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  ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate - Review
Time: 08:09 EST/13:09 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin.com | Posted By: Robert Stein

We have just posted our 72-page, 200+ screenshot (Part 1) review of Microsoft Windows Vista, ActiveWin's largest and most in-depth review in ten years. In the review, we have broken down the information into 28 different sections, including (but not limited to): Windows Activation, Pricing, Installation, Daily Usage, Media Center, Windows Mail, DirectX 10, Gaming, Defender, IE 7, ReadyBoost, Developer Technologies, Sidebar, Windows Media Player 11, and much much more. Moreover, we have included respective screenshots where applicable. Here is an excerpt:

I would describe the Windows DVD Maker interface as straight forward because of its wizard based approach to creating a movie, the part where I probably got a confused is the options link located at the bottom of the window. Here you can personalize how your DVD is played, whether it starts with a menu, play and end with video or play in continuous loop. You can then choose your aspect ratio, 4:3 or 16:9 and then the Video format, NTSC (National Television System’s Committee – color standard) or PAL (Phase alternation line – colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems). It’s not so bad, if you find any of it confusing, you can click the “How do I change my DVD settings”? This will give a run down of what each setting does. I almost forgot, you can choose where temporary files are stored, in my case it’s recommended, since the partition on which I am running Vista is very low on disk space.

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#1 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 1/29/2007 8:02:29 AM
Ref the conclusion and the review's observed bad points; of which, one stood out, No significant value to consumers over other editions.

Yikes! Really? That one requires some analysis, examples, and dialog as to what would provide significant value over previous editions.

I've read a lot of reviews of Windows Vista versions. Some are comprehensive and do a great job of breaking the operating system down - as this one does. What I have not read are any reviews where the reviewer was using the operating system - with either new features, or old things done in a new way. Here's a couple.... from very recent, real-world situations.

Take perhaps the best engineer I have had the privilege to work with - super sharp, super busy, and covered up... so to speak... with tasks. At this time he's pretty new to Vista in day to day RTM use, but worked with the new OS for years in one form or another from very early builds through BETA2, RC1, RC2 and RTM.... He's busting along through the day and his system became unstable... casually, I asked him what was up. He really didn't have a lot of time to sort it out as he had his hands full of two new servers he was building - one of which needed a new BIOS, which owing to how Intel changed its update process to support newer processors, was a multi-step process. His workstation was holding him up and he moved to another system to keep going. I offered to help him and sort out the problem on his WS. I used Vista's Reliability and Performance tools to very quickly isolate that a new set of drivers for a Logitech Communicate STX camera were the cause of the problem. It took only a few moments and the problem was solved. Vista's Reliability Monitor made the faulting application very easy to spot and fix.

The next day, an engineer had used his USB key to create a bootable device. He needed it to update some firmware on a server he was building. The update on the key had many components and was quite large - so his 2 GB USB key did not have enough room on it. He copied its contents, a set of tools he uses all the time in the service of systems, to his Vista desktop. He deleted the folder inadvertently - not a happy guy at that moment. He'd also emptied his recycle bin. I offered that he should simply use Vista's new Volume Shadow Copy Services as have been on W2K3 server for some time, and simply recover the folder - he did this and in a short while he had all his files back on his USB Key.

Now, I know these are small examples, but they are real, and by themselves, show three new areas that at least my engineers regard as significant - Reliability and Performance MMC, Reliability Monitor and the Volume Shadow Copy Service. Each was used to quickly solve what would have been more difficult or require a lot of time - each owing to just a few of Vista's new features. I think these examples would apply to many different types of users - home, SOHO, SMB, and enterprise.

I think we need to evaluate Vista differently and assess the scenarios in which it may be used.

This post was edited by lketchum on Monday, January 29, 2007 at 08:07.

#2 By 13759 (71.196.228.57) at 1/29/2007 8:39:34 AM
Great review so far... I wanted to point out something missing.

Upgrades. Maybe you could explain what OS is elegible for what upgrade. Are W2K eligible? Retail vs. OEM. What about a Dell or HP XP disc - will Vista accept them for upgrade purposes?

Based on what you've said, no one will be able to do a "clean install" with an upgrade. You will have to install the old OS first and then do the upgrade from within the old OS. This will trick/trap may users. This needs to be given much more emphasis.

Thanks for keeping ActiveWin my first stop every morning.

This post was edited by MR2 on Monday, January 29, 2007 at 08:50.

#3 By 7390 (24.188.166.243) at 1/29/2007 9:46:09 AM
I am getting the vista ultimate primarily because of the xbox 360 integration. I will discover the other features over time as my need requires

#4 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 1/29/2007 10:55:50 AM
#2, Ref, http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/930985/en-us

Per KB93085, the limitation, relevant to the subject post [Vista Ultimate], does not apply.
It appears, that in the case of Windows Vista Ultimate, one may perform an upgrade as a clean install.

***I'll post back here Wednesday, and report what I see - as I have not yet had access to any upgrade version, but will receive a boxed retail version of Ultimate and intend to test it by doing a clean upgrade install. Again, the test will be with a retail/full version of Ultimate and not an OEM version.

#5 By 2960 (24.254.95.224) at 1/29/2007 12:52:51 PM
Method 1
Upgrade to Windows Vista from an earlier, supported version of Windows that is already installed on the computer.

NO thank you...


Method 2
Purchase a license that lets you perform a clean installation of Windows Vista.

This is the "let's not make it sound expensive" way of saying "Purchase a full version, not an upgrade version"

Fooey.

TL

This post was edited by TechLarry on Monday, January 29, 2007 at 12:54.

#6 By 8556 (12.207.97.148) at 1/29/2007 1:50:27 PM
TechLarry: Vista Ultimate is a shade over $190 a pop from ASI, as sold to system builders. I presume that TechData and other distributors have similar prices. Even, NewEgg is charging $199. There does appear to be a market, possibly huge, for this loaded product. If the free add-ons turn out to be useful, Ultimate will be a big seller. Otherwise, Home Premium is a good value for home users, with the right hardware.

#7 By 50271 (202.92.217.17) at 1/29/2007 2:53:57 PM
"Aero Graphics stressful on system"

There have been studies that say the contrary:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2007/1/2/6453

#8 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 1/29/2007 3:02:38 PM
Ya'll do know that any upgrade version can do a clean install? The upgrade process has an option to format the host system drive. This performs the desired clean install as many would want. A person could even target a new drive as installed to that host system.

The only instance I can see where a person would have to first perform a valid XP install, would be if the system were new, or only one new, or recently formatted drive were installed to the target system.

The restrictions are clearly in place to prevent people from using one piece of valid, qualifying media, however obtained [personally owned or borrowed from another], to support clean installs.

This post was edited by lketchum on Monday, January 29, 2007 at 15:04.

#9 By 2960 (24.254.95.224) at 1/29/2007 6:16:30 PM
Bob,

It does appear that at this time, the $199 OEM is the way to go. I didn't feel this way until I read the 'interview' concerning OEM copies and activation requirements, and that they are actually more relaxed than XP as far as upgrades are concerned.

Every since MS started this activation crap, this has been the biggest concern for us self-builders.

I tend to upgrade at least twice a year.

TL

#10 By 72977 (69.154.120.134) at 1/30/2007 8:46:50 AM
Strange question, I know, but is there any way to get what is in the picture above? It appears to a glass-like item with the Windows logo.

Thanks

#11 By 61 (72.64.142.151) at 1/30/2007 9:37:46 AM
How exactly is networking confusing?

#12 By 61 (72.64.142.151) at 1/30/2007 9:38:19 AM
Iketchum,

You sound like one of these MS evagelists at a Vista launch event.

#13 By 8556 (12.207.97.148) at 1/30/2007 9:42:33 AM
TechLarry: I upgrade often myself and upgrade other people's PCs. Microsoft's Bangalore people have been reasonable with upgrades when motherboards die and the original motherboard model has been obsolete for years, or when the restore information is on a dead hard drive. I trust that the same treatment will be given to Vista users, even though Vista is expected to be replaced by Windows "Whatever" in 2009.

lketchum: Most people are now aware that "clean installs" can be performed on a PC that has Windows 2000 or activated XP running on it. This is still going to be a pain in the ass if you are replacing a motherboard that was zapped by a lightning strike. It will now cost the customer extra service time to have a tech repair the PC, install and activate XP, and then "clean" install Vista. This may appear to protect MS from pirates, but is more of a time tax on honest users than a protection of MS since cracks will always be avalilable to those who just don't want to pay for the OS. It takes a person "six minutes on average" to reactivate XP when a call is required. This inefficient use of time is not free to our customers and actually takes ten minutes since you have to go through other steps to get to the call. I have recently had two customers, after explaining MS's system of activation and reactivation, have me install Linux to dual boot with Windows XP. Ubuntu Linux 6.1 was well received due to its ease of use.

This post was edited by bobsireno on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at 09:46.

#14 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 1/30/2007 10:10:34 AM
#12 - One could interpret it that way, I guess, but the examples are real and the features are real and I do assess that a deeper look into what is new and good about Vista deserves as much attention as what is not so good. I've been just as vocal about that.

#13, Yes, that is valid and it is a pain - we'll certainly have to deal with it, too. I am exploring all that is in the partner channel about this and if I find anything helpful, I'll share it.

That said, we all have to look at the root cause of this - theft, thieves and those that simply dilute all of us. Regretfully, that kind of behavior hurts all people and very often, those that do obey the law.

Irrelevant... or maybe not... observation:

I miss the way vending machines used to work. They were simple refrigerators - outside Miller's Drugstore. One dropped a nickel in a little box and opened the lid which was not locked in any way, or tied to the coin box - an honor box, if you will. One drank the beverage -an orange crush in my case and placed the empty bottle in a rack alongside the machine. No one dreamed of taking more than one bottle, or not dropping a real nickel in the box. Of course, 5 year olds used to walk a long way to school back then - and it was perfectly safe to do so. Somewhere along the way things changed - we devolved and in what seemed like an overnight process, the human animal became more of a beast.

On one side we have criminals and on the other, an increasingly untrusting and jaded group, slapping more and more locks on more and more things that used to be open. Personally, I blame cowardice - when men failed to stop bad kids from doing bad things right on the spot. We lost the courage to simply say, "hey, that is wrong, knock it off" It used to be about individuals - now it is all about the state. It used to be about courage and now it all about convenience. I used to think a few good men could change the world. I was wrong and got my ass kicked and lost. However, a few good men can change what goes on around them - that we were able to do.

#15 By 47914 (24.225.231.107) at 1/30/2007 10:39:13 AM
#14 As a teacher, one has to watch how one tells a student "hey, that is wrong, knock it off", for fear of lawsuit for 'hurting Johnny's feelings", not to mention vicious attacks by parents. Yes, things have changed...not necessarily for the best.

#16 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 1/30/2007 11:20:24 AM
#15, God Bless you for even trying.

#5, et al... REF Windows Vista Ultimate edition retail boxed upgrade - page 5 of the enclosed manual - "Installing Windows Vista" - last paragraph - it reads: "If your computer has no operating system installed, or if you want to create, extend, delete, or format partitions, you need to restart your computer while the installation disc is inserted in the CD or DVD drive. Your computer will then start from the installation disc. If you are asked to press a key to start from CD or DVD, press any key. If the Install Windows page is displayed, go to step 2.

If the Install Windows page is not displayed and you're not asked to press a key to start from CD or DVD, you might have to specify that your computer use its CD or DVD drive as the startup device. To learn how to do that, go to Windows Online Help and Support (windowshelp.microsoft.com) and search for "start Windows from CD or DVD."

The language suggests that no existing, installed version of a qualifying operating system need be present in order to boot from the media, or perform an upgrade. Now to test it.

#17 By 2960 (24.254.95.224) at 1/30/2007 3:22:03 PM
#14,

I was a Master Training Specialist in the Navy and taught electronics. I'm glad I never had to deal with what you deal with.

I had the fortune of a) Being a Chief and b) the ability the instill the fear of God (or the skipper, whichever was available).

And no mommies to worry about :)

TL

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