Windows Vista: Eight different views...

[XNine]

That's right, Windows Vista will come in 8, that's right, EIGHT different versions.

These are: Windows Starter 2007, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate. There are two "N" versions without Media Player installed for Europe.

This doesn't include Mobile, Tablet, or Media Center versions either.

In short, MS is trying to milk it's customers, selling crappy, sub-standard versions.

With OS X, you have two options: CLIENT AND SERVER.

HOW EFFING HARD IS IT TO MAKE JUST TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS?!?!?!?!?!

[Mord]

i'm looking forward to the fury of dell users finding out you can only run three applications at a time with the basic versions.

[cwedl]

hehe, Microsoft making everything over complicated! as usual!

[Phat_Pat]

You forgot Vista Xtreme

[ReanimationLP]

Heh. Bash Vista all you want, but this is ********** nice.

I'm on the Feburary CTP. Its amazing.

[EricNau]

...And the funny thing is - They are all the same, just the box is a different color (and several hundred dollars of course).

Typical Microsoft.

[jessica.]

OMGWTFBBQ! I am so confused!

[nbs2]

As frustrating as windows is, get the facts straight. 3 windows at a time is only in the developing world edition and will not be sold in the US (for example). The business editions are pretty much clear enough to know who the target is - Enterprise, Businesses, Small Business (ie you don't need IT to run a lot of basic, but important features like backup). Europe is to blame for the n versions. Home basic and premium? Basically the fancy effects will be missing in basic. If your hardware doesn't support it, why pay for it? And do most home users need remote desktop access? Do most businesses need Media Center? Ultimate - because you have the geeks out there who need to have all possible features.

I think MS is about as silly as they come and I really think that if I didn't have Office on my PB, my crash total would be 0. My only crashes have been Word. I don't like MS, but if they don't screw up the packaging, retail buyers should have a clear idea of what they are buying. Additionally, I imagine that OEMs will probably install home Premium unless the hardware won't support it, and the Business edition that best fits the buyers business...

[Chundles]

What about the 64bit versions os all of them?

[EricNau]

As frustrating as windows is, get the facts straight. 3 windows at a time is only in the developing world edition and will not be sold in the US (for example). The business editions are pretty much clear enough to know who the target is - Enterprise, Businesses, Small Business (ie you don't need IT to run a lot of basic, but important features like backup). Europe is to blame for the n versions. Home basic and premium? Basically the fancy effects will be missing in basic. If your hardware doesn't support it, why pay for it? And do most home users need remote desktop access? Do most businesses need Media Center? Ultimate - because you have the geeks out there who need to have all possible features.

I think MS is about as silly as they come and I really think that if I didn't have Office on my PB, my crash total would be 0. My only crashes have been Word. I don't like MS, but if they don't screw up the packaging, retail buyers should have a clear idea of what they are buying. Additionally, I imagine that OEMs will probably install home Premium unless the hardware won't support it, and the Business edition that best fits the buyers business...
I think we can all figure out who each version is marketed for; but why not just make one or two good versions and call it a day?

Microsoft would rather make a (somewhat) good OS, and then take features away and sell those "dulled down" versions separately.

It's stupid.

[Timepass]

That's right, Windows Vista will come in 8, that's right, EIGHT different versions.

These are: Windows Starter 2007, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate. There are two "N" versions without Media Player installed for Europe.

This doesn't include Mobile, Tablet, or Media Center versions either.

In short, MS is trying to milk it's customers, selling crappy, sub-standard versions.

With OS X, you have two options: CLIENT AND SERVER.

HOW EFFING HARD IS IT TO MAKE JUST TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS?!?!?!?!?!


First off Starter and Enterpise are not going to be able to be boughten by the general public. So they dont count (starter is only going to be sold in 3rd world countrys, mostly in asia. Enterpise is ment for corpate networking computer ONLY and it allows the by passing of activation and entering cd keys.)
As for "N" I dont think they should count because it a force thing they have to do.
So that took it down to 4 main versons. Tablet is made only for tablet PC and is designed diffenerently. It has many things a normal computer can not do. Besides it would be install OEM so it does not matter.

As for media I dont care for it.
Moble is made for laptop only. I dont think it is a bad thing to design an OS to work with a lot of things only laptops can and can not do over a desktop. I thinking it mostly has to do with power managment and what not.

As for 64 bit and 32 bit version they are shipping together at the same time on the SAME disk. The users gets to choose what verson they want to install on there computer at the time of the intall.

As for the crippling I dont really care for it but I would say for apple to say anything about it. It would be the pot calling the kettle black because apple has a long history of intentional crippling there computers. Example being just look at the consumer lv computers. There hardware can support quite a bit more but apple made sure that it could do it. The graphic cards support easily screen spanning and running at larger resolution on another monitor. Something that apple does not let them do. Huge deal in the ibooks. But that just to point out that apple does it as well. I dont agree with it in any form.

[WildCowboy]

"boughten"...one of my favorite non-words ever. No offense intended...I really mean it.

I think a lot of people feel the the "N" versions should be the standard, and that's why they count them against Microsoft. They're not being "forced" to do it...they could get rid of the non-N versions entirely. Let people choose which media player they want to use...what a concept.

[Timepass]

"boughten"...one of my favorite non-words ever. No offense intended...I really mean it.

I think a lot of people feel the the "N" versions should be the standard, and that's why they count them against Microsoft. They're not being "forced" to do it...they could get rid of the non-N versions entirely. Let people choose which media player they want to use...what a concept.


counter point is how come iTunes and quick time comes installed standard with OSX. I mean apple could let people choose the stuff as well. The other choice is to let people choose not to install them with the OS.
I personally dont care if N is there or not I dont think it should be held agaist MS in verson count because they are being force to do it. It is not like it hard to remove windows Media player.

But maybe apple should also give people a N choice as well so they dont have to install itunes and quicktime with there OS

[e²Studios]

counter point is how come iTunes and quick time comes installed standard with OSX. I mean apple could let people choose the stuff as well. The other choice is to let people choose not to install them with the OS.
I personally dont care if N is there or not I dont think it should be held agaist MS in verson count because they are being force to do it. It is not like it hard to remove windows Media player.

But maybe apple should also give people a N choice as well so they dont have to install itunes and quicktime with there OS

It is pretty easy to take itunes.app and drag it to the trash. Ever try to uninstall Media Center 10? It is a royal pain in the ass, even after its uninstalled you still have things lingering around that you need to manually remove.

Ed

[IJ Reilly]

This is the second thread on this topic.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2174344

[dotdotdot]

Windows Starter 2007 - For third world countries. So stripped down that it doesn't even carry the 'Vista' name. Can not be purchased anywhere else.

Windows Vista Home Basic - Comparable to Windows XP Home Edition, lacks professional features and will be the version of Windows preinstalled on most PCs.

Windows Vista Home Premium - Comparable to Windows XP Media Center Edition, it features the Media Center, as well as more tools and entertainment for home users.

Windows Vista Business - Comparable to a stripped down Windows XP Professional as it lacks entertainment and media functionality, and ideal for business environments.

Windows Vista Enterprise - This is comparable to Windows Vista Business but with more business oriented features. Does not require activation. Only sold to major businesses.

Windows Vista Ultimate This is the top of the line version. It features every feature in all the major (bolded) versions of Vista, and Vista Enterprise. It will also include special subscription services for free.

Windows Server 2007 - The successor to Windows Server 2003

The N Versions of Vista - Specific for European Markets, lacks Windows Media Player preinstalled.

Bolded Versions are the mainstream versions

Windows XP currently has Home, Professional, Media Center, Tablet PC, Server 2003, Enterprise (Though it's not called this).

[Chundles]

"boughten"...one of my favorite non-words ever. No offense intended...I really mean it.


I prefer "buyded" as in "I went and buyded me one of them I-Pods today down the shops"

[portent]

"boughten"...one of my favorite non-words ever. No offense intended...I really mean it.

Put your mouse pointer over it and press control-command-D

For those without Tiger...boughten (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/boughten)

[WildCowboy]

Put your mouse pointer over it and press control-command-D

For those without Tiger...boughten (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/boughten)


Well, yes, but it's not Standard English. It is present in certain American dialects (predominantly Northern US), and it's one of those words that has gained a bit of acceptance through sheer volume of usage. It's pretty far out on the fringe if you ask me though.

[Oryan]

Put your mouse pointer over it and press control-command-D

For those without Tiger...boughten (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/boughten)

No way! :eek: Tiger has a dictionary feature like that? I want to upgrade more every day, but I can't afford it right now.

I think MS is trying to screw customers even more with all these different versions. Scenario: You buy a new PC from Dell and it comes with Windows Basic (or whatever). You then go to burn a CD and find out that that functionality is not available in the Basic version, so you have to go fork out cash for a SECOND copy of Windows (Premium) just so you can burn a CD. And like MS is going to advertise that certain features are not available in different versions; the general consumer is probably not going to bother to look up the differences, they'll just go with whatever Dell gives them.

[Deepdale]

You forgot Vista Xtreme

The official name in Redmond is Vista Xtreme Pain.

[ethen]

Man, i got headache just reading what they have :p
but seriously, i dont see the point for them to make so many type of vista, they cant even maintain 2 flavour of Xp (home and pro) well, how the hell they will handle 8 lol

[yg17]

Windows Starter 2007 - For third world countries. So stripped down that it doesn't even carry the 'Vista' name. Can not be purchased anywhere else.

I can't say I understand the point of this. Why not just give them home? It's like saying "Haha, you live in a poorer country, here's an even crappier copy of Windows!" :rolleyes:

Not to mention that copyright laws are nonexistant in many 3rd world countries and the Ultimate (or whatever the hell the best one is, if there's a such thing as a best Windows OS) version will probably be cheaper and more readily available than starter.

[Timepass]

I can't say I understand the point of this. Why not just give them home? It's like saying "Haha, you live in a poorer country, here's an even crappier copy of Windows!" :rolleyes:

Not to mention that copyright laws are nonexistant in many 3rd world countries and the Ultimate (or whatever the hell the best one is, if there's a such thing as a best Windows OS) version will probably be cheaper and more readily available than starter.


It more like it solid for dirt cheap to them. That why they do it. It to give them a cheaper alternitive to stealling.

[XNine]

This is the second thread on this topic.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2174344

Correction, this is the FIRST topic posted about this. The second one was posted two days later, which is what you linked to.

As for "not being available to the general public..." How the **** does that even matter? The point is there are EIGHT different Versions (and yes I realize the N versions are special for European release)

How about they make TWO versions: Client, and SERVER. And make it so all applications can be switched off/thrown out/overridden with another default app? That eliminates 6 versions right there.

[EricNau]

...
How about they make TWO versions: Client, and SERVER. And make it so all applications can be switched off/thrown out/overridden with another default app? That eliminates 6 versions right there.
What a great idea! If only there was a company that would do that...

;)

[Timepass]

Correction, this is the FIRST topic posted about this. The second one was posted two days later, which is what you linked to.

As for "not being available to the general public..." How the **** does that even matter? The point is there are EIGHT different Versions (and yes I realize the N versions are special for European release)

How about they make TWO versions: Client, and SERVER. And make it so all applications can be switched off/thrown out/overridden with another default app? That eliminates 6 versions right there.

Well start is not really a verson of Vistal.

N is being forces out there by eurpean law so I dont count them as extra.

Enterprise is ONLY going to be sold to major corps and no personal users should ever be using an enterprise verson of software and it will not be on store shelves.

After all that is said and done.
There will be 4 verson on store shelves
Home Basic, Premium, Bussiness and Ultra.

So I count 4 versons but cut it like you want it. I dont agree with the set up. I would rather there only be 3 verson total.
Starter, Enterprise, and Ultra.

Starter I also think is being sold for like 5-10 bucks. But it also only going to be sold 3rd world.

Now Enterprise verson of software dont really enter into so much in the mac world yet because of the reltively small % of macs out there and even a small % in the bussiness world. But enterprise verson of any software is only really ment for huge network set ups (like 100+)

That is why I dont count starter and Enterprise.

N I dont count because of the European law. Because in all fairness if apple was the same size as M$ they would have to sell an N verson as well. that verson lacking quicktime and itunes.

[pseudobrit]

After all that is said and done.
There will be 4 verson on store shelves
Home Basic, Premium, Bussiness and Ultra.

So I count 4 versons but cut it like you want it...

...That is why I dont count starter and Enterprise...N I dont count because of the European law.

You can choose not to count them for whatever reason, but that doesn't change the fact there are more than a half dozen very distinct product lines within the system that will require distinct upgrades and have unique problems.

[IJ Reilly]

So does anybody still believe that Microsoft has succeeded because of their great marketing?

[tjwett]

i just want to know if it will have font anti aliasing? it is 2006, after all.

[Timepass]

i just want to know if it will have font anti aliasing? it is 2006, after all.


are you talking about something like clear type (which is already out for XP). Great program and it is safe to guess that it going to be in tiger. Btw Clear Type is something that you have to download from M$ to use it. Mainly because it was not finished 2003-2004 or so. Sorry dont rememeber when they put it out for download. But I know it pretty new and it was sometime before tiger.

[tjwett]

are you talking about something like clear type (which is already out for XP). Great program and it is safe to guess that it going to be in tiger. Btw Clear Type is something that you have to download from M$ to use it. Mainly because it was not finished 2003-2004 or so. Sorry dont rememeber when they put it out for download. But I know it pretty new and it was sometime before tiger.

no, i'm referring to the fact that Windows still has pixelated fonts all throughout the operating system. OS X displays smooth, print-like type on the screen in the OS and in every application. not crapping on Windows, just really curious if this will be in Vista. i can't even look at a Windows screen for more than a few minutes without my eyes frying.

[Timepass]

no, i'm referring to the fact that Windows still has pixelated fonts all throughout the operating system. OS X displays smooth, print-like type on the screen in the OS and in every application. not crapping on Windows, just really curious if this will be in Vista. i can't even look at a Windows screen for more than a few minutes without my eyes frying.


sorry dont know the name of the program that covers that stuff in Tiger off the top of my head.
Currently I am on my XP computer doing so homework for class so it really easy for me to turn off clear type I going to do that to see what it looks like been so long since I turned it off to test something (plus see if I can see what you are talking about.)

Ok after looking at it I think you have never seen an XP computer with clear type turn on. It not something you average XP computer would have on it. Many people say that it better than the one in Tiger.
But to answer you question yes Vista will have it.

Also I took 2 screen shots and attact it showing the difference bettween one that has clear type on and on that has it off.

I know it will not be the best because it set up for what I like and for my monitor.
Also it quility is going to be hurt by the fact that it is a jpg and it going to be diffenernt on you monitor compared to mine but it give you a slight idea.
To truely see how nice it is you need to get on an XP computer go the the Microsoft power toys and download and install clear type. It is made by M$. It will be amoung a lot of little nice add in for XP like Tweak UI (one that lets the user do a lot of little custom settings) among other nice ones. Either way it really nice and in many ways is a lot better than what is in tiger. (Also because it a Power toy for XP right now is a huge reason why very few computer running XP have it on it or even turned on. Clear Type and Tweak UI are 2 power toys that everyone should get for there XP computers)

Also tiger does not have true vectoring yet either. It does the same thing clear type is doing on XP for the text.

Either way check out the screen shot and see if you can understand what I am talking about.

* heh I Forgot to move my timer widget I was using for defence driving online so I knew when I could move to the next slide.. got it fix for the 2nd shot.

[IJ Reilly]

sorry dont know the name of the program that covers that stuff in Tiger off the top of my head.

Quartz. It's been in OSX since the start.

[Timepass]

Quartz. It's been in OSX since the start.

I dont believe that it is Quartz. Quartz I always though was the name for OSX graphic engine The font smoothing I believe had it own name for it. Like clear type for window. But then again I could be wrong. But either way it not a big deal. The orginal poster was talking about the text and I attach a screen shot with what it looks like on and what it looks like off above. either way that is the more imporant factor.

Either way the name for it in OSX does not matter for what we are talking about here.

[pseudobrit]

I dont believe that it is Quartz. Quartz I always though was the name for OSX graphic engine The font smoothing I believe had it own name for it. Like clear type for window. But then again I could be wrong.

yea, you are...

here's (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/4q00/macosx-pb1/macos-x-beta-9.html) a review of OS X Beta, describing the antialiasing that Quartz performs.

[XNine]

What a great idea! If only there was a company that would do that...

;)

lol. I guess you see where I'm coming from here. lol

Microsoft would avoid all of this hassle with the European government if they made their OS reasonable in the first place. But then again, should i even care? It jus tmeans more people will switch over when they get sick of dealing with this crap.