Major Vista code re-write
p2p news / p2pnet: It seems the Windows Vista farce is far worse than first suspected.
Bill and the Boyz have already put the release date back to the end of the year for businesses, and until 2007 for everyone else.
Now, "Up to 60% of the code in the new consumer version of Microsoft new Vista operating system is set to be rewritten as the Company ’scrambles’ to fix internal problems," a Microsoft insider leaked to Australia’s Smarthouse.
The story carries the full text of a memo from Kevin Johnson, co-president of the Windows division, to Steven Sinofsky, among others.
He’s the new senior vp of the Windows and Windows Live Group and in the memo, "Let’s continue to impress customers and partners with our innovation, and drive satisfaction to levels we’ve never achieved before," says Johnson. "Let’s also stay focused on our priorities as we make this transition and align our organization for the future."
Meanwhile, "some observers questioned whether the changes announced Thursday are deep and broad enough to avoid another debacle like the delays of Windows Vista, a project whose scale and complexity pushed Microsoft’s development process to its limit," says the Seattle Times.
The ‘observers’ aren’t alone.
Should 50-Billion Bill ask Mitchell ‘Firefox’ Baker for a hand, do you think?
Stay tuned.
Also See:
Vista farce – Vista release now 2007, March 22, 2006
Smarthouse – 60% Of Windows Vista Code To Be Rewritten, March 24, 2003
Seattle Times – Executives face big challenge in Windows unit, March 24, 2006
March 24th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
This is a great opportunity for people to try out a linux distribution for the first time. Seeing as vista is a migration rather than an upgrade, there is no benefit to business or home users alike.
For new linux users, I recommend using Ubuntu or Kbuntu linux. The great thing about linux is choice, while this is excellent for the experienced users, beginners tend to feel overwhelmed by the options.
To try it out go here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/download
If you want to simply try it out without actually installing it, you can download the Live CD version and burn to a cd or dvd. You can then play around with it to see if you like it or not.
If you want to install it, then you can download the Install CD version. Note, Ubuntu can co-exist with windows, so there is no need to reformat, simply pop the cd in and, it will allow you to install with windows already there. Additionally it will give you a nice boot menu, so you can choose which OS you would like to boot to.
And if you have a ton of files you need from windows, thats fine, you can access all the files on your windows installation inside of linux as well
March 24th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
Thanks for this informative post. I was under the impression Win/Linux couldn’t coexist. I’m definitely giving it a shot now.
March 24th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
They probably discovered that there was an easy way for someone to unbork access to the video bus in Vista’s “built-in” DRM for Hi-Def Video, so now they have to start over on that.
March 25th, 2006 at 12:07 am
A hardware-fix, as was that “magic marker” one for assorted cd’s?
March 25th, 2006 at 12:11 am
Which brings up this point; as nice as it would be to go with Linux and dump MS forever, most of the utilities you need to rip, compress, play and otherwise massage video files are Windows only apps. Even Apple has trouble coming up with good video apps. I have maybe a dozen dvd rippers, lots of compressors, editors, drm removers etc but where are the Linux equivalents? I need more than Star office and Firefox to live.
March 25th, 2006 at 5:27 am
(1) Video Apps (console)
Players
——–
mplayer
xine
xmms
Encoding/Ripping
——–
ffmpeg
transcode
mencoder
dvd file structure/menus
———
dvdauthor
cd/dvd burning
———
mkisofs/cdrecord
growisofs
Thats only a small selection of console based apps, there are tons of gui versions, many of which use these tools as backends.
An example of using mencoder to rip a dvd?
mencoder -dvd 1 -oac copy -ovc copy -o dvd-rip.avi
That wasn’t so hard was it? no bulky gui needed, no clicking through 20 buttons/menus just to get to the actual ripping.
How about creating an iso image of a cd or dvd?
dd -if=/dev/hdc -of=image.iso
Wasn’t so painfull was it? I actually find it much faster using the command line personally. But you have the option in linux of using either the command line or gui’s, it’s all about preference and choice
If you want to see what linux truely offers rather than speculating, i suggest downloading a Live CD (Ubuntu/Kbuntu) and giving it a no-risk try out, which doesn’t actually install anything.
March 26th, 2006 at 2:22 am
No, you put a piece of duct tape over the little hole on the front panel of the DVD drive to prevent the broadcast flag from popping out. Then there will be six more weeks of Beta Testing.
March 26th, 2006 at 3:28 am
Must…have…Virtualdub…
March 26th, 2006 at 5:09 am
Ubuntu is awesome. U can DL it & run it from a CD on friend’s PC faster than the PC can load MicroCrap Shitware.
March 26th, 2006 at 8:42 pm
I tried various flavors of linux. I also tried the KDE first as the desktop mode. What I could not say is if I liked the gnome desktop, even if it is older. Finally I settled on Ubuntu with gnome. I now know that I prefer the KDE desktop because of the Konquer browser. That browser has the ability to report back a false indication of what browser you are running and that means you don’t get as much spyware (not that linux is much of a problem with spyware). Still I’ve recieved connection messages of having my IP reported for attempting to hack, (It’s their way of saying they couldn’t load spyware) and if I wanted to dispute it I could email them. Why on earth would I email them to give them an email to spam? I mean come on here, that’s the reason I like to run linux is for privacy. I couldn’t hack my way out of a paperbag much less hack a site.
It does tee them off that they can’t get true values to mine your data for whatever they can sell. It tees me off for them to do that and I would rather they be teed than I.
Vista is becoming a hard sell to the public in the same way that DRM wrapped music and rentals are. None are worth the money and when you try to sell something no one wants it results in much hemhawing and foot dancing as they try to find a way to sell it. They’ve invested a lot of time and money in it and are trying desparetly to find some manner to make it compatible to the buyer. Those that are informed don’t want the additional restrictions and the requirement to buy all new hardware to run it. I don’t plan on going to Vista till the equipment I have craters. I won’t buy it, don’t like it, and refuse to be pidgeon-holed into this.
Linux has given my obsolete computers new life. Where the older ones creaped to do, linux has given them sneakers to run like crazy. On the newer ones, it is amazing. Like the first poster here, I was bewildered at first with all the choices for free programs that I would never have to worry about copyright infringement over. It takes the BSA right out of the picture along with the high price of running windows, that you have to invest in time and money (provided you run legal). I’ve also a hearburn with MS over the blackballing of a legal version that came with the OS. Since getting rid of the malware proved daunting and installing the OS too many times will result in your copy being blackballed. I’m not going to call them, not going to hassle them, and I am certainly not going to willing buy another copy. If this is how they do business, they have lost another customer.
In the long run, I’m not planning on buying Vista and the only way I will have it is without choice in purchasing a new computer.
March 27th, 2006 at 5:05 am
If you like Ubuntu but prefer the KDE desktop, you can use Kbuntu, which is just like the regular Ubuntu except it uses KDE for it’s gui.
March 27th, 2006 at 5:12 am
Many computer manufacturers allow you to add/remove components from your final pc. You just have to ask them not to include an OS and subtract the price of the software off the total cost.
I think dell will even include a linux cd with the new computer if you explain you are going to be installing linux. Saves you quite a bit of $$ as well