Microsoft Clothing: MS-DOS-ome!

Several sites and blogs have been showing a few (at least one) article of the new Microsoft clothing line. 

Although some may see this as tacky or cliche, this blogger feels that this is a very good idea! I mean, how many old school DOS peoples wouldn't want this shirt above, declaring their competency in the ancient art of command line processing?

I have only seen this one MS-DOS shirt so far, but I am sure a Windows 95 throw back shirt should be next! Besides, you haven't had OS issues, till you've used Windows 95!

Windows 7 Microsoft Pages

Upon some snooping around today, I came upon the official Microsoft Windows 7 page(s). The pages are not that much, except they offer some low level information about the upcoming OS. 

The site also gives links to specific information for developers, enterprises and the "press." I also found the "Windows 7 Team Blog." This blog has some interesting tid bits about Windows 7 including differences between it and Vista / XP, new features and product development phase updates.

The blog does talk about the unveiling of Windows 7 at this years PDC in LA. Some quotes from people who were given pre-Beta loaded machines for demos are available there as well, if you wanna get some inside opinions on it as it is so far.

Ad: I' am a PC [Pic]

This is posted on Gizmodo's site. It seems to be some part of a pro Windows campaign. Interesting...a PC, in the ocean, kickin' it with sharks?

Wonder what Microsoft is up to...

Microsofts' Pro Vista Campaign Gets Users' To Love Vista

According to a post on Gizmodo, it seems Microsoft has gone to a strange form of "Gotcha!" to prove to users that Vista isn't all that bad.

Microsoft had a focus group test drive a "new" OS called Mojave. The users seemed to love it. The punch line? The "new" OS was Vista.

My favorite part of this article is the quote "how much of the Vista hate is really just sheeple bleating what everyone else is?" This is a quote from the Giz article.

I have been beating that drum for weeks. Maybe now some people will actually try the brussel sprouts before judging them.

Microsoft's Vista "Doesn't Suck" Campaign

Although I think this picture is not a good choice for an analogy, it still makes a direct and good point: Not everyone who told you Vista sucks knows #@*! about Vista.

Gizmodo has put this article on their site and has filled it with a lot of small snide remarks like "I can think of a lot of other future installments, like "At one point, everyone thought witches walked among us" or "At one point, people thought they could turn lead into gold," or "At one point, people thought that it was a good idea to shit into ditches alongside the city streets." " [Gizmodo.com]

I have believed for many months that Vista is a good, solid OS. I know at least one person who has had his rear saved by Vista Ultimate's Shadow Copy feature. Of course, their are bound to be some bugs and issues with an OS that can span over 17GB of disk space. To believe any Mac OS release is bug free, is arrogant and ignorant (see Mac Time Machine Bugs.)

In the end, the user's, not the press or bloggers (including myself), need to decide how well Vista meets their needs. If I had the $$$ to buy a Mac, I probably would give it heavy consideration. But I don't, so I can't buy one. Of course my opinion is one sided.

Hopefully Microsoft will work hard to separate real issues and performance bugs from rumors and mere speculation in the coming weeks.

BTW, does anyone know what this means: "The campaign basically writes itself—why don't you guys give is a whirl." [Gizmodo]

Intel Skipping Vista, Not Christmas

I have heard this statement several times today about how Intel, Microsoft's good buddy, will not be upgrading their own PC's to Vista!

Here is the link to one of the articles. There is some speculation that Windows 7 may have an impact on the wait. Some would have us believe that Intel would go extinct if the massive bugs in Vista were unleashed upon the Intel populace.

I wonder what OS AMD uses in their machines? Probably Ubuntu...

Windows 7 Pics: Watch Out Vista Haters

On Gizmodo's site, they have an article and pics of what will be the next OS by Microsoft...Windows 7. While there is not a whole lot of info out there about the OS, it seems it will include "multi-touch" technology.

Hopefully this will be a more refined and highly tuned Vista based OS to stifle the Vista haters.

My Vista Preium Review - Day 1

So yesterday, my wife and I got our first look at Windows Vista Premium SP1 via our new Dell Inspiron 1525s'. I have shown the hardware specs as well as they tend to be pertinent when it comes to how well Vista runs.

Hardware:

Inspiron 1525, Intel Core 2 Duo T5550, 1.83GHz, 667Mhz, 2ML2 Cache
1GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCDTrueLife for Inspiron 1525
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

120G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, English
DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP INSP 1525

Icon Consolidation Application
Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
DELL SUPPORT CENTER 2.0
Media Direct 3.5

Integrated 10/100 Network Card
Integrated 56K Modem
ADOBE ACROBAT READER 8.1 DIM/INSP
8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
Roxio Creator DE 10
Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card,for Insp 1525
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
Creative Earbud EP630
Software for Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 1525
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS
DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS 1YR-FREE
Insp Datasafe 3GB,1YR(Incl in price),DHS

Overall Rating (Day 1): 3.0 / 5.0

In General: As far as first impressions go, I was impressed with the visual effects, such as the Aero Glass, and desktop layout. The desktop looks similar, but better, than the traditional XP desktop. The sidebar widgets are a nice touch, but I am not sure how truly useful they will be. The Dual Core processor seems to hum along quite nicely and makes large tasks seem relatively easy.

The Good: Aside from the before mentioned look and feel of the desktop, there are several features that make this version of Vista a good OS. The instant on wireless manager (via the side sliding switch) makes wireless network monitoring pretty easy. Also, connecting to the wireless network was pretty easy, at least for my wife's laptop. for me it took a few tries.

The network connections folder has been replaced with a "network control panel" of sorts. Although this is nice to keep related tasks together, it does not clarify how to do some basic tasks (i.e., set up a local network or home office network.)

Speed; I was surprised at how quick things ran, installed and un-installed on Vista. This could be based on the processor or the fact that I have little installed on the machine. I installed Microsoft's' Visual Web Developer 2008 Express quickly and easily without issue.

The Bad: As I stated earlier, my wife's wireless connection took mere minutes to get running...mine took about an hour. It may have been where I was physically located, or it may be the fact that my wireless router is an 802.11b router. I was frustrated for a bit until I finally got connected.

The fact that similar tasks are grouped together may be a good idea later on when I am more used to the system, but for now it is a burden. I am used to things being in specific places, and they are not where they used to be. Chalk this up to a lack of experience on my part.

The lack of knowing how-to" is a key limiting factor in the Vista experience. I need to be able to VPN and Remote Desktop to my work PC. I am assuming that this is possible because I can set up a VPN and there is Remote Desktop capability in this version of Vista, but I am at a loss trying to get it to work Like I am used to, or at all.

All in all I believe that my first impressions and experience with this version of Vista have met if not exceeded some expectations. I am still not sure how or why people bash the OS so much. I may find that out in a few days or weeks. But until then, I am impressed with it.

More to come as the days go by...

DellTo Sell Windows XP After June Deadline

This is not that surprising. I mean, with the world seemingly avoiding Vista ( as much as we are told it is), it is not a far fetched realization that people will still be shipping PCs' with XP.

Is Vista that bad? XP is a solid OS, the best Microsoft has ever done. But does that mean Vista is that bad? I will give my interpretation later this week...when I get my new laptop with Vista Premium!

Gizmodo link here.

Microsoft Rolls Services Together, Charges Users

Gizmodos site reads, "which rolls Office Home and Student, Windows Live OneCare, Office Live Workspace and some other Live services into a package that you'll pay a monthly fee for. " [Link]

After reading this article from Gizmodos' website, I am actually not surprised at this move. I remember a time, and it still may be this way, that just for basic MSN Explorer help, you were charged a fee after so many calls / minutes spent on the phone.

Now, having said that, if Microsoft makes this pay-per-service package the only option available to people, then that is a bad, bad move.

With the Open Source and online web apps that are being developed, such as Googles' Google Docs and Open Office, why would Microsoft make the switch to force people to pay for a service that they may or may not want / need?

I am hoping that this is an option for people who know little or nothing about PCs' and who want someone else to take care of their issues. Personally, I have no need for such a monthly subscription package, but I am not everyone.

Microsoft Gets Into The UMPC Race

I am sure this is not news to many people, nor is it unexpected. Microsoft has always been on the edge of cutting edge. They seem to wait to see how a new trend or idea is going to fair in the market before making an investment or product.

The UMPC from Microsoft, named "Origami," is another fairly high end PC that is highly portable. It will run a version of Vista and have some decent hardware specs (see some below.)

The link for the Microsoft page covering the Origami also displays what one would believe to be direct competitors to the Origami. This is a bit of odd marketing. Maybe they are trying to associate their product with more well know ones in the market. Maybe they are doing a direct side by side comparison to them.

I am sure Microsoft has a good reason for this comparison strategy. The Origami is listed as being available mid 2008.

Hardware specifications

Windows Vista Home Premium OS
Approximately 7" diagonal display (or smaller)
Minimum 800 x 480 resolution
Approximately 2 pounds
Integrated touch panel
WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled

Introducing...The Microsoft Store!

OK, so yes, this is an Apple rip-off, and yes, I am not sure what they're going to be selling, but...isn't it about time Microsoft does this?!?

I mean seriously, if Apple can do it, why not Microsoft? They have the Zune, Windows Vista and XP, Office, etc. Even if they just had a PC running Vista Ultimate I would like to see it in action!

This would also be a great way for Microsoft to advertise new products and to actually show a live side-by-side comparison with Apple. This maybe critical seeing as how a few of the Apple vs. PC adds (you know, the ones on TV) seem to either have misinformation or be just plain old made up. Click here to see the article on this.

Anyways, I think it is a grand idea. I just wonder where they'll put them. Kiosks?

Original article here.