Quote:I just got my first new computer in years and since I've been using Vista (November '07) I haven't had any serious problems. Everything has work very smoothly, which is why all this backlash confuses me.
I can understand where you're coming from. I recently purchased a new laptop. After moving from 600MHZ and 128MB of RAM, to 2GHZ and 2GB of RAM, It seemed like my new computer could handle anything. It came pre loaded with Vista, and I used it for a while to test it out. At first glance, Vista seems like a well put together OS. Simple interface, good looking effects, what's the big deal about Vista? The problems are under the surface. It's a bloated OS, only dominant due to monopolistic practices on the part of Microsoft.
First the bloat. When I first booted my laptop, 10 gigs were already used by Vista. Not so bad when it's a 120 gig HD, but compared to Ubuntu's low 2 gigs? Quite the difference.
On first boot, RAM usage was at a constant 30%, moving up with every new app I opened. With Ubuntu running, only 10% of RAM was used, which moved to 15% after I enabled screenlets, (similar to gadgets or widgets), and advanced desktop effects allowing effects as seen in this video:
http://www.broadcastyoutube.com/watch?v=PAgul9Yci_0 )
Ubuntu's effects use far less resources while being far more advanced and seamless, at 100% less cost. You can have multiple virtual desktops, which can be rotated on a virtual cube, along with other effects shown in the video. Vista can flip through open windows in 3D? So can Ubuntu. But you can choose from multiple styles. And on and on, I'm just kind of rambling, but you get the picture.
The strange thing is, Ubuntu is free, while Vista costs over $100. This shows that Microsoft is not about making Vista a good OS, they are, as always, about forcing their OS on every computer in the world. The fact that an open source community can make software better than a monolithic company shows how horrible of an OS Vista has become, Users are disillusioned that there is nothing really wrong with Vista, simply because they are comparing it to older versions of Windows and that other OS, what's it called... Mac OS? Mac OS X is based on an open source version of Unix known as BSD. They changed it's name to "Darwin" and call it an alternative.
The everyday users likes Windows because he/she knows nothing else, and other operating systems are "confusing", simply because they have never used anything but Windows.
Bill Gates publicly stated that open source "does not allow people to improve the software."
He's not about better software, he's about dominance.
He may be "stepping down" from his chair as CEO to go help others (aka give away 1% of his total salary and take some pictures next to starving children for the press) But he will be losing power over Microsoft about as much as Putin is losing power over Russia now that he's not the Prime Minister, and his hand picked successor takes over.
A good example of Microsoft's real intentions can be shown in the browser wars of the 90's. Netscape was the dominant browser, until MS threatened to shut down companies that prepackaged computers with it. I could go on with more examples, but I feel like I'm rambling.
Sorry, just kind of channeling my recent girl problems into this lengthy post... YOU TOLD ME YOU WANTED ME TO DATE OTHER PEOPLE! AHH! WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY!
I'll make a nicer post that details why MS/Vista is so messed up later when I have the time.