Vista---A Threat Inside?
Hi All,
I was just reading (and chuckling) about this nutso plan of M$oft to have six versions of Vista ( Link to article here ) --- and if that isn't enough, "Microsoft will later announce a number of additional "value-adds" including privileged support options and other possible service benefits." It seems SO NUTS and needlessly complicated; "I would like Vista... Which Vista? Which add ons to which vista do you want? ........uh...."
....but I digress.
What caught my eye is this:
"Vista Enterprise will be available to volume license customers only (Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement), and will build upon the Business edition by adding BitLocker? hard drive encryption, Virtual PC support, and a "Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications.""
Now, I am no expert (as many of you will be more than happy to point out
) but doesn't that sound like an emulation layer (much like VPC, or X11?
But perhaps more threateningly, with all this talk of OSX (via WINE/VPC, etc) being able to run windows/windows apps in emulation, could the big Redmond beast be trying to do the same right back (e.g. run OSX within Windows?)
.... We all know how M$oft deals with innovative competition: they buy it, or copy it. Could this be sort of a back-door gobble-up of the Mac OS?
Nervously,
Mandricard
AppleOutsider
I was just reading (and chuckling) about this nutso plan of M$oft to have six versions of Vista ( Link to article here ) --- and if that isn't enough, "Microsoft will later announce a number of additional "value-adds" including privileged support options and other possible service benefits." It seems SO NUTS and needlessly complicated; "I would like Vista... Which Vista? Which add ons to which vista do you want? ........uh...."
....but I digress.
What caught my eye is this:
"Vista Enterprise will be available to volume license customers only (Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement), and will build upon the Business edition by adding BitLocker? hard drive encryption, Virtual PC support, and a "Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications.""
Now, I am no expert (as many of you will be more than happy to point out
) but doesn't that sound like an emulation layer (much like VPC, or X11? But perhaps more threateningly, with all this talk of OSX (via WINE/VPC, etc) being able to run windows/windows apps in emulation, could the big Redmond beast be trying to do the same right back (e.g. run OSX within Windows?)
.... We all know how M$oft deals with innovative competition: they buy it, or copy it. Could this be sort of a back-door gobble-up of the Mac OS?
Nervously,
Mandricard
AppleOutsider
Comments
Originally posted by Mandricard
....
"Vista Enterprise will be available to volume license customers only (Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement), and will build upon the Business edition by adding BitLocker? hard drive encryption, Virtual PC support, and a "Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications.""
....
That Microsoft provides a subsystem for UNIX-based applications should hardly be news. However, it is news to most people
Link
So the rumors are true: Microsoft is saying that it'll release six different editions of Windows Vista when the OS--due to show up late this year--arrives. (Actually, there will be twelve versions, since everything will be available in both 32- and 64-bit editions.)
The company will aim three versions of Windows at home users (all of the descriptions that follow are Microsoft's, not mine):
Windows Vista Home Basic: For consumers that want to simply use the PC to browse the Internet, correspond with friends and family over email or perform basic document creation and editing tasks, Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable and more productive computing environment.
Windows Vista Home Premium: Will help consumers utilize mobile or desktop PC functionality more effectively while enabling the enjoyment of new, exciting digital entertainment experiences ? all with the benefit of added security and reliability. Windows Vista Home Premium includes everything in Windows Vista Home Basic, plus the Windows Vista Aero? and Media Center and Tablet PC capabilities.
Windows Vista Ultimate: Windows Vista Ultimate is the edition of Windows Vista that has it all. It is the first operating system that brings together all of the consumer-oriented features available in Windows Vista Home Premium with all of the business-oriented features available in Windows Vista Business.
Two versions will cater to businesses:
Windows Vista Business: For small to medium size businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and securely so they are less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business will provide dramatic new infrastructure improvements that will enable IT staff to spend less time focused on day to day maintenance of PCs and more time adding strategic value to the organization.
Windows Vista Enterprise: To better address the needs of large, global organizations and those with highly complex IT infrastructures, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to significantly lower IT costs and risk. In addition to all of the features available in Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to provide higher levels of data protection using hardware-based encryption technology.
And one version will target particularly price-sensitive parts of the world:
Windows Vista Starter: Helps users in emerging technology countries be more successful by providing an affordable, easy to learn and use computing experience. It is compatible with latest applications and devices, and more reliable and secure because it is part of the Windows Vista family of products.
--B