Cute, but is it cool? And she wants to email the picture? Wouldn't she really want to post it on face book for all her friends and family. To me this screams lack of integration to the social networking sites everyone uses.

Joe writes: "I get annoyed with all the blogger and journalist fawning over iPhoto `09"

Could you link to some of those, Joe? The only reviews I've read note that it seems like a solid update and the implementation of facial recognition is pretty good.

I haven't read any annoying fawning. Please educate us.

Ok, lets look at this new ad.
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Girl plugs in a digital camera which is recognized by the O/S and is able to upload her photo for editing before sending them off via email.
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Wheres the selling point? Ive had those features through Linux for a long time, is Windows that far behind that these features are new or worth advertising? (I dont think so)
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Unless Im wrong XP is quite able to do just as easily what we saw on the advert. So whats it an advert for? What XP can currently do?
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Maybe Ive missed the point the advert was trying to make. The one point that was absent from the whole sketch was the name Vista. I wonder why Microsoft doesnt want to mention it?

Joe;

Wonderful commercial. I loved how the little girl could plug a camera in. I will also assume the drivers were preinstalled for the camera. Simple, straight forward and she's off and running to do something else.

"I do really like the new commercial, and what an evolution it is from earlier ads coming out of Microsoft's $300 million marketing campaign."

I also agree...

"I'm a PC" take two is here. It's product focused, and the first commercial features about the cutest little Windows user there ever was. Who wouldn't want Kylie to be their very own "I'm a PC?" She already has parents, darn it. There's always second best. Gulp. Kylie, can I adopt Dorothy, your fish?

No doubt, Goblin would love to debate this young girl about how much better Linux is and why she should use Linux over her parents' laptop.

But then again... This guy also said, "If you had cared to read my previous posts first without making any assumptions about me, you would have seen that I DONT WANT MASS MIGRATION TO THE LINUX PLATFORM (sorry everyone else for the caps, its just Ive said that so many times I dont know how much clearer I can make it)"

Goblin :wrote

"The one point that was absent from the whole sketch was the name Vista. I wonder why Microsoft doesnt want to mention it?"
_______________________________________________

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the commercials are focusing on Windows, rather than just one single product.

It is their way of promoting the company without mentioning its troubled flagship product...Vista.

Nice commercial, but getting annoyed at bloggers commenting on iPhoto '09 features because some defunct product had them before...?

That's about as beside-the-point as mac-whiners complaining that Windows 7's taskbar is a rip off of the Dock.

@Goblin, the selling point is that you can do fun things with Windows.

Contrary to what Joe and Stephen Baker say in the NPD: One Windows 7 Isn't Enough post "They don't want the added overhead and complexity unused consumer features bring to Windows.". People do want to do fun stuff with Vista. Vista and Windows in general isn't all about Excel files and big numbers. People want to handle photos and video too. Even for business needs. It keeps a meeting going if there's more fun stuff than just a big pie graph.

I'm not quite sure what overhead they speak of in the consumer version of Windows. Is it maybe DRM? Can Business users view bootlegged movies and listen to bootlegged mp3 files? Who knows!

Anyway regarding the photo ad. Its cute, but we have to consider that most cameras add some sort of image handling program that improves pictures too. I'm not quite sure if the advertised feature was included with Windows or the camera. Does it matter?

That is a really cute kid and my favorite commercial in the series so far. It would be cool to see someone demonstrate some of the live apps - like LiveWriter which I think is the best blogger software out there..

The only difference Goblin is, on Linux, you have to compile the USB device drivers before you plug in the camera, then you have use a useless program called the GIMP with years of Photoshop level expertise to straighten the photo.

Windows Live Photo Gallery on the other hand does it all for you automatically. Thats the high level of synergies and richness users expect. As for Smist08. Sorry, but not all 1 billion Windows users use Facebook and MySpace. Email continues to be the most widely used medium. Facebook for 4 year old Kylie would be too much. Who would really want a 4 year old using a social networking site anyway? Who know's what happens when Kylie's parents receive the photo? They might upload it to their Windows Live Photos which can also be shared on Facebook.

So, Windows and Windows Live does everything in a sensible way. Very seamless, rich, compelling and powerful.

Andre, you know that the USB driver compile is a complete load of BS. You are still living in the 90's. Maybe that's because it was the good old days for you and you do not have to face the new reality.

To burst your other bubble. I have had Photoshop running on Linux natively for years and I use it all the time. Gimp and many others are available for free, but if you want to pay then Photoshop works just as well as on Windows.

You might as well say that on Windows you have to use paint to edit your photos since that's the only program that comes with XP.

Wake up and smell the coffee, even Microsoft knows that Linux is a very serious threat to their profitability.

http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=652401&fromSearch=0&sik=1233902901473

It is interesting that they specify a working knowledge of ARM. That is obviously the next battleground and they only have WM in that market which is woeful.

@billybob, clearly Andre is a power user and has Gentoo Linux installed. For the rest of us who use consumer Linux distros like Ubuntu things just work.

Re: "The only difference Goblin is, on Linux, you have to compile the USB device drivers before you plug in the camera, then you have use a useless program called the GIMP with years of Photoshop level expertise to straighten the photo."

Ubuntu Linux from version 7.10 forward has let digital cameras plug directly into USB ports and access the photos with ease, with no compiling of anything, and without even having to pull in extra packages. Note to Andre: You might want to GET THE FACTS first.

And Gimp is useless it is different to those experienced with Photoshop? Then by your own logic, Windows Vista is useless because it is different to the users of the 93+% of the PC market that are familiar with XP. And Windows 7 continues that uselessness because it too is different from XP. I never would have thought that you, Andre, would declare that Windows Vista and Windows 7 are useless. Will wonders never cease?!?!?!?!

We have 5 PCs in our house. And by PC, I mean "PERSONAL COMPUTER". There is NO IMPICATION OF ANY PARTICULAR OPERATING SYSTEM. Period. In fact, 2 of the PCs are made by Apple and run Apple OS/X. Two run Ubuntu Linux. And one runs Windows XP with SP2. And THEY'RE ALL PCs!!!!!

It's interesting to see how terrified the Windows die-hards are of Linux. They claim it's statistically insignificant, too different from what most people know to be approachable and useful. But their words contain an undercurrent of pure unadulterated terror.

Did you folks notice that when you pause the video an overlay appears asking if you want to watch more on SoapBox MSN whatever. All I really want to do is get an UNINTERRUPTED view of the paused frame.

Why do buttons in Microsoft products end up doing more than they need to do? Generally obstructing that which you want to get done. Is it part of the rich user experience Andre?

Windows Seven is just renamed Vista with a service pack thrown in. It is an inferior product to Linux, Mac, and XP. Even wonder why Vista/Seven requires so many more resources and cpu cycles to do the same thing as XP?

What's wrong with Microsoft Windows Vista?

http://badvista.fsf.org/what-s-wrong-with-microsoft-windows-vista

"Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system is a giant step backward for your freedoms.

Usually, new software enables you to do more with your computer. Vista, though, is designed to restrict what you can do.

Vista enforces new forms of “Digital Rights Management (DRM)”. DRM is more accurately called Digital Restrictions Management, because it is a technology that Big Media and computer companies try to impose on us all, in order to have control over how our computers are used.

Technology security expert Bruce Schneier explains it most concisely:

Windows Vista includes an array of “features” that you don't want. These features will make your computer less reliable and less secure. They'll make your computer less stable and run slower. They will cause technical support problems. They may even require you to upgrade some of your peripheral hardware and existing software. And these features won't do anything useful. In fact, they're working against you. They're digital rights management (DRM) features built into Vista at the behest of the entertainment industry—And you don't get to refuse them.

DRM gives power to Microsoft and Big Media.

* They decide which programs you can and can't use on your computer
* They decide which features of your computer or software you can use at any given moment
* They force you to install new programs even when you don't want to (and, of course, pay for the privilege)
* They restrict your access to certain programs and even to your own data files

DRM is enforced by technological barriers. You try to do something, and your computer tells you that you can't. To make this effective, your computer has to be constantly monitoring what you are doing. This constant monitoring uses computing power and memory, and is a large part of the reason why Microsoft is telling you that you have to buy new and more powerful hardware in order to run Vista. They want you to buy new hardware not because you need it, but because your computer needs it in order to be more effective at restricting what you do.

Microsoft and other computer companies sometimes refer to these restrictions as “Trusted Computing.” Given that they are designed to make it so that your computer stops trusting you and starts trusting Microsoft, these restrictions are more appropriately called “Treacherous Computing”."

And now we have seen that Micro$oft will no longer use the "Vista" word in any of its advertisements. Renaming the product to Seven, and putting more eye candy and a Mac like dock to make users think they are getting something "different," when even Ballmer trys to say that Seven, is a better "Vista."

Why Microsoft must abandon Vista to save itself

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9785337-7.html

"While Vista was originally touted by Microsoft as the operating system savior we've all been waiting for, it has turned out to be one of the biggest blunders in technology. With a host of issues that are inexcusable and features that are taken from the Mac OS X and Linux playbook, Microsoft has once again lost sight of what we really want."

"(...)Microsoft has once again lost sight of what we really want."

When did they regain it? It's been 9 years since Windows 2000 and still no hope in sight.

@ Andre:

Come on man. We're all used to the "feature rich" style of your posting by now, but inserting outright falsehoods and/or severely outdated "facts" about Linux (like having to compile your USB drivers) isn't going help your credibility any. Whether you are speaking out of ignorance or malice concerning Linux, it might do you some good to try out a modern Linux distro sometime in order to have more accurate information when you post. Don't worry, you can dual boot or use Wubi and still keep the "rich, compelling and loved" (your words, not mine) Vista experience on your computer. I recommend Linux Mint for the easiest beginner's experience. But of course you are free to shop around and see what fits you best.

In any case, making posts that read like Microsoft PR sheets is one thing, but I'd recommend steering clear of posting about Linux until you have used it enough to be able to speak in an informed manner about it.

Oh, and just to mention, according to this article, Photoshop runs just fine on Linux thanks to the efforts of Disney, who decided to base their digital animation platform on Photoshop running under Linux:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Linux-and-Open-Source/Penguin-Moves-to-Disney/

The article is dated 2003, so it may be a bit out of date by now. I don't know. If the article is no longer accurate for some reason, please point that out to correct me. (I don't actually use Photoshop, so I don't know for sure.)

Gerardo Tasistro :

@billybob, clearly Andre is a power user and has Gentoo Linux installed. For the rest of us who use consumer Linux distros like Ubuntu things just work.
----------------------------------------------------
LOL, enjoyed that. Our favorite M$ Shill, Andre, just shows his lack of knowledge once again with his statement about needing to compile usb on Linux. I would add, that all the distro's that I have tried and used, to not need to compile usb drivers, they are already there, just like in XP, just plug in the usb drive. A few I have tried: Mepis, PCLINUXOS, Ubuntu, Mint, Sidux, Kanotix, Debian, and about 2 or 3 dozen others. It was a process to see what was different or better between the distros, and yes they were all free distros too.

Then there is his shameless attack on another free piece of software, the gimp. While I have used Photoshop 7, back in the days that XP ran here, without any competition (years ago). Adobe Photoshop 7 was many miles ahead of any M$ product, and very nice product indeed. But I only use these Products for Home use, PS7 took up 700mb of space on my hard drive, and while it was an excellant program, so is Gimp, which only took up 28mb of space, and did not need to go though another painful registration online process. Even before I switched to mostly using Linux, I switched to Gimp on XP. Gimp does more than I will ever need for me.

BTW, Andre, times running out to tell us about your relationship to M$, you know the free computers and all they give you to blog for them. I am not as nice as Goblin, you will find that out, the truth will spread from site to site, and your credibility to M$ will drop like MS is dropping Vista as soon as it can.

@Chips, yes, Windows 7 is Vista but better and thats the great thing about it, you secure your existing investments in compatibility and bring forward your investments in technology with Windows 7 going forward. Linux is just that same incompatible kernel from 1991, they should rename it recompilix because thats what you have to do with every kernel update for Linux and suffer through 300 hundred distributions that are only meant to give users headaches and go to the bourne shell messages to get it done.

Windows Vista and 7 on the other hand deliver a compelling set of complete end to end scenarios. Stories like Kylies show how fun, enjoyable it is to do the things you want to do with Windows Vista and Windows Live, it takes the focus off the PC and focuses on the passions of the user. Rich capabilities and scenarios like that fulfill users needs and only Windows makes that possible.

How does Windows 7 secure your investment in Windows XP? That is what most businesses use these days. Vista and 7 wipe out most companies investments in software and hardware, with no real benefit (other than the stick of everything will be unsupported in 5 years).

I think this advert is a bit like the Chris Rock sketch "I look after my kids". It would be a shameful state of affairs if you could not plug in a camera, edit the photo and email it. Mac and Linux have been able to do that for ages. Picasa has been the leader in home photo editing software for ages.

Where are the truly compelling features? If the software is so good, why do MS have to use a cute kid to advertise it? Surely it would sell itself (like the iPhone ads which only feature the iPhone, not cute kids and animals).

Regarding Andre's comments, I suppose I could call out the falsehood about Linux still using the same kernel from 1991, or the falsehood about having to recompile with every kernel update, or I could talk about the logical inconsistency where Andre claims that Linux is still using the same kernel from 1991, yet also has kernel updates.

But I'm beginning to grow tired of this, and I'm starting to wonder if Andre and I live in alternate universes since so much of what he says about Linux has no bearing on the Linux that I use.

quote "No doubt, Goblin would love to debate this young girl about how much better Linux is and why she should use Linux over her parents' laptop."
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Dont be silly Diamond, it was an observation. My question, which was included, was what point is it trying to make?
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I merely commented that these features are hardly unique to Windows (infact I even mention XP)
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I should now add then that these features are also available to mac and bsd users......infact Id go as far to say that this could be done on AROS.
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A good point you make though, I dont see any difficulties doing what that advert suggests with any of the more mainstream distros.
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and Diamond think about things before you post. If I was typing to encourage a mass migration to the Linux product (and going against what Ive always said about not wanting it) why would I post on Microsoft watch? I would be targetting a more general audience. The people here IMO have a more indepth understanding than your average fun and games forum, and whilst they may not have Linux experience, the one thing they do have is a knowledge of the Windows platform.
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I post here to counter the fud (see Andres USB revelations above) Why do you post?
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Talking of Andre, it seems now hes installed VMware, he's using his half knowledge of something other than a Microsoft platform to make all sorts proclamations.
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Quote Andre "The only difference Goblin is, on Linux, you have to compile the USB device drivers before you plug in the camera, then you have use a useless program called the GIMP with years of Photoshop level expertise to straighten the photo."
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Now normally I would take great delight in highlighting that its wrong (my cannon EOS went into Linux straight out of the box) or the fact that the GIMP receives reviews and opinion that suggest completely the opposite (not that it matters Andre if people still want a Microsoft photo solution they can still run it with Wine through Linux) but the cream on the cake (so to speak) had to be with his final comment:
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Quote Andre "years of Photoshop level expertise to straighten the photo."
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I really hope that was a joke, if Andre considers it would take him years to learn that (it can be done in 4 clicks) then should he really be commenting on anything.
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Finally Andre, the one thing Im pleased about was it was the first post of your (appart from the times youve insulted Chips) that we have seen any sort of "realness" in your posts. For the first time your post seemed more like a real person rather than an IRC bot displaying random adverts.
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I hope this new Andre continues, although I suggest you make your complaints about Linux with a little more experience than 2 days.
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All the best Andre. - "Aspirat primo Fortuna labori"

@Will:
"But I'm beginning to grow tired of this, and I'm starting to wonder if Andre and I live in alternate universes since so much of what he says about Linux has no bearing on the Linux that I use."
----------------------------------------------------
And we all known what that Universe is that Andre lives in, it is the Shill Universe of M$. Bought and paid for, he spreads FUD on behave of the company, and could care less about the truth. Andre's truth and honor comes from a company with who's practices are questionable at best, when it comes to unethical and amoral behavior. Should why would anyone (except his clones, who cares about hie/their opinion) believe anything Andre has to say?

Has not Andre been totally discredited? His guilt is complete by failure to answer the question he has been asked many times now. Dis any real people out there disagree? (clones and other handles need not respond)

Oh, and as far as the 300 distributions go:

Yes, there are a lot of distributions. Since Linux is free and open source, anyone can make their own Linux distribution. There's a lot fewer differences between the various Linux distros than there are between various automobile models, but somehow that doesn't stop people from being able to buy, use, and service automobiles. But that's beside my main point.

My main goal for this post is to eliminate a bit of confusion about Linux. Many of those 300 or so distros are highly specialized operating systems, geared toward specific purposes such as system rescue disc, extremely lightweight (think ~50 MB) and/or portable operating system, network security/monitoring tools package, etc.

Out of all the Linux distros, there are really only 3 main distros to consider for mainstream desktop use (Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuse -- in that order), and 4 main distros to consider for server use (Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu Server).

That adds up to just 7 distros total that most people will ever need to consider, with far fewer differences between any two of them than between XP and Vista/7.

(Obviously I'm leaving out a few distros here and there that might warrant mention. Mandrake/Mandriva used to be good, but they've long since been surpassed by the three desktop distros I mentioned. Linux Mint looks good, but I'm leaving it out as it is basically just Ubuntu with a different default theme and a few aftermarket tweaks already thrown in.)

Oh, yeah, just to cover myself in case any Mandriva fans read this:

Mandrake 10.0 was my first Linux, but I haven't used Mandriva in a production environment since the "evil penguin mascot" 2005 LE version. If you've ever used it, you know what I'm talking about.

I've tried Mandriva LiveCDs a couple of times since then, but nothing I've seen so far has tempted me back. If it has improved to the point of being on par with the other main desktop distros, my apologies.

@Billy Bob.
How does Windows 7 secure your investment in Windows XP? That is what most businesses use these days. Vista and 7 wipe out most companies investments in software and hardware, with no real benefit (other than the stick of everything will be unsupported in 5 years).
___________________________________________

As a manager of a IT department I'm going to say you're WAY off base here.

Have you seen vista in a corporate enviroment from the standpoint of a system administrator?

It has better printer management than xp. Plug a vista machine into a domain and it finds every server attached printer. After SP1 it is more stable. You may laugh at MS security and prehaps rightly so but it IS more secure that XP. It's also easier to deploy and manage across a large swath of machines. But you wouldn't know that. Ever set up Microsoft systems management services for a corporate network? I have. The remote assistance functionality for windows vista is greatly improved over XP. Once again you wouldn't know that. The integrated search features mesh perfectly with Outlook 2007 and sharepoint server, allowing users to find the content they need in seconds. XP didn't have any such mechanism. Once again you wouldn't know that. And then theirs better group policy processing and more granular control over each system. For instance I can configure the firewalls of each system remotely. And our last fleet of PC's rolled out in 2002. It's been quite some time and we need new hardware anyways. Vista was the natural choice, and it's working out well for us.
I won't even go into how much money bitlocker is saving the company when it comes to encryption for Laptops.

As for the incompatibility issue. I haven't run into any application that my people use on a day to day basis that I can't get to run on vista. And even if I did my Citrix and Server 2008 TS skills would render any such problem moot.

More than 1 billion Windows users are enjoying the richness and fulfilling capabilities of Windows. While 0.83% Linux users continue to wake up each day trying to advocate a a hopeless movement. Windows is not a movement, its the operating system of choice for PC's everywhere. :)

Will,
I too have tried most of the distro's, going back a long time. Red Hat and then Mandrake Linux, were some of the ones that back many years ago, almost made my desktop and replaced Windows. Had I known more about Linux back in them days, it would have.

I am not a fan of any one distro, as many are almost as equally usable. Neither have I tied out Mandriva in the last couple of years. But I do suggest PCLinuxOS which is based on Mandriva as an excellent OS for new users to Linux from Windows. Ubuntu is also based on Debian, so most of the Debian based distros, (example Mepis, Sidux) and generally easy to use for new users too. Fedora and Red Hat, I gave up on those when its too easy to download a distro that uses "live cd's."

Live CD's are the easy way to check to make sure that the distro works correctly and supports all the hardware without having to go through an HD install. The best Red Hat clone and free, might be CentOS, which I have tried.

As far as OpenSuse, I stopped trying that shortly after Novell made its deal with M$. I was never that keen on Yast, compared to Apt-get (synaptic) it was always more complex to install software later on after installation, but maybe that has changed now, I do not know. Some of the Novell/M$ projects like Mono/moonlight will never be allowed on my computers either. But then again, I would still use OpenSuse before Windows.

Slackware based is ok, but not for new users. New users do not want to install software with tar gz, and need a package manager such as Apt-get/Synaptic.

Most of the Distro's for new users are on Distrowatch in the top 20 or 30, and they never need to bother mostly with the rest. And some would say far less than that.

I would say that installing software on Linux, is different and far safer than on windows. In windows you hunt for in on the internet, and have to check with an ANTI-virus program before installing, and then hope its safe. With Linux, most distro's. you can install with Synaptic package manager, from a repo, built, maintained, and checked for malware,by that Distro. You can also install as many free apps as you want, at the same time, and use them without rebooting. If I only had back all the time in my life that I spent watching Windows reboot so I could use it.

Re: "More than 1 billion Windows users are enjoying the richness and fulfilling capabilities of Windows."

The glossy marketing brochures that Microsoft feeds you to re-hash everywhere are redundant. When I want flowery lies to laugh at and brighten my day, I can always go to microsoft.com's get the facts.

Re: "While 0.83% Linux users continue to wake up each day trying to advocate a a hopeless movement."

The other 99.17% of Linux users continue to work productively, enjoyably, without the threat of viruses and malware, and without the financial drain to their resources of "Windows Genuine Ripoff".

Re: "Windows is not a movement"

You're right. Windows is the RESULT of a movement. A bowel movement, to be specific.

Breaking away slightly (and im sure insults will follow this)
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I would like to take a little of the readers here time with a mentioning not of Linux, but of a different sort of "alternative" which has none of the architecture of Linux, it gives users another alternative to Microsoft, whilst remains Opensource and highlights just how much innovation there is in the world of it.
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Are you an XP user who wants a faster XP experience, doesnt want to upgrade either their system and/or OS? Then you should keep an eye on the following free opensource project:
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http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html
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Reactos is a Windows XP/2000 variant based on Wine's replacement Windows API code.
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The aim of ReactOS? To be fully compatible with Windows binaries and provide a platform similar to XP. Its a very interesting project and already has (reported) massive speed improvements over XP. Better yet you can deploy it on as many systems as you want without it costing you anything.
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Ill be covering this one myself over on my little blog since Ive just downloaded it.
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Could be another product for people to consider, but even if they dont I think it shows just how innovative and diverse the Opensource scene is.
-
DISCLAIMER:
-----------
According to reports there are many popular Windows packages running properly even in this early stage of development, since Ive yet to confirm this for myself Ive left out any claims of compatibility.

Top 10 most surreal IT moments

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/analysis/2236005/top-surreal-moments

highlights and excerpts:

"Honourable Mention: The I Love you virus"
(yep a M$ windows virus)

"7. The End-User License Agreement
The boiler plating, weasel words and intricate logical loops of most EULAs would put the contents of Mephistopheles' red book to shame. Some contracts invalidate some warranties as you open the packet to read them!"

"2. SCO
One of my favourite pieces of lunacy was SCO trying to hawk licences to use Linux so they wouldn't be paying royalties when the company won its legal battle. It was about as strong a sell as me trying to get money off Tina Fey in exchange for a certificate entitling her to four hours of lusty Iain-love once I become Supreme Ruler of the Universe."

"1. Ballmer dancing
Pretty much the entire concept of Steve Ballmer is surreal. In an industry run by slick salesmen and quiet geniuses, Ballmer is a lot like a college basketball coach with his high energy and unbridled enthusiasm for... well... whatever it is Microsoft is putting up on the stage that day."

Firstly if you want to see this passage of text in its context, click the link below.
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This is a passage from exhibit 2456 in the Comes V Microsoft case:
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"You need to know what your because are, and if you don’t have any evidence to support them, create it Find some third-party vendor who will say that this is true. Do an independent third-party study that will support those arguments. Create the evidence you need, don’t just rely on it to come out of the ether. Don’t just wait for somebody to write the article that says it’s true. Find somebody. Say if you’ll do this for me, I’ll do this for you. Get it done. Then you’ve got your data points. So create the evidence you need. "
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http://boycottnovell.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/plex_2456.pdf
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"....so create the evidence you need"
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We've seen that here havent we with the USB revelation. Or what about the compiler in order to play music cds in Linux....yep theres been quite a bit of "evidence" created on these threads.

Chips, you are incorrect, Windows is a very secure platform, Internet Explorer includes a built in Pop up blocker, Protected Mode and Phishing Filter which enables users to surf and download with confidence. Windows Vista out of the box provides users with the essential tools to start doing amazing things on their PC. Windows 7 will have immediate to free applications such as Windows Live Essentials. With the hundreds of thousands of certified Windows applications out there, the only thing you need to worry about is the time to try them on all.

On Linux, you have the Sherlock Holmes to find a decent application to play music, you need to download codecs. You need to use the command line to install an application on Linux, there a multiple perplexing user interface environments that leaves the user depressed and angry when it comes to Linux. Even Linus Torvalds own parents realize this, thats why they continue to use Windows. Windows has complete ease of use built in with optional third party solutions that can grow with the user. The Windows ecosystem is very broad and gives the consumer choice and variety, both free and commercial. Trying to put a negative spin on Windows with a movement is not going to work, people see this, that is why Windows Vista is on over 200 million systems and growing fast. Developers are realizing the benefits of a secure, robust, healthy platform that has delivered innovation through powerful API's such as Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, Silverlight, a rich, secure graphics subsystem with a high level of guaranteed stability.

Quote Andre:

"On Linux, you have the Sherlock Holmes to find a decent application to play music, you need to download codecs. You need to use the command line to install an application on Linux, there a multiple perplexing user interface environments that leaves the user depressed and angry when it comes to Linux."

Music players: Rhythmbox Music Player (preinstalled in Ubuntu under Applications -> Sound & Video -> Rhythmbox Music Player) I don't know how they could have made it any easier. If you need a codec, Ubuntu will offer to install it automatically when you first play a file that requires it. If you follow my earlier suggestion of Linux Mint, you'll get those codecs preinstalled. Or you could use vlc media player to play pretty much any multimedia file, audio or video, out of the box.

There are also many other good music players out there such as Amarok or Songbird. IMO Amarok puts iTunes to shame, and Amarok is also installed by default in Mint.

You don't have to use the command line to install stuff, though that is one option. In most Linux distros, you can simply go to the Add/Remove Sofware

Quote "On Linux, you have the Sherlock Holmes to find a decent application to play music, you need to download codecs."
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Sherlock holmes? In my experience, I was imformed that the codec was required and it was downloaded upon confirmation. No restart and completed in around 10 seconds.
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I didnt realise the popular Xvid codec was native to a Windows installation. Is it?
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Decent application to play music? I presume you were not happy with the ones packaged with whatever distro youre alleging to be using today.
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So now you speak for Linus's parents:
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Quote "Even Linus Torvalds own parents realize this, thats why they continue to use Windows."
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Whats youre point? I presume if you had any involvement in PR for the Torvalds family you would have convinced them to claim they used Linux wouldnt you? Thats better PR after all. Whats wrong with a little honesty from his parents Andre? (if your comment is true)
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Thanks Andre, I dont know if you did it intentionally, but immediately following my post on "creating evidence" you further proved (IMO) the exhibit is correct.

Sorry, accidentally clicked post before I was done.

Continuing:

simply go to the Add/Remove Software application to use a graphical interface to install or uninstall software. It's a lot like Windows' Add/Remove software, except that in Linux's case, this application can search through all software available, installed or not, and it can be used to add software as well as remove. (I may be speaking out of ignorance on this point, but after years of using XP, I never once used the Control Panel Add/Remove applications to add software.)

Users that want a more fine-grained approach can use something like Synaptic, another GUI frontend.

As for the multiple interface environments, there are two main ones (KDE and Gnome) and many smaller ones. I'd recommend Gnome for now, at least until KDE 4 reaches a feature complete state. But I'm not sure what's so perplexing about it. Most businesses I know that use Linux have standardized on Gnome for the time being, as has Ubuntu, the current desktop frontrunner, so there's no problem there. But anyway, the ability of the user to use whichever interface they like best in Linux is simply an example of giving the user choice and variety, something you seem to agree is a good thing.

@Andre:

Goblin just brought up something I forgot to post about. Since you seem to be having some trouble with Linux (if you are infact using it at all), why don't you tell us which distro you are referring to with your comments. Perhaps someone on these forums could offer help.

Hi Will!
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I agree completely with your Gnome point, Ive never been a fan of KDE and I think the fact that we get a choice is one of the great things about the platform (as you say)
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@Andre Da Costa:
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Quote Andre "Chips, you are incorrect, Windows is a very secure platform, Internet Explorer includes a built in Pop up blocker, Protected Mode and Phishing Filter which enables users to surf and download with confidence."
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So what went wrong Andre? Why are people shifting over to firefox and others? Why are the exploits we read about Windows/IE related?
Why does the Windows platform have so many 3rd party solutions for removing malware/exploits from infected Windows systems and why are we reading about NATO, BRITISH NAVY & BRITISH AIRFORCE suffering because of your secure Windows platform?

@Will
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I think Andre will be using whichever is considered the biggest threat to Redmond.
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Crescit amor nummi, quantum ipsa pecunia crevit.

Last time I looked almost all the linux distro's would play audio cd's out of the box. Mint and Mepis both play MP3's out of the box. Mepis plays AVI files out of the box, does XP do that? No. I believe that Mint will play all DVD's out of the box, does Windows do that without installing more software? No. Now some distro's, yes you do have to install some codexes to play some kinds of media, but you have to do that as well in XP.

Andre, stop with the FUD, its just makes you and Micro$oft, you provider of Free Laptops, look more dishonest.

um... *clears throat* What does this article have to do with Linux?

Quote "um... *clears throat* What does this article have to do with Linux?"
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Pass.
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Abusus non tollit usum

@Shilo - I agree with you, that was my point. In order to move to Vista/7 you have to dump your existing software (ie. your investment). If you spend 18 man hours setting up the printers you wanted under XP then that investment is lost. It is not secured as Andre claims, it is replaced.

If Vista/7 secured your investment then all applications and settings would be compatible. I understand why they are not, but businesses just see systems which work now being potentially broken.

@ Goblin

lol, thanks i thought i didn't miss any hidden paragraphs, but it's always good to check these things.

@Whatever
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Glad I could help you, although instead of looking for hidden paragraphs, just translate a little Latin. You'll get your answer there.
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Abusus non tollit usum
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(as I said before)

Quote Goblin:
"I think Andre will be using whichever is considered the biggest threat to Redmond."

Ah, but I thought with its alleged % market share, no version of Linux could ever be a threat against the rich synergies, security, and innovation of the Vista/7 experience?

Anyway, stupid jokes aside, in that case, might I suggest the Ubuntu Pocket Guide? Truth be told, I haven't used it much myself, but a PDF of it can be downloaded for free from this site, so what could it hurt?

http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/download2.html

A good read through of this might help cut down on some of the blatantly and ridiculously untrue things being said of Linux in this thread, assuming one wants to learn.

Andre Da Costa :wrote

"Chips, you are incorrect, Windows is a very secure platform, Internet Explorer includes a built in Pop up blocker,.................."

"On Linux, you have the Sherlock Holmes to find a decent application to play music, you need to download codecs. You need to use the command line to install an application on Linux, there a multiple perplexing user interface environments that leaves the user depressed and angry when it comes to Linux."
---------------------------------------------------

# 1 If Windows was so secure, than why are people dumping (one of the main components of Windows).."Internet Explorer" and adopting Firefox? And why is Mac nearly at 10%?
_________________________________________

#2 I don't know what Linux distro you are using. But I wiped out the Xandros and installed Ibex 8.10 for the EEE PC and my wireless, video (yes including flash), audio (including MP3's) work great.

__________________________________________

May I suggest going to the Ubuntu Forums for help with Linux? Heck, there are a lot of helpful people there from all over the world and all hours of the day and night to help you and there is even a Windows section too to make you feel more at home.

_____

You might want to get up to speed about Linux. After all despite our "0.83%" market share...(golly I thought it was "0.86%"...silly me)....Linux is still a competitor to Windows. You might want to learn more about it, so when you post next time...you could "GET THE FACTS" straight next time.

__________

Here is where you go to learn more.

http://ubuntuforums.org/index.php

Go to the Community Cafe and say howdy, and from there you can ask the nice people there what forum is best for the beginners...they will be glad to help.

Maybe you can learn how to wipe Vista off that nice laptop and install a much more secure operating system. I won't tell Ballmer...I promise.....

@whatever:
Re: "um... *clears throat* What does this article have to do with Linux?"

The title of this article is "I'm a PC and I'm 4 1/2".

In this context, the term PC stands for "Personal Computer".

Apple builds personal computers, and nearly all of them run OS X and not Windows. Dell, Aberbeen, HP, and many others build personal computers, and most of them run Windows but many of them also run Linux.

This article's title only refers to the personal computer. Any assumption that PC implies only Windows as the operating system is just that: an assumption. And a very sloppy assumption.

"I have a PC and I have more than one"

Laptop-EEE PC-Ubuntu 8.10
Laptop-Compaq-Ubuntu 8.04/Vista SP1
Laptop-HP Pavillion-Ubuntu 8.10/XP
Laptop-Gateway 2000-Ubuntu 8.04

Desktop-EMachine-XP Home
Desktop-Dell Dimension 4100 - XP Pro

Desktop-Power Spec 5 Different OS/5 Hard drives
Test Machine
1.Linux Mint 5.0
2.Knoppix 5.3
3.Ubuntu 8.10
4.XP Pro
5.Windows 7 Beta

Desktop-Gateway PII-Xubuntu 7.04
Desktop-IBM PII-Linux Mint 4
Desktop-Dell PII GX110-Windows 2000

Desktop-IMac-OSX Panther
Desktop-IMac-OSX Tiger
Desktop-G3-OSX Tiger

Most of my PC's run something other than Windows. Amazing what you can get on E-Bay for nearly next to nothing....

Will says:
"Andre:
Goblin just brought up something I forgot to post about. Since you seem to be having some trouble with Linux (if you are infact using it at all), why don't you tell us which distro you are referring to with your comments."
----------------------------------------------------
So Will is the question of what version of "UNIX" would or is Andre using to make his ridiculous statements? LOL Of course, he is Using the $hill version of M$ Xenix Unix, which is now for a short time SCO Unix. Any wonder a M$ unix product will not play music?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenix

@Chips B Malroy:

Thanks for the link! It filled in many of the gaps for me.

One statement in particular was interesting to me:

"When Microsoft entered into an agreement with IBM to develop OS/2, it lost interest in promoting Xenix."

I was told by someone in OS/2 development that he witnessed the efforts by Microsoft and IBM (who were still working together at that time) to remove the Unix comments from the Xenix code that they had inserted into OS/2.

'Windows 7 Beta's Touch Capabilities Underwhelm'

http://www.osnews.com/story/20933/_Windows_7_Beta_s_Touch_Capabilities_Underwhelm_

"One of the big hypes of Windows 7 was the new integrated touch and multitouch features unheard of in previous systems. On paper, it all looks nice, but the folks over at Engadget recently tested out these said features of the beta on an HP TouchSmart PC, and were underwhelmed by the efficiency of the features.
Among these tweakings is making the entire UI big enough that touch is plausible; a good percentage of the interface was still too small for touch to be effective causing gestures to work when they're not wanted and to not work when wanted. It reminded me of trying to use my fingers to type on the on-screen keyboard on my old Dell Axim x51. Those of you who have attempted to use certain features with your fingers instead of a stylus in Windows Mobile 5.0 will understand."

German PearC Sells Macintosh Clones

http://www.osnews.com/story/20939/German_PearC_Sells_Macintosh_Clones

"US resident already had the pleasure/disgrace (take your pick) of buying non-Apple computers with Mac OS X pre-installed through PsyStar.

There is no word from Apple yet, but seeing the legal action undertaken against PsyStar, Apple Germany might start similar legal action against PearC. With German law probably being quite different from US law, such a possible case could follow an entirely different path than the US one. It also raises the question: where will this end?"

LINUX is for NERDS. NOT Geeks, NOT preppies, NOT Ma and Pa's, NOT techno-freaks, NOT normal people, NOT straight people. IT IS FOR NERDS and fruit loops like Golbin and his domesticated partner Chips. Dorks that think they are part of a gound swell that never happened and can't face the FACTS that this will NEVER take on to mainstream. Heck even apple is distroying your little dream of becoming a worm from that little larva and it costs about 100 times more. That must really suck. But that is ok, the government likes to have Lamda Lamda Lamda NERDS around. It is like being a UNIX admin these days. Pretty tough to find a job. By the looks of all the posts, it looks to me that Goblin and Chips are both unemployed UNIX admins that are bitter
about their being no jobs for LINUX dopes. So they are so jealous of those that are employed that they sit on this blogs and chatter all day long. Maybe you should use some of that time going back for a MS certification and then maybe you will find work. But most companies will know you are a NERD and not hire you anyway. And don't bother with your typical "hey I am certified in everything" story cause nobodys is buying it. Your only source of info is your Anti-MS sites and if you read almost all of them, they site employee negligence (meaning a moron like Chips and Goblin were behind the keyboard and lost their jobs). So sad you people are. So Sad. Look out Chips and Goblin, I think Oger is behind the door wiating for you. HaHaHaHa!!! Losers...

Linux is for NERDS says:

"it looks to me that Goblin and Chips are both unemployed "
----------------------------------------------------
So Nerd, this link is for you, enjoy, its from eweek too:

Forbes prescribes open source for the unemployed

http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS7431065143.html

"Unemployed? Take a lead from the great open source entrepreneurs, and have a slice of open source cake, suggests Sramana Mitra in an interesting Forbes article that goes on to profile Apache and CollabNet Founder Brian Behlendorf, SugarCRM Founder John Roberts, and SpringSource Founder Rod Johnson.

Mitra acknowledges the toughness of the times, then writes, "But some entrepreneurs have found ways to build their companies on a shoestring using open source software, and they have figured out how to make money off something generally considered free."

@chips b malroy,

It appears to me that "Linux is for NERDS" is the handle of the same person who posted as I-Man, Portuno, and others. The same flowery language, the same abominable spelling, the same abysmal grammar, the same hatred, the same lies, the same drivel.

It IS fun to watch a raging moron foam at the mouth. Who needs to watch network TV when real life is so much more entertaining!

@Philosopher :
LOL, I agree that the Trolls and M$ Shills here are entertaining to lots of folks, and will draw in more people to view the comments here. In that regard, they help to get M$ to fix their products, and to get people to try other safer products, whither that be Linux, BSD, OpenSolaris, or Mac, its their choice.

Even Andre is as Goblin has said, a Linux promoter, as he cannot debate without resorting to lies (FUD) that are easily debunked. There is nothing like Flamewars to draw in readers. Still, it would be nicer to see a more reasoned polite approach, like that of Jess Meats, MS Employee.

Yikes, suitably chastised i shall leave this discussion with my tail between my legs.

PLEASE NOTE, THE ABOVE POSTER IS NOT CHIPS. SINCE OUR PRO-MS POSTERS SEEM TO HAVE LEARNED THEY CANNOT GET AWAY WITH BAD BEHAVIOUR HERE, THE ABOVE POST SHOWS THAT THEY ARE NOW STARTING TO IMPERSONATE AGAIN AND PUT THE BLAME FOR THEIR APPALLING BEHAVIOUR ONTO PEOPLE WHO DONT AGREE WITH THEM.
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You just know when you get a poster with a handle like "Linux is for NERDS" youre going to be in for a treat. Im pleased to say I wasnt disappointed.
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Quote "Your only source of info is your Anti-MS sites and if you read almost all of them, they site employee negligence (meaning a moron like Chips and Goblin were behind the keyboard and lost their jobs)."
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This would be a lovely little attack, full of wit and rock solid argument, except for the fact that I make my money trapped in the .net(sic) at work. I suppose this user thinks all the Linux servers around the world run themselves, hey, maybe they do since my work doesnt involve them (so I cant say for sure). I make my money with Microsoft products.
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As for being certified, the only Linux certification I have been given is the one by certain pro-MS posters here who claim I am suffering from some sort of insanity.
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Joe Wilcox has alot of readers (IMO) and I believe the vast majority never comment here. I hope all these comments are judged by those readers, and whilst they may not wish to spend time responding here, they take away the fact that when a pro-MS argument is countered, the "new handles" and insults pop up.
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Is this the only way to defend Microsoft products? Who has been the more mature and reasonable here? Chips with his alternatives view or "Linux is for nerds" and their little rant? Is it the alternatives view who uses words like "tits" to describe software (or was that the poster trying to counter a link highlighting issues with another Microsoft product?)
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Ive always wished for proper debate, what we get is childishness and obscenity and I find myself talking to some of the pro-MS posters like Im telling off a naughty child.
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I dont need to rise to any of "Linux is for Nerds" comments simply because (IMO) any adult reading them can make their own opinion.

[NOTE ADDED by Joe Wilcox: Post was removed, as requested, so for anyone following the comment thread the request no longer applies to the LAST Chips B Malroy comment. The one Goblin referred to has been removed for defaming impersonation.]

Joe Wilcox,
last post is not mine, could you please delete that. thank you

[NOTE ADDED by Joe Wilcox: Post was removed, as requested, so for anyone following the comment thread the request no longer applies to the LAST Chips B Malroy comment. The one Chips referred to has been removed for defaming impersonation.]

I was beginning to think Microsoft had something personal against the British Armed Forces when Windows security caused problems for them (linked here on previous posts)
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I am therefore pleased to report, that it doesnt look personal to the UK since now the French have also had security issues with Microsoft products:
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http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10159186-71.html
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Maybe Microsoft just doesnt like the EU after its latest ruling? Whos next, Germany?

@Chips, nice link there. I followed one in that page (linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8154244993.html). A few lines:
---------------------
"Q1c -- ...meaning that the supplier (in this case Linux) is able to learn what's in demand and deliver it very quickly?

A1c -- Yes. The market has learned from this, and Microsoft is in fact behind. The market is moving toward Linux-based low-powered devices of all kinds, not just in netbooks, but in [lists numerous embedded and device market sectors]. "

--------------------

"Both HP and IBM started restructuring years ago. Both faced reality. Microsoft has only done so recently, for example trying to buy Yahoo! Now, they understand that they'd better web-enable, better get into cloud computing. But you see them reacting, not leading, while companies like HP and IBM enjoy the high-growth, high-margin opportunities. "

@smist08

"To me this screams lack of integration to the social networking sites everyone uses."

Windows Live Photo Gallery can upload to Facebook, and a number of other services, and Microsoft provide a plugin SDK too.

A hyper-precocious kid without a laugh track is disorienting to many viewers. The home's complete with a usable 4 1/2 year old PC--why upgrade?

Employing children or domestic pets to sell software would suggest "endgame".

OMG! They're advertising the fact, like they're proud of it, that they're getting 4 1/2 year olds addicted to using Windows Crack??!! =:-0

I'm beginning to notice a trend in these comments of reasonably intelligent discussion and interchange of ideas, up until the point at which that idiot Da Costa posts some of his puerile, ill-informed nonsense. The result is that a number of you fall all over the place posting rebuttals and counter-rebuttals. Why don't you guys just do everyone a favour and ignore him? Who knows, if you don't encourage him, he might move on and find another venue to waste his time.

Alanh :wrote

"I'm beginning to notice a trend in these comments of reasonably intelligent discussion and interchange of ideas, up until the point at which that idiot Da Costa posts some of his puerile, ill-informed nonsense."
___________________________________________________

I have the perfect job for Andre

"Microsoft wants an anti-Linux chief
By John Lister"

http://vista.blorge.com/2009/02/10/microsoft-wants-an-anti-linux-chief/

"Microsoft wants an anti-Linux chief If you really hate Linux – or at least are willing to pretend to – Microsoft might have the job for you."

------------------------------------------------

So...if you have a "life without walls"... why do you need...windows??