Of course Microsoft leaked this. They have to make every attempt possible to shine the light on Windows 7 and away from their disastrous attempt to boost Vista sales.

Do you really think that any Mac users give a rats behind about when the next version of Windoze will be released? Please.

If Steve Ballmer would step down and the Wall Street profit starved execs would leave Microsoft, I'd be happy to Mac bash on Microsoft's behalf; but that probably isn't going to happen any time soon. Microsoft! We loved you at some point, though you've seem to become the enemy - heck I testified for Microsoft! No way in hell would I do that now.

Who cares about Winblowz... Mac OSX is always going to be light years ahead of Microsoft.

Windows 7 is crucial to ms

Mac user here, I give more than a rats behind, I beta tested and found it quite nice.

Smaller footprint than Vista, able to use xp drivers in some cases

Unix command work in the new shell.

Mac user NOT = Mac fanboy

Mac Certified Technician, been using Apple products since the Apple IIe

Vista Blorge says that there have been 12,000 downloads of it already. My question is how would they even know how many downloaded it?

A quick look on the torrents, one can see almost 4000 seeders and 6800 leechers. Yes there is interest in Windows 7.

My opinion is that this is the "official" (wink wink) release. Kind of like saying "Well here is the beta...just make sure it isn't leaked especially on torrents like iso hunt or TPB.... (wink wink)".

MSFT wanted buzz about windows 7...well they got it. And this will also give them "free advertising" not just of Windows 7...but also the MSFT name gets mentioned in every blog, IT site, computer forum, Linux forum, Apple forum and of course all the Windows forums.

If MSFT was really behind this, it is a brilliant strategy. This is stuff that speaks volumes, one of MSFT desperation to get Windows 7 right and put the Vista fiasco behind them and yet another to re create that spark of excitement that the Redmond Machine has been absent for far too long.

Reading comments from downloaders, they are saying it is a evaluation copy with a 30 day time bomb. Furthermore there is no serial that one can make it a permanent OS. That might very well point to a (wink wink) release.

Imagine getting thousands to Beta test your product for free. That is what I think happened... (wink wink).

Leaked information is wrong. From your article, it's like you are support the person who leaked the beta build. If it's in purpose, then shame on Microsoft.

1. 30 day to activate (how? no serial avail)
2. No drivers (90% of my progs don't work - not even sound)

"MIGHTY PURTY BUT... HORSE'S MANURE" as Jed Clampett would say

No matter how good 7 is, I doubt it will be good enough to pull me back to Windows from OS X.
After switching because of Vista, I kept finding myself thinking "This is how I always wished my computing experience would be!"

That being said, I will make myself completely familiar with 7 because my job is in tech support and I have to know how to troubleshoot it.

I'd be trying it out right now via Bootcamp but I'm currently having to much fun trying out Leopard Server.

It was I tIt was I that leaked the incredibly rich Beta of Windows Seven to the World. And you can just bow down and thank me that someone other than that imbecile Steven Sinofsky had the good sense to do just that. For those lunux frantics out there, Windows Seven is your worst nightmare, it will be so good, that you will rush out and buy it when it is released. Lumix will be crushed by the release of Windows Seven Beta 1, and that was my purpose. In doing so, I did not even care that the Freetards found out that I really do work for Microsoft and live in Redmond.

Steven S is brain dead with altimers, and I doubt he can still read and write much. So I am in no danger of him finding out who leaked what and where. And I know my good friend and buddy Joe will not tell.

Windows Seven will be the most secure operating system ever, while Mac and Linux will fall far behind.

Hi Guys,

I read the posts on the previous subject and they were all way off base. Sorry but goblin was right i know little of computers but really Windows is good and i still say Vista is really nice.

I dont want to waste time debating it here cause im off to party tonight and id rather be getting laid than discussing nerdy computers with the geeks.

Anyway im putting on my makeup now so see ya all after the new year. lol.

PS if this sounds like im a slut, im really not. sorry.

I wonder if Microsoft did this themselves... seeing their trackrecord for advertising that is.

And it is to be seen if this is a positive event for Microsoft. Sure from a marketing point of view it might... but as we all know Vista activation hacks started at the beta's too. If they are leaving features out of the beta the best thing to leave out would be the actual activation programming. From Microsoft's point of view that is.

Windows 7 leaked on BT?
-
Wow. Putting aside the piracy issue, I think it shows a massive amount of bravery on behalf of the downloader if there are people out there wanting a Windows beta. When the off the shelf products are fraught with problems, it takes a very brave person to install a Microsoft product which even Microsoft are not ready to officially release.
-
The idea that Charlie makes is a good one, since its been proved in the past that companies have used BT to further promote a product/product line.
-
So is this the case? If MS have done this, it was another very silly move on their part. Let us not forget TinyXP. The hacked XP variant that offers better performance than Redmonds own version, is, in my opinion yet another embarassment to the company trying to sell you things.
Releasing Win 7 in this way can and will enable such a newer "crack" to be made, and a further poke in the eye to an OS that hasnt even hit the shelves and already has odds stacking against it.

Wonderful. You've got a bunch of buzz now, which might last another month. And then what? The indications are that the final release of 7 won't happen for another 9 months. That's plenty of time for the buzz to die away. How are you going to keep the interest up? What else can you do, after you've already given the punters the software itself? And for free, at that?

No, this leak does not sound like a planned Microsoft thing--if it was, whoever's bright idea it was would have been fired by now. It's just incompetence, plain and simple.

@Lawrence,
Agreed. I wonder though if MS may consider nearer the time, a cut down Win 7 as a "free taster" to sell their full release? Whilst the idea of giving something away for no profit is probably extremely offensive to those at Redmond, IMO they will have to do something to get people to try their new wares on the back of the Vista fiasco.
-
I now notice Andre Da Costa has been impersonated. I dont believe he would type in this way.
-
Very clever piece of damage limitation there by the people responsible. They have tried to cheapen and confuse the voice of Opensource users with imitation and lies, since that has not worked they are seeking to distance the whole matter from one based on a anti-linux intention.
-
So what do they do? They impersonate Andre and try to imply that the people behind this are targetting both Linux & Microsoft posters. Very clever. Well, it would be if it wasnt so obvious.
Andres PR posts are his identity. The post above certainly is not a PR post.
-
finally a message to the Andre imposter, if you are going suggest someone has a mental health condition at least learn to spell it correctly. It took me a few minutes to work out what you meant by "altimers"
-
I really hope Fake Andre is not a Linux fan seeking to promote it with deluded good intentions. We do not need to use the alleged underhanded tactics of other proprietary firms to showcase Linux, once people experience open source/linux, the facts speak for themselves. I would not like to think anyone was "misled" into the open source world.
People should move over as a result of their own, informed decision based on first hand experience, not because of a campaign of deception that others seem to find acceptable.

Andre, you are very funny. A true believer. From what I saw of 7, it was a very poor attempt to copy the usability of OSX, it is a total failure. If you think it is good, then you have probably not used another OS for a long time. Vista users are desperate and they will jump into bed with anything that looks remotely like OSX.

I am not surprised Microsoft is giving it away for free. If they had not meant to give it to anyone on bittorrent then they would have put a proper code on it.

The reviews I have seen so far have all been gushing and fairly shallow. They all brush over the taskbar which is going to be the worst UI interface since clippy. Not to mention the ugly system tray.

Microsoft claim that IE 8 uses separate processes for browsing, yet Paul Thurrot claims that some web sites can take down all of these processes. How crufty does your code have to be to take down other processes? Or maybe they are lying about process separation?

Lol @ paid apple mac fans storming any windows 7 blog/post/thread/news as they can... Apple are in fear?!

Issues with macs, mini display port, Jobs health, increasing contest from cheaper and superior specced rival laptop, the entire lack of innovation by missing the netbook trend, the credit crunch that poses a serious threat to Apple sales... you guys are desperate indeed.

For the record, I have vast experience with Windows, OSX and Linux (ubuntu 8.10 is such a setback)

I choose Vista Ultimate 64bit (a real 64bit OS unlike OSX 10.5) on all my hardware and find it the best.

Do you people even realize how many people just use windows on macs?

Beastage: Please, I am desperate to hear exactly what it is that keeps you with Vista. Please do not say it runs Windows applications.

My own experiments found that Linux has the most usability features which are small but make my life a lot more efficient. I couldn't go back to Windows or OSX until they have sane ways to manage windows, the clipboard and remote filesystems. Not to mention a usable multi desktop feature. Next year we will have task orientated desktops with automatic tagging of data, as well as a version of Wine that supports USB (hello iPhone) and a version of VirtualBox that supports DirectX (bye bye gaming machine).

The major gripes about Vista have not been fixed in 7, even Windows fans admit that. They never complained about the speed anyway so that's not an issue. The major problems of app and hardware compatibility (between XP and Vista) and network file copying have not been fixed. Not to mention the cost, will people really pay $60 on the cost of a $130 netbook just for Windows 7?

Then you have to look at business retraining, deploying 7 to any large business is going to cause a lot of headaches.

"Do you people even realize how many people just use windows on macs?"

No, how many? Loads and loads I am sure. Do you have any idea how many people buy Windows machines and then install Linux or just throw them out because they are so encrusted with crapware that they cannot boot them anymore? Its loads and loads as well...

"The economy gives Apple good reason to formerly unveil Snow Leopard next week and set a release date by the end of March."

Formerly? You mean, formally.

Joe, you really should have someone proofread your work...

@Andre Da Costa
"For those lunux frantics out there, Windows Seven is your worst nightmare, it will be so good, that you will rush out and buy it when it is released."

Ha! You're a delusional fool.

I've been using Vista ever since it was released, and I am really pissed at it. The networking stack is all screwed up. Vista regularly loses network connection for no apparent reason. I usually have to reboot to clear the sh*t and reset the system.

That's just one of several annoyances. Vista is so frustrating, it makes me want to take my PC and throw it out the window.

MS promises that Windows 7 will be better? There's a saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

"Vista regularly loses network connection for no apparent reason."

That explains a lot - 7 did that to me... I thought a cable had broken!

Silly me.

If M$ leaked this build, how can they prosecute anyone for violation of copyright or the EULA? Do they not lose their copyright if they ignore violations?

e.g. In Canada:
"(6) No statutory damages may be awarded against

(a) an educational institution or a person acting under its authority that has committed an act referred to in section 29.6 or 29.7 and has not paid any royalties or complied with any terms and conditions fixed under this Act in relation to the commission of the act;

(b) an educational institution, library, archive or museum that is sued in the circumstances referred to in section 38.2; or

(c) a person who infringes copyright under paragraph 27(2)(e) or section 27.1, where the copy in question was made with the consent of the copyright owner in the country where the copy was made.
"

A defendant could argue that M$ consented to copying by the leak.

Microsoft enthusiasts must be really insecure! That is what I conclude from your article. After all according to them Vista has all and more than OS X will ever have. So why try to beat Apple with this "early release"?

More so, I believe deep inside them they know they'll be spoon fed the same thing "VISTA". Face it folks if they couldn't manage to release something new in 6 years since XP do you actually believe you'll get something new in 2? You're better off getting Server '08.

Joe I agree with you this will be a marketing success, but that's it. Will this serve Microsoft to get feedback from users (real users, not "enthusiasts")? Nope, don't think so. Will this help analyse what is in 7 from and objective point of view or will it be used to smother blogs with snapshots?

Back in your article about the newly "released" Windows 7 www.microsoft-watch.com/content/windows_7/vistas_succcessor_is_simply_seven.html I commented on Microsoft seven deadly sins. Seven was Superbia (Pride). Back then I had a technological point of view of this pride. Microsoft believing they were so great they could fix in two years what they hadn't in ten. Now I believe their sin in pride lays in marketing. Believing they're so great they can overcome any marketing fumble of the past two years with Vista. More so, that they're so good they can create a smoke screen like this and get away with it.

Thus on your shoulders and those of your colleagues lays the burden of critical analysis. And on all of us lays the burden of conscientious purchasing. Not everyone can simple move from Windows, but a lot can.

Can we continue to accept a faulty OS from a company that when its flagship OS gets challenged with usability issues shuts down XP? Only to reactivate its Home version after a strong challenge from Linux on the netbook market. A company that will recognize its mistake, but not so publicly. Realize the fault it did with Vista and then go all hush hush and push 7. A car manufacturer would do a recall, but not Microsoft. Let the consumer pay again!

A company that will release a new development platform that trashes a great deal of past code for its consumers. Heck have them code again! A company that gets in legal problems with another that owns a language and ends up killing its tools only to leave developers with orphaned code (I-Man, I'm not talking VCSY!!! so don't even think of it!). Yet then claims that using Linux exposes you to dangerous intellectual property problems. A company that will shut down DRM servers. Heck have them buy the tracks again! A company that releases its new hot product as if it were a market leader when its just second or third runner up. For example the recently released LINQ and ORM (Object Relational Mapping) tools for ADO.NET. Just recently released when open source products like nHibernate (from Java's Hibernate project ported to .NET) are already in version 2 and a way more proven product.

What's the obsession with these folks to create a second class copy paste and then sell it to us as the next best thing to sliced bread? Once again a bad case of marketing pride.

Robert Pogson :wrote

"If M$ leaked this build, how can they prosecute anyone for violation of copyright or the EULA? Do they not lose their copyright if they ignore violations?"
----------------------------------------------------

This is a incomplete build with a 30 day time bomb and no serial or activation. IMO they probably won't go after people for downloading or trying it out, why punish Beta testers anyway? However it is not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination. If it were a finished product the story would be much different.

For those keeping score on downloads for Windows 7 Beta, on TPB the Seeders are now up to 4309 and the Leechers are at 5959 for Windows 7. I just wonder how many of the leaks of the same Beta was "leaked" ?

On the other side of the coin I recently installed Ubuntu 8.10 on a laptop. 8.10 found the wireless driver...it prompted me do one click and it installed it easily. Then added wifi radar from the add/remove with one click and wireless was good to go.

I only mentioned Ubuntu 8.10 for two reasons, it is the newest Ubuntu release. (released in October 2008).

And comments in many different forums all say that there are problems with Windows 7 and trying to access the internet.

So while some of you might be trouble shooting a Beta Windows 7 to get it to work properly. Why not give 8.10 a whirl? It costs nothing, LAN and wireless works fine and your computer will run faster...especially if you been running Vista?

So that brings me to my last comment,...... so......here you have 10,000 to 12,000 downloading Windows 7 ( a incomplete product) and trying to make it work on the internet and dodge the 30 day time bomb.

Hmm so then it is OK to try to make a beta release work and yet many of these same downloaders would be the first to criticize Linux for being complicated.

Go figure....

I am asking persons to refrain from downloading the leaked copy of Windows 7 build 7000. Its best you wait until the BETA is officially provided by Microsoft at www.microsoft.com. Torrent websites are notorious for having members who load malicious code into ISO files that can infect users computers and personal files. Also, this can affect Microsoft's reputation and also the code could be buggy not truly representing and reflecting the products intended purpose.

Until then, let us await Windows 7 BETA patiently since it will be a public release anyway. To the individual impersonating me, please do not continue doing so. Thanks! :)

Folks do listen to Andre, wait to get Windows 7 BETA in 2009 when you purchase your new laptop. For those truly impatient you can get Windows 7 ALPHA when Microsoft makes it available as a public download. As for those who have a spare hard drive and actually do know how to create a DMZ and use a FIREWALL, then feel free to download the torrent version and play.

Didn't read your article as it really is a "no carer".

@Mike, yet you took the time to post?

I don't think the "leak" is really a big deal. MS makes quite a few builds available through MSDN as well as to various active external testers. Any of these could have posted it (with or without added rootkits, trojans, viruses, etc.).

I haven't tried downloading or installing this yet. Still seems a bit early. However I haven't seen much press on how W7 differs from Vista? Since its on a short development cycle it won't be much different than Vista. Will they remove DRM? Will they reduce the number of editions? Will they make Ultimate worth the money? Will it really use less memory? What are the Activation/WGA policies? I think a lot of these questions go to the heart of Vista's problems, rather than all the complaints about things being moved around in the user interface (which it seems W7 does again).

Vista regularly loses network connection for no apparent reason."

This is a good one...I suggest that you check your cabling, Internet Provider and Router and get a life....bc the next thing you'll say is that Vista is responsible for losing my girfriend. And just for the record, Vista's TCP/IP stack is supercharged, better that anything else out there...

I must say that I am somewhat amused in some strange way, impressed that someone has now taken the time and effort to try and impersonate me twice. This just show that the Microsoft message is starting to take hold, and that some people will do anything to try to stop that message. Linux is a failure, and Mac is running out of stream. Those running Mac will come back once they see the new taskbar in Windows 7, not to mention the Ribbon interface added to Windows Paint and Wordpad. Those Features alone make Windows 7 a must have.
This released version of Windows 7 on the torrents sites, is not worth the time to download, as its only a 30 day trial version for Beta testers only. Remember, its a Beta and not one of Microsoft's finished products, it could possibly have a bug or two in it. Now that I said all of that, what are you waiting for, go ahead and get it. Why be worried about a little virus? That is if you are using Vista with UAC and Internet Explorer 7, with Onecare and Defender, you are running the most advanced secure system possible and have nothing to fear. As long as you virus check it before opening it. Go for it!

Same old strategy Microsoft used during their windows 95 and 98 time. First flood the market with "Windows", make all people be depended on them and then gradually adopt the strict licensing programs.

Vista regularly loses network connection for no apparent reason."
This is a good one...I suggest that you check your too see if you got enough memory, Vista only works right if you got enough memory. Its you fault, not Microsoft.

Comon Joe. You really think Micrsoft released an un-patchable version of Windows 7 KNOWING that internet explore 8 has a security hole in it so big you can drive a truck through it?

And you other guys.... I have a network with 500 vista PC's... the only time they lose network connection is when you click on that restart Icon or shut down Icon on the taskbar. Really annoying.

The real Andre would never tell people to not download and use a Microsoft Windows product, of this I am sure of.

@Evan.

No desktop OS should REQUIRE 2 Gigs or more of Ram to run stably. A MODERN OS can run on crap hardware and scale up in performance on great hardware.

If MSFT dosen't tune windows 7 for lower end hardware they WILL lose to opensource. Linux is already making inroads into netbooks.

I have a beta (legal) of windows 7 running on a piece of crap P4 desktop with 768 Megs of memory. Runs really well.

Windows 7 won't be the panacea that MS is hoping for though. They've lost a lot of street cred with that "Vista certified" crap they pulled.

Ghostmike: You really think Micrsoft released an un-patchable version of Windows 7 KNOWING that internet explore 8 has a security hole in it so big you can drive a truck through it?

Asolutely!

Doug....

Why leak what they've already released to partners months ago? It's not like there's a shortage of people lining up to beta test it.

This is all much ado about nada..... Joe is having yet another slow news day.

Ghostmike:
No desktop OS should REQUIRE 2 Gigs or more of Ram to run stably. A MODERN OS can run on crap hardware and scale up in performance on great hardware.

Memory is cheap now Ghostmike, or have you not noticed? Ten bucks for you for an extra gig of memory too much for you to spring for? What are you trying to run pirated Vista on that old P3 cpu computer? Get out of the basement linux lover, and buy, yes I said buy a real OS, Vista. Retard.

@Evan....

Linux lover. That's laughable Evan.

I'm a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. I manage a corporate network with over 500 Vista loaded Workstations and Laptops. I'm in the midst of deploying 30 2008 servers running on Microsoft's Hyper-V tech. I just Migrated to Exchange 2007 when I could have chosen Groupwise on Linux.

But I'm not going to defend crap design.

And it doesn't matter how cheap memory is when Netbooks only hold so much of it. Those lightweight cheap devices are the future bub. If microsoft wants to play in that arena they'd better get on the ball. Your rabid worship of them sure as hell isn't going to help.

Ghostmike :
Linux lover. That's laughable Evan.
I'm a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. I manage a corporate network with over 500 Vista loaded Workstations and Laptops.

And all 500 of those are in your basement? Well I got 600 in my house, so prove it. Come on, we can tell you are a closet linux lover, just from all the negative comments you have been making here about Vista. My purpose is to defend Vista from people like you. Retard

@Evan, so now we are justified to be wasteful?

You say: "Memory is cheap now Ghostmike, or have you not noticed? Ten bucks for you for an extra gig of memory too much for you to spring for?"

a) that's the typical pro MS mentality that gets me in a bad mood. If I spend money I want to do more with less and I find no excuse to be doing the same with more RAM when I could be doing more with this added RAM. Regardless of how little it cost me.

b) 10 bucks to people in emerging markets (you know the ones not saturated with PCs) is a lot more money than it is to you Ghostmike or myself.

@Evan, with comments like this:

"My purpose is to defend Vista from people like you. Retard "

you won't be defending Vista too well nor getting too far in the real world.

Paragraph 9: "The economy gives Apple good reason to formerly unveil Snow Leopard next week and set a release date by the end of March." Formerly should be replaced with formally.

Seriously Evan. Why do I need to "prove" anything.

Just can't win.

I say Vista isn't as bad as the hype and the pro-linux crowd jumps my bones. Even bashes my choice of Linux distros.

I say vista is less than perfect and a system hog...(and it is) and Some Vista nazi humps my leg for it. (Even though I just defended Vista's network performance on the same page)

If Anything Evan I'd say you're the guy who's anti Micrsoft. You want them to stick their head in the sand like all is well. If they don't look at what the competition is doing right and modify their practices they are going to go the way of the Dodo... Then in 10 years I guess you'll be flaming me for choosing Linux (insert distro here) instead of Lunux (insert distro there) because Micrsoft will be irrevelant.

@Evan

Please tell us where to get a Gig of ram for $10

@Gerardo Tasistro

Evan also misses the point, that this attitude ultimately hurt Microsoft.

If you want wide scale adoption of your OS the last thing you want is to raise the bar for entrance with high system requirements.

A LOT of companies don't do forklift upgrades to desktop systems. In other words they don't run out and buy New hardware just because a new OS hit's the street. They like to do in place upgrades to existing systems. Some might say.... if you don't have the specs don't upgrade. Hey I'm fine with that, but unsold software doesn't hurt my bottom line. Microsoft can't say that.

Ok so maybe I was a little over the top with the retard statement. Its just anyone can say they admin 500 computers for a "corporation" running all Vista computers. That was my point. And then you make all these pro linux statements as well, about Vista. My guess, you are not a system admin at all, and if you do work for any company, its not Microsoft, but rather you work for IBM or Red Hat, and just pretend to be a MS user.

What leak? MS has been hyping WinDuhs 7 for almost a year now. There's nothing substantially different from VisDuh - it's just the same pig with (MS promises) a little less lipstick.

Joe, I know you are as excited by this Seven Beta as I am. New features including the Ribbon in many of the most used windows applications, WINFS to be included in the full public release when Seven goes OEM. And its the most secure windows ever, built from the ground up. Well worth the measely $399 that Microsoft will ask for the Ultimate version, which you and I, of course, as bloggers, will get for free.

Andre Da Costa :

Joe, I know you are as excited by this Seven Beta as I am. New features including the Ribbon in many of the most used windows applications, WINFS to be included in the full public release when Seven goes OEM. And its the most secure windows ever, built from the ground up. Well worth the measely $399 that Microsoft will ask for the Ultimate version, which you and I, of course, as bloggers, will get for free.
----------------------------------------------------

lmao

For $399, does that include a free laptop with the OS?...

Ralph,
I am so glad you asked that question, as bloggers we do recieve certain promotions from time to time from Microsoft, to make sure that we are able to post careful evaluations. like my review of Windows Seven. Joe on the other hand has stated for the record that he does not recieve free laptops from Microsoft. How could he, as he is very anti Microsoft and shows much bias. But I still continue to value his friendship, and he is on my Facebook. Hopefully, Joe will come around, as you Ralph will too. Once you have seen the new improved Seven, with the taskbar that Mac will try to copy in their next try. Once you try the new and improved Flip3d, the most amazing program ever.
One thing, I may have got the asking price wrong for Seven Ultimate, it might be $429 due to inflation.

@Evan.

Don't be such a dork man.

Of course I don't work for Microsoft. Don't work for IBM or Redhat either. My firm's network does however contain products from all of those vendors. Microsoft is a vendor right? And companies do buy Software from them right? Well someone has to adminster the systems running said software right? As well as implement it right? Well I'm that guy. And as someone who has built a career on supporting their products you bet your family Jewels that I'm concerned by what I see as Microsoft's self destructive business practices. After all I began my career supporting Netware networks.

Look up the marketshare for Netware software why don't you? Novell got gutted in the last LAN wars.
They ignored the winds of change, they were arrogant and they got trounced. And hell even now I hear things from Netware enthusists about how great it is.... Stick a fork in it. Vista's release was ill-managed and slipshod. Generally we've gotten good performance from Vista, and I love the new management options, but that is purely ancedotal. If that many people hate Vista, and so many companies won't adopt it....let's not kid ourselves. Microsoft blew it. Hell they KNOW they blew it. I just hope they do something about it.

Andre Da Costa : supposedly wrote
"Once you try the new and improved Flip3d, the most amazing program ever."
---------------------------------------------------

Oh OK ...so I get it now... I guess Linux stole "Flip 3d" from Microsoft and renamed it Compiz Fusion. And so Linux and Windows can both get on the internet...Linux owes Microsoft royalties because Microsft owns the internet..So that must be the reasons for the 700 patents that Linux violated from Microsoft...and thats why MSFT will charge $429 for Windows 7 Ultimate... I'm sorry for being so misinformed..

(Spits out coffee and doubles over)

Ralph,
Why fight it, Linux and many of the applications used by linux groups stole from Microsoft. Now I do not know the exact number of claims infringed, but I do know that its not only Microsoft that makes this claim.
Look, Linux even stole from Unix, looks at the SCO court case for example number 1. While SCO will most likely go broke, it does show clear proof of IBM behind all of this. Microsoft has acted very responsibly in all of this so far, even paying for licenses from SCO, and making a deal with Novell Suse to not sue them for their transgressions. More than fair!
Face it, however the SCO court case comes out, Microsoft is looking to own either Novell or SCO, or better both. And its only a matter of time before Microsoft owns linux as well, and you will have to pay Microsoft for running Linux. Microsoft will protect its IP, as Steve Balmer has said many times.
Then there is another interesting case, the VCSY case. Microsoft settled this won by privately paying off an patent troll? Ask yourself why? Because we wanted them to be strong enough to go on and sue Linux. Linux cannot win, as Microsoft has the best software, and the best lawyers.

@Evan....

Oh by the way.... show me ONE pro Linux comment I made on this post. Or hell on this entire blog ever.

I Said It is making inroads in the Netbook market. This is not a stament that is pro or con. It is however a statement of fact.

If Windows 7 runs well on that platform I'll be the first kid on the block with a 7 loaded Netbook.

Andre Da Costa :supposedly wrote

"Why fight it, Linux and many of the applications used by linux groups stole from Microsoft."
---------------------------------------------------
So then I'd better wipe Ubuntu off my computers and install Vista... I'm sure Vista Ultimate will run fine on my 600 Mhz laptop with 256 MB RAM and 20 gig hard drive....I mean isn't Vista a improvement over XP? So it should run faster than Ubuntu does...

And my other desktop with 933 Mhz and 512 Ram, I'm can't wait to try Vista on that and see Aero work great on that 10 year old Dell.

Maybe I won't pay my mortgage this month so I can buy two copies of Vista Ultimate...and I thought I knew a lot about computers ...silly me

Andre Da Costa :supposedly wrote

"Why fight it, Linux and many of the applications used by linux groups stole from Microsoft."

All I can say is, Andre, if you know any of the specific applications that "linux groups stole from Microsoft", could you tell us a little about them, because those MS programs have obviously never hit the marketplace. Otherwise we'd see plenty of MS apps able to offer functionality and features (not to mention efficiency and security) on the level of the OSS applications.

Ralph: supposedly wrote:
So then I'd better wipe Ubuntu off my computers and install Vista

Duh! So you have come around and seen the error of your ways Ralph! Welcome to Microsoft. But unlike most linux users, I hope you decide to buy it instead of stealing it. A small suggestion for your small computers, wait until Seven Basic comes out soon and but that one. It should also be a screamer on Netbooks that Ghostmike and Evan are discussing.

@Andre Da Costa :

Good deal Andrew can't wait.

But get real. If Micrsoft could sue Open source away it would have done so already. The Penguin is here to stay bub. And Gates and Ballmer will never own it. At best they'll own Novell... and that's actually a net lose.

Ghostmike :
But get real. If Micrsoft could sue Open source away it would have done so already. The Penguin is here to stay bub. And Gates and Ballmer will never own it. At best they'll own Novell... and that's actually a net lose.

Now I see why Evan is calling you pro linux, you do seem to have some failings here, like Ralph before you. In time young Ghostmike you will come around to Microsoft's way of thinking, it is your destiny, just like Ralph's.
But you fail to she the Master's hand at work when you say that Novell is a net lost. True is it, but the Unix license is not, forget Suse and OpenSuse for now. The Unix license is important to Microsoft, for several reasons. Microsoft could use that to make a new OS beyond windows. Also, it could be used to sue IBM, Sun, and Linux, as SCO attempted, but so far found out they did not own. Plus Microsoft may actually slightly infringe on some of these unix ip's, which were the real reasons to buy SCO licenses and also to make the deal with Novell.

I have been running Windows 7 build 6801 32-bit on an AMD Sempron 1.6 GHz, 512 MBs of RAM and its so snappy. I have Office 2007 loaded on the machine and its really performing well. I was even surprised that MCE functioned just fine. Windows 7 is shaping up to be a super release and I know once the general public receives access to the CPP they will be pleasantly surprised. Its a definite that Windows 7 will be ready from day one for Netbooks!

I would like to wish Joe and all Microsoft-Watch commentator's, including the one who is impersonating me a Happy New Year when it comes, let the new year find us with lots of hope and prosperity.

The crazy thing here, is between the Andre's here, I cannot tell which is real and which is illusion. Its as bad as a poorly written scifi book.

But this does say something about the mindless rantings of Bill Gates personal attack dog Andre, other than he really has a sense of humor. In that he has no personality, when someone can so easily impersonate him. Its like he was just create one day, without a mind of his own. Gee, thinking about that, just gave me an idea for a new book! Somehow I think there is a connection between this Andre guy and Joe, they just seem to much alike.

Andre,
No Problem bub, just call me anytime again when you having trouble with all these Freetards. And remember to send me that copy of Seven when you get it, please. I will be checking in soon on your site. Chat with you later. Bye.

Ok this is the only post i made yesterday
--------------------------------
Evan wrote :
"Vista regularly loses network connection for no apparent reason."
This is a good one...I suggest that you check your cabling, Internet Provider and Router and get a life....bc the next thing you'll say is that Vista is responsible for losing my girfriend. And just for the record, Vista's TCP/IP stack is supercharged, better that anything else out there...
-------------------------------------

All the other Posts about memory are written by another person using my name and whose motives is probably to discredit whoever defends windows...
I am a certified Microsoft Developer (MCSD). I would never claim that memory is responsible for loosing connections.

Joe I suggest that you look into this, cause it seems that I am not the only victim.

Thanks.

Okay this blog officialy sucks ass. I'm done here before I get mis-quoted.

Jeez Joe you dudes can't spring for a password authentication system?

So long.

But I'm sure some !@#$hole will spoof me if I'm missed.

@Andre,
Firstly I am sincerely sorry the idiot is impersonating you, regardless of the fact that our views differ, you dont deserve to have your point of view "fudged"
-
Right, thats the niceness out the way. First off you said "This just show that the Microsoft message is starting to take hold."
-
Eh? Youve been telling us all along that Microsoft was never harmed by the small percentage of Linux users/Mac users. Now your saying the Microsoft message is taking hold? 2008 has seen more people more to alternatives than any other year. How can you say the message is getting through? I clearly remember you claiming that people loved "the feature rich" Vista.
-
You then say "Also, this can affect Microsoft's reputation and also the code could be buggy not truly representing and reflecting the products intended purpose."
-
You are joking right? Is it possible to affect MS's reputation any further? Thats the problem.
As I mentioned before, even "off the shelf" press is now commenting on MS, and infact this month in MicroMart they have quite a few remarks about MS's product range and ignorance of the publics bad feeling about them. This is a publication who traditionally was a Windows one, now its including complete sections on Linux and its alternatives and openly supporting Linux. I hope the message Andre talks about continues to spread, its certainly great for the alternatives.
-
The message is getting through alright. Its just not the message Microsoft is wanting to give.
-
I will say again, in regards to these impersonators, its obvious to me they have started to impersonate Microsoft users, so that it doesnt appear that their last failed attempt of deception was aimed at Linux. This is a good way of shifting blame. Again, you can find these type of practices highlighted at Boycott Novell. Its funny, what we have seen here over the last few days is almost textbook shill tactics.

@Andre

"Now I do not know the exact number of claims infringed, but I do know that its not only Microsoft that makes this claim."

Microsoft need to be very careful here. Basically put up or shut up.

The last company that claimed Linux users owed them money is now dead. SCO agents in Australia refused to accept payments because if they did then they could be accused of taking money by menace. Microsoft needs to be very careful that they do not start a backlash, legally and politically. Yes, SCO is dead, there is no validity in their claims whatsoever.

SCO claim number 1 as you call it was a total joke. You obviously do not have a clue about code, the code they claimed was infringing was in the public domain for years and was basically just definitions of constants which were used for cross platform portability. It was not anyones copyright and was so basic that it could not be considered copyrightable at all.

Linux (and all open source) projects are backed by many large patent portfolios which will be used in retaliation against anyone who attacks open source products. Microsoft needs to be very careful that they do not start a war that they cannot finish. The Open Source community is well prepared to fight.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2142016/ca-joins-open-source-patent

Microsoft can never own Linux, that's why they are having so much trouble killing it. If you think they could own Linux then you have no idea about copyright.

If they have the best Lawyers, then what have they done against Linux so far? It has been at least 4 years since Microsoft has seen open source as a competitor. Their biggest success was probably the Lindows case.

Its funny, Andre (and the other paid shills) actually benefit from Microsoft doing poorly, the more negative press, the more need for positive points of view. If everyone in the world thought Microsoft could do no wrong, then they would have no need to 'Evangelists'.

It was defenatly not microsoft, we publishe the build and we are not affilitated with MS

Microsoft to hide Irish Tax Haven data of subsidiaries that have saved it billions of dollars in US taxes

http://www.finfacts.ie/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10005150.shtml

@Beastage:
Very interested by your post and would love you to enlighten us on some points:
-
You said "For the record, I have vast experience with Windows, OSX and Linux (ubuntu 8.10 is such a setback)"
-
Well you cant really have "vast" experience with 8.10 since its only been out 5 or 6 weeks. Why is 8.10 such a setback? Firstly because you havent explained, but secondly because the option is always there to fallback on 8.04lts, which is what many will do until the next lts. Upgrade is not forced or compulsary in the linux world. If 8.10 was an issue for users the lts of 8.04 means they can go back and maybe reconsider 9.04
-
You said "I choose Vista Ultimate 64bit (a real 64bit OS unlike OSX 10.5) on all my hardware and find it the best."
-
Why do you "find it the best" I can fully respect someones opinion/findings, but unless its made clear what exactly they are, its simply a claim. Its like me saying "Linux is the best" and leaving it there.
-
Please, I want to hear your opinions, just please clarify them so we can discuss.
-
And then you go and spoil it for yourself, with a sentence aimed to mislead or certainly imply.
-
You said "Do you people even realize how many people just use windows on macs?"
-
No I dont, and Id guess neither do you. Youve made a claim without figures or sources. Id be very interested for you to print these figures. My guess is you either wont return, or you will come back as another handle and post an insult.

Re: Ubuntu 8.10

I installed this on a laptop and it found the BC43 wireless driver and it prompted me for a quick install,one click it then installed the BC43 with no problems.

Xubuntu 8.10 on the other hand asked me to pop in the 8.04 disc for some reason. Otherwise I would say 8.10 is trouble free and wireless ready.

I was lucky, I had no issues when I did the painless upgrade from .04 - .10
-
I have read about people with issues, but then thats why they can easily go back to .04LTS.
-
Unless 9.04 turns out to be a "super-version" I may well be distro hopping. The main reason I had Ubuntu on the machine was that it was easy for the whole family to use. I think now, this is the case for most distro's, and having been a long supporter of Gentoo, I dont think its bias of me to say that great improvements in the userfriendlyness of that particular distro are bringing it "up to speed" with the rest.
-
I personally have had no wireless issues on any distro Ive tested/used, but then again my hardware is pretty mainstrem.
-
When reading some of the comments about unhappy .10 users, I did wonder why they upgraded in the first place as they had no issues with .04, for me I like to be on top of the latest release of whatever distro Im using but the saying "if its not broken why fix it?" is always at the forefront of my mind when you read some of the issues people have had.
-
For some reason (and I dont know why) after I downloaded .10 upgrade, I decided to order a free CD of Ubuntu 8.10. When it arrived it came with some very nice PC stickers, so Id recommend to anyone who has downloaded it, to get themselves a free disk sent to them by visiting the site.

@Goblin:

Since you say you are/were a Gentoo fan, that brings up something I'd like to ask you. I've never been brave enough to try out Gentoo, but I liked the concept and have seen some rather nice Gentoo setups in person. I know in years past it was well known as one of the less userfriendly distros, but I've also heard that that has changed a great deal recently. But what turned me off of Gentoo was watching a friend try it out a couple of years ago (he was formerly running Fedora) and seeing it take several hours just to compile and install Open Office. Since then I just stuck with distros that allow binary package installation. What is the situation on that now? Is there an option for binaries? Do most Gentoo users just begin the install/compile steps for new software and then wait / work on other things for a few hours, or is there a better way? Forgive my ignorance, but my Linux experience is only with rpm and deb based distros. Any other things that might be good to know about how the source code based portage system differs from the rpm and deb based systems?

Oh, and while we are talking about Ubuntu, I'm also one of the ones still running 8.04 on my machine. I tried 8.10 a couple of days after release, and it seemed ok for the most part, but there was a little bit on wireless weirdness on my specific laptop. The connection dropped randomly and the wireless light wouldn't cease blinking (found out later that that last part was by design). I found an easy way to change the wifi light behavior to something sane, but by then I had already rolled back to 8.04. The wifi issue is probably cleared up too, but now I'll just wait until 9.04 to upgrade.

My parents upgraded from 8.04 to 8.10 while I was visiting them over the holidays, and the Ibex seemed rather good then. Nothing really jumped out at me except the tabbed file browser (about time Gnome, since KDE has had that feature for years now), but on the whole Ibex just felt like a good solid, slightly more polished incremental improvement over Hardy.

Oh, and as for distro hopping, I've gone from Red Hat 9 to Fedora to Mandrake/Mandriva to OpenSUSE (pre faustian deal) to Ubuntu.

Just thought I'd add something to that last post:

So far, it's been my experience that Ubuntu releases are usually "good enough" from day 1, but on every release, I've always noticed that the state of the current version about 3-4 weeks after its release is noticeably more polished than the state on day 1. That's one reason I often delay upgrading just a bit. That and because the semiannual server blitz at ubuntu.com is something you can set your watch by.

Hi Will,
Sorry for not responding earlier, but I had difficulty posting from work (and I forgot when I got home, too busy on the other threads!)
-
The latest version of Gentoo has a rather comprehensive install "wizard" and it makes for a rather simple installation. Since youre posts suggest that you are an experienced user, I feel safe saying that you will have no issues. That being said, Gentoo takes an age to compile/install. I installed a Gentoo distro recently and it nearly took as long as it does to get a Windows installation fully operational. It was a chore.
-
What I like about Gentoo, is that for my family, they do not install packages they simply use those installed and surf,email and whatever the kids get up to on Penguin Club (its beyond me)
-
Anyway further answering your Q. There is not the userfriendlyness of Ubuntu package manager in gentoo. You are going to be using Portage and I wont beat around the bush, so to speak it will take you time (unlike alot of other distros)
-
If you fancy trying it, or have any issues, pop over to my site, grab my email and Ill happily assist (if I can) with any issues you have. Can I make it clear though, there are many on the net dedicated to Gentoo and those are the best for advice.
-
Bonus of Gentoo - the most customised, compact and processor time friendly distro. Drawback of Gentoo - still quite time consuming for anyone who just wants it to work.
-
Gentoo has always been aimed at the "expert" and I think its fan base is quite reluctant to let that image go (am I wrong there?) and thats no bad thing IMO, since if people get into the Linux world and want to really "get their hands dirty" Gentoo is a distro to do it and has a community of extremely advanced Linux users (IMO). I dont think you will get many "Why cant I run Windows software?" type questions in the Gentoo forums.
-
Best of luck!
-
In regards to "'ve always noticed that the state of the current version about 3-4 weeks after its release is noticeably more polished than the state on day 1."
-
Good advice, although for some (like me) I have to be there within the first few days. I am waiting to get burned, I havent.....yet.
-
For your info, in terms of performance (in my experience) Ive found OpenSUSE the slowest Linux performer Ive ever used, followed by Ubuntu. MintOS is a good all rounder, I have alot of time for Fedora aswell, infact Puppy is great (and Ive used that distro on other machines) and so is a very little known distro called NimbleX, which to say is nimble, is a gross understatement.
-
What I like about Linux distro's these days is that there are little "nuggets of gold" in all of them. Whilst I cant really knock OpenSUSE (it was used at our computer club for a long time) I could never support it, and Novells involvement with MS means for me that OpenSUSE is tainted. Thats not to say it doesnt have a massive following of very happy users. - and now I better stop waffling lest Joe starts limiting my wordage for going off topic! - Please contact me if you want to talk further, Id love to hear from you!

why the fuck would you want help microshit beta test?

Whilst the sentiments of what you say Id probably agree with, why do you feel the need to present your case in such an undignified way?

Heheh, Microsoft just released a piece of software with ZERO distribution cost, other than the initial seeding of the file!

Sneaky sneaky!

i have been running windows 7 since i first spotted it on the predb and its the best ms os since dos it has imo a massive performance increase over vista. It runs games better renders better it has managed everything i have thrown at it! For a beta build is just awesome im exited by what the rc build will bring its already so stable, the only problems have been with cod4 punkbuster kicking me for a unknown window api! Lol. So download it from where ever you get your files from, it really is worth a look! Someone stop me i sound like a ms fanboy!!

"Vista Blorge says that there have been 12,000 downloads of it already. My question is how would they even know how many downloaded it?"

the tracker knows. some say how many completed downloads, some may keep that private. seeders + leechers don't show hit-and-runners

you people can't be serious!
you are going to download and install an operating system or software from a bit torrent site and not even ask what bot net your machine will be attached to? ROFL!
this is why malware, bot nets and other crap will NEVER die. their is a sucker born every minute.

I want to put aside the comments of our alleged "gamer" duncanj.
-
Whilst I am not excited for any MS project, I would not promote piracy.
-
Even forgetting that, there can be no argument that Windows is an insecure platform, and as webdude says the stupidity of people not only to engage in piracy but to risk installing a beta of a platform that is renowned for exploits is madness.
-
This highlights another bonus of FOSS. You dont need to infringe someones copyright to get the latest beta. - Thats is if Microsoft havent done this intentionally, which would be quite hypocritical.
-
People who are sitting smuggly with their pirate copy of Win 7, need to think on. Microsoft IMO have plenty more bloat and bugs to add to it prior to its release, dont forget about MS's love affair with DRM. I believe the off the shelf version will be very different to the beta thats crawling around the BT-trackers.
-
Maybe 3rd party proprietary developers should consider that the Windows platform seems to breed the flippant disregard for someones copyright that we see in the above posts.
Maybe it wont be just users who are considering alternatives in 2009, maybe developers will be looking more seriously at it as well.

After reading some of the generated buzz here and elsewhere about the Win7 leak, one thing still boggles my mind:

So, somewhere out there, a supposedly large number of people are allegedly getting excited about pirating and running an incomplete OS from a vendor infamous for poor software security and reliability, some having difficulty getting their software and hardware working due to the incomplete nature of the OS, and yet there are people out there that still claim that spending the same amount of time to legally download a Linux OS and trying it out (without causing any changes to the hard drive), often to find that 99-100% of the hardware works "out-of-the-box", is just too hard for people to do?

@Goblin:
Whilst I am not excited for any MS project, I would not promote piracy.
----------------------------------------------------
Goblin is entirely correct, it is piracy. But I would wonder why anyone would take the time to download and install a MS Beta (which to everyone else is an Alpha) that will self destruct in 30 days? Maybe a few of these people are already working on the "crack"? But not 12,000. Whats the point, the finial version will be out in a few months anyway.

The interesting thing here is that we have many dates when its expected that Win 7 will slither into the computing world. I find it more than a coincidence that the leaks and false "buzz" created on some forums, seem to suggest a much earlier date than certainly I was led to believe.
-
Are Microsoft frightened by the genuine buzz Canonical (IMO) are generating with 9.04? Do they (for the first time, in recent years) want to "get in first"?
-
Now whilst we have these "new" posters on many forums saying how great their pirated copy of Win 7 is, have we heard an official damnation of the BT leak from MS? Why has PirateBay not apparently seen any threatening email from Microsoft in regards to the torrent?
-
But most importantly, why do some people say that have used Windows 7 dont have all the excitement and buzz that the likes of Andre Da Costa have, who doesnt seem to be able to decide if he went to the PDC or not?

@Goblin and Marco: (maybe Roy be interested in this one too)

"But most importantly, why do some people say that have used Windows 7 dont have all the excitement and buzz that the likes of Andre Da Costa have, who doesnt seem to be able to decide if he went to the PDC or not?"
----------------------------------------------------

http://absolutevista1.blogspot.com/

Quote from the link:
"Friday, September 05, 2008
HP xw4600 Personal Workstation Giveaway Winner

adacosta (Andre da Costa) has been selected as the winner of the HP xw4600 Personal Workstation Giveaway by AbsoluteVista.com.

Congratulations, adacosta!
del.icio.us Tags: HP,xw4600,personal workstations,giveaway,AbsoluteVista,SmallBizVista,The Interlocutor,Logikworx,John Obeto"
--------------------------------------------------
Wonder if what kind of connection absolutevista1 website and John Obeto have with M$. As far as did Andre attend PDC2008, that could be a partial answer, as he was in the neighborhood near the time. And asking about the free laptop (Marco) was maybe the wrong question, since its a free desktop it seems.

@Goblin:

A little more research here found this link, which I think Roy will be interest in both links, as he is attempting to find who is getting the freebies at PDC2008. This link is only noticeable because it confirms that the gift did come from Microsoft using the absolutevista website as a front.

http://absolutevista.com/blogs/absolutevista/archive/2008/12/16/congratulations-brandon-young.aspx

Brandon's comment says it all: "byoung424 said:

Thank you so much Absolutevista.com, HP, and Microsoft for this great gift. This will certainly make a huge difference to the two organizations I have chosen to share it with. It will also make this Christmas great for my family and me.

Good luck to all of you in the remaining contests!

Happy Holidays!

Brandon"
--------------------------------------------------
A google search for "John Obeto microsoft" turned up some amazing information.

LOL,
Thanks for the link!
Ive just been reading some articles not strictly related to the laptops, and just as an excuse was given about the IE exploits by certain people here (which was words to the effect of "well other browsers have issues too")
We have more silly excuses and blame shifting. Check out the response to:
-
"Excellent power management in OS X. When I close the lid to my MacBook Pro, it falls asleep. When I open the lid to my MacBook Pro, it wakes up. Imagine that! Seems to be the case 99% of the time, and it happens quickly."
-
The only answer they could come up with was:
-
"Anything less than that would be a shame, since apple delivers a complete hardware and software solution."
-
So thats ok then? Its not MS's fault it doesnt manufacture the hardware as well, so its not their fault if it doesnt work properly. Silly us for expecting to buy software and it to function properly!?!?!
-
IMO another excellent example of blame shifting. Dont forget, just as someone here said people fell victim to the latest IE exploit because of lazyness, and just like Andre says the Zune issue was an "unfortunate incident", its all our fault, not Microsofts.
-
Im pleased we've now cleared that up. Very sorry Microsoft, I wont highlight any of your issues again.
-
Back in the real world and away from the wibbly wobbly, happy and fluffy wonkaland that Redmond employees seem to live in, the rest of us know who is to blame for all these issues.
-
Thanks again chips, there is so much classic material, I dont know where to start.

A couple points about Absolute Vista

The favicon looks a lot like Andre.
The SmallBiz product of the year png is huge (314k).
Using a free tool like The GIMP drops it by 25%, still large, but a whole lot of Ks less.
Links in tags section don't work to well. Anything with a space in between like "Office 2007", "Microsoft Office", "Server 2008" and "Windows Vista" fires a firewall alert.

I am no whizkid in computers, but have been using Windows XP on my desktop and Vista on my notebook.
Recently I boosted the desktop memory to 3GB and installed Vista on it. Two days latter I was fed up, and now is is back to XP.
If MS is coming out with Windows7, so soon even without fixing Vista bugs, We better watch out..

To :chips b malroy

"adacosta (Andre da Costa) has been selected as the winner of the HP xw4600 Personal Workstation Giveaway by AbsoluteVista.com."

--------------------
Ha,ha,ha
delicious post chips, ha,ha

Each day, the MS' dirty game is more perceptible.

@Marco:
if you liked that link, you will love this one:

This from the first set of laptops giving away for reviewing Vista:

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/31011-microsoft-vista-laptop-giveaway-sparks-blogger-debate.html

Quote from the 2nd comment which is Andre's:
"ts not a giveaway, its a review unit, sent to bloggers to relay their
experiences using Vista on decent hardware. I recieved one and I am
reviewing it at the moment. We were specifically told to disclose the
source, some did not do so immediately and were unfortunately caught up in a
mess and were called bribed or bought by Microsoft. Microsoft also told us
to either give it away, return it or "keep it" (preferrably give or return).
You guess which one I am going to do."

@Marco:
But on the same day as that post which Andre admits to getting the a laptop, in another post:

http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/64021-post13.html

from Andre's comment:
"Let me guess, you didn't get one either?

"It was designed to get the MVP suckups to say how wonderful VISTA is and to
putdown anyone that criticizes VISTA in any way shape or form."

Huh? I'm not an MVP, but I am a Windows Enthusiast and I have been covering
Vista formerly codenamed Longhorn since Dec 2004. I have said both good and
bad things about the OS, most of it attributed to the hardware. So, one
shouldn't be surprised if it gets good reviews on a Ferrari 5000, its just
expected.

Again, its not a freebie, its a "review unit", some bloggers just failed to
disclose that."
--------------------------------------------------
Seems Andre has a bit of a problem with the truth, or a split personality. But at least we can guess its a Ferrari 5000 laptop from this post.
Its a very dirty business as we can now see, blogging about Microsoft, bought and paid for mostly. From advertising bucks, freebies, to free top of the line laptops.

http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/11/24/do-you-believe-in-magic/

"This holiday season, HP and Microsoft are asking you to consider giving the magic of HP and Windows. This program is being offered through 50 of the top blogs on the Internet today. Each contest will be designed and implemented by the individual sites."
----------------------------------------------------
So this is for at least 50 computers, software, and printers. Just the tip of the iceberg in MS method of paying off loyal shills.

I think the allegations that are being looked are here are tip of the iceberg. I wonder how many more "incentives" and tactics are going to be alleged and I wonder how many of those are going to involve people alot more influential than the "regular" pro-MS people who post here.
-
The worrying thing is though, while the regular pro-MS posters here are so easy to expose for their intentions, its the ones that havent been that are far more concerning.
-
IMO these allegations destroy any opinion here which may genuinely support Microsoft products as they simply wont be believed as being honest.
-
Makes the "gifts" scam (if proved correct) a little bit of a waste of money. Not that it wasnt already, since the people who IMO are after one are no good at being convincing or debating properly.

To chips; The New year started strongly, is not it?

@Marco and now for the smoking gun,
Andre da Costa, aka adacosta, also known as Mr. Dee on various forums is rightly proud of that laptop:

http://cid-e8e5cc039d51e3db.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/.res/E8E5CC039D51E3DB!15961

It is a beauty Andy, enjoy.

Vista x64 is rock solid, yes it has a big footprint, but its a very stable OS.

Windows 7 x64 will improve upon this stability with added speed. Whats not to love ?

@Chips

Wow, where's ours? The laptop, I mean. Do you think that we can sit down and write up an article or two and get a laptop?

Not that I am jealous or anything, far from that lad, but come on...

Draoi Dubh says:

"@Chips

Wow, where's ours? The laptop, I mean. Do you think that we can sit down and write up an article or two and get a laptop?

Not that I am jealous or anything, far from that lad, but come on..."
----------------------------------------------------
It would seem you would have to talk with andre da costa and ask him how many thousand of times must he praise Microsoft and run down the competition, unless of course, you already know andre.

However, I'm using it and I like a new Taskbar.

Although I think it is a clear step above Vista, I've got a list of issues with Windows 7 after serious testing.

I like Windows 7 but I have some concerns that I'd like addressed before final release

First thing - EVERYONE I spoke to even at the MS booth at CES said they want the UP FOLDER back in explorer - yes there are other ways to go back one folder but the up folder was convenient.

Classic start menu - not an option - classic start menu makes it easier to support clients if they have key components such as network properties and my computer on the desktop. I'm not saying it should be the default but why not make it an option as it was in Windows XP and Vista? I realize you can put some icons on the desktop (not IE) using personalize.

Media Center won't let you click on album art cover once a song is already playing to play the new song from the album art cover. Seems only logical.

Media Center - often has static in playback - using Audigy 2z sound card.

Search works well but it would be great if the search in the start menu had a drop down just like run has in the start menu so you can repeat a search from your search history.

Aero interface stops working without message so flip 3d stops with alt-tab - using the troubleshooting fix sometimes solves it by enabling desktop manager - sometimes it can't - how do you manually enable Windows desktop manager - personalize desktop works but nothing to control the aero interface

Since most current receivers and other media streaming capable devices will support .flac file playback, it seems a shame not to use the native media player in windows as a media streaming server - instead because windows does not natively support flac playback, we have to look at alternative hardware streaming solutions or mediaplayers similar to windows media player but with flac support such as tversity or Twonky or Nero

Winver does not tell you if you are running 64 or 32 bit - computer properties would be improved if 64 or 32 bit was listed in the top section. It never states if you are installing the 32 or 64 bit version during installation.

It would be nice if it was easy to see what version and build of windows you were running by going to computer properties or by running winver - currently it tells you Windows Version 6.1 - Build 70000 - it doesn't say 7000 x64 081212-1400

During Install if you attempt to install with a brand new drive it won't install until you format the drive and reboot.

There is no desktop icon for IE - this was very handy for clear items and change settings etc before going into IE.

Do something with the 200 MB partion in disk manager so it is clear that it is a restore point or whatever - change the color of it, just make it more clearly defined.

So much software today is full of herpes!