Microsoft just can’t get the public to like Windows Vista

Sometimes having the most used operating system in the world still isn’t enough to get buyers to to adopt a system that isn’t catching good vibes from the media. Microsoft seems to be having that very problem with Windows Vista, but there are still a few tricks it can pull in hopes of increasing popularity.

According to CNET, just being Microsoft isn’t enough to fool the masses into adopting an operating system that a select few are speaking against. Microsoft firmly believes that Vista isn’t a bad operating system - it just gets a bad rap.

Mike Nash, one of the corporate VPs of Microsoft, said, “The perception of Vista is a lot better for the people that have used Windows Vista than (for) the ones who haven’t…At some level, a little seeing is believing.”

The problem, of course, is then getting people to actually try out the operating system when Windows XP SP3 is so readily available, and most importantly, making Vista compatible with the hardware and software most users already have.

Right now, Microsoft estimates that about 10% of Windows users suffer from incompatibilities, either of the hardware or software variety. Microsoft relishes the notion that all but one of the top 100 applications work with Vista…but that doesn’t mean the 10% that is suffering isn’t going to spoil it for the rest of them.

Puzzlingly, Microsoft has said that sticking with XP is the proper move for businesses. No doubt that can’t help integration with everyday consumers; if people become used to Vista at work, household adoption might follow. But Microsoft feels that businesses should stay to the tried and true.

Microsoft hopes to sway the minds of the media and consumers by starting a new compaign of the PR variety. Nash plans on contacting all the important entities and telling them that Vista is just getting a bad beat, in hopes of earning a second chance from consumers.

However, it could be too late; many consumers have caught wind of Windows 7, and figure Microsoft will repeat the whole Windows ME debacle by releasing a new and revamped “XP” to make things all better. This latest initiative might be too little, too late.

http://vista.blorge.com/2008/05/05/microsoft-just-cant-get-the-public-to-like-windows-vista/

Windows Server 2008 is 20% faster than Vista

Windows Server 2008 is 20% faster than Vista It seems Microsoft may have a successor (or replacement) for Vista after all and it’s already been released. Windows Server 2008 isn’t easy to configure as a desktop operating system but when done correctly can be 20% faster than Vista while retaining most of the same features.

Windows Workstation 2008 has all the patches and fixes that are present in Vista SP1; runs all the same software but does it faster. InformationWeek calls Windows Workstation 2008 the “speediest and most secure version of Windows to come along in a decade.”

Windows Workstation 2008 is not a product sold by Microsoft and must be configured from a copy of Windows Server 2008. It seems this version of Windows lacks the “bloat” that is part of Vista. However, I am not sure what the author is referring to (but is likely talking about unnecessary services).

Of course this version of Windows was designed with developers in mind who covet speed above all else. Workstation 2008 includes IIS and Hyper-V for creating virtual machines.

A Microsoft employee and third party website have created tutorials on how to use Windows Server 2008 as a desktop operating system. This is what I’ve been referring to as Windows Workstation 2008. Keep in mind that this will have the same driver problems as Vista does, meaning, if a Vista driver doesn’t exist for a piece of hardware you still won’t be able to use it with Server or Workstation 2008.

http://vista.blorge.com/2008/03/11/windows-server-2008-is-20-faster-than-vista/

Windows Server 2008 copies 45 Times Faster Than 2003

It's not unheard of for some of the earliest adopters of Microsoft's Vista this year to compare the experience to swimming in wet cement -- slow and not very pretty.

But word is filtering out of the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant that indicates its new server could be considerably better. Ward Ralston at the Windows Server Division Weblog reports that "our MSN group who is dogfooding Windows Server 200 RC0" has achieved the kind of testing results that might prompt a double-take. In a side-by-side between Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, the group set out to transfer 10.8 GB of "VirtualEarth Stitch files" from one server to another, and back again.

On Windows Server 2003, the data took five hours, 40 minutes and 30 seconds to transfer once, and more than six hours to transfer back again.

On Windows Server 2008, the same data took seven minutes and 45 seconds to transfer one way, and eight minutes and 10 seconds to transfer back. The Microsoft people spare you the task of doing all that math: "The improvement observed was ~45 times faster over windows 2003."

If the numbers are consistent and no other glitches come up (this software has been in beta for a few years now), it could prove compelling when it is launched - - an event now slated for the first quarter of next year.

News source: CRN

Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS ... Cont'd

11. Processor Scheduling

As pointed out in a comment on my previous post; On Windows Server 2008 background services are given preference over interactive programs. You can change this behavior by

Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Processor Scheduling

Setting this to Programs will make foreground programs more responsive.

12. Visual Effects

One thing you will notice on Windows Server 2008 is that by default you will not see Preview Thumbnails in your Documents / Music / Video folders. This has to be enabled explicitly.

Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Visual Effects

Based on your preference you can tweak these settings.

13. Power Options

Do your bit for a Green World! The Balanced (default) power plan on Windows Server 2008 does not turn off hard disks by default. On Vista hard disks are turned off after 20 mins. You can change this by

Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings

It does take a bit to kick start the hard disks when you resume work but that's a sacrifice worth making for a greener world :).

14. IE Enhanced Security

IE Enhanced Security Configuration has been moved from Add Remove Windows Components (on Windows 2003) to the Server Manager on Windows Server 2008.

Server Manager > Security Information > Configure IE ESC

You now have a choice to disable it only for Administrators.

And to end with a couple of clarifications

* Why am I recommending Windows Server 2008 over Windows Vista ?

I am not!

* How to get Sidebar / Media center on Windows Server 2008?

My honest opinion would be to look for alternatives.

* Will hardware problems go away moving to Windows Server 2008?

Not likely. One of the biggest complaints against Vista was hardware issues. Without proper drivers from your hardware vendors your ride on Windows Server 2008 is again going to be bumpy. For me all Vista compatible drivers worked fine with Server 2008 and I believe they should work for you as well.

* Will all software work on Windows Server 2008?

Most will but some setups detect Windows Server 2008 as a server OS and may not install. The compatibility mode does not have a Vista option only XP / Windows 2003 and other legacy OS.

http://blogs.msdn.com/vijaysk/archive/2008/02/20/using-windows-server-2008-as-a-super-workstation-os-cont-d.aspx

Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS

Windows Server 2008 is the best OS to be released till date from Microsoft's stable. And the moment I got hold of the RTM build I could not resist installing it on my workstation. Due to the nature of my work I always prefer running a Server OS on my main workstation... I have been running Windows 2003 disguised as XP (with all the themes and stuff) all these days.

So here is my tale of how I went about setting up Windows Server 2008 to look and fell like its desktop counterpart Windows Vista.

1. Enable Hardware Virtualization

My workstation is a x64 machine with hardware virtualization capabilities. This means I can run Hyper-V on my machine. Even if your machine's hardware supports virtualization it is most likely not going to be enabled by default. You have to enable it via your BIOS setup.

2. Install the latest Graphics and Audio drivers

Being a server OS Windows 2008 carries with it basic graphics and audio drivers. To utilize the full strength of your hardware ensure you install the latest drivers for both graphics and audio hardware. Only with the proper graphics drivers will you be able to enable the "Aero" experience on Windows 2008.

3. Desktop Experience Feature

The Desktop Experience Feature enables a bunch of stuff that is by default present on a desktop OS. Most importantly it includes Themes, Windows Media player and the Aero related features. You will have to enable it form the Server Manager. The "Turn Windows features on or off" / "Add remove windows components" has all been rolled into the Server Manager now.

Server Manager > Features > Desktop Experience

Installing the Desktop Experience feature does not enable them. You have to manually set them up.

4. Themes

To enable Themes you will basically have to enable the Themes Service. Again being a server OS it is not enabled by default.

Services.MSC > Themes

Set the start up type to Automatic

Enabling the Aero Theme.

For this go to Control Panel > Personalization >Theme and select Windows Aero

5. Search

Search is also disabled by default on Windows 2008. Searching is important for me as I use it a lot to find my emails. To enable search you will have to add the File Services Role via Server Manager.

Server Manager > Roles > File Services > Windows Search

Outlook relies on this search service.

6. Disable Shutdown Event Tracker

Since I am using it as a workstation I do not want to keep a track of all the Shutdowns. The Shutdown Event Tracker is the pop up that you get asking you for a shutdown reason. To disable it

Open mmc.msc

Add the Group Policy snap-in

Under Administrative Templates expand System

Set Display Shutdown Event Tracer to Disabled

7. Audio

For audio you need to enable the Windows Audio service. You do this by setting the startup type to Automatic.

Services.msc > Windows Audio

Ensure you have proper drivers for your audio hardware... for me the default driver was not enabling the headphones ... it started working fine after I got the proper driver.

8. SuperFetch

As a workstation, enabling SupertFetch will give you that additional bit of responsiveness. The SuperFetch services is disabled by default and when you try to enable it you will most likely get an error message "The operating system is not presently configured to run this application"

You will have to make two registry changes to enable this service. I basically copied them over from my Vista machine.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters

EnablePrefetcher DWORD 3

EnableSuperfetch DWORD 3

9. Get a codec pack.

For media hungry buffs download a codec pack. This will ensure you can play all media files.

10. Enable Hyper-V

With Hyper-V you can run virtual machines on your workstation. This is useful if you want to run your tests on older OS versions. Enabling Hyper-V is easy

Server Manager > Roles > Hyper-V

Remember you need a Hyper-V enabled Windows 2008 licence and also your hardware has to support virtualization.

Also If you are using an existing VHD it may ask you to re-Activate Windows as it detected hardware changes.

One good thing about Windows Server 2008 is that it no longer asks for the i386 folder like Windows 2003 while you enable features.

http://blogs.msdn.com/vijaysk/archive/2008/02/11/using-windows-server-2008-as-a-super-desktop-os.aspx

Windows Server 2008 as Workstation

For years I've been working with windows server editions as my main development environments, the reasons are plenty and among of them you can find the stability and the lose of useless services at workstations versions.

Last week I've decided that enough it enough and I cannot stand Vista anymore and decided to downgrade to XP just before going through the downgrade I've received a notification from the Windows Server Beta that they finally made Windows Server 2008 RTM so I've decided to give it a try AND I LOVE IT !

The installation of Windows 2008 Server went much faster then i expected.

After the installation I've started modifying the base install and adapting the server for a high end workstation.

For anyone who might want to move like me here is my WIN2008Workstation list:

1. Disable shutdown event tracker
   Start->Run->"gpedit.msc" -> Administrative tools->System-> Display Shutdown event tracked -> Disable
   
   
   
2. Disable IE Security
   Start->Server Manager->Configure IE Sec->Off both options.
   
   
   
3. Enable Wireless Support
   Start->Server Manager->Features->Add Feature->Wireless LAN Services
   
   
   
4. Enable Audio support
   Start->Run->"Service.msc"->Windows Audio -> Automatic
   Start->Run->Services.msc"->Windows Audio Endpoint Builder->Automatic
5. Install hardware drivers
   I am using ThinkPad t60p so my driver list is here
   Note that mobility center is missing from windows 2008 server so there is no need to install it.
   IBM Network access connection will crash on you if you will not enable the wireless support (Look above)
6. Enable Vista Experience (look & feel including Aero, Media Player etc.)
   Start->Server Manager->Features->Add Feature->Desktop Experience
   
   More info including how to enable sleep support on windows 2008 server you may find over this kb: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947036)
7. Enable Themes
   Start->Run->"Service.msc"->Themes->Automatic
8. Enable .NET 3.0
   Start->Server Manager->Features->Add Feature->.NET Framework 3.0 Features
9. Enable Windows Search (for searching outlook emails)
   Start->Server Manager->Roles->Add Roles->File Services->Windows Search
10. Enable SuperFetch
    Start->Run->"regedit"
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
    
    Add a new DWORD by the name of EnablePrefetcher and assign is the value of 3
    Add a new DWORD by the name of EnableSuperfetch and assign is the value of 3
    
    Start->Run->"services.msc"->SuperFetch->Automatic
    
11. Install Messenger
    Latest Live Messenger will not install on Windows 2008 Server, you should install a former version (8.1 and not 8.5) and then you may copy the Live Messenger folder from a working machine and work with it.
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d78f2ff1-79ea-4066-8ba0-ddbed94864fc&DisplayLang=en
12. Install Skype
    Latest Skype version will crash 2 seconds after login, you need to install a former skype version Skype 3.1.0.152 works great.
    http://filehippo.com/download_skype/2473/
13. Install Office 2007
14. Install Visual Studio 2008
    
15. Setting Processor Scheduling
    Start->Control Panel ->System ->Advanced system settings-> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings->Advanced->Adjust best performance->Programs
    update:
16. Changing DEP Mode
    Start->Control Panel ->System ->Advanced system settings-> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings-> Data Execution Prevention-> Turn On DEP for essential Windows programs and services.
    update2:
17. Fixing ASP.NET Development Server
    After installing visual studio you might want to start working with Casini, the asp.net dev server but it seems that the ie cant find it.
    Edit the hosts file located at: C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc
    
    comment the following line :
    ::1 localhost
    by replacing it with:
    #::1
    
    (the "::1" is use for the localhost for ipv6)

http://weblogs.asp.net/israelio/default.aspx

Μεγάλα τα ποσοστά Firefox στην Ευρώπη (και Ελλάδα)

Σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία της XiTi Monitor, οι Ευρωπαίοι που χρησιμοποιούν Firefox είναι πάρα πολλοί και σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις όπως στην Φιλανδία, ξεπερνούν το 45%. Η ίδια έρευνα δείχνει ότι το ποσοστό χρήσης του Firefox συνεχίζει να αυξάνεται αργά αλλά σταθερά και μάλιστα με καλύτερες επιδόσεις όταν πρόκειται για αναβάθμιση από Firefox 1 σε Firefox 2 σε σύγκριση με τον αριθμό χρηστών που κάνουν την μετάβαση από IE6 σε IE7.

Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι 1 στους 3 Έλληνες που σερφάρουν, χρησιμοποιούν Firefox. Το ποσοστό των Ελλήνων χρηστών της αλεπούς φτάνει το 35,2%, νούμερο που θα πρέπει να λάβουν σοβαρά υπόψιν οι Έλληνες developers αν θέλουν να έχουν πρόσβαση στο 1/3 του online πληθυσμού που σέβεται τα web standards και δεν απαιτεί τα γνωστά CSS hacks για την σωστή προβολής μιας σελίδας.

[Thanks tgzi- via]