Windows Vista

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Overview
Windows Vista (frequently referred to as just "Vista") is a version of Microsoft Windows; it supercedes Windows XP and was followed by Windows 7.

Vista is widely regarded as being relatively buggy, slow, and problematic.

Reference

 * Microsoft: Windows Vista
 * Wikipedia:
 * Windows Vista
 * Windows Vista editions and pricing
 * Win-Vista.net: "your source for Windows Vista information": 3rd-party site

version comparisons

 * Microsoft
 * The Tech Report: succinct table showing which versions have which features, with discussion and prices following
 * AnandTech: similar to The Tech Report
 * Tom's Hardware: shorter summary of differences (still a good page or two)

Related Pages

 * A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection by Peter Gutmann: the evils of Vista's content protection are severe and far-reaching

Articles

 * 2007-12-17 Dual_EC_DRBG Added to Windows Vista by Bruce Schneier: "Microsoft has added the random-number generator Dual_EC-DRBG to Windows Vista, as part of SP1. Yes, this is the same RNG that could have an NSA backdoor."
 * commentary
 * 2007-09-24 PC users still prefer Windows to Vistas: "Microsoft's Vista operating system, which was launched early this year, has been shunned by consumers – with computer manufacturers taking the bizarre step of offering downgrades to the old XP version of Windows."
 * 2007-04-23:
 * Security by naming conventions: apparently the need for administration rights when installing a program is triggered not by detection of installation-related system services, but by running any program called install.exe
 * This reminds me of an incident where WinXP's network security seemed to be preventing XP users from accessing shared resources on certain machines because of insufficient permissions (with or without a password), while Win98 and Linux users were able to access those same resources without a password. --Woozle 19:54, 23 April 2007 (EDT)
 * Russinovich: Malware will thrive, even with Vista’s UAC
 * 2007-03-19 Windows Vista: more than just a pretty face by Peter Bright: the more positive side of Vista is the reworking of its API, especially the graphics. Multi-page article. DRM issues are discussed on page 7
 * 2007-02-19 So Beautiful, So Disturbing: an amusing and highly metaphorical review of Vista, along with some very brass-tacks discussion about Vista's DRM
 * 2007-02-12 DRM in Windows Vista by Bruce Schneier, with very long comments section
 * 2007-02-03 Making the Jump: Loves Windows. Loves Vista. Switching to Linux.
 * 2007-02-02 Windows Vista: a Cautionary Tale: how WV protects you from yourself in one very confusing way
 * 2007-01-31 Windows Vista Upgrade Decision Flowchart by Brian Briggs: a less-than-serious look at whether or not to upgrade
 * 2007-01-30 Windows Vista's new spin on licensing ...and why it grates by Scott Wasson
 * 2007-01-20 Windows Vista Content Protection - Twenty Questions (and Answers) by Nick White on the "Windows Vista Team Blog": appears to be a response to at least some of the issues raised in the cost analysis article, although it is not yet clear if they are truly answers or primarily evasions; note that it does not link to the "paper scrutinizing how Windows handles digital rights management", a sign that they are not particularly interested in allowing readers to judge for themselves.
 * 2007-01-18 (login required) Vista: Worthy, Largely Unexciting by Walter S. Mossberg
 * 2007-01-09 For Windows Vista Security, Microsoft Called in Pros
 * Anyone who has read The Cuckoo's Egg (by Clifford Stoll) may be less than sanguine about the NSA's savvy regarding computer security
 * 2006-11-30 Vista and small businesses: Support company recommends Vista for new PCs only, by James E. Gaskin
 * 2006-09-08 A reality check for Vista (slashdot): "A day late and a dollar short, the software giant's new Vista operating system won't have anyone standing on line to buy the first copy."
 * 2006-09-04 The Dark Side of Windows Vista RC1 (slashdot)

Humor

 * 2007-02-02: Penny Arcade: The Manifold Faces of Vista
 * 2007-01-24~: The Joy of Tech (web page with ads and maybe pop-ups)

Video

 * 2008-04-10 Stupid Internal Microsoft Vista SP1 Video: more of a travesty than a parody, and I'm not convinced it was supposed to be funny --Woozle 17:08, 17 April 2008 (EDT)