Microsoft/Windows/Vista

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computing: software: operating systems: Microsoft Windows: Vista

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.

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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

Notes

• One report says that it is not possible to configure Windows Explorer to show file extensions in Vista. This is a security issue, because it makes it easier for spammers to disguise virally-infected files as innocuous filetypes which cannot be infected.
• Vista apparently does not play nicely on networks which include other versions of Windows (or at least XP). In one case, after a great deal of twiddling with settings, the user could get one computer to access another, but only in one direction. The computers would even sometimes switch roles, but they could never simultaneously see each other.

Links

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)