From The Guardian

 

"Microsoft Windows provides a free Reader program for electronic books and newspapers and, not surprisingly, there is a new version that uses the new graphics facilities in Windows Vista. The New York Times plans to exploit this new Reader by offering a version of the paper that reproduces the appearance of the printed version, but also exploits the ability to have Web links, add notes, search and so on.

According to Arthur Sulzberger Jr, publisher of The New York Times, it's blending "the accessibility and the portability of print ... with the immediacy and interactivity of the Web," according to a report in The Seattle Times."

Read the rest here

Was reading about this on Longhorn Blogs and I must say its definitely awesome, seeing the text flow flawlessly no matter how the window is resized. I just hope it gets embraced and encouraged by more news paper companies as a new exciting way consume information and there definitely is big advantage for the reader to do so. The content is more alive through new technologies made possible by the Internet such as RSS, Broadband, so you can always have up to date information.

Resources:

The New York Times

Microsoft Press Pass Release

From USA Today

 

"Before you know it, January 2007 will be here. That's when Microsoft says its new operating system, Windows Vista, will be released to consumers. (It is expected to be ready for businesses this November). If you're thinking of buying a new computer before then, you will want to consider what you'll need to upgrade, if that's your plan.

Microsoft promises Vista will be much more secure than Windows XP and will give you a three-dimensional view.

TIPS: Ask Kim

These and other new features are going to require lots of horsepower. Problem is, it's not entirely clear what "lots of horsepower" means. Microsoft has not yet issued its formal system requirements for Vista.

So, what's a new computer buyer to do? You can get around this issue by shopping carefully, but you're probably best off by waiting. If you buy a computer in January, it likely will come with Vista.

Unfortunately, not everyone can wait. Dribs and drabs of information have leaked out about system requirements. Keeping in mind that things could change, here's what we think we know so far:

Processing: Microsoft says you need a "modern CPU." It does not define that but links to the AMD and Intel websites. Given the information on those two sites, it appears that practically all of their chips are acceptable. So, essentially, the microprocessor is not an issue. Buy a computer with an Intel or AMD microprocessor, and you should be fine.

Read the rest here

I would like to provide more emphasis on the processing power. Go for an AMD Athlon X2 or Intel Pentium D, both available in dual core. Choosing a Celeron or Sempron to run Vista efficiently with all of its bells and whitsles is just selling yourself short.

From ActiveWin | Extended64

 

"Windows XP Professional x64 was released to market April 25^th, 2005. It has been one year since its release, how is it faring so far?

 

From ZDNet

 

"The firewall in Windows Vista will, by default, have half its protection turned off because that is what enterprise customers have requested, according to the software giant.

When Windows Vista is released early next year its firewall will be set to only block incoming traffic even though it will be capable of blocking outgoing traffic. According to a statement from Microsoft, the firewall's protection will be curbed in order to make life easier for the company's enterprise customers.

"Because the nature of an outbound firewall is to restrict the traffic sent to specific ports, the outgoing access in the Windows Vista firewall is open by default," a Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet Australia. "The reason for this is Microsoft has received strong feedback from its customers, especially from large organisations and government departments, saying that they would like to manage this feature from an administrator level."

From CRN

 

"The next Longhorn server beta is due "shortly" but the final product won't ship until the second half of 2007.

During his keynote at the Microsoft Management Summit 2006, Bob Muglia, senior vice president of servers and tools at Microsoft, told the audience that the next major Windows server upgrade, code named Longhorn and informally referred to as the Vista server, will likely ship during the second half of 2007.

The company has said it would ship in 2007 but did not provide this guidance in the past.

The company is expected to release the next "near feature complete" beta in the very near future, Muglia said, and will release the next major server beta that incorporates all necessary Vista client changes this fall."

Read the rest here

I noticed when I launched Windows Longhorn Server build 5308 setup from within Windows XP Professional, a notification on the setup dialog said, upgrading from Vista Enterprise Server is not supported.

From BETANews

 

"Microsoft on Monday detailed innovations coming in Windows Vista that the company believes makes the operating system superior in the delivery of multimedia. This would include several enhancements to Windows Media itself as well as expanded functionality within Windows Media Center, now standard in Vista.

From PC Magazine

 

"A Ferris wheel and Jay Leno. That's what I remember most from Microsoft's gala launch of Windows 95. That operating system—a great improvement over its predecessor, Windows 3.11—debuted at a big party in a field on Microsoft's Redmond campus. But Microsoft didn't need the carnival or the comic; Windows 95 stood on its own.

 

Eleven years later, it's déjà vu all over again. Despite a recently announced delay, the long, slow slog to Windows Vista is drawing to a close. Just as Windows 95 delivered a radically improved experience compared with Windows 3.11, Vista promises a similar leap over XP.

Although it won't ship until early next year, you can actually start using it within a few weeks, if not already. Microsoft plans to offer a beta copy of Vista to anyone with a few bucks."

Read the rest here

From Information Week

 

"Tight supplies of DRAM and predictions of higher prices mean PCs capable of running Vista may be even more expensive when the operating system is unveiled than if it released today.

Several memory makers and chip industry analysts have recently projected continued price increases for DRAM (Dynamic RAM), particularly the widely-used 512MB DDR2 (Double Data Rate) chips.

Last week, for example, U.S. memory manufacturer Micron said during its quarterly financials Webcast that DRAM demand will jump 50 to 60 percent this year over 2005. Spot prices of 512MB 533MHz DDR2 chips, meanwhile, continue to climb, said research firm Gartner last week. DDR2 memory has posted price gains of as much as 5.9 percent in the past week, with memory across the board showing an upswing of 3.7 percent from the previous week, Gartner said."

Read the rest here

Well, my desktop and laptop machines have enough to run Vista just fine, the desktop is installed with 2.6GBs of DDR2 RAM and the laptop with 768 MBs of RAM. Vista is still not optimized for performance, so I hope to see the OS get more reponsive as it approaches BETA 2 then RTM.  

From CNET Blogs

 

"Although a major update to the Vista test version is still some time away, Microsoft has been making some minor enhancements to the current test version.

The next big release is the consumer test version of Vista, which Microsoft is shooting to get out this quarter and make available to about 2 million testers.

Before that release, though, Microsoft is considering a smaller update that would be made available only to those Technology Adoption Program (TAP) customers and other testers who are already using the latest test version.

"We are considering releasing updated Windows Vista code to Windows Vista Technical Beta program participants, as well as select TAP customers," Microsoft said in a statement."

Read the rest here 

From BetaNews

 

"With any major new Windows release such as Vista, application compatibility becomes a critical concern for businesses and individuals considering an upgrade. No matter how much Microsoft promotes the new version, users aren't going to make the switch unless their applications continue to function seamlessly.

In turn, Microsoft has long offered an Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), which checks what programs are installed on a system and detects any potential conflicts. The Redmond company is preparing version 5 of the software to be ready by the time Windows Vista ships later this year, and has included a number of new features."

Read the rest here

Resources:

Windows Vista - Application Compatibility

From eWeek

 

"Tech Analysis: The Group Policy Management Console will be the primary tool for domainwide Group Policy Objects management for the foreseeable future and that the tool automatically will grow and evolve in step with the Windows operating system.

From Microsoft Watch

 

"Microsoft still isn't talking specifics regarding its Windows Vista pricing plans. But company watchers are predicting the Redmond software maker could reap big rewards from its planned premium-edition push.

 

Microsoft is still holding many specifics about Windows Vista — pricing among them — close to the vest. But Redmond's reticence to talk isn't stopping company watchers from speculating.

Goldman Sachs & Co. analyst Rick Sherlund issued a research note earlier this month, noting that Goldman is now figuring Microsoft could garner an extra $1.5 billion per year in revenues simply by persuading users to buy the premium Vista versions.

Microsoft announced earlier this year that it is readying six core Vista packages, or SKUs: Windows Starter 2007; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, and Windows Vista Business.

Read the rest here

I am still concerned about what will be in Ultimate Edition for me as a consumer that will make it worthy over Home Premium. I know I will get Vista Enterprise on the desktop at work. For Ultimate Edition, its enticing that it will combine features from both Home Premium and Enterprise, but I will probably need a Tablet PC instead of a desktop, I usually don't carry home work from the Office, so its a bit confusing here. Like I said, I will get Enterprise Edition on my desktop at work, does it mean I need to get Ultimate on my machine at home?

The reason I ask these questions is simply because I am looking for value in Windows Vista, both at home and work. Its possible that Ultimate Edition will include a lot of online services for Genuine customers, but what will these services be? I need to see the cost first before I decide, if Ultimate replaces the premium price of XP Professional today, I will probably go for it instead. Right now, I am a bit in the dark.

From News.com

 

"Microsoft plans to jazz up its music player in Windows Vista, the company's next operating system. But at least some of the new features will debut much sooner.

The software, which will be built into Vista, is designed to offer better synching with portable devices, make it easier to scroll through long libraries of music, and be tightly integrated with Urge, a new subscription and download music service co-developed by Microsoft and MTV Networks.

But while most people won't be able to get their hands on Vista until next year, consumers will be able to get some of the media enhancements sooner. Microsoft is on track to release a Windows XP version of Windows Media Player 11 before the end of June, the company confirmed last week.

Read the rest here

It will be interesting to see what the WMP 11 Team minuses from the XP version. Likely missing features includes the Windows Vista Aero theme, possibly the filtered search technology thats a part of Vista and maybe even the new album views such as thumbnail and stacks.

The URGE music service is the major feature I believe Microsoft iis targeting towards getting people hooked with this release as early as possible instead continually losing them to Apple's iTunes Music service.

From News.com

 

"Windows Vista plans to offer you spiffy new graphics, as long as you're not a pirate.

With the new operating system, Microsoft is offering plenty of new graphics tricks, including translucent windows, animated flips between open programs and "live icons" that show a graphical representation of the file in question.

But before Vista will display its showiest side, known as Aero, it will run a check to make sure the software was properly purchased."

Read the rest here

And I think thats a good thing. Wouldn't you consider it unfair paying for the software while others just download off torrent sites without any cost to them?

From Microsoft Watch

 

"Microsoft has a code name for the next version of Windows. But what is the planned delivery date for the product, as well as its successor, 'Vienna'? No one's talking, but plenty are speculating.

 

Will the delay in Microsoft's Windows Vista have a domino effect on other planned releases of Windows?

Partner sources close to the company said that Microsoft has sketched out plans for Windows "Fiji" (also referred to by some Microsoft watchers as Vista R2) – the version of Windows set to follow Vista -- as for Windows "Vienna," the successor to Fiji, partner sources close to the company said."

Read the rest here

Don't even think about holding out for either Windows Fiji or Vienna, with the current schedule of Windows Vista running a bit late, its likely to affect the development of future versions of Windows in the process. Plus, does anyone even want to know whats gonna be in these two? Looking back at Windows Vista when it was formerly codenamed Longhorn, it was a radically different product, major stuff has been removed. The same could happen to Fiji, so lets not get excited yet, lets concentrate on getting Vista done.

The article though focuses though on the development process and how Microsoft should focus on having a set of goals without additional features creeping in. Good point, but I don't think it works that way at all, its all about the time and market. Who would have known RSS would have played such a major role in the development of Windows Vista, who would have known SP2 for XP would have hurt progress of development of Windows Vista? Who would have known that WinFS would not make it for Vista? So, Microsoft can promise a firm release, expected on time, but its never guarantee.

I hope they are excellent releases though, I have see pics of Fiji and its a amazingly beautiful place. :)

From ZDNet Blogs

 

"Microsoft's new hire, Niall Kennedy (formally of Technorati), wrote in his blog today that Live.com will be the default homepage for Vista and IE7:

"Live.com is the new default home page for users of the Internet Explorer 7 and the Windows Vista operating system. Live.com will be the first feed syndication experience for hundreds of millions of users who would love to add more content to their page, connect with friends, and take control of the flow of information in ways geeks have for years.

Read the rest here

 

I don't see any compelling feature right now to make Live.com my main home page in IE. I don't see any compelling feature in Google or any other search engine either to make it my homepage. I start my day with e-mail, then off to the MSN Portal which gives me a nice overview of whats going on in the world. The hassle of setting up your own personal portal is probably not something I am interested in doing, I am just happy right now with MSN, maybe I will change my mind in the next few months.

From Chron.com

 

"Shortly after Microsoft's recent announcement that Windows Vista would be delayed for consumers until January, the e-mails began to flow into my inbox.

Their gist: "I was planning on waiting until this fall to buy a new PC so I could get one with Windows Vista pre-installed. I don't want to wait until January! What should I do?"

Microsoft's March surprise was bad news for the companies that make and sell PCs. They were counting on a big holiday shopping season boosted by the marketing push Microsoft was sure to make with Vista. Most analysts believe the traditional fourth-quarter computer-buying orgy will be little more than a game of spin the bottle this year.

Read the rest here

An excellent article, discussing some of the drawbacks of the recent Windows Vista delay and making purchasing decisions when it comes to buying a new PC. I agree that if you do have a PC thats working just fine right now with either ME, 2000 or XP, its best you hold out until Windows Vista appears on market preloaded on OEM systems. But, if you are desparate need of a new system and upgrading your existing system seems like a massive chore, I would immediately purchase a new system now. Sacrificing productivity and reliability just to get a new OS is not always best. I remember in March 2004 when I purchased my Dell 8300 System, I was moving away from my old IBM Aptiva, which was purchased in early 2000, 2 months later that system died. Imagine, if I had waited another 2 months before purchasing that Dell? The hard drive could not be recovered either, so the data I had on it was gone, but it was backed up to the new system anyway, so I was in the no problems.

Persons who need a system but can wait, can also purchase a very good system a little before Vista appears and probably get an upgrade coupon, so avenues are there for acquiring Windows Vista.

From Microsoft-Watch

 

"Just because users soon will be able to run Windows on Intel-based Macs doesn't mean Microsoft is backing away from competition with the Mac operating system. In fact, Microsoft is aiming straight at Apple with a forthcoming music-making program for Windows Vista.

 

Some industry watchers have portrayed Apple Computer's decision to make Windows available as a dual-boot on Intel-based Mac OS X systems as a big win for Microsoft. Microsoft doesn't seem to be taking the move as a sign that it can call off the dogs, however.

Microsoft is still pushing full-steam-ahead with a music-making program, code-named "Monaco," according to Microsoft partners who requested anonymity. Monaco would be very similar to Apple's GarageBand application, but would be optimized to take advantage of Windows Vista and the Aero user interface.

Read the rest here

Interesting, I suspect you will likely see this in the Edition of Microsoft Plus! for Windows Vista add on pack or even available as a free download to users who purchase the Ultimate Edition of Vista. I am not really excited about this type of application, I guess maybe I prefer acquiring and listening to music than creating it. It should be a fun application to use especially since it will be utilizing some of the foundation technologies of Windows Vista such as Windows Presentation Foundation. I am not gonna say there isn't anything like this available on the Windows Platform, but easy to use is probably not there, software such as Reason and Sonic are just too difficult to learn and disinteresting. Even Garage Band does not excite me, a similar application is bundled with Toast Titanium 7, I was playing with it and it just turned me off. So, if Monaco is easy to use with a cool inviting interface and great help assistant, I probably might be interested in making some melodies. It should have some advantage over Garage Band with virtual keyboard, should be cool looking too on a wide screen display. :)

From eWeek

 

"Microsoft's Windows Vista will run on just about any PC available today, but it will only show its true colors on about half of them, according to a new report from Gartner.

 

Whereas today's mainstream processors and hard drives offer plenty of performance and capacity to keep up with the new OS—now scheduled to arrive for large businesses in November and consumers in January 2007—IT managers and their counterparts, in addition to consumers buying PCs, should take care to specify at least 1GB of memory. If they aim to tap Vista's Aero user interface, they will need a recent graphics processor, a new report by Gartner said.

Microsoft offers some basic guidelines for Vista on its Web site. For example, it states that the OS will require a minimum of 512MB of RAM and a modern processor to run.

Microsoft is also set to roll out a "Windows Capable" program, which helps highlight PCs capable of being upgraded with the OS for consumers, in April. However, it has not yet put forth final hardware recommendations for the OS, including details on the hardware necessary to run its full Aero interface.

The dearth of information has, so far, left IT managers—as well as PC enthusiasts and other consumers—to wonder how to best configure new machines they might purchase over.

Read the rest here

My Say

Lets be realistic here though, most PC's out there are just not Windows Vista candidates. To a lot of persons, computers are considered an expensive investment, to some, a good value is a PC with 256 MBs of RAM, onboard graphics (64 MBs), Intel Celeron or AMD Sempron. Those are definitely unrealistic specs in some cases to run Windows Vista with a great experience. Also, people are gonna want the Aero Glass effects, they are not gonna get that experience with existing systems unless they do major upgrades or purchase an entirely new machine with all the specified guidelines for getting the Aero Glass experience.

Another thing that confuses me is Aero Glass, in the current Windows Vista BETA, the semi-translucent taskbar and windows are known as Windows Aero under Personalization > Themes. The other thing to take infor account for graphics cards not supporting the Windows Display Driver Model is Aero Basic. So, it is possible (not confirmed or guaranteed) that Aero Glass might be an additional tier that requires an even more powerful GPU to render the interface. This article by eWeek does make some good points though, to get the best experience from Vista, make the sacrifice and invest wisely if you want the seamless experience that Windows Vista is all about and I am sure you will indeed want it.

Right now on my Dell 8300, 3.2GHz HT, 2.6 GBs of RAM, nVidia Geforce FX 5200 128 MB, Vista lags a bit, but of course I take into account, its an interim build not BETA 2 and performance won't be there until around BETA 2/RC1. Also, limited disk space seems to make Vista really unstable, I am running it on a 10 GB hard disk partition, way below the minimum requirements of 15 GBs. So, for Vista, it is recommended you also get good storage for Vista, since the current BETA eats up 8GBs of disk space, but I don't know if that will also change to a lower requirement by RTM. But just to be safe, minimum for me would 300GB disk. You could also do a RAID configuration, with say a 150 GB Westen Digital Raptor 10,000 RPM drive as master and a slower secondary drive that is more affordable.

For those persons who have systems up to snuff and just want to upgrade to Windows Vista, at least do the necessary research to ensure that your existing hardware devices and applications are supported or will be with update drivers and patches.

Resources:

Windows Vista Hardware Guidlines

From Ian Moulster's Blog

 

"Although feature names aren't the most exciting thing to talk about, I do like to get them right if I can (although I'm still getting my mind around the 2007 Microsoft Office System). 

Anyhow, we've just finalised the names of some Vista features - the three that form part of the performance-enhancing aspects. I've mentioned SuperFetch before and you may have come across features codenamed EMD and Piton. 

 Read about the performance enhancers expected in Windows Vista here

 

Does anybody know of a good USB Memory sticks that currently work great with Windows Vista, I am hearing stories of it not functioning so well yet. Leave a comment, I would love to read your experiences. I am really hoping to see so significant performance improvements in the BETA 2/RC1 release, Vista currently is not up to par yet in areas such as boot time, logging into the desktop is fast though, but this true even today with Windows XP. Its possibility to get that seamless instant on and off experience, investing in a new PC might be my only avenue. The Viiv PC's from Intel with Instant on and off technology looks like a solution.