Microsoft updates Windows Vista test code

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A few corrections

>>It has? How come I have never seen it... ever on any Win2K install?<<

The UI doesn't feature it. It's enabled in the graphics API (alpha shading) so that programs can use it. If you want an example, you should check out [url=http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/]IntelliJ[/url]. If you want to do a quick demo, you can even use VB to create a simple Window and create a slider bar for alpha value.

>>Ah what he is talking about is the ability to have multiple users logged into a single machine simulteneously, I think.<<

Yes, Win2k and NT both included full support for this. Check out Terminal Services.

>>Uh right, sorry but I think Unix had these well before either Linux or Windows<<

Sure, I never argued that Win2k came out with it first. Linux User mentioned this as one of the "new" features for Ubuntu, I pointed out that Win2k has had it as well.

>> I know I have tried it and it sucks and is nowhere near as fast as the Linux or Mac implementations<<

Really? I use this all the time on my 800 Mhz laptop witih 512 MB of RAM. What do you have
running? True multi-desktop switching I agree Windows doesn't have. But frankly, I don't see any consumer demand for this considering how long Linux has had this (does Mac even have this?).

>>That would be because the new Windows does plan to have <<

My point isn't that it's not in Win2k, my point is that I think even the OS after Vista won't support these because Microsoft does not want to.

>>No WinXP would be a closer comparrison and even then WinXP is behind Linux and Mac in several areas<<

Really? What areas are Linux/Mac superior? Isn't it just personal choice or is this absolute? (i.e. I like Linux/Mac better vs. I KNOW Linux/Mac ARE better?)


>> that's why I have to defrag my WinXP box at the office every week or two and my Win2K at home every 2 weeks.<<

I have heard that Linux is superior in auto-defragging hard drives. Honestly, I don't know. I do know that I almost never (this is close to a few years now) defragged my work hard drive and the last time I defragged my home hard drive was when I re-installed Windows (unrelated, I forgot why I did this). I'm pretty sure the average Windows user spends even less time on maintenance.

>>Also there is no need for AV except to protect Windows users<<

A hardened XP SP2 box actually has no need for AV (I ran my no service pack XP without AV for a few years w/o any problems), but it's not recommended. I don't believe any security expert would ever recommend you ever not have AV for the simple fact that even if your OS is absolutely secure, a single program with a single critical flaw can cause your system to be compromised.

>>Bottom line for some (such as myself and several others in this forum) Linux is a choice that works and works well<<

This I completely agree with. It IS a choice. You mentioned multimedia as one area that Windows has an advantage. I'll name a few others: software support, hardware support, interoperability, software library, hardware selection, ease of use, and consistent user interface. Linux definitely has its appeal and its a great OS. But its not for everyone. The same goes for Windows. It's all about choosing what suits you best. Is Linux at the same level as Windows? Honestly? For consumers, most analysts think it's a clear no. On the server side, Windows is the one that actually has to catch up a bit. And frankly, I think even in there it's only missing two components: a no ui option and native clustering support. Both, I believe, are upcoming (but I don't know for sure).

For most, the allure of Linux is that it is free and relatively secure, not that it has more features. Feature for feature, I think Linux would come up a bit short, but isn't this the intention anyway? To provide a light-weight alternative to Windows? For the Mac, maybe. I'm not entirely convinced that it has better or more features and as you can see, the bulk of the consumer market is unconvinced as well.

Posted by: java.user   Posted on: 10/17/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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