Don't knock them. MS could have something going with the real Vista OS (Windows 7). I found it online and have been using it and it's pretty fast. Works in VMware with no issue (this is how I know it's Vista cause VMWare says it's Vista during the install).
If the gold master can truly be installed on a netbook with 1gb ram, then it will be a decent PC. Obviously, the first thing a user does when you boot it up is to install FF3 and Safari. IE is just to clunky to use now. Otherwise, the OS is pretty usable now. Still trying to get used to the new desktop, but at least the UAC and balloon tips are less intrusive.
Just one advice for MS. Balloon tips should be turned OFF BY DEFAULT.
Don't knock them. MS could have something going with the real Vista OS (Windows 7). I found it online and have been using it and it's pretty fast. Works in VMware with no issue (this is how I know it's Vista cause VMWare says it's Vista during the install).
Fool me once.... Longhorn was creating that kind of buzz too about its speed and stability and feature-set, and look where that went. I'll believe Windows 7 is a good OS when it's in the store and installed on millions of computers and running as well as yours is. And with all promised features in place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by min_t
Just one advice for MS. Balloon tips should be turned OFF BY DEFAULT.
Hands-down, that's my biggest Windows gripe ("Gee, thanks Windows. With my severe short-term memory problems, I really needed a pop up message telling me I just plugged in some headphones.") Google around and you'll find a registry hack that turns them off completely.
The only "innovation" in Apple's system, besides a great interface/etc, was how easy it is for people/companies to submit new app's to it, with minimal contact with Apple or the carrier.
You have described the Apple Experience perfectly - "great interface", "easy for people", and "minimal contact with Apple"! - Now that's innovation!!!
The only "innovation" in Apple's system, besides a great interface/etc, was how easy it is for people/companies to submit new app's to it, with minimal contact with Apple or the carrier.
200 million downloads - yes, that about says it all. I guess it is how you define "innovation".
200 million downloads - yes, that about says it all. I guess it is how you define "innovation".
Perhaps we could define Apple's marketing and engineering methods as "sublimation" rather than "innovation", since it seems hard to swallow that the removal of complexity and options is a form of innovation.
But I do define that as innovation. Take the iPod Shuffle for example. iPod competitors were trying to add feature upon feature to appeal to users, and then Apple releases an iPod whose only features are to play music in order to shuffle it. There was no display and no options. They even went so far as to minimize the cost and size by making the 2.5" headphone jack the data port for syncing and the charging unit. That I found that to be be innovative because of this utilitarian simplicity. I wonder if such and idea was brought to SanDisk et al., if they would have dismissed it outright.
MS reminds me of a Simpsons episode where network execs in need of new show ideas whip out portable TVs and start watching shows on other channels.
Microsoft is like (but not exactly like) Wal-Mart: neither company really makes anything and their true strength is their business model (OEM lock down/monopoly in Microsoft's case).
Unfortunately Gates and Ballmer long ago decided to run Microsoft like they were GM. Well we know how that is working out.
He is talking to developers as if they were stockholders.
He is touting propriety to people who don't want it, except of course for themselves.
He is boasting of innovation to the very people who know better, but can't really confront him.
I've almost finished Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged in audiobook (I disagree with much of her ideas, but understand the myth involved) and I just wonder if the neo-liberal economists who think monopolies are fine and proper and are good counter-balances to ineffective socialist policies, think that Microsoft is being heroic in any way. I've watched television interviews and forums where Ballmer and Gates truly sound as if they are in a bubble of denial. They actually look the camera in the eye and say that they are innovative and open in ways that causes their partners and competitors to snear opennly and yet no one calls them on it. It is liking listening to Putin talk about how he wants freedom in the country of Georgia. Marketing B.S.
Why waste your time reading Atlas Shrugged? It would be better to read Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and John Maynard Keynes' The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. You will find both to be more relevant in to-day's crisis. It may also help if you research the latest findings of the Georgia conflict before dragging Putin into this forum.
Believe it or not, Windows 1.0 was going to have contextually sized scroll-bars (something we take for granted now), but Gates insisted it was removed, because the feature wasn't on the Mac. Proof, as if any were needed, that Windows was intended to replicate the Mac as close as possible.
Apple had actually considered proportional scrollbars and decided against them:
From Folklore.org:
By the summer of 1980, we had dropped the soft-keys. The leftmost photo shows that we had mouse-based text editing going, complete with the first appearance of the clipboard, which at that point was called "the wastebasket". Later, it was called the "scrap" before we finally settled on "clipboard." There was also a Smalltalk style scrollbar, with the scroll box proportional to the size of the document. Note there are also two set of arrows, since a single scrollbar weirdly controlled both horizontal and vertical scrolling.
The next picture shows that we dropped the proportional scroll box for a simpler, fixed-size one, since we were afraid users wouldn't understand the proportionality. It also shows the I-Beam text cursor for the first time. At this point, we were finally committed to the one-button mouse, after a long, protracted internal debate.
Microsoft is less interested in adopting WebKit for a future version of Internet Explorer than in its plans to replicate another Apple-driven technology: the direct-to-customer software distribution model pioneered by the App Store.
[...]
That said, Ballmer was more keen on mimicking Apple's move to digital software distribution through the App Store, revealing that Microsoft will soon launch a similar program that lets developers distribute their applications directly to consumers.
[/url][/c]
Blah, blah, blah. I've always been able to distribute software directly to customers via the Internet. That Apple is forcing developers to do that through the App Store is neither pioneering nor innovative ... unless you're only interested in business models.
Consumers should not be in favor of either Apple or Microsoft doing this as a sole means of software distribution.
The problem Microsoft has is not the distribution channel, is the number of devices.
Given the number of WM models out there, it is impossible for the developer to test more than a couple of them.
So, while Apple experience very low refund/chargeback rate, that will be a headache for MS (and Google, Nokia/Symbian). An app may work on a 320x240 screen WM7 with 2MP camera and Wifi, but how would it work with 640x480 screen, WM6, with 1.3MP camera and no Wifi? The developer will likely make an educated guess and test in the emulator. That may be OK, it may not. If it doesn't work, the customer will call MS for refund.
Considering the apps are likely to be in the $1 to $10 range, the refund transaction fee will add up. For example, to sell a $1 app, the transaction fee will be in the range of 30 cents to 40 cents. To refund, that's ANOTHER 30 cents.
And to make it worse, MS will have to man the support phones to handle the refunds. Even if the phone number is outsourced to India, the 1-800 number will cost money, as well as the employee time.
All for a $1 app.
When you think about the whole business cycle, Apple's strategy to have limited models makes good sense.
Excuse me for being so crass, but can this f-ing company do anything original? Other than BOB and grammar checker in Word, what have they done that is truly original? Nothing. Everything they've "pioneered" was due to a takeover/purchase.
Yeah they should come up with something without a takeover/purchase like Apple did with OS X... oh wait.
I don't agree that apple pioneered the appstore concept. I've been happily buying and downloading content from Steam for years now. Most recently on my mbp thanks to free code weavers winealike. OK, the developers on steam tend to be bigger players, but there are paid for mods etc on there, it's in the same vein.
Comments
If the gold master can truly be installed on a netbook with 1gb ram, then it will be a decent PC. Obviously, the first thing a user does when you boot it up is to install FF3 and Safari. IE is just to clunky to use now. Otherwise, the OS is pretty usable now. Still trying to get used to the new desktop, but at least the UAC and balloon tips are less intrusive.
Just one advice for MS. Balloon tips should be turned OFF BY DEFAULT.
Peace be with you.
Don't knock them. MS could have something going with the real Vista OS (Windows 7). I found it online and have been using it and it's pretty fast. Works in VMware with no issue (this is how I know it's Vista cause VMWare says it's Vista during the install).
Fool me once.... Longhorn was creating that kind of buzz too about its speed and stability and feature-set, and look where that went. I'll believe Windows 7 is a good OS when it's in the store and installed on millions of computers and running as well as yours is. And with all promised features in place.
Just one advice for MS. Balloon tips should be turned OFF BY DEFAULT.
Hands-down, that's my biggest Windows gripe ("Gee, thanks Windows. With my severe short-term memory problems, I really needed a pop up message telling me I just plugged in some headphones.") Google around and you'll find a registry hack that turns them off completely.
The only "innovation" in Apple's system, besides a great interface/etc, was how easy it is for people/companies to submit new app's to it, with minimal contact with Apple or the carrier.
You have described the Apple Experience perfectly - "great interface", "easy for people", and "minimal contact with Apple"! - Now that's innovation!!!
Yeah... that 'usability' stuff is just stupid.
Give me massive, unusable power any day.
The only "innovation" in Apple's system, besides a great interface/etc, was how easy it is for people/companies to submit new app's to it, with minimal contact with Apple or the carrier.
200 million downloads - yes, that about says it all. I guess it is how you define "innovation".
200 million downloads - yes, that about says it all. I guess it is how you define "innovation".
Perhaps we could define Apple's marketing and engineering methods as "sublimation" rather than "innovation", since it seems hard to swallow that the removal of complexity and options is a form of innovation.
But I do define that as innovation. Take the iPod Shuffle for example. iPod competitors were trying to add feature upon feature to appeal to users, and then Apple releases an iPod whose only features are to play music in order to shuffle it. There was no display and no options. They even went so far as to minimize the cost and size by making the 2.5" headphone jack the data port for syncing and the charging unit. That I found that to be be innovative because of this utilitarian simplicity. I wonder if such and idea was brought to SanDisk et al., if they would have dismissed it outright.
...Just one advice for MS. Balloon tips should be turned OFF BY DEFAULT....
Peace be with you.
Just in case anyone doesn't know how to turn them off, here's a little help.
should have been written
"Microsoft plans to copy Apple's App Store format"
Surprise, surprise!
Seriously. Ballmer has stated that MS will seek to duplicate Apple's tight software/hardware integration...their commercials are a direct response (and take a line from) to Apple's ad's...Windows 7 now has a dock-like taskbar...they want to start their own Apple-styled facebook... What is next?
MS reminds me of a Simpsons episode where network execs in need of new show ideas whip out portable TVs and start watching shows on other channels.
Microsoft is like (but not exactly like) Wal-Mart: neither company really makes anything and their true strength is their business model (OEM lock down/monopoly in Microsoft's case).
Unfortunately Gates and Ballmer long ago decided to run Microsoft like they were GM. Well we know how that is working out.
He is talking to developers as if they were stockholders.
He is touting propriety to people who don't want it, except of course for themselves.
He is boasting of innovation to the very people who know better, but can't really confront him.
I've almost finished Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged in audiobook (I disagree with much of her ideas, but understand the myth involved) and I just wonder if the neo-liberal economists who think monopolies are fine and proper and are good counter-balances to ineffective socialist policies, think that Microsoft is being heroic in any way. I've watched television interviews and forums where Ballmer and Gates truly sound as if they are in a bubble of denial. They actually look the camera in the eye and say that they are innovative and open in ways that causes their partners and competitors to snear opennly and yet no one calls them on it. It is liking listening to Putin talk about how he wants freedom in the country of Georgia. Marketing B.S.
Why waste your time reading Atlas Shrugged? It would be better to read Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and John Maynard Keynes' The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. You will find both to be more relevant in to-day's crisis. It may also help if you research the latest findings of the Georgia conflict before dragging Putin into this forum.
Believe it or not, Windows 1.0 was going to have contextually sized scroll-bars (something we take for granted now), but Gates insisted it was removed, because the feature wasn't on the Mac. Proof, as if any were needed, that Windows was intended to replicate the Mac as close as possible.
Apple had actually considered proportional scrollbars and decided against them:
From Folklore.org:
By the summer of 1980, we had dropped the soft-keys. The leftmost photo shows that we had mouse-based text editing going, complete with the first appearance of the clipboard, which at that point was called "the wastebasket". Later, it was called the "scrap" before we finally settled on "clipboard." There was also a Smalltalk style scrollbar, with the scroll box proportional to the size of the document. Note there are also two set of arrows, since a single scrollbar weirdly controlled both horizontal and vertical scrolling.
The next picture shows that we dropped the proportional scroll box for a simpler, fixed-size one, since we were afraid users wouldn't understand the proportionality. It also shows the I-Beam text cursor for the first time. At this point, we were finally committed to the one-button mouse, after a long, protracted internal debate.
Microsoft is less interested in adopting WebKit for a future version of Internet Explorer than in its plans to replicate another Apple-driven technology: the direct-to-customer software distribution model pioneered by the App Store.
[...]
That said, Ballmer was more keen on mimicking Apple's move to digital software distribution through the App Store, revealing that Microsoft will soon launch a similar program that lets developers distribute their applications directly to consumers.
[/url][/c]
Blah, blah, blah. I've always been able to distribute software directly to customers via the Internet. That Apple is forcing developers to do that through the App Store is neither pioneering nor innovative ... unless you're only interested in business models.
Consumers should not be in favor of either Apple or Microsoft doing this as a sole means of software distribution.
Given the number of WM models out there, it is impossible for the developer to test more than a couple of them.
So, while Apple experience very low refund/chargeback rate, that will be a headache for MS (and Google, Nokia/Symbian). An app may work on a 320x240 screen WM7 with 2MP camera and Wifi, but how would it work with 640x480 screen, WM6, with 1.3MP camera and no Wifi? The developer will likely make an educated guess and test in the emulator. That may be OK, it may not. If it doesn't work, the customer will call MS for refund.
Considering the apps are likely to be in the $1 to $10 range, the refund transaction fee will add up. For example, to sell a $1 app, the transaction fee will be in the range of 30 cents to 40 cents. To refund, that's ANOTHER 30 cents.
And to make it worse, MS will have to man the support phones to handle the refunds. Even if the phone number is outsourced to India, the 1-800 number will cost money, as well as the employee time.
All for a $1 app.
When you think about the whole business cycle, Apple's strategy to have limited models makes good sense.
Excuse me for being so crass, but can this f-ing company do anything original? Other than BOB and grammar checker in Word, what have they done that is truly original? Nothing. Everything they've "pioneered" was due to a takeover/purchase.
Yeah they should come up with something without a takeover/purchase like Apple did with OS X... oh wait.