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Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 5:43:51 AM

Lucylastic

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http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204700436
"Microsoft on Tuesday said it will cease hobbling Windows Vista installations that fail the company's validation processes in its forthcoming Service Pack 1 update, scheduled for next year.
Currently, Microsoft penalizes Vista users that fail to activate their operating system software within 30 days, or three days after a major hardware configuration change, by restricting Vista to running in "out-of-grace reduced functionality mode." This denies access to games included in Window Vista and to premium features like Aero Glass, ReadyBoost, and BitLocker. It also limits the amount of time the user can remain logged in to one hour"

yeah yeah I know I can use other Os's but I do like XP, altho Im getting closer to trying out linux, I had reason to get a new computer last month, ....nothing spensive, but everything I could find was vista pre loaded plus all that bloat ware, blech, so I ended up getting a motherboard/cpu and new hard drive, and re-installed XP, result a very happy Lucy
Lucy

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Post #: 1

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 6:33:35 AM

OrionTheWolf

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Dell allows options to still get XP Pro, which I highly recommend unless you want to replace alot of old software.

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RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 6:35:56 AM

MissyRane

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You usually don't have to replace alot of old softwares, you just download vista drivers for them.
It took me ages to like vista, I liked the look but not the actions, when I got the hang of it all I love vista and I never got in any troubles when it came to old softwares, just update the drivers.

(in reply to OrionTheWolf)

Post #: 3

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 6:41:44 AM

OrionTheWolf

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1) That is if the make the drivers for Vista. Many of my clients use older hardware for various things, and there were no drivers.

2) When I mean alot, I mean alot of old software either will not operate on Vista, or operates with defects. This is not an opinion, but a fact. Older versions of graphics software often does not run. Older versions of sound mixing software often does not run. Old 16 bit programs, often do not run.

3) Vista when added to a network environment that is primarily XP Pro will be slower.

All of these points I have observed firsthand in the course of my business. One client was told by Microsoft that he would need to upgrade all his software to be compliant with Vista. Total for replacement software would have been over $25,000, and small business owners do not have that kind of money to just throw at this problem. This is why Dell offers computers with XP, instead of Vista.

Give Vista another 6 to 9 months, and they may have corrected all of the undocumented features (defects) in it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MissyRane

You usually don't have to replace alot of old softwares, you just download vista drivers for them.
It took me ages to like vista, I liked the look but not the actions, when I got the hang of it all I love vista and I never got in any troubles when it came to old softwares, just update the drivers.

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When speaking of slaves people always tend to ignore this definition "One who is abjectly subservient to a specified person or influence."

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Post #: 4

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 7:42:37 AM

farglebargle

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quote:

2) When I mean alot, I mean alot of old software either will not operate on Vista, or operates with defects. This is not an opinion, but a fact. Older versions of graphics software often does not run. Older versions of sound mixing software often does not run. Old 16 bit programs, often do not run.

e.g.: Pagemake will not run on Vista. Adobe says, "Upgrade, Bitch!"

The Everex/Walmart gPC was a resounding success, and proved that you can deliver a good product and make MORE MONEY if you avoid the Microsoft Tax.

< Message edited by farglebargle -- 12/5/2007 7:43:54 AM >

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RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 7:49:06 AM

Sinergy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf

Dell allows options to still get XP Pro, which I highly recommend unless you want to replace alot of old software.

I am probably going Linux or Macintosh when Windoze stops supporting XP. I have yet to hear anything positive about Vista and Microsnot has a habit of beating that square peg into the round hole to fix the problems caused by the square peg being beaten into that round hole.

I have already lived through too many Microsnot bludgeonings to want to do it again.

Sinergy

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Post #: 6

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 7:57:18 AM

EPGAH

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Well, good news, Microsoft has extended their "deadline" for XP!

(in reply to Sinergy)

Post #: 7

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:08:14 AM

sappatoti

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy

quote:

ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf

Dell allows options to still get XP Pro, which I highly recommend unless you want to replace alot of old software.

I am probably going Linux or Macintosh when Windoze stops supporting XP.

...

Sinergy

I fought with Windows systems back when 98 SE was the main flavor. Even assembled a PC to be used specifically as a DAW, installing audio and graphics cards highly recommended for such purposes. Spent three months after the initial assembly swapping out processors, memory, motherboards, audio cards, video cards, you name it because all the machine would do was proudly display the "blue screen of death." After falling behind in DAW projects, I said "fuck it," marched down to CompUSA, plunked down another $2500 for what was then the near top-of-the-line 1999 model year Power Mac G4/400 tower, brought it home, plugged it in, loaded up DAW software, and got to work.

That was early 2000. I'm still using that same tower, no upgrades except for adding a larger HD to the original 10G still working in the machine, and added more memory to bump it up 1GB. It's running OS X Tiger like a champ, and I'm still very productive with the DAW work.

The only reason I can see it becoming obsolete in the next year or two is because the latest OS X version, Leopard, will not efficiently run on it. But, why should it... the machine is approaching eight or nine years old. When no more OS security updates are offered for it, I'll simply disconnect it from the 'net and run it as a stand-alone machine; happily doing my DAW work for who knows how much longer.

Just my experiences with Macs.... for what they're worth.

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Post #: 8

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:17:17 AM

pahunkboy

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microsoft stock is listed as a buy. as far as vista- a buddy of mine a tecky- hates it-thinks xp is best, i wonder what happens when they stop servicing it

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Post #: 9

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:17:32 AM

farglebargle

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When the going gets tough, the pros buy a mac.

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It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

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Post #: 10

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:21:46 AM

Sinergy

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I was a system administrator who installed Windoze 3.x, Windoze NT, Windoze ME, Windoze XP, etc., on networks of 5-150 systems. Windoze has always done exactly what some clown in his development office has decided you want it to do. While this is not generally a problem, when you specifically do not want it to do something it almost always requires some obnoxious registry hack to make it stop. Throw in it's propensity for not doing anything unless you are logged in as administrator, coupled with the fact that when you are logged in as administrator anybody and their dog can download hacks and viruses and popups and garbage onto your system, and it is rather annoying.

I ran SUSE and RedHat and Solaris on networks of up to 1,000 hosts. My favorite aspect of Linux and UNIX is that it only does what you tell it to do. Most people get confused by it because they are not sure how to get it to do anything.

I ran Mac on networks of 5-10 hosts. Macs are nice. Plug them on. They run. Do stuff. Download programs from tucows.com to do the things one used to do on a PC. With the blossoming of open source, one can find almost anything one needs to use (AbiWord instead of Word, for example) to talk to Windoze users without having to pay Microsnot $400 for the privilege of having them download new bug fixes that break the software.

I will go Mac because, all things considered, I no longer do much on my computer but send email, edit small documents, and browse the web.

Sinergy

_____________________________

"There is a fine line between clever and stupid"
David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

"Every so often you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You cant do that, it is gone, gone forever." J. Danforth Quayle

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Post #: 11

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:22:57 AM

Sinergy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

When the going gets tough, the pros buy a mac.

When the going gets tough, the pros load Linux on their Mac hardware and modify it to do exactly what it should be doing.

Sinergy

_____________________________

"There is a fine line between clever and stupid"
David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

"Every so often you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You cant do that, it is gone, gone forever." J. Danforth Quayle

(in reply to farglebargle)

Post #: 12

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:28:14 AM

sappatoti

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

When the going gets tough, the pros buy a mac.

When the going gets tough, the pros load Linux on their Mac hardware and modify it to do exactly what it should be doing.

Sinergy

Which is probably what I will do with the ol' tower when the current OS X 10.4 updates stop coming. I won't be installing Linux though, I'll be installing one of the BSDs. I guess that's because I'm more familiar with those, after knocking around underneath the pretty Mac OS X shell built on top of a BSD variant.

Though my days in IT (or mainframes, to be more precise) are long over, I'll flip that mental switch back on to configure a BSD on the tower when the time comes. For now, though, I'm content to be a user and bask in the simplicity of "it just works" with the Mac OS.

_____________________________

Never mind the man on the edge of the darkness... he means no harm...

"Community, Identity, Stability." ~ A Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 1932

If you don't like my attitude, QUIT TALKING TO ME!

(in reply to Sinergy)

Post #: 13

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:30:06 AM

farglebargle

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quote:

I will go Mac because, all things considered, I no longer do much on my computer but send email, edit small documents, and browse the web.

And that's really the market identified by the Everex gPC at Wally-World.

Linux for people who shop a Wal-Mart.

It plugs into your broadband ethernet jack, and has a copy of openoffice, firefox, and a shitload of icons to Google Services. ( Mail, Calendar ( whcih btw, if you didn't hear yet, is now 100% integrated with Jott !) Youtube, Blogger, etc...

Excepting PC only games ( WoW... ) there's no reason NOT TO go with something like this "Internet Terminal" thingy...

Anyone who points to "But you need a PC to do this" can be answered with "Why hasn't that moved to the web" OR "Then get a mac, like any real professional graphic designer." ( I'm looking at you Adobe... ) OR "Get a PS3"..

_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

(in reply to Sinergy)

Post #: 14

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:36:19 AM

farglebargle

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sappatoti

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy

quote:

ORIGINAL: farglebargle

When the going gets tough, the pros buy a mac.

When the going gets tough, the pros load Linux on their Mac hardware and modify it to do exactly what it should be doing.

Sinergy

Which is probably what I will do with the ol' tower when the current OS X 10.4 updates stop coming. I won't be installing Linux though, I'll be installing one of the BSDs. I guess that's because I'm more familiar with those, after knocking around underneath the pretty Mac OS X shell built on top of a BSD variant.

Though my days in IT (or mainframes, to be more precise) are long over, I'll flip that mental switch back on to configure a BSD on the tower when the time comes. For now, though, I'm content to be a user and bask in the simplicity of "it just works" with the Mac OS.

I remember William and Lynne Jolitz's articles in DDJ about porting BSD to the i386 back in 94. I probably still have them on the shelf, but IIRC, the 386BSD R1.0 Reference CD-ROM should have all of the essays, too. If you're interested in poking around. As we age, we get nostalgic. I just downloaded the D&D books and the AD&D 1st Edition pdfs for old times sake.

_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

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Post #: 15

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:41:56 AM

Sinergy

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I once loaded Windoze on a dual pentium. I then loaded SUSE Linux onto a virtual computer on that box. Then I loaded a Linux virtual computer and installed Windoze. Then I wrote documentation for how to do so for my computer operators.

Then I loaded Carmageddon. Everybody needs a hobby.

I had an old VAX 11/750 sitting around, so I loaded Linux onto it. That was a lot of fun. No real point except for my low boredom threshhold. Then I wrote documentation for how to do that for my computer operators.

Sinergy

I have all my old D and D books in storage in my garage.

_____________________________

"There is a fine line between clever and stupid"
David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

"Every so often you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You cant do that, it is gone, gone forever." J. Danforth Quayle

(in reply to farglebargle)

Post #: 16

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:42:28 AM

sappatoti

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Hey fargle... my tower is a Motorola PowerPC based "G4," a moniker used by Apple. The exact Motorola processor model number escapes me at the moment. But I understand what you're saying about nostalgia and computer geekery.

Back during the real "big iron" days... when microprocessors where in their infancy... it was fun to play around with the little buggers to see how they might be useful in some fashion within a big iron network.

Now that the little buggers have taken over, and brought the Microsoft Windows viruses along with them, those who remember are now looking fondly back on the big iron and their proprietary OSes and asking, "Why can't MS make a bullet-proof OS like that?"

_____________________________

Never mind the man on the edge of the darkness... he means no harm...

"Community, Identity, Stability." ~ A Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 1932

If you don't like my attitude, QUIT TALKING TO ME!

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Post #: 17

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:47:47 AM

farglebargle

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quote:

Now that the little buggers have taken over, and brought the Microsoft Windows viruses along with them, those who remember are now looking fondly back on the big iron and their proprietary OSes and asking, "Why can't MS make a bullet-proof OS like that?"

Because the IBM Z-series already has the market sewn up.

You can load your 30 year old+ production code on it, and they're bulletproof. Seriously. I'd bet that you could put a handgun round into one, and it'd still chug along, and/or die elegantly. I'd *probably* lose, but it'd be worth the price of the bet to see someone shoot a running Z-series...

People who make a lot of money doing real billing tend to like the IBM stuff. Think of your windows box as a nice platform to run a terminal emulator.

In fact, at one gig, I did exactly that. Ran vncviewer full screen back to a rack-mounted linux box.

_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

(in reply to sappatoti)

Post #: 18

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 8:59:39 AM

sappatoti

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I'll concede that IBM has the bulk of the remaining "big iron" market. However, my mainframe career, oddly enough, wasn't spent working with IBM mainframes until the last two years I spent in the industry. Most of my mainframe work was spent with Burroughs, and later, Unisys equipment. I still think that, even including the various linux, BSD, and other derivatives out there, that the Burroughs/Unisys MCP and the ancillary utilities are arguably one of the finest examples of bullet-proof OSes in existence.

If I could afford it, I'd run a micro-MCP installation on an old Intel box and be happy. Very happy. But, I digress with all of this nostalgia...

Think MS will ever get the hint that they're generally heading in the wrong direction with their OS? Perhaps they'd be better off turning their Office suite into an OS by simply adding the necessary hardware and low-level control sequences into that already bloated code...

just a thought.

_____________________________

Never mind the man on the edge of the darkness... he means no harm...

"Community, Identity, Stability." ~ A Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 1932

If you don't like my attitude, QUIT TALKING TO ME!

(in reply to farglebargle)

Post #: 19

RE: Microsoft Removes Vista 'Kill Switch' - 12/5/2007 9:39:35 AM

farglebargle

Posts: 10715
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From: Albany, NY
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Ah... In other-words, add a Windows Mode to Emacs.

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It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

(in reply to sappatoti)

Post #: 20

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