Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Kicking and screaming

I first heard about Microsoft Vista several years ago, back when it was code-named Longhorn. At the time I worked for a large computer hardware company, and since the resource requirements were so ridiculous, Microsoft gave us plenty of advanced notice. Because of the resource requirements, I swore I would never use it until I was forced to, and even then it would be on my company-issued machine, and I would be kicking and screaming about the transition.

Yesterday I made the transition. It's not that bad. Of course, it's helped by the fact that it's running on a new Dell, and since I work for a software company, they don't mess around when buying new workstations. I also have not one, but two 22 inch flat panel monitors to look at, so my days of using "alt-tab" to toggle between programs are over. The display is so nice that with my JBL headphones, I would seriously consider watching movies at my desk. In fact, if I didn't have commitments this evening, I would probably stay late and watch Claim one more time.

For personal use, I'm a mac guy all around. Vista falls short of Mac OS without question. Vista's got some cool, mac-like features, and perhaps even a greater number of features. But they're not as clean and intuitive as they are on the mac. Nevertheless, so long as you've got the hardware to run it, Vista works better than I expected.

Apparently I should also be using Windows Live Writer to write this blog. Haven't tried that yet, but if it's as good as everyone says, that would make Microsoft 2 for 2 in providing me with products that rate "not disappointing." And considering my already low expectations and Microsoft's ability to somehow still consistently fall below them, that's saying something.

5 comments:

  1. Vista is OK, but I didn't like how they rearranged so many things for no apparent reason. I got annoyed trying to find items in the Control Panel, Network properties, Printers, etc. I'm learning my way around and finding things in Vista to appreciate, but that initial experiences have been frustrating.

    Just watched the trailer for Claim - wow, that's some amazing skiing. So you own the DVD? Could I borrow it sometime?

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  2. KK, Claim is dug's. You'll have to ask him. I have Steep (http://www.sonyclassics.com/steep/), though, which is also good. You're welcome to that as soon as I get it back from dug.

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  3. I agree with you, OSx is a ton better than any Microsoft product, especially for designing (I do web design), but after several years, your company should've waited a couple months longer till Windows 7. Vista works well when you first install it, but give it a month, at most, and it will be slooow. I have been using the Windows 7 beta till I can afford a mac, and it works a lot better than Vista ever did.

    Live writer works well, but only if your blog plays well with it. It doesn't work for some Wordpress themes, and I have found it easier to just use the online posting site. Not sure about blogger though.

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  4. Steep sounds good. I can lend you ROAM, a mountain biking video that's pretty good.

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  5. KK, thanks for the offer, but I already have Roam as well as The Collective. I've seen Seasons but don't own it.

    Let me know when you want Steep.

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