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The truth about Windows Vista? It's vapourware
Bill Gates earlier this month had the opportunity to show off Windows Vista to the world. His keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show was actually the first time that the Microsoft chairman demonstrated the forthcoming operating system to an audience outside Microsoft – no developers or hardware engineers.
Surely a company will show the best features in a demonstration of this year's most important product launch at the world's most important consumer electronics show, before partners, competitors and a gathering of media from all over the world?
The pictures from his keynote show perfectly well what those features are:
A way to scroll through your applications in 3D – and while alt-tabbing your movies will be able to see your movies still playing and preview documents;
Next came sidebar, the idea that Microsoft stole from Apple's Dashboard, which stole it from Konfabulator.
What about the new photo editing tools? It allows Windows to do what Google's free Picasa application has been doing for years: organise photos.
And certainly don't forget the new user interface for your windows and applications like Windows Media Player. Because, really, its shiny black interface is the main thing that a user will see when he boots up Vista, and the only feature that's really new about the operating system. All the other "new" features are just rip-offs of existing applications that Microsoft copied. In the end, Vista won't do anything that Windows XP can't do already with a little help from third party vendors.
As a user, would these features make you stand in line to purchase a copy, some night in November when Microsoft chooses to launch Windows Vista?
Even Windows boss Jim Alchin seems to realise that his offering has become extremely weak. So in trying to justify he five years that his team spent on delaying developing the product, he is now touting safety and security as Vista's big feature.
"Even if [people] are not into home entertainment or in any of the specialty areas, they are just going to feel safer and more secure by using [Vista]," Alchin told Zdnet.
Cynicism has taken over in Redmond. Microsoft has taken five years to finally make a secure operating system and now wants us to pay for it. After Microsoft pulled every feature in the software, all that's left now are under the hood adjustments.
Put it in a box and slap a price on it, because Microsoft's monopoly days are far from over.
Windows Vista loses by knock-out (pictured: Bill Gates beats Steve Ballmer in a computer game at CES
Tags: jim alchin, bill gates, Microsoft, windows vista
January 28, 2006 at 12:46 AM | Permalink
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» Vista Demo Reveals Lack of Innovation from Intricate Reality
The Silicon Valley Sleuth has a nice write up on the lack of new or innovative features present in Microsoft's Windows Vista. Of the new features shown at a recent Consumer Electronics Show, none are not already offered by free software or the competing M [Read More]
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» Does Windows Vista lack innovation? from The PC Doctor
Silicon Valley Sleuthpostsa scathing attach on Windows Vista. Here are just some of the highlights:
Next came sidebar, the idea that Microsoft stole from Apples Dashboard, which stole it from Konfabulator.
And:
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Just found a blog about The truth about Windows Vista on Silicon Valley Sleuth. Its very interesting to read and as far as I can see Microsoft really didnt invent features. They ve straiten on copying things from other already exi... [Read More]
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Comments
"What about the new photo editing tools? It allows Windows to do what Google's free Picasa application has been doing for years: organise photos."
If you didn't want value add with your OS, then WHY THE HELL DO YOU PROMOTE THE MAC!!!
Posted-by: Mitchel Tyrell | 28 Jan 2006 03:38:46
hmm... doesnt seem to me that he was promoting mac at all... just staying facts... did they hit to close to home for you? It seems to me that Microsoft is making people pay for their mistakes in their last product. users really wont be getting much value out of Vista, but they will buy by the buttload because they have to.
Posted-by: Noah | 28 Jan 2006 06:04:43
Good points except for this debunked comment:
"Next came sidebar, the idea that Microsoft stole from Apple's Dashboard, which stole it from Konfabulator."
The concept of Dashboard (mini applications always ready to go) was in the Mac OS back in 1984 when it was called "Desk Accessories". Konfabulator and Dashboard are just modern versions of that (Apple) concept.
Posted-by: Andrew | 28 Jan 2006 06:04:46
Sounds like you are nothing but an apple, or linux or bsd fanboy. Everybody steals ideas from everybody. There is no new innovation in anything anymore. Music, TV, software, etc... it's all been done or conceptualized.
Get over it, and rather than bashing the crap Microsoft puts out, start by touting how wonderful whatever OS it is you are a fanboy of. You won't gain any respect from trolling.
Posted-by: Jim | 28 Jan 2006 06:12:22
You're forgeting the primary purpose of an operating system which is to provide an interface between hardware and software. Everything that's being mentioned here are new features of the Vista shell, which is a small irrelavent part in the scope of the Operating System. Vista supports the next 10+ years of hardware and sofware. That is it's purpose. Shell widgets are irrelavent, things like this can radically change every release. If you're gauging an operating system by such things you're making a huge error in judgement.
Performance, security, reliability, hardware and software platform support are amoung things you should be looking for in an OS. And until Vista is released, it is very difficult to talk about any such areas.
As Apple is surely aware, eye candy and shell features are just marketing. They owe it to Berkeley for everything that makes OSX a viable operating system and contribute little themselves beyond a poor software platform and stupid eye candy.
Microsoft builds platforms, not shiny buttons.
Posted-by: TheCreamFilling | 28 Jan 2006 06:21:05
Looks like some of the Windows defender trolls are out tonight, upset that someone is yet again pointing out how Windows Vista is just a third-rate catch-up to OS X Tiger from April of last year.
Posted-by: Preston | 28 Jan 2006 06:34:30
Preston,
I hope your comment isn't directed at me. Because it would seem that it is actually you who are trolling while I make a well thought-out contribution for fellow readers, clearly beyond the thought-processes of the article's author.
And to all readers,
I do not believe that either OS X or Vista is a third-rate operating system. On the contrary, OS X manages to run quite well on present-day Apple hardware and software. My appreciation toward Microsoft's Windows Vista is based on an objective comparison of the Operating System's technical qualities. As a fellow developer, I have a high appreciation for quality software engineering when I see it. And the fact that the Windows platform has remained a stable one for so long is a testament to that. In other words, the fact that a Windows 1.0 program runs on a future Windows Vista shows the stability of a platform. It shows foresight in Microsoft's engineers and intelligent architecting. This platform stability is one of the shining beacons of Windows. Achievements such as this give me faith that Microsoft engineers will succeed in producing a quality Operating System for the next major Windows release.
Posted-by: TheCreamFilling | 28 Jan 2006 06:55:18
Just a comment on the lack of innovation. Not to sound like a Mac fanboy or whatever, but isn't Expose innovative? I always thought it was. Is that idea copied from someone? No, really, I'm not trying to be sarcastic. I honestly want to know. Expose's really neat, whoever came up with it. And I know that Spotlight's definitely not a new idea, but I would have to say that the speed at which it searches (and the way the made it that fast) is an innovation.
Also, reading this article was a waste of time. Anything can make digg's frontpage nowadays!
Posted-by: kazem | 28 Jan 2006 06:56:16
Quite frankly, Microsoft has never forced me to buy a single product of theirs. Niether have Apple, Red Hat, DEC, IBM, Commodore, or any other software developer.
I feel your comments are extremely subjective and don't mean sh**. I have never seen MS or any other software company claiming to be perfect. If you don't like, don't buy.
We are humans, we must put up with imperfection. No one has accomplished it yet.
As for the comment that MS has taken five years to create a secure OS, there are vulnerabilities in every OS, the hacks will always try to exploit these. The hacks are the problem, not the OS. Society puts up with insidious criminals across the board in every activity we do. They cause us to pay more for products, to spend billions more on "locks & security measures".
I am tired of all the bashing, cynicism, and dark humor that are all too persistent in our society. If you don't like what you find, then find some way to improve it. Typically, those who are so quick to criticize don't have the ability, persistence, inspiration, or motivation needed to execute a solution. Competition is invariably a healthy thing. If you can create something better, do it and you will take the market.
Posted-by: l33tnoob | 28 Jan 2006 07:03:59
You forgot the other big feature: DRM. This is the OS version with "RIAA/MPAA pwnz j00" written right into the lowest levels of the kernel.
If anything might break their monopoly, that's it. Gonna be a lot of frustrated file sharers looking with interest at Linux and Intel Mac.
Posted-by: Julian Morrison | 28 Jan 2006 08:39:59
As Julian suggested the main problem with Vista is not going to be it's lack of features. From an operating system development stand point it's a clear depature from previous versions. I'd strongly suggest that people first start to think about what an operating system actually is, before they badmouth a piece of sofware. If you think that alt tabbing through your windows is an operating system feature I can't help but chuckle.
I'm especially surprised that when most people post their whitty remarks about Microsoft, they almost always forget to mention DRM.
Apparently to most of you guys having a button that makes all your windows move to the side of the screen (however useful that may be) is more important than having the freedom to do with your data whatver you like. I picked the expose example on intention here, because Apple is today the only company that has DRM tightly integrated into their system.
Posted-by: Jan | 28 Jan 2006 09:47:29
What's the matter with you americans? Don't they teach you how to spell in school? "Irrelavent"?
Posted-by: Jesper | 28 Jan 2006 14:34:26
From what I know, Vista is built on NT which is what XP was built on, so not much has changed there. As for stability does anyone remember ME? Anyways,MS has to keep Old programs running on future versions becaus of how many people it effects, Apple can switch because it doesnt have ninty plus percent of the user space. But from what I hear if MS would have done Vista the way they wanted to do it, then classic mode would be gone. And lets be honest here, Windows users will still have to buy anti-spyware, and what not, theres a difference between making the user FEEL secure and ancutally BEING secure, so yes Vista is a joke, the only thing MS really has going for it is that they have a monopoly so HP, DELL, Compaq, Gateway and others still have to ship Windows. DRM aside, I could just add on third party apps for a lot less then I would be paying for Vista, but I wont, I will stick with my Mac box and my Linux box, you know things that are actually secure and help me be productive.
Posted-by: Manofsteel | 28 Jan 2006 15:02:13
I remember the Longhorn sidebar long before Tiger was announced. As a matter of fact, I was beta testing .Net server (which later became 2003 server) when I was looking at screenshots of Longhorn. Just around that time, I got to go to Macworld NY, and saw the release of Jaguar, and got a copy at a teacher conference later that year.
So, no, the sidebar is not a blatent ripoff of Tiger's dashboard, though I remembor at the time, it was compared to DesktopX. It seems the Apple worshipers have closed their eyes and plugged their ears shouting "Whatever anyone has, Apple made it a long time ago!"
Anyway, even though I have a mac already, Vista seems to be a good upgrade, like the one to W2K was.
Posted-by: abbie | 28 Jan 2006 15:13:43
vista is basically xp with some gui candy/changes and annoying UAC popups. Keep telling yoursel it's not. I'm writing this on it. It's the same shitty operating system as xp just slower. There IS NOT one innovative thing in this operating system.
Posted-by: | 28 Jan 2006 15:15:55
"vista has a completely new codebase, development procedure & code testing (and the bug jail, hah).
the kernel has been written and built completely different to previous versions of windows; it is actually a simple 'core' with features being added as modules, this allows for great stability, ease of use/upgrading/adding, greater security and so on.
- check out the channel9 video about the kernel."
Your enthusiasm is palpable, but unfortunately misplaced.
Ask yourself these questions...
Why would Microsoft rewrite the kernel, when it's virtually a microkernel anyway, has years of development behind it, and requires no modification to support the new features in Vista?
The only reason they have changed the audio stack is because virtually every professional audio application used their own methods to talk directly to the card driver (ASIO,GSIF,EASI etc), as the windows stack was broken and unreliable.
Why would Microsoft write a new codebase for Vista when it's taken them over ten years to get the NT code stable?
I'm not denigrating Windows, just pointing out that the core OS development moves at a much slower pace than the desktop eyecandy.
Posted-by: loopy | 28 Jan 2006 18:17:13
The ugly black theme will probably be replaced before shipping. It's a ruse to deter linuxers from copying the theme like they did for Aqua.
Posted-by: ac | 28 Jan 2006 20:54:24
"Why would Microsoft rewrite the kernel, when it's virtually a microkernel anyway, has years of development behind it, and requires no modification to support the new features in Vista?"
Windows uses a monolithic kernel...
Posted-by: Joshua | 28 Jan 2006 21:02:14
It seems that a lot of power users have forgotten a lot - that the reason for MS sucess has primarily occurred because of adoption by the masses. I'm not saying that the mass of people are bad, I'm only suggesting that most people don't really care which OS they are using, they only want some pretty basic and easy to achieve functions. Let's face it most people don't have the time, energy, desire, or energy to try multiple OS's. The mass of people want one OS that will do everything. Hence almost all software is bloated. Like it or not Microsoft will continue to do well (excel even - sic?) because they continue to provide solutions to the masses.
For those of you who hate Bill Gates - what would you be doing if you were in his position? For that matter - do you consider Paul Allen or Steve Jobs or Linus Torvald to be saints? Least you forget Linus Torvald is one of the Google founders. How would you like to have that big of a piece of Google at $400/share? I must believe that their business goals are the same - dominate the competition!
Posted-by: l33tnoob | 28 Jan 2006 23:34:48
Jesper, it's not built on NT.
abbie, you're so clueless, go read my first post and than go stab yourself in the eye for being so stupid.
"Why would Microsoft rewrite the kernel ?"
so it's better, it's as simple as that.
all the past code has been 'strung' together by thousands of coders and is not efficient, so they've unhappily (it was toughfor allchin and his few supports to get bill gates and the company to change) decided to change, for the better. with the new approach it is already stable.
you question the new audio stack in saying that the old one was broken .. so that's obviously why they changed it. a thing about new versions of software is to fix problems in the previous ones, do you not get this ?
Posted-by: robotlol | 29 Jan 2006 10:00:13
Actually the effect that lets you scroll through your applications in 3d was also a rip off. Sun originally had the idea: http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/
Posted-by: Andrew | 30 Jan 2006 03:15:17
At the end of the day Apple has copied a bunch of different OSes and is now more PC like than ever and Windows is more mac like then ever with Vista. Who really wins? The Mac group doesn't win as they won't have the bigger install base.
Vista will win out and Windows Vista Server will win out as well. As long as prices are good and there is still competition out there it really doesn't matter.
Posted-by: Proforma | 30 Jan 2006 06:53:59
Joshua: FYI, even children know that Windows NT uses a microkernel acrhitecture.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/ntwrkstn/evaluate/featfunc/kernelwp.mspx (and many more in & out MS website).
Posted-by: Anonymous Coward | 30 Jan 2006 10:48:18
This banter can go on for a long time. If the truth be known - The Windows NT Kernel appears to have been developed out of the DEC RXS-11 OS or from concepts directly like it. I suppose many would consider that evil too.
For that matter it looks as if there have many copies of the wheel made since it's original invention!
Posted-by: l33tnoob | 1 Feb 2006 03:05:54
My comment to all ATLAS profilers.
To me this is a "wait and see" what prevails
I am certainly not going to jump in on this
"band wagon" and buy VISTA in it's first debut. I'll just wait 'til all the bugs are worked out and keep my WinXP until I am forced to upgrade.
kimo
Posted-by: kimobeer | 5 Feb 2006 06:21:50
I´m running Vist 5308. It´s ugly, ugly, ugly ... That black GUI, waht´s that ? And the solitaire "hearts" redish background ... "techno kitch" at it´s best !!!
Posted-by: Ricardo | 28 Feb 2006 13:43:28
Let's be honest about what is today an OS.
"primary purpose of an operating system which is to provide an interface between hardware and software."
This is an arcain vision used to compare mainstream OS's (a vision of the 80's) OS's users today take this for granted as they should. OS's became much more by increasing the value of their native Application Layer. Smart people and busines oriented people already found out what is obvious (Apple, Microsoft and Linux variants), unfortunatly some people have not found it yett:
"primary purpose of an operating system which is to provide the best interface between hardware and humans"
For some people Apple in the case won the battle at the expense of choice. Want to use an Apple OS? Buy Apple Hardware. For others Windows was the winner. It gave us the choice of hardware which complicated greatly the development of OS (Apple did not had to deal with this issue). For other's Linux. Gave us the choice of not paying for an OS. In the end Windows was the winner in the market place as it had the most vast application layer (third party tools), so providing more choice in day to day activities.
Even more smarter people found what is the next generation OS:
"primary purpose of an operating system is to provide the best interface between information and humans"
Apple was in this case the very first to make the move mainstream with the Spotlight and some nice dev tools. The Spotlight idea its not new, what is new is the idea of what should be the next gen OS. Windows Vista will be the second OS to enter this wave. Better user interface then previous versions of the same OS's. Integrated with tools that make it easier for users to access information (real time, on-line and off-line). It also improved concepts of the second vision that were due for a long, long time.
The ultimate vision IMHO is:
"primary purpose of an operating system which is to provide the best interface between the world and humans"
The man that always had the closest vision to this is IMHO Bill Gates:
"One computer in each houshold" that moved quietly or not so to "Information at your finger anywere everywere" and finally to "One computer for each person and each houshold room, any time anyware" (My Guess).
For this Windows Vista and all its variants is the first to make the move. It was never the first to get in any other wave t'ill now! And man it is experiencing some difficulties. I don't know if it will succeed as is a new territory for Microsoft and to anyone in the Industry actually. Maybe the task is simply too big even for Microsoft Mega Corp. Fascinating to whitness!
Each move forward is an oppotunity to make kasillions of dollars not only for Microsoft.
Well, maybe we will have the ultimate vision in some future OS. We still have a long way to go. For instance, although the capabilities are there in the OS we still cannot communicate effectvely in real time, any time, anywhere with other people using a computer in the most confortable manner. Phones still do a much better job in this (not even Smart Phones do it very well today IMHO). We can argue that this is all about hardware in this case but look what Microsoft is doing with software such as MCE and the Tablet PC, pushing the envelope of hardware by providing unexpected features native or not so in the OS (UMPC is a reflexion of Microsoft Moves in the OS).
Security is really an interface problem that will never disappear. But seriously we cannot say that Windows XP is insecure compared to what things were in the 90's(neither Apple or Linux). The next Windows Vista will be more secure for sure, so will the next version of Linux and Apple and so on.
Seeing things in this prespective, one can only say, maybe the giant is moving too fast, so fast it can fall. The author of this Blog for instance is an example of why it might fall (Windows Vista is so big that it can't see it becouse he/she may be too close). Or it might fall becouse people don't have the money for it (I think it might fall mainly becouse of this, I for one do not have it MCE + TABLET PC + TINY WORKSTATION + PDA/UMPC/PHONE + XBOX too much for my pocket ). Microsoft is really trying hard to bring innovation, let's just let them do their Job and hope they do it right with others.
Best regards,
Nuno Lopes
PS: I use Windows mainly becouse it gives me more choice while not compromising other things too much. Other people may choose Apple while compromising the choice of harware and application diversity, but providing today IMHO a better human / information interface (some better apps). Other's may even choose Linux at the expense of application diversity and compatibility, business integration etc, but providing more finantial choices. Well you choose, i'm sure you choose what is best for you. Just don't say that whatever you choose is the best for everyone, becouse in the end, it is not (Microsoft tried it, and I'm glad it lost).
Posted-by: Nuno | 8 Mar 2006 19:33:49
None of this is true, never heard of Longhorn since 2001? There was a sidebar, there was a photomanagenttool and there was a flip3D. All these features were known since oktober 2001, long time before picasa and so on... know your history before making some comment.
Posted-by: Michael | 12 Dec 2006 22:26:08
Spanish
