[H] Apple OS X vs. Vista (Apple side)

[Joe User]

I got this down the Apple pipeline, worth a read. Debate encouraged!
I am still debating selling Vista. Don't ask me about the date (3.12?)


Dim Vista
Stephen Manes 03.12.07


Windows Vista: more than five years in the making, more than 50 million
lines of code. The result? A vista slightly more inspiring than the one over
the town dump. The new slogan is: "The 'Wow' Starts Now," and Microsoft
touts new features, many filched shamelessly from Apple's Macintosh. But as
with every previous version, there's no wow here, not even in ironic quotes.
Vista is at best mildly annoying and at worst makes you want to rush to
Redmond, Washington and rip somebody's liver out.

Vista is a fading theme park with a few new rides, lots of patched-up old
ones and bored kids in desperate need of adult supervision running things.
If I can find plenty of problems in a matter of hours, why can't Microsoft ?
Most likely answer: It did--and it doesn't care.

Example: If malware somehow gets into your machine, Windows Firewall will
not stop it from making outbound Internet connections to do its evil deeds.
If you turn off that firewall in favor of a better one, the Windows Firewall
control panel will admonish: "Your computer is not protected; turn on
Windows Firewall." But the Windows Security Center will correctly tell you
that a firewall is on and that you shouldn't run two at a time. Call it
convistancy.

Gaffes like this make you wonder if security really is improved as much as
Microsoft claims. You'll still have to add your own antivirus software, a
new Vista-ready version at that. And Vista's irritating and repeated
warnings about possible security breaches don't always mean what they say
and are usually irrelevant. You'll take them as seriously as the boy who
cried wolf, making them useless as defensive tools.

As usual, things Microsoft was touting last time have mysteriously gone away
in favor of putative new wonders. Windows XP's heralded "task-based
interface" often let you perform actions by picking them from a list. Now
many of those actions have disappeared--except where they haven't.

Likewise, Control Panel options have been totally rejiggered yet again for
no apparent reason. You can still use the Classic panel view that's been
available since time immemorial, but several items have been confusingly
renamed out of sheer perversity.

The new desktop search features are a mess, thanks in part to inscrutable
indexing defaults and options. A "quick search" panel at the bottom of the
Start menu lets you find results, whether in a file's name or its contents.
But on one machine--oddly, the fastest I tested--it was far, far slower than
using Start's regular search option. Though that option finds folders like
Accessories, quick search doesn't always. And if you click away to do
something else while you wait for answers, Vista abandons the "quick search"
and makes you start over.

Windows Mail is a mild reworking of Outlook Express whose big new feature is
a spam filter that in my tests flagged nonspam as spam and vice versa an
unacceptable 10% of the time. The bare-bones word processor WordPad used to
be able to open Microsoft Word files. No more. What possible rationale could
there be for "fixing" that, except to force users to shell out for the real
thing?

Potentially exciting improvements keep coming up short. The speech
recognition system's clever design lets you control the computer via voice
and dictate into programs like Word. It did pretty well at understanding me
even when I used a less than optimal built-in microphone instead of a
headset. But my enthusiasm turned to dust when the software for correcting
inevitable mistakes locked up repeatedly--even when it understood what I was
saying.

Many touted improvements, like the Web browser and media player, have been
available for XP for months. One minor winner is Vista-only: file lists that
update their contents automatically. You no longer have to hit View and
Refresh to see files added since you last opened the list window. Macs, of
course, have done this for years.

The new Mac-like ability to show thumbnails of documents and running
programs is cute, but it doesn't always work--typical of a level of fit and
finish that would be unacceptable from a cut-rate tailor. Only in
Windowsland will you find howlers like a Safely Remove Hardware button for
memory card readers that happen to be hardwired into your computer.

Still with us: program crashes, followed by the machine's refusal to shut
down until you lean on the power button awhile. Thereafter you may be
subjected to ugly white-on-black text from CHKDSK, a DOS-era program that
issues baffling new reports like "44 reparse records processed."

Should you upgrade your current machine? Are you nuts? Upgrading is almost
always a royal pain. Many older boxes are too wimpy for Vista, and a
"Vista-ready" unit Microsoft upgraded for me could see my wireless network
but not connect to it. The diagnostics helpfully rep

Re[2]: [H] WordPerfect Lightning

[Joe User]

Hello Hayes,

Friday, March 2, 2007, 2:34:28 PM, you wrote:

> WordPerfect hasn't made anything worthwhile since 5.1 for DOS.

Yep, I would throw an honorable mention to WP 11. You can make it so
it runs exactly like 5.1 for DOS. I have clients that used 5.1 and I
needed to upgrade and update the systems. They did not want to
leave 5.1 and 11 fit the bill for these guys.

-- 
Regards,
 joeuser - Still looking for the 'any' key...

Re: [H] Mac OS X - Browser

[dex]

On 3/1/07, Bryan Seitz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

On Thu, Mar 01, 2007 at 05:08:08PM -0800, Winterlight wrote:
> >Ok, very good information. Appreciate that. I may check into Opera
> >more then. Extensions are great, I used 'Reload every'
> that comes loaded with Opera, frankly I have never quite understood
> why people prefer Firefox over Opera

Cause opera is a flaming pile of poop?


And.. firefox is a cooler name, is OSS, and hence more hackable.  Up
until recently Opera was Windows only and the company had a lot of the
same policies as outdated Browser or Internet based software makers
who were struggling to find their profit model in a primarily freely
sourced and OSS friendly environment, or trying to compete with a
monopoly pushed browser (IE).  Why bother with that pain when you can
just use firefox.  Opera has made a lot of good changes lately, but I
still have far to go before I am motivated to choose it.

Re: [H] here we go again

[dex]

Same here.  It's useless anyway on 0 day attacks, which is what most
are now, and all others are best mitigated by keeping software
patched.

On 3/2/07, Brian Weeden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I just stopped using NAV and any other anti-virus stuff all together.
Did nothing but slow down the system and hog resources.

Using Firefox, NoScript, and Gmail I have pretty much eliminated all
infection vectors except for warez and then you just need to be
careful.  If I really need to scan something I will download
Kaspersky.

RE: [H] WordPerfect Lightning

[Thane Sherrington]

At 04:34 PM 02/03/2007, Hayes Elkins wrote:

WordPerfect hasn't made anything worthwhile since 5.1 for DOS.


I like WordPerfect as a word processor - the reveal codes puts it 
head and shoulders above the rest.  But you're right - they're heyday 
was pre-Windows when they controlled the printer driver world.  Too 
bad Microsoft didn't buy them back then and forget Word.


T 

Re: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

[chuck]

510-739-3777 #3 RMA

- Original Message - 
From: "FORC5" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To: 
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 12:38 PM
Subject: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?


anyone have a new link for Asus RMA ? old link is broke and of course they 
never respond to emails and phones calls with the accent is hard.

because of this I will probably never buy another Asus MB.
old link was:
http://rma.asus.com/enduser/

RE: [H] WordPerfect Lightning

[Hayes Elkins]

WordPerfect hasn't made anything worthwhile since 5.1 for DOS.



From: Thane Sherrington <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: The Hardware List 
To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com
Subject: [H] WordPerfect Lightning
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:26:32 -0400

I downloaded the beta and gave it a try - it immediately took over PDF 
extensions (I didn't see anything about it doing that during the install.)  
I'm used to Foxit, and after that, Lightning isn't lightning fast.  Maybe 
it will get better, but right now it doesn't seem to offer anything to make 
it worth the download.


T



_
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Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Al Anger]

JRS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I understand WTF, but how does one get OWNED from PW3ND ???

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pw3nd

al

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[JRS]

I understand WTF, but how does one get OWNED from PW3ND ???

:)
 
-- 
JRS [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please remove  **X**  to reply...

Facts do not cease to exist just
because they are ignored.

- Original Message 
From: Thane Sherrington <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: The Hardware List 
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2007 9:21:58 AM
Subject: Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

At 03:18 PM 02/03/2007, Al Anger wrote:

>JRS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > Don't know that one, and Google was no help.
> > What is WTFPW3ND??

Oh wait.  What The Fuck OWNED. :)

T 

Re[2]: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Thane Sherrington]

At 02:41 PM 02/03/2007, Joe User wrote:


You guys need to play more games (like WoW) - you'd know these things!


He ran it all together.  Shouldn't it be WTF PWNED?

T 

Re[2]: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Joe User]

Hello Thane,

Friday, March 2, 2007, 11:21:58 AM, you wrote:

> Oh wait.  What The Fuck OWNED. :)

You guys need to play more games (like WoW) - you'd know these things!

-- 
Regards,
 joeuser - Still looking for the 'any' key...

Re: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

[FORC5]

they have never answered any of my emails but I have had good luck with online 
submittal at the other address which is gone.
fp

At 11:06 AM 3/2/2007, Rick Glazier\(Gmail\) Poked the stick with:
>Rots ov ruck:
>
>
>* Dear Valued Customer:
>* Currently our Online RMA Submittal Form is down.
>* However you may still click the link and it will provide
>* you with an Email Dialog Box to email our Customer Service RMA Dept.
>
> Rick Glazier
>
>From: > Email is [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Phone is. 510-739-3777 
>>ext 5105
>
>
>>-Original Message-
>>From: FORC5
>>anyone have a new link for Asus RMA ? old link is broke and of course they 
>>never respond to emails and phones calls with the accent is hard.
>>because of this I will probably never buy another Asus MB.
>>old link was:
>>http://rma.asus.com/enduser/
>

-- 
Tallyho ! ]:8)
Taglines below !
--
Press any key... NO!... except that one.

Re: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

[FORC5]

thanks but when I goto I get
http://www.w3.org/Protocols/

weird. I just have to call them I guess.
fp

At 10:47 AM 3/2/2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Poked the stick with:
>http;//helpdesk.asus.com. Email is [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Phone is. 510-739-3777 
>ext 5105
>
>Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless  
>
>-Original Message-
>From: FORC5 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:38:23 
>To:hardware@hardwaregroup.com
>Subject: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?
>
>anyone have a new link for Asus RMA ? old link is broke and of course they 
>never respond to emails and phones calls with the accent is hard.
>because of this I will probably never buy another Asus MB. 
>old link was:
>http://rma.asus.com/enduser/
>
>hohoho
>fp
>
>-- 
>Tallyho ! ]:8)
>Taglines below !
>--
>I seem to be hearing the sound of idle hands clapping.

-- 
Tallyho ! ]:8)
Taglines below !
--
Press any key... NO!... except that one.

Re: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

[Rick Glazier\(Gmail\)]

Rots ov ruck:


* Dear Valued Customer:
* Currently our Online RMA Submittal Form is down.
* However you may still click the link and it will provide
* you with an Email Dialog Box to email our Customer Service RMA Dept.

 Rick Glazier

From: 
 Email is [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Phone is. 510-739-3777 
ext 5105




-Original Message-
From: FORC5
anyone have a new link for Asus RMA ? old link is broke and of course they never respond to emails and phones calls with the 
accent is hard.

because of this I will probably never buy another Asus MB.
old link was:
http://rma.asus.com/enduser/

Re: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

[tmservo]

http;//helpdesk.asus.com. Email is [EMAIL PROTECTED]  Phone is. 510-739-3777 
ext 5105

Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless  

-Original Message-
From: FORC5 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:38:23 
To:hardware@hardwaregroup.com
Subject: [H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

anyone have a new link for Asus RMA ? old link is broke and of course they 
never respond to emails and phones calls with the accent is hard.
because of this I will probably never buy another Asus MB. 
old link was:
http://rma.asus.com/enduser/

hohoho
fp

-- 
Tallyho ! ]:8)
Taglines below !
--
I seem to be hearing the sound of idle hands clapping.

[H] -ot- Asus RMA ?

[FORC5]

anyone have a new link for Asus RMA ? old link is broke and of course they 
never respond to emails and phones calls with the accent is hard.
because of this I will probably never buy another Asus MB. 
old link was:
http://rma.asus.com/enduser/

hohoho
fp

-- 
Tallyho ! ]:8)
Taglines below !
--
I seem to be hearing the sound of idle hands clapping.

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[tmservo]

Wtf p0wn3d ...

Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless  

-Original Message-
From: JRS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 09:10:49 
To:The Hardware List 
Subject: Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

Don't know that one, and Google was no help.
What is WTFPW3ND??


 
-- 
JRS [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please remove  **X**  to reply...

Facts do not cease to exist just
because they are ignored.

- Original Message 
From: Jin-Wei Tioh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: The Hardware List 
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2007 7:47:31 AM
Subject: Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

At 03:41 AM 3/2/2007, you wrote:
>http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37941
>
>Makes me both laugh and cringe.  I wonder when the point comes where 
>valid keys generated by this and activated are the same as keys 
>someone will buy.. and then people buying won't be able to activate...

Obligatory WTFPW3ND. :P

--
JW 

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Thane Sherrington]

At 03:18 PM 02/03/2007, Al Anger wrote:


JRS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Don't know that one, and Google was no help.
> What is WTFPW3ND??


Oh wait.  What The Fuck OWNED. :)

T 

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Al Anger]

JRS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Don't know that one, and Google was no help.
> What is WTFPW3ND??

same here.  showing our age ;)

al

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Thane Sherrington]

At 11:47 AM 02/03/2007, Jin-Wei Tioh wrote:

At 03:41 AM 3/2/2007, you wrote:

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37941

Makes me both laugh and cringe.  I wonder when the point comes 
where valid keys generated by this and activated are the same as 
keys someone will buy.. and then people buying won't be able to activate...


Obligatory WTFPW3ND. :P


We Take Free Pizza Whenever...? :)

T 

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[JRS]

Don't know that one, and Google was no help.
What is WTFPW3ND??


 
-- 
JRS [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please remove  **X**  to reply...

Facts do not cease to exist just
because they are ignored.

- Original Message 
From: Jin-Wei Tioh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: The Hardware List 
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2007 7:47:31 AM
Subject: Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

At 03:41 AM 3/2/2007, you wrote:
>http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37941
>
>Makes me both laugh and cringe.  I wonder when the point comes where 
>valid keys generated by this and activated are the same as keys 
>someone will buy.. and then people buying won't be able to activate...

Obligatory WTFPW3ND. :P

--
JW 

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[Jin-Wei Tioh]

At 03:41 AM 3/2/2007, you wrote:

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37941

Makes me both laugh and cringe.  I wonder when the point comes where 
valid keys generated by this and activated are the same as keys 
someone will buy.. and then people buying won't be able to activate...


Obligatory WTFPW3ND. :P

--
JW 

Re: [H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[JRS]

Bwahahahahaa...
Serves them right for their draconian anti-user policies.  :)


>>http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37941
>>
>>Makes me both laugh and cringe.  I wonder when the point comes where valid 
>>keys generated by this and activated are the same as keys someone will buy.. 
>>and then people buying won't be able to activate... 
-- 

JRS<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Please remove  **X**  to reply...

...Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult...

Re: [H] here we go again

[Rick Glazier\(Gmail\)]

FWIW: I never had a problem with Norton stuff before - (MYSELF),
and was very good at fixing it on other peoples computers...
(It just took SOOO LONG)
I can only think of two people I provide support for still using their stuff...

   Rick Glazier

From: "Brian Weeden"

I just stopped using NAV and any other anti-virus stuff all together.

[H] WordPerfect Lightning

[Thane Sherrington]

I downloaded the beta and gave it a try - it immediately took over 
PDF extensions (I didn't see anything about it doing that during the 
install.)  I'm used to Foxit, and after that, Lightning isn't 
lightning fast.  Maybe it will get better, but right now it doesn't 
seem to offer anything to make it worth the download.


T

[H] Ha Ha.. MS Vista faces Key problems..

[CW]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37941

Makes me both laugh and cringe.  I wonder when the point comes where valid keys 
generated by this and activated are the same as keys someone will buy.. and 
then people buying won't be able to activate...