Monkey Business at Consumer Reports?

I was reading an article today in the Consumer Reports about computers, and saw an interesting tidbit about the Eee PC:

(from Consumer Reports – magazine version – June 2008 edition, pg.23)

“Like most such machines, it uses the Linux operating system, which we recommend only for basic tasks such as web browsing and word processing.”

Interesting.  I will assume that statement was either a typo, or Eee PC specific, which would make sense.  Otherwise, they are really misinformed.  It would be hard to believe that 9 million Ubuntu users would just be writing documents, sending email, and browsing the web.  Probably most who transfer from Windows do just that, but there is so much more that can be done with Linux.

Fixing the Vista Problem

To fix the problems that I outlined in my previous rant/open letter to Microsoft, I have installed Ubuntu via WUBI, an acronym for the “Windows Ubuntu Installer.”  From the Ubuntu CD menu in Windows, you can install Ubuntu inside of your “C:” drive.  It set’s up your username, size of the virtual drive, and the desktop environment you want (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, etc.).  Then, it is simple as clicking “Install.”

Now, I have wireless and my graphics drivers working at full speed.  The system was told to be slower by the CD, but I have not really noticed any large speed decreases while using the WUBI installation.  Now, at bootup, I can click (or select, rather) “Ubuntu” or “Windows Vista” to boot into.

I’m home again!

Redmond, We Have a Problem

Dear Microsoft,

Very recently, I purchased a version of the Vista operating system, Home Premium to be exact for school.  After using it for several days, I have begun to see problems that keep reappearing.  I’ll abstain from writing on the drivers, as they are written by third party manufacturers, and not the sole responsibility of Microsoft, although quality control methods would help ease the situation.

I have written about the problems that I have had to the support email at Microsoft, and have not yet heard a reply back, now at around 36 hours from when I wrote the support team.  I have faced problems with Vista, primarily with Internet Explorer.  In my opinion, IE 7 is a mess, a total and complete mess.  It’s slow, it has bugs, it’s hard to navigate, and it refuses to load certain pages every other time.  To fix this, I have installed Mozilla Firefox.  It works flawlessly, and it much easier to use than IE 7.  Now that I am using Mozilla Firefox, you might say that my problem has been solved.

Windows Vista, in my opinion, is not a necessarily bad system.  I have enjoyed using Office 2007 and one of the coolest applications available, WorldWide Telescope.  With that being said, Windows Vista is expensive.  I payed far more than I would have hoped, for a system that has provided me with more caveats than any other system I have used.   Paying $240 for an operating system that does not include all the applications I need is preposterous.  The cheapest, and shall I say, least functional version of Microsoft Office 2007 costs $120   Either way, I would have to pay over $300 to get the full system.  That is within $100 of a computer I saw in an office store.  I am sure you would have wanted me to buy a computer with Vista to get every drop of market share back that you are still losing to the competition on all fronts.  Breaking it all down, with the three installation policy for Windows Vista in consideration, each install of Windows Vista Home Premium costs $80.  It’s almost silly to think that a limited capability version of Microsoft Windows is so expensive, when it should only cost maybe $150 or so for the entire system, with the office suite installed.

It does not surprise me that you are talking about Windows 7 already.  Vista isn’t that exciting of a system, and the only time I said “Wow” was when Internet Explorer decided to keep opening copies of itself all over my desktop.  Most are buying Vista either on a PC, just because it comes with it, or buying Vista in a box version because they need it for school or work like me, or are just looking to get away from the 7 year old system, XP.

At least in the Windows 7 release, make it good.  I know that the move from 2000 to XP was a good one, and was certainly an upgrade.  In order for me to want to go on with Windows at school, I have to be convinced that the system is worth using.  Most colleges do allow for students to run Apple’s systems, and right now I’m leaning towards getting a Mac, or using Ubuntu if I can.

It’s easy to see why you’re in a tough spot.  With Apple sucking up users like a vacuum and Linux making it’s way around the block, you have an uphill battle to fight.  Ever see the Mac vs. PC commercials?  I am sure you are aware of them.  They have made quite an impact.  Now, people naturally look down on Windows and look up to owning a Mac.  One nearly obvious reason for this disdain customers have towards you is there seems to be a disconnect between you and you’re customers.  I know I feel disconnected.  Most think you do not really care about whether or not they are using a good software, as long as they are using “Genuine Microsoft Software.”  Don’t believe me?  How do you think a customer feels about having to buy a $240 system for the “recommended version” and then have it not come with an Office suite.  Charging top dollar for a mediocre system is one of those sleazy tactics that I would recommend you abstain from.  At the same time, don’t keep using the same old tactics and making excuses just to hold on to your precious market share.  I would like to see a clean fight, even if Apple hit below the belt with the Mac vs. PC ads.  You are working with a tarnished reputation, and it will take good, honest work to bring your image back.  You need to create quality systems and software that people will actually want to use.

In conclusion, I am a rather unsatisfied Vista customer.  I have problems and you refuse to help me fix them.  You also charged me an excessive amount on a system that is not worth the buying price, even if it does come with three installations, it still remains more expensive.  When I look for a deal, all versions are the same price at all stores.  Also, having different versions with different levels of limitations does not make sense.  Why not give your customers the best you can give them for the lowest price you can?  I have not had a completely bad time using Vista, but installing and using it has shown me why so many people run to Macs or are looking for other alternatives — alternatives other than Windows.

Sincerely,

Jon Reagan

An Unsatisfied (Vista) Customer

Vista, Through the Eyes of an Ubuntu User

Today, I purchased a copy of Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium edition (whatamouthful…) for school.  It’s now installed, and has been running smoothly for the past several hours.  After using Linux, it feels almost like coming (back) to an alien world. 

In the past, I have used Windows almost exclusively.  Sometime during 2005, I began playing around with Linux, and specifically Ubuntu, and even tested Windows Vista during the customer preview program.  Thus, I am not completely new to Windows Vista, but it does take some getting used to.

One of the things that first struck me was the installation.  Strangely, it was actually more complicated than installing much of Ubuntu.  For one, with the partitioning, I had to read a manual to find out how I needed to partition the system (I found out I did not need to partition anything), and then, there was no warning of when I needed to eject the DVD.  Otherwise the installation went fine.

The next thing that surprised me, was the graphics.  The graphics in Vista are very nice, and look very good.  The dock looks professional, and the transparency is smooth and effecient. The applications look good, and everything is working well.

As far as applications are concerned, all are well built, and while Vista does not come with an Office suite by default, Office 2007 has a nice new interface that takes some getting used to, but is good overall.  Windows Mail is not as fully featured as Evolution mail, but it is more like Mozilla Thunderbird, and based on the old Microsoft Outlook Express.  It also includes features like a separate calendar application, which works similar to Google Calendar.

Overall, I have to say that Vista is not bad at all.  Expensive?  YES.  But the experience is good, and it works well.  It’s not perfect, but then again no system is.  Just for those thinking “Is he really leaving Linux for THAT!?”  Well, no.  Ubuntu is still my personal system choice.  It works, comes with everything I need, and it’s free.  For now I will be using Ubuntu under virtualization, and Vista as the base. 

I’ll probably write more on Vista later as I get more used to it.

My Adventures on the Trail of Vista

I have discovered that I will need Microsoft Windows for school during the next grade.  I also found that my restore disks that included Windows XP have been corrupted.  So, now what?

I have to get a copy of Windows.

To get my copy of Vista, I visited a local office/electronics store.  While there, I was escorted by a store worker, who showed me the multitude of Windows Vista versions sitting on a set of shelves devoted to the system.  After the store worker #1 took off, a second one showed up to see if I needed any help.  I told him I wanted to get Vista Home Basic.  I asked him how much it would cost.  He said something between $200-300, since it included the whole system.  I almost laughed.  Vista Home Basic, or any version of Vista that matter, does not come with any office suite installed.  To get Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition 2007, it costs $150.  So, I took the empty box to the customer service to find the total price.  The total?  $200 for the lowliest in the Vista bunch.  So, with an added office suite, that would have been a total of $350, not including tax.  I go to another store, and it’s the same price.

Needless to say, I didn’t buy Vista today.  I was and still am convinced that Microsoft has lost it’s mind.  Wanting me to pay $200 for an operating system with missing programs and limited features is crazy.  If I had a Mac, it would have cost something like $160 to get the full Mac OS X system.  Oh, and for the system I use on a daily basis, Ubuntu?  It would be FREE!

If Microsoft thinks it can compete with the other offerings available with costs that high for a full system, then they are crazy.  I really do not look forward to buying Vista, and might just buy a new computer instead.

Congratulations, Microsoft!

In case you didn’t hear, Microsoft Office 2007 SP2 is going to offer both ODF and PDF support!

It will offer saving to ODF by default on install as well as in preferences, and offer saving files as a PDF.

This is by far the largest move by Microsoft in accepting open standards in their products thus far. For the longest time, Microsoft shunned such formats and specifications, although now it seems as if Microsoft is turning to open source with open arms. Recently, Microsoft has released thousands of pages of system API documentation to developers, and have worked on collaboration between open source projects, and their own open source labs. While I still do not support patent protection deals signed by the likes of Novell, Linspire, Xandros, etc., Microsoft has taken a leap forward in helping customers and not just their bottom line.

I am sure this move has to be:

1) A counter-strike against the popularity of OpenOffice.org office suite, which supports ODF and PDF.

2) Due to pressure from the European Union.

3) A generous and kind decision to use open formats for the purpose of helping all consumers worldwide.

Personally, my bet’s on #3. I think that Microsoft’s position on open source is changing from the bottom-up, and will eventually transform the entire company, much like what happened to IBM. I think we could see more announcements like this later on, but only time will tell if situations fully change.

So, congratulations, Microsoft! Keep up the good work!

*UPDATE* I found a screenshot and a nice article from Doug Mahugh:

http://blogs.msdn.com/dmahugh/archive/2008/05/21/office-support-for-document-format-standards.aspx

It’s also interesting to note that the OOXML file format that Microsoft fought so hard to get ISO certification, is not included, or at least until 2014.  Interesting…

Steve Ballmer Dodges Eggs in Hungary

Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, nearly missed being egged to death at a speech at a university in Hungary. An attendee stood up and started hurling eggs in the CEO’s general direction, yelling at him to give back the money Microsoft “stole” from the Hungarian people. The protestor was escorted out of the building, and the Microsoft CEO escaped egg-free.

At the InstallFest

May 17th, 11:26am:

I’m here at the Ubuntu/Fedora InstallFest at Emory.  Right now the Fedora rep is giving his presentation on the new Fedora release.  Cool stuff…

We’ve got around 25-30 people in… next up will be lunch!

1:42pm:

I have the KDE 4 Remix version of Ubuntu working on my laptop.   Turns out official CDs worked better than the ones I created… My Broadcom wireless and the ATI driver are working.

4:45pm:

For me, the InstallFest is over.  It was an awesome day, full of Linux installs, support, and CDs.  Great fun everyone, and thanks for coming!

I’ve Got Compiz!

After running an update of Ubuntu 7.10 to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, I now have desktop effects!

The new ATI driver in the Ubuntu 8.04 (codename Hardy Heron) works with my ATI Radeon XPress 200M graphics card.  I upgraded without installing any updates or drivers though the “restricted drivers.  The upgrade went smoothly, and all I had to do was remove bittorrent.  No problems here, and even my wireless works!

You Know Ubuntu’s Made It When…

There’s a “For Dummies” book written for it.