Windows Vista

[tweeter]

Is windows vista going to be as secure as linux, and less bloated then xp? I am just curious because I used to use windows but switched because of security issues. And will it have a terminal window like linux, hopefully better than command prompt?

[Patrick]

Windows Vista

Vista = XP + fancy things...

If you ask me.. :-/

[Freddan]

Windows Vista

It will be a hole lot more secure, not secure enough though. After all it's a MS system. /// Freddan

[Mikesoft]

Windows Vista

It looks quite cool but I am definatly sticking with linux. Vista I think is really meant for parents that want to protect their kids on the computer as it features things like only allow a certain rating of computer game to be played, cut blood or swearing out the game and other parental controls. The whole design of windows vista looks quite naff in my view. I don't like the big start button on the bottom menu and the new way they have organised all of the program files by making a tree menu looks quite nasty. It may be slightly more secure than xp in the beginning but as windows is so widely used secure threats and other nasty things will become a problem again.

I bought a windows xp specal megazine with about 150 pages and it was mostly all about how to make your windows more secure! These people that by this magazine often really need a taste of Linux!

[Ultima]

Windows Vista

IMO, Microsoft is getting closer to halfway decent security with each new Windows release. Of course, I imagine that Vista will also be a DRM infested hellhole of an OS, and will end up with security vulnerabilities left and right, following the footsteps of versions before it.

Things like low-privledge-level user accounts, a built-in firewall, and NTFS encryption are a start....but as far as I can tell, Linux has been doing all the above and more very well for years.

Even if Windows ever became somewhat secure, I'd still prefer Linux...it's doing a great job on the desktop front on things, especially..

Just my .02...

[Elez]

Windows Vista

I also hold the opinion that Vista will be just a fancy XP with some new features that mostly hinder your work and ability to be free with your computer.
The thing that bothers me the most is the opengl issue that basically means that with each Windows Vista bought we are one step further into being completely caged with MS standards all over the place. Nothing ever before in my life has bothered me about the computer world so much as the new trend that MS is trying to inflict the world with.

[Guardian_Bob]

There not getting my money

Ill stick to KDE, I can sum it up as this going from 98 to XP I was disapointed, I when't from reformating every 3 to 6 months to formating every year and not being able to customize my desktop wich I used to spend days on in 98 getting a theme to look just right. The leaked price of Vista was a how am I going to get financing shock and no thanks ill stick to Ubuntu and Kubuntu thank you very much they have everything I need in a OS. Oh and $3 smileys get real. I would probably pay to get Kubuntu if it was reasonable but I think that is what my decision is based on.

[whoiam55]

Windows Vista

Windows vista ? What a lame name :lol:

hasta la VISTA baby

[bandit]

Re: Windows Vista

VISTA - Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans, and Adware.....

IMHO, they are just going to smear more make-up on a already bloated XP OS.
Common, Win95 was less the 80MB fulling installed with all the gizmoes and up-dates... WinXP is over 1GB NOW!!!
I am still amaxed how they sqeezed all that crap onto a CD....
I wouldnt use VISTA is Bill Gate's begged me to infront of a crowd of 1mil people and he promised to donate all his money to the poor.....
I dont have the time to be trying to patch up there OS. It already has more holes the swiss cheese...
IMHO,
Joey

[Segovia]

Re: Windows Vista

VISTA - Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans, and Adware.....

IMHO, they are just going to smear more make-up on a already bloated XP OS.
Common, Win95 was less the 80MB fulling installed with all the gizmoes and up-dates... WinXP is over 1GB NOW!!!

I'm no fan of MS, but I think it's more than just "more make-up on XP".  From what I understand they completely rewrote the kernel from scratch?  And 1 GB?  Disk space is dirt cheap.  I have nearly 1000 gigs here, and most 3D games nowadays are 1-3 gigs!

I find "bloated" to be just the current buzzword.  If you're talking about how much system resources the OS uses, KDE is FAR more bloated than WinXP.  But who cares?  I don't.  I rather prefer KDE anyway.

Everything you say about security is probably correct, however. 

http://secunia.com/product/11/

Internet Explorer with SP2 and all current patches = "Currently, 20 out of 86 Secunia advisories, is marked as "Unpatched" in the Secunia database."

[bandit]

Re: Windows Vista

And 1 GB? Disk space is dirt cheap.

But thats just a bare OS. No other software installed...

[GreatBunzinni]

Re: Windows Vista

Is windows vista going to be as secure as linux, and less bloated then xp? I am just curious because I used to use windows but switched because of security issues. And will it have a terminal window like linux, hopefully better than command prompt?

According to the official reports from MS, Vista will be more bloated, will be a huge resource guzler and will pack greater security. That's according to their own words. Now if you read between the marketing lines and have MS's history in mind, you can see where it is heading.

IMHO, KDE is far, far ahead of windows in useability as it is and is lighter on the resources. If you are already running kubuntu, there will be no need to try vista and the need will be even smaller when KDE 3.5 is released.

[whoiam55]

Re: Windows Vista

they completely rewrote the kernel from scratch?

As you said, They completly rewrote the kernel, But windows can never compare with linux in term of flixibilities. For example, can you change your Hard disk parameters without rebooting ?

I was one of the big fan of windows, I learn about computers with windows, dos to 3.1 to 98 to XP, but now I hate it (even I hate my MSCE cert. now preparing for LPI).

[Segovia]

Re: Windows Vista

they completely rewrote the kernel from scratch?

As you said, They completly rewrote the kernel, But windows can never compare with linux in term of flixibilities. For example, can you change your Hard disk parameters without rebooting ?

I was one of the big fan of windows, I learn about computers with windows, dos to 3.1 to 98 to XP, but now I hate it (even I hate my MSCE cert. now preparing for LPI).

Yep.  Well I've no love for MS at all.  I do keep a 30 gig partition (out of nearly a terabyte) around with windows XP, for gaming (Wintendo).  I just think that if we (GNU/Linux users) are going to bash Windows, we should include accurate information.

I've surely done my share of venting about MS's lock on so many areas of the web/computing, and about their constant lies,spin, and complete disregard for their customer's privacy and security... but I try to remember that when you exaggerate problems with Windows, you just look like a foolish bitter geek with an agenda.

[mahlerrd]

Re: Windows Vista

You make an excellent point, Whoami55.

One of the major things MS is accused of is spreading Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD). They make off the cuff claims that are outdated, out of context or even just wrong.

Doing likewise does nothing but damage to the chances of open source to win over "regular" people.

I have no great love of Windows XP. I also have no real hate for it either. MS as a company has done many underhanded things in the pursuit of market and mind share, but they've also done a great deal to further the computing industry. Keep in mind that it's possible Linux would only be a hobbyist OS, like it started out being, if MS, IBM and Apple all had equivalent market share. Open source only survives because it's an outlet for frustration with the existing marketplace.

Mac OSX is currently my favorite because it never falters or stutters. It behaves as an OS should - it stays completely out of my way and lets me do what I need to get done. I also use XP and have found it to be reasonably stable and reliable. It's also capable of being made secure enough to attach to the internet. Linux? I see great promise, and Kubuntu is one of the best of breed. It's not quite to the point where I'd install it on my mother's computer, but it's not that far from it, either.

The change from Windows Server 2000 to Server 2003 was a big step in the right direction. If MS can keep their eye on the ball (which they've at least glanced at several times recently), I think you are going to find Vista will be formidable. The new command line looks like it's going to finally make administering Vista like administering *nix, maybe even better. (Check out Arstechnica.com for more).

And, just a FYI, what hard disk parameters do you need to twiddle on a Server 2003 box? A similar argument could be made for Linux lacking basic functionality because you can't run Windows Update...

XP Bloated? Maybe. Keep in mind that with Windows XP you have 5 or 6 nearly complete operating systems. That little feature called "Compatibility Mode" encapsulates most of the code for DOS, Win95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT and 2000. XP alone is probably only 1/2 of what you see in a typical windows install. Also, a large chunk of space is kept for system restores (a great and useful feature, by the way) and the driver cache and file protection system.

Installing UT2004 easily triples the amount of space "XP" uses. Is UT2004 bloated?