Next, Microsoft Will Release An Even Worse Operating System To Jack Up The Prices On Vista...
from the not-sure-I-see-it dept
While it is rather amusing to see customers so interested in sticking with Windows XP rather than the supposedly more advanced Windows Vista that they're willing to pay a fee for the downgrade, it's tough to see much merit in the claim that such a charge is an antitrust violation. But, of course, that won't stop the lawyers from trying to convince a court that it most certainly is an abuse of a monopoly position. There's nothing monopolistic about charging more for a product that people want more. It certainly is ridiculous to claim that this is all a plan by Microsoft to squeeze extra money out of people by use of its monopoly position. Microsoft, by all accounts, would like nothing more than for folks to stop wanting to buy XP. The launch of Vista has been a massive disappointment for the company, not a part of a nefarious strategy to jack up the prices on XP.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: antitrust, class action, vista, xp
Companies: microsoft
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Someone should forward this to Dell.
I was told they no longer offer XP and the laptop was "specifically" designed for Vista (which is crap, given the 1525 model has been out for years).
I would have paid more for XP, given all the costs I had to endure buying upgraded software because 90% of what I owned didn't work on Vista.
It would have been worth it.
Thank you, Dell, for lying to your customers about its availability.
Oh, and I want to take this time to thank Microsoft for literally destroying the concept of "personal" PC and rendering all my software incompatible thanks to that bullshit security layer. Jerks.
I'm definitely on the side of folks who agree Vista sucks.
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Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
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Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
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Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
That's incorrect. Some of the BIOs settings/upgrades do not work with XP. It costs them quite a lot to make some of the hardware come for XP and some for Vista, so they pick one or the other and order x number of those systems. Currently I have an HP on my desk that will not install or run XP without a blue screen on boot. It's a matter of BIOS, but in order to get this Vista book working with XP I will have to put time and energy into various settings and flashes. This is fine for me, expensive for Dell.
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Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
BIOS is still software. There's not many new devices in this laptop which aren't XP compatible, and the new ones were added to support Vista.
Why do you think there's a huge compatibility list from Microsoft? Not all things are as simple as a BIOS upgrade.
The way I see it is that there are plenty of laptop manufactures out there
Yes, that's true, but I've been with Dell for a long time due to customer satisfaction and quality of products. I know some out there have had issues, but I haven't. So I keep coming back.
Learn Linux
No reason to until the Linux software library can match the software I use designed for Windows.
Believe me, I'm keeping tabs on Linux updates and am looking forward to the day I'm free of Windows.
Microsoft will just never get it.
I don't know what the problem is with Vista.
Machines are used differently, but I'll simply state this: As an administrator, I shouldn't have to run software with the option "Run As Administrator" just to get it to work.
A simple inclusion of this in Vista's help section would have eliminated 3+ hours of web searching I had to do in order to get the damn thing to do what it was supposed to do.
I wouldn't recommend Vista to my worst enemy.
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Re: Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
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Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
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Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
Also, it is the OEM's decision whether or not they want to offer XP. Microsoft provides downgrade rights, but the OEM does not have to take them up on it.
Last, there were other options. You could have paid for an XP license instead of upgrading all your software. If you ordered Vista Business, you could have ordered a license-free XP disc to use with your downgrade rights. Last, you could have downloaded a Dell XP disc from a torrent. Since you legally own the license, the media is unimportant, and it would not have been illegal to use the downloaded disc, provided your version of Vista offered downgrade rights.
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Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
Home, Premium. I didn't see any added value of purchasing a Vista Business solution.
Also, it is the OEM's decision whether or not they want to offer XP.
Actually, it's not. Microsoft made this call. Dell has no choice.
You could have paid for an XP license instead
Why? I still have my XP CD from my desktop, which is sitting and collecting dust.
XP wouldn't install on the laptop. I tried.
At any rate, it's done now. I hear good things coming from Windows 7.
Let's just hope Microsoft listened to its customers this time.
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Re: Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
Actually, you're wrong. Microsoft offered the downgrade rights, true, but Dell is not required to offer the service of building an XP installation. You have the right to do it yourself, and most OEMs offer the service as an extra revenue stream, but it is entirely their choice.
"You could have paid for an XP license instead
Why? I still have my XP CD from my desktop, which is sitting and collecting dust.
XP wouldn't install on the laptop. I tried."
Why? Because you bough Vista Home, which means that, legally, you don't HAVE downgrade rights. OEM licenses are non-transferable, so you also can't use that old license on your new laptop.
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Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
And then you wrote, "Thank you, Dell, for lying to your customers about its availability."
They lied to you?
The way I see it is that there are plenty of laptop manufactures out there, If you specifically wanted something, you should have purchased from a laptop manufacturer that sold exactly that. But then again, you do sound like a person who blindly pays several hundreds dollars without first researching what you are paying for. I have plenty of [swamp] land to sell you at a good price!
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Re: Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
'I was told they no longer offer XP and the laptop was "specifically" designed for Vista (which is crap, given the 1525 model has been out for years).'
If you're going to snipe, at least don't be an idiot about it.
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Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
one was given to me and the other i bought cheap.
after dealing with dell for a few minor issues with the 2 computers, i would NEVER buy another dell unless it was an amazing deal ... i think dell SUCKS
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Re: Someone should forward this to Dell.
Forgive me, but I find that awfully hard to believe. Vista is actually a very decent operating system, and the refinements with service pack 1 were substantial. Most software works fine. Granted, some older and more rare software types may have a harder time. For the most part though, it'll run mainstream apps and games just fine. In some events application patches may be needed. (*Gasp* Oh no! Not that!)
Secondly, the 1525 model has been out for years. However, has it been out for years with the same specs? Likely not - as who would buy a 2+ year old computer system. Thus, it's the newer components they say are designed for Vista. More so, it's that Microsoft has minimum requirements for OEM's to say their products are "Vista Ready" or "Vista Capable". So, alas, the OEM's upgrade to the minimum requirements so they can add the Vista Ready or Vista Capable stickers to their machines - effectively engineering their products specifically for Vista. I'm sure that is what Dell means.
Third,
For someone who obviously is not an early adopter of technology, you seem to have a lot to say about an OS that you have very little experience with. Not to mention Vista is far beyond the "early adopter" stage. If you only knew. Vista has many great features and has a lot of power behind it. It's a transition operating system in many ways, yes, but that doesn't make it horrible.
Grow up. :)
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Re: Quickbooks
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As for its incompatibility with several of the programs I used with XP, buying Vista compliant software made me feel quite patriotic because I knew I was doing my bit to stimulate the economy in these tough economic times.
Seriously, I envy my daughter as she uses her HP Netbook with XP as the OS. It may not be as "pretty" as Vista, but at least it is stable and devoid of BSODs.
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Re: Re:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
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Re: Vista Issues
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Re:
If your programs are constantly locking up, and you're constantly having BSOD's, perhaps it is due to your RAM. Those are frequent issues with bad RAM. Maybe it IS Vista, but, it sounds like there is more investigating you could do...
Also noting that Vista will use more RAM than XP, and use it much more often. So if there is in fact issues with your RAM, those issues could be more privy in Vista than XP.
...Just saying.
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Re:
The amount of ignorance surrounding computers is staggering to me.
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Vista douse suck
I think that once Windows 7 gets out of beta, it will be a decent replacement for XP. For all I know that's what they're doing with Vista: make it suck so bad that the new version must be better.
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Vista does suck but Windows 7 will suck even worse..
Glad I use Linux and have no plans on switching.
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Re: Vista does suck but Windows 7 will suck even worse..
Second, did you stop to think that maybe the hacked DLL was, er, BROKEN?? Or, that maybe, just maybe, Adobe provided their OWN DRM? Think this through. How the hell would MS know whether it had been altered? Upgrades from the manufacturer often require changes to DLLs. No way MS is going to keep a database large enough to encompass hash values for every version of every major piece of software.
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Re: Re: Vista does suck but Windows 7 will suck even worse..
ever created, but they can keep hash values
of software you've installed. Imagine that
they're doing this to preven virii from attaching
to binaries.
So, you copy a new & different DLL on top of an old one
and the system should refuse to let it run.
But, it should also allow you to clean up the mess.
From the Article I read, it will not let you clean
up the mess.
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Re: Re: Re: Vista does suck but Windows 7 will suck even worse..
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Re: Vista does suck but Windows 7 will suck even worse..
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm pointing out this is based on one individual's experience, and said person has a history of being inaccurate and inflammatory, so you really can't base anything on their unfounded experience (this story was broken on slashdot with no supporting evidence, and as far as I know, none has come to light, and attempts to duplicate the situation have not been successful). Not only that, but Windows 7 is in beta testing right now, and a free upgrade to its release version is being provided to several Vista customers. MS has a history of similar moves of trying to rectify errors, such as the 3-year warranty extension I got on my XBox 360 free of charge when the RRODs were running rampant. Which brings me to my main point.
It's silly to think MS wants anything but your money and continued support. They're a company, out to make some money, and like every other company, they know it costs way more to convert a client than it does to keep one. This whole theme of "Oh noes, M$ wantz my sole an my pron colekshion!" is born mostly of ignorance and unfortunately rampant fear-mongering. I'm not a strong supporter of MS's tactics, but I think with Windows 7 they really have a chance to do right by their user-base. I have experience with most OSes and I can say for the average user, most Linux distros are so difficult to operate cleanly as to be almost inaccessible, and the Apple alternative leads to a culture (focus on the CULT part) that is engrossing, limited in scope, and difficult to transplant from. When it comes to most middle of the road users, MS and Windows are still the best options out there; and let's face it, not everyone wants everything stupid easy/has the dedication to learn how to run from the command line.
Just wanted clear the air on this one. Sorry forthe rant.
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Re: Re: Vista does suck but Windows 7 will suck even worse..
In a modern linux OS is it easier to install (insert CD and keep clicking next), easier to add programs(just goto the add programs utility and type a search then select install), and come with the basic necessities preloaded (OpenOffice, web browser, so forth) and the user doesn't have to worry about trial software slowing down their computer.
I have set up many computer illiterate people with linux, usually because their old computer needed windows reinstalled because it had been many years and was loaded with junk and they didn't have the install CDs anymore and didn't care what I did as long as they could "do the internet" and read documents. I installed a Linux distro and within 10 minutes they were able to do as much if not more than they did on their windows system. They also don't need to worry nearly as much about viruses or other malware.
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Re: Vista douse suck
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Re:
And M$ has the balls to deny they have a monopoly. What a crock!!!
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Who needs windows 7
More hoops to jump through for no real benefit. So who needs it.
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Windows
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Re: Windows
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Windows 7 is Vista SP2
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Re: Windows 7 is Vista SP2
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Re: Windows
The thing that burns me up is that when people buy a system from DELL or HP, part of what they're paying for is Vista, then they have to buy XP, thus giving MS money twice. They actually make more money by making their new versions worse than their old ones.
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Re: Windows
It worked.
Vista does a lot more than you know. The support for current and future technology is widely built into Vista, which is why it works so well in a Server 2008 environment. In fact, it is amazing when compared to Server 2003 / XP or even Server 2008 / XP.
As you noted, you've not had any problems with crashes. So where do your complaints stem from? After all, Vista is a step under 98... I can think of a laundry list of 98 problems that would annoy me to no end long before forming a list for Vista. So because you're using that as the basis for your comment, I think you should elaborate - or, you could just stop commenting.
I'll agree that Windows Vista was a let down in the sense of... They took so long to build it, and it didn't come out with a lot of flash or a bang. Rather, I expected it to have more and do more - but it is what it is. For me it has been stable, it works well with newer tech, and will take advantage of a lot of upcoming tech. I have zero complaints.
Windows 7 is Windows Vista SP2. Really. It's very much the same - especially the fundamentals. To say Microsoft should have released Vista in the state Windows 7 is in, is arrogant. Even with all their testing it takes a consumer market to reflect some of the core issues in an OS. Then they write service packs to address those issues and roll-up the slew of updates.
...The difference is that Vista was criticized so badly by the mass media, and Apple, and other know-nothings, that they now have to release the same software again under the name Windows 7, and tweak it a bit.
Hooray.
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Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
And on the note about a releasing a worse OS...I must hand it to MS. They seemed to have actually listened to their user base for once, because Windows 7 blows Vista AND XP out of the water.
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Re: Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
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Re: Re: Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
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Re: Re: Re: Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
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Re: Re: Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
And, FYI, I run Ubuntu Gutsy on my laptop, and I love it. However, newer versions have a critical incompatibility with my video chipset which does not allow standby or hibernate. I have found no solution in the forums. I have tried a lot of options, including saving my old xorg.conf to use in the new build, but nothing works. So, there is an example where even an experienced user can't find a solution. How do you think a normal end-user will deal with something like that? Linux is great when everything is working. The problem is that, when it breaks, the average end-user has no hope of resolving issues.
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Re: Re: Re: Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
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Re: Re: Wow, lot's of misunderstanding
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The Past
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Re: The Past
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Re: Re: The Past
Although the best is the Chinese translation used in Microsoft's first Asian advertising campaign that literally translated to "Small and Flaccid".
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Microsot?
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XP re Vista
I have worked for Microsoft for 5 years. I run Vista on my 2 primary home systems because of the enhanced security and the fact that I can run my kids as normal (not administrative) users, and hence have some chance with parental controls. I keep an old Win 98 box which I upgraded to XP SP3 to let my kids use software that will not run on Vista - a lot of third party software makes inappropriate assumptions about the available system functionality of user applications and what they can write to (Apps do not need to write to Windows system folders and rarely need to write to HKLM registry).
As for stability, I find Vista to be more stable than XP. I am running Win 7 on my work systems and finding it to be very good.
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If they would just release a new OS from scratch, instead of these patches, everything would be better.
FYI, Win Vista is based off Win Xp. Xp off of Millennium, ME off of 98, and 98 off of 95.
Microsoft last released an original OS back in 1995. That is freaking pathetic. Legacy programs are nice to be able to use, but it hurts in the long run.
I would prefer to have one OS for 5 years that works great. It is very difficult for software makers to be require to accomodate so many different types.
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Re:
If they would just release a new OS from scratch, instead of these patches, everything would be better.
FYI, Win Vista is based off Win Xp. Xp off of Millennium, ME off of 98, and 98 off of 95."
Hmm. It's a good thing someone like you came along to explain the code tree in Windows to us! Sadly you got it VERY wrong.
The kernel in Vista is not "based" on XP. XP was the last upgrade of the NT kernel, which came about in the Windows 3.1 days as a server technology. Windows NT 4.0 was next, then the NT kernel skipped Win95, 98, and ME (all based off of the older 16-bit system). 2000 was based on NT, and then XP merged some of ME's superficial features with the more powerful core and multitasking capabilities of NT. So no, XP is not "based off Millenium". None of the code was directly used, because it all came from an incompatible kernel.
Vista's kernel is a fundamental re-write of the system kernel.
Also, XP is almost 8 years old. You've had it for 5 years, and then some.
I like how the second line of your comment "would just release a new OS from scratch" and the last one "I would prefer to have one OS that lasts..." seem incompatible. Which do you want them to do? Or is it that there are no easy answers?
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um, did you read the article? This wasn't a comment on Windows 7. This was a joke about the stupid person suing Microsoft. In other words, this post was in support of Microsoft's position. I love our commenters, but this comment is way off, at least do a little reading before you write.
:)
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ASUS Eee PC
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This wasn't a downgrade
It doesn't matter that it's newer, it was a lower end product being traded for a higher-end, professional one. Also, it wasn't Microsoft doing the trade - it was her OEM. Microsoft didn't see any of the money, and they never sold her a Vista license. Just the one XP Pro license.
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Re: This wasn't a downgrade
Doesn't that... um... support the point of the post even more? If it was an "upgrade" (and I still say that's debatable), then what's wrong with charging for it?
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Linux? Meh. Apple's Marketing may make OSX a bigger threat.
Some may say it'll never happen as Apple is a HW company, but I've been watching the space, and a lot of people who get OSX to work on their PC ultimately buy Mac Hardware within a 1-2 year time frame.
All this could be a part of a long-term strategy. But it makes sense considering Apple's move to CES from MacWorld.
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Free XP
I say F*&$ MS and download a free, unlocked version of XP from any torrent site.
I've since been running a cracked version of XP ever since my new notebook came with Windows Shitsa and the OEM would'nt let me "Upgrade" to XP.
MS lost my $149 for XP cause of thier S&*#-headedness
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Free (or Cheap) OS Options are Good Business
I bought and returned two laptops running Vista Home addition. The first would not run at all (Vista crashed or simply did not respond when doing anything) and the second performed poorly.
Finally, Staples advertised a business laptop that had Vista Business with an XP Pro option at a very decent price. I bought two and a bunch of accessories and software dropping over $3600 in one store in one day. I'm sure other retailers would have liked to have had my business but they would not offer me the flexibility.
The new laptops run a P8600 dual core CPU and with Vista are no faster than my six year old computer with a 2.4GHz P4 running XP Pro. Some of my software like Visual Studio 2003 will not run in Vista. This is an expensive development package made by Microsoft (place ironic pause here) and I need it for my work. I probably will change the new computers to run XP Pro.
If I had not had the XP option I probably would not have bought the computers and would have ordered a blank machine and put a Linux distro on it. With the current economic climate computer resellers must demand Microsoft allow them to provide what customers want, not what MS wants.
Microsoft needs to look into supporting XP and Vista and simply improving upon them for the next few years offering updates for a small fee and fixes for free. All computers sold should be setup with a basic OS version and then allow the customer to download any version they need.
If MS is adamant that Windows needs to evolve into the 21st century they should go the Apple OS X root and rebuild Windows completely from the ground up based on an established, proven, secure platform. It's too bad MS did not manage to buy QNX in the 1980s (they tried). Windows may have been the best OS ever if it was based on the Neutrino micro-kernel.
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Vista [Home edition]
Rock solid....no probs.with numerous s/w apps.
Granted Win7 is less of a pig than Vista, but Win7 is still in beta.
Tried Linux for years and it still sucks the big one.
Macs too expensive for my taste.
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I like XP, Vista and Windows 7
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Operating systems!
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/sony_releases_new_stupid_piece_of
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Operating systems
I am Running a Clean install of MS windows Vista Ultimate on an Acer AcerPower S260, which has hardware 3-4 years before Vista's time, and it WORKS. i Never ever get BSOD's, IE7 doesnt freeze, ect. in comparison, my school bought 2 BRAND NEW HP laptops (each with a dual core proc & 4 gigs of mem, and Vista home premium SP1), and they both took 10+ minutes to come to the first setup screen. after setup was complete, i ran registry & defrag programs. there were almost 1000 registry errors and over half the drive was completely fragmented. i dont know about you, but that sounds to me like the OEM's are getting LAZY. and i tell you that is the root of most of vistas problems, heck, i didn't even have very many problems without SP1
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Specifically, Alvarado (plaintiff) alleges an agreement/conspiracy between Microsoft and OEM companies. Note that this case is based on Washington State law, not federal anti-trust (i.e. The Sherman Act)
I have a copy of the complaint filed in the Western District of Washington, it makes a lot of general monopolistic accusations against Microsoft.
The focus here is the agreement between Microsoft/OEM in the sale and licensing of Windows - securing monopoly profits / being anti-competitive.
I'm not familiar with Washington law, but it seems like you're reasoning backward from your conclusion in this post under general ideas of anti-competitive behavior rather than the alleged violations. This is the type of conclusory analysis riddled with "seems" "rathers" and "likelys" I see on techdirt all too often. I love you guys but seriously, stop it.
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Works for Me = "noise"
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Tired of Microsoft...try Linux...
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The younger generation understands
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XP vs Vista
Until that day happens, I will continue on with my stable and great 'ol XP Pro.
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Bunch of Youngin's
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Re: Bunch of Youngin's
OldGeek reminisced:
We certainly didn't. Apple brought out its first 32-bit machine (the Macintosh II) in 1987, and guess what? Most of the existing software worked just fine.
Of course, it helped that the 16-bit Motorola 68000 CPU that Apple had been using in its previous models was really a cut-down 32-bit processor, unlike Intel's short-sighted x86 designs.
Not that I'd recommend Apple nowadays; they're just another proprietary vendor with the usual monopolistic tendencies. Go for Free software—that's "free" as in "freedom". A system like Linux is your best long-term choice.
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Re: Bunch of Youngin's
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Finally used Vista
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Microsoft has done a "Microsoft" ... again
This seems to be no more / no less a ploy to the same end.
Sadly, we the customers continue to be suckers!
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Yes, break up the Microsoft monopoly at last ... though Microsoft seems to be hell bent to do that themselves!
"... The launch of Vista has been a massive disappointment for the company, not a part of a nefarious strategy to jack up the prices on XP ..."
That's not the point. XP isn't good, it's merely better.
The point is that Microsoft is taking advantage of it's monopoly position to charge for BOTH Vista and XP for those who do not want Vista.
Try this:
"... The launch of Vista has been a massive disappointment for the company, proving the point of why we break up monopolies -- because monopolies diminish competitive innovation in commerce that should provide opportunities and enhancements to the qualities of life of the citizen ...".
At least that's the way the US Constitution reads.
.
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"... I hear good things coming from Windows 7 ..."
Nope, just repackaging. Same half-dozen confusing product line, same re-learn everything to use it, same replace your peripherals and upgrade your software if you're coming from XP or earlier, same double your PC resources requirements, same old crap from the same old monopoly.
.
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"... Okay, the downgrade fee is from the OEM, NOT from Microsoft ..."
Wrong. Microsoft already charged the vendors in bulk for Vista on every PC they sell, so you cannot buy a PC without the vendor already including the price of Vista in the total price. So, when we ask for XP instead, they cannot make XP available instead, only as an extra price addition -- we pay for Vista, which we do not want, AND we pay for XP, which we at least tolerate. Also, Microsoft is raising prices on XP to try and stop their total loss of revenue due to Vista being accurately perceived as anti-customer crap (and 7 will be no different).
What we are seeing is the fallout results of monopoly practices. Microsoft won, we all loose, and now Microsoft is complaining that they have so little future now that they have won their monopoly position. It's what they deserve, and what we deserve for allowing ourselves to be bushwhacked by a shrub for 8 years. (Clinton's administration was moving forward on the break up of the monopoly.)
,
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I'd have switched to linux by now, but I'm a gamer and I've had trouble getting to work with my video drivers, it just doesn't want to find them for some reason. Instead I just get dumped to a command prompt.
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It's all BS
All we get is new ones that REQUIRE buying a new computer, new software, and new internet, and new this and that, and subscriptions for anti malware and other services. Just like the housing bubble bursting....this will break too.
Unfortunately there are no real alternatives except maybe linux.
Hey Microsoft...we're all out of money and your OS still causes more headaches than productive work.!...now what?
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Windows Vista
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I've never understood this
Most people do not get off on tinkering with their OS. Most people want to use their computer to get their work done, and get on with their lives.
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Re: I've never understood this
very few things in a modern linux have have driver problems.
b) doesn't run world-standard Microsoft software,
It Doesn't need to though, it has Open Office to replace Microsoft office (and it is better at reading documents from older versions, both of itself and MS, and preserving formatting than Microsoft is) and offers functionality that MS office lacks without extra features installed (Printing to PDF)
c) requires the user to spend time learning a clunky command-line interface and assosciated arcane vocabulary,
You clearly having used a modern linux, in OpenSuse and Ubuntu you do not have to use the command line at all, and if you decide to do so it is probably because someone is showing you how to do something and finds it easier to say "C&P this line then hit enter" instead of "navigate to this sub-sub-menu and select this option and change it to this"
and d) requires the user to learn how to install an entirely new type of OS.
most of the people linux is suggested to are already facing a reinstall of an OS, so this is a really feeble complaint. When you consider that the install of a modern linux is just clicking next a bunch of times, perhaps selecting a username and pass, it just becomes laughable.
I can set anyone up and get them installing linux is moments without being in the same room, just tell them to put the disc in, turn off the computer, turn in back on, wait till you have a mouse, double-click install, keep clicking next after you put in your name
really, installing an OS is not hard.
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Windows Vista
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And when I tried to downgrade my vista ULTIMATE, I was told by the lady on the phone when I went to activate my XP version, that I didn't have a valid XP KEY. She SAID I NEED TO PAY FOR A VALID XP KEY.
IF I HAVE TO PAY FOR A COPY OF XP, THEN ITS NOT DOWNGRADING, ITS REINSTALLING.
THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOU CAN DOWNGRADE VISTA, ...
But in all REALITY, you cannot, you MUST PURCHASE a 150$ COPY OF A VALID XP.
How is this a downgrade, or how is this considered NOT charging me for the downgrade, (like they advertise users of vista premium can apparently do for "free")
Microsoft is an over-grown beast that needs its head chopped off and split into two competing companies.
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Windows
debpratim.ghosh@gmail.com
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microsoft 7
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