[Sosfbay-discuss] Vi$ta = More Micro$oft's Bull$hit; a human rights issue; BadVista; Forced software upgrades can add up for Vista users

[JamBoi]

Check out http://badvista.fsf.org/

BadVista.org: Stopping Vista adoption by promoting free software
by John Sullivan — last modified 2007-02-08 17:41
The BadVista campaign is an advocate for the freedom of computer users,
opposing adoption of Microsoft Windows Vista and promoting free (as in
freedom) software alternatives.

With your help, we will:
Organize supporters into effective actions protesting Microsoft's
daylight theft of our freedoms
Aggregate news stories cutting through MS Windows Vista marketing
propaganda
Provide a user-friendly gateway to free software adoption
MORE AT  http://badvista.fsf.org/
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http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9012140
Forced software upgrades can add up for Vista users
A lot of legacy programs may not get free compatibility
Eric Lai  

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is the compelling alternative to
Windows Vista
Migrating to Windows Vista: Recognize the Security Risks

March 04, 2007 (Computerworld) -- Windows users contemplating the cost
of upgrading to Vista may need a fatter wallet than they thought.

Besides shelling out for faster hardware, users should expect to pay
for Vista upgrades for many of their favorite Windows software.

Rather than releasing free patches to update existing versions, leading
vendors such as Adobe Systems Inc., Symantec Corp. and Intuit Inc. are
choosing to add Vista compatibility only to new releases or
still-in-development future products. Most of these new versions will
add significant features along with Vista compatibility. And, vendors
will argue, if Vista compatibility is a new feature, what's unfair
about packaging a new feature only in new versions of their software,
rather than going back and patching aging versions nearing the end of
their product life cycle?

Still, many customers who are happy with their existing software may
look askance at what they consider less-than-subtle attempts to coerce
them to upgrade. And that, according to analysts, could rebound on
Microsoft as well as Windows software vendors by prompting users to
hold off Vista upgrades or consider switching to another operating
system altogether.

Technical shift from XP to Vista seen as 'incremental'

How software vendors handle transitions for operating systems has long
been a delicate, high-stakes issue. Move to a new platform too slowly,
and you risk ending up like Lotus Software's 1-2-3, the dominant
spreadsheet on DOS in the late 1980s that lost its lead to Microsoft
Excel in part because it was belatedly ported to Windows.

But abandon an older platform too quickly, and you risk alienating
loyal, long-term users.

Microsoft claims that there are already "thousands of applications"
compatible with Vista, according to a spokeswoman. She acknowledged,
however, that few have been formally tested.

Some outside experts agree, pointing out that in the grand scheme of
Windows' evolution, the shift from XP to Vista is relatively minor.
"Going from Windows 95 and 98 to Windows 2000 and XP was a
revolutionary shift. The move from XP and Vista is more incremental,"
said Scott Matsumoto, a principal consultant at software consulting
firm Cigital Inc. In general, porting software from XP to Vista will
require developers to "make lots of little changes," rather than
massive rewrites, he said.

That's unlikely to be the view shared by vendors actually bearing the
cost of developing, testing and supporting their software on different
platforms.

Most affected: security and multimedia software

MORE AT:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9012140


___________________

JamBoi
Jammy The Sacred Cow Slayer

"Live humbly, laugh often and love unconditionally" (anon)
http://dailyJam.blogspot.com


 
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