with a
purchase, including rebates.
Another seller named Staples is giving a free 1-GB
flash memory drive with some versions of Windows Vista.
One has to think what he or she requires for free of
cost and then decide to buy windows vista.
It is certain that, the new operating system Windows
Vista requires more food to eat. It of course, needs
systems with higher memory capacity and greater hard
disk free space. It may not run on older systems whose
speed is below 800 MHz, according to Microsoft’s
minimum system requirements for Windows Vista.Crucial
Device driver.
In any operating systems, it is the Device driver which
is crucial for the device to work properly. Though the
device is all correct in its overall functionality,
it is the device driver which makes all success. In
a computer system, there are two kinds of devices.
They are referred to as internal and external. Internal
devices are standard devices which can operate without
the help of any driver software. Keyboards, Display
cards (It requires drivers to be installed, when used
with GUI based systems), Monitors, floppy disk drives,
internal hard disk drives are the devices which fall
under this category.
Where as external devices require drivers compulsorily
to work. The manufacturer of these devices usually provides
driver software in CDs or floppies. If there is no proper
driver provided with the device, the device will not
get detected or enabled in the system. Some of the external
devices are Mouse, Printer, some CD/DVD drives, and
some external hard disks, scanners. These devices require
proper drivers. There may be a possibility of drivers
getting incompatibility problems, when tried on new
operating systems.
And more over, the device driver may not be suited
to the new operating system and can fail periodically
when tried to load. The only solution to this problem
is to get the updated driver which is suitable for the
operating system. Some manufacturers will develop and
release the new drivers for a new operating system,
whenever the new OS is released. Otherwise, the device
becomes unusable from the new operating system.
To know whether the purchased old device is compatible
with Vista or to know whether the new driver is available
for the device, one needs to visit Microsoft.com or
the device manufacturer’s website. According to
Gralla, PC accessories purchased before six months ago
may have trouble communicating with Vista PCs. He says,
as said above, some old devices will never work with
Windows Vista PC’s as there are no latest drivers
available for them.
Backup all important data
While trying to upgrade old PC’s one should backup
all important data it contains. In the event of crash
or some problems while installing, you will loose the
data. It is better to use separate hard disk, not the
partition on the hard disk, for the data backup purposes.
If done so, one can physically disconnect the hard disk,
while installing Windows Vista and reconnect after making
sure everything works fine.
David Milman, CEO of computer support firm Rescuecom
says that installing any OS in any computer is equivalent
to having heart transplantation. He was of opinion that,
the installation process should be done by only advanced
users, as it may cause adverse effect on the system
if anything done wrongly. Windows Vista installation
process is slight tricky than ever before, he says.
Microsoft will release patches
Microsoft has done extensive testing of Vista, yet
problems will inevitably come up as the operating system
is widely released, says Milman. Microsoft has released
many builds along with Beta 1 and Beta 2 versions before
releasing Release Candidate -1.
The test users who installed these releases were able
to find many bugs within the OS and have reported these
bugs to Microsoft. Microsoft has solved almost all bugs
contained in the OS and released patches for testing
on the next builds.
But, Microsoft has not fixed some bugs according to
Milman. He says that, it is better to wait for a few
months for purchasing, till the bugs are fixed. But,
those who have already purchased the OS need not worry,
as Microsoft will release patches for the bugs in their
service updates. Only thing they require to have is
the connection to internet for downloading the service
updates.
Where is the Start?
Windows Vista may work differently than its predecessors.
It will take little more time, even for an advanced
user, to get adjusted to it. It is true fact that some
common things are missing, and some are got changed.
First, it is the desktop which has strange look. The
word “Start” is missing out of start button.
Instead only Windows logo appears on the start button.
Second change to be noticed is that Microsoft has done
changes in appearance of windows. These two changes
are greatly enough for the user to feel that he has
come from different planet!
If your computer does everything you want it to do,
you don't need to upgrade
Regarding upgrade to Windows Vista, Mr. Gralla feels
that Microsoft still supports previous version of Windows,
i.e. Windows XP. Those who have earlier version other
than Windows XP can purchase Windows Vista and install
it their system. Mr. Gralla feels that "If your
computer does everything you want it to do, you don't
need to upgrade."
Vista user feedback - Mixed reactions about Windows Vista
Further, some popular web sites and companies have
expressed their mixed reactions upon release of Windows
Vista. Techgage.com on BBC News has said that the new
features don't always come at the price of performance,
while reacting to Windows Vista.
Upgrade advisor tool
The Register on BBC News has opinioned its views on
the upgrade advisor tool. It ponders the ease of upgrading
after the utility identified some of the mainstream
devices and programs on their top-tier system as incompatible.
According to The Register, they were surprised to see
that the latest components got incompatibility warnings
because of, out of date, vista wise drivers.
Strong security measures
Tom’s Guide reports on BBC News by quizzing that,
is there any necessity for the upgrade? It feels that,
there are strong security measures taken in Windows
Vista as a reason for the upgrade.
Windows Vista complicates disaster management
Ars Technica, in BBC News feels that Windows Vista
complicates disaster management. Vista upgrade option
will work, only if the system has got prior version
of Windows installed.
Windows Vista is more secured than previous versions
of Windows
An Anti-Virus vendor feels that, Vista is too tightly
secured. They feel that, Microsoft has tightened the
security in such a way that, it is almost impossible
for security solution vendors to implement certain functionalities
in their products. As a result of this, it is currently
difficult to use a full range of effective tools meant
for security. They agreed that vista is more secured
than previous versions of Windows.
For now, I would congratulate development team at Microsoft
for releasing Windows Vista. As said above, vista has
got rich set of new features and equally a set of problems
too. Security wise, the operating system is more intelligent
than its predecessors. At this time, however, one cannot
judge the product, unless he tries the product practically.
Time will decide, whether Windows Vista makes a strongest
and secured operating system than ever before.
What ever the problems, mistakes, Windows Vista will
be the new feature rich, possibly strongest in security,
among the operating systems, that we saw till date. |
