It’s Vista Time
As we come closer to the anticipated January, 2007 release of Windows® Vista, more and more people have asked the “to update or not to update” question.
While I don’t think there is any rush – I’m not inclined to be on the bleeding edge if I can help it – it is probably an inevitability for anyone who uses his computer regularly.
Why? Mainly because the next major release of a Windows product (other than Vista Server “Longhorn,” due in 2007) will be Windows “Vienna,” scheduled for release around 2011. That means Vista will be with us about 4 years – long enough for software to migrate to this platform.
Historically, Windows introduced Windows 3.1 in 1992, and Windows 95 in 1995 – only a 3 year window. Most of us made the leap from 3.1 to 95, and then 3 years after that, in 1998, Windows 98 was introduced. Windows ME was largely ignored in 2000, but in 2001 (3 years after the release of Windows 98) Windows XP debuted. (Microsoft does not seem to remember the launch of “Bob,” a game-like environment which some insiders think might have made it to production only because Bill Gates’ future wife was running the project.)
Windows “Vienna” (code-named “Blackcomb”) is intended to be a complete departure from the Windows we have known and loved. The aim of Vienna, we are told, will be a revolutionary way of interacting with the computer. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, Windows Vista promises hundreds of new features, many of which are security-related. Some would complain that Microsoft is equally concerned about the security of content providers, as Vista comes loaded with licensing restrictions, DRM limitations, User Account Control, and even Kernel Patch Protection (which has folks like the developers at McAfee fuming – Microsoft is restricting access to the Kernel, which means benign hackers can’t get into the OS where they can prevent attacks and clean up messes).
Vista is reportedly a resources hog, and the general release was delayed due at least in part to driver and hardware support issues similar to those XP had. For the most part, PCs purchased after 2002 are likely to meet the Windows Vista Capable requirements.
As we come closer to the anticipated January, 2007 release of Windows® Vista, more and more people have asked the “to update or not to update” question.
While I don’t think there is any rush – I’m not inclined to be on the bleeding edge if I can help it – it is probably an inevitability for anyone who uses his computer regularly.
Why? Mainly because the next major release of a Windows product (other than Vista Server “Longhorn,” due in 2007) will be Windows “Vienna,” scheduled for release around 2011. That means Vista will be with us about 4 years – long enough for software to migrate to this platform.
Historically, Windows introduced Windows 3.1 in 1992, and Windows 95 in 1995 – only a 3 year window. Most of us made the leap from 3.1 to 95, and then 3 years after that, in 1998, Windows 98 was introduced. Windows ME was largely ignored in 2000, but in 2001 (3 years after the release of Windows 98) Windows XP debuted. (Microsoft does not seem to remember the launch of “Bob,” a game-like environment which some insiders think might have made it to production only because Bill Gates’ future wife was running the project.)
Windows “Vienna” (code-named “Blackcomb”) is intended to be a complete departure from the Windows we have known and loved. The aim of Vienna, we are told, will be a revolutionary way of interacting with the computer. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, Windows Vista promises hundreds of new features, many of which are security-related. Some would complain that Microsoft is equally concerned about the security of content providers, as Vista comes loaded with licensing restrictions, DRM limitations, User Account Control, and even Kernel Patch Protection (which has folks like the developers at McAfee fuming – Microsoft is restricting access to the Kernel, which means benign hackers can’t get into the OS where they can prevent attacks and clean up messes).
Vista is reportedly a resources hog, and the general release was delayed due at least in part to driver and hardware support issues similar to those XP had. For the most part, PCs purchased after 2002 are likely to meet the Windows Vista Capable requirements.
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