PCR's notepad » Windows Vista

The 5 sins of Vista

David Dernoncourt — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:35:00 +0000

From a fan of Microsoft : the top 5 reasons why Vista is a step backward from previous versions of Windows.

Analysis of Microsoft’s Suicide Note (part 1)

David Dernoncourt — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:10:00 +0000

If Windows XP was Microsoft’s attempt to embed a browser into the operating system then Vista is the attempt to embed DRM.
Vista’s target market is content producers and the underlying philosophy of the user experience will be far different than what many consumers expect it will be. Microsoft has attempted to plug the infamous “analog hole” as much as is possible by forcing all data through encryption algorithms. For those unaware of the costs of encryption it is sufficiently high. Pushing HD audio and video content through encryption/decryption routines is a tremendous strain on any system currently available and in the near future.

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BadVista.org: FSF launches campaign against Microsoft Vista

David Dernoncourt — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 06:42:00 +0000

From badvista.org

Vista is an upsell masquerading as an upgrade. It is an overall regression when you look at the most important aspect of owning and using a computer: your control over what it does. Obviously MS Windows is already proprietary and very restrictive, and well worth rejecting. But the new ‘features’ in Vista are a Trojan Horse to smuggle in even more restrictions. We’ll be focusing attention on detailing how they work, how to resist them, and why people should care”, said FSF program administrator John Sullivan.

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How Vista Lets Microsoft Lock Users In

David Dernoncourt — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:56:00 +0000

Technology called “Information Rights Management,” combined with copyright law and Windows Vista, give Microsoft the tools to hold users’ data hostage in Office, says Cory Doctorow.

37signals shows how ridiculous it is to install something in Windows Vista

David Dernoncourt — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:48:00 +0000

Clocking in at a stunning 35 clicks, the video shows that installing a script debugger in the new operating system is not only not made any easier, but it still takes a series of hoop jumps. They offer the same process in OS X for comparison.

Microsoft now decides to accept outside security for Vista

David Dernoncourt — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 10:19:00 +0000

Microsoft did an about-face yesterday, agreeing to make it easier for customers of its forthcoming Vista operating system to use outside security vendors, such as those who make popular antivirus and anti-spyware programs. Until now, Microsoft had planned to block those companies from installing their products in the deepest levels of the new OS.

Windows Vista RC2 available to everyone

David Dernoncourt — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 08:19:00 +0000

Microsoft posted Windows Vista RC2 and it is available for everyone to download… not just registered testers. There is a 32 bits and a 64 bits version.

Go there

The Firefox development team returns from Redmond

David Dernoncourt — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 05:39:00 +0000

In August Microsoft invited members of Firefox’s development team to the Microsoft campus. At the time, it was unclear whether the Firefox team would actually accept the invitation. Now we have discovered that a handful of Firefox developers did journey to Redmond, and one member of the team kept track of the experience in his blog.

Vista’s ‘virgin stack’ to speed up your torrents

David Dernoncourt — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 05:43:00 +0000

Windows Vista has a brand new Network Stack. According to tests conducted on both Windows XP and Vista, the new stack might actually speed up BitTorrent transfers by an estimated 10%. This would normally be considered good news, but a new Network Stack is almost certainly an unsecured one…

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McAfee places full-page ad in Financial Times blasting Microsoft

David Dernoncourt — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 05:35:00 +0000

“McAfee Inc. has thrown down the gauntlet in its dispute with Microsoft’s decision to lock down the core of their Vista operating system. The security software vendor has a full-page ad in today’s Financial Times which berates Microsoft.”

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