Another Day With My PC

The teaser’s out. Microsoft has recently released the beta version of Windows Vista’s successor, Windows 7. I’ve yet to get a hold of a copy, though, so what I’ll be passing on to you right now are second hand information from the developers themselves.

While Windows 7 will definitely sweep Vista off the shelves, it is not exactly a whole new different OS. Rather, Redmond sees Windows 7 as a refinement of its predecessor. The world’s leading OS maker promises their new product to be more user-friendly, or as Bill Gates put it, more user-centric. The Microsoft boss added that the new operating system would perform more efficiently at less power and without taxing the system too much. In other words, what Gates is really trying to say is that Windows 7 is everything that Vista is not.

It’s a fact that many haven’t migrated yet from XP to Vista. So the question now is, should they wait for Windows 7’s release? Or should they jump ship and ride instead on Vista until the next boat arrives? I suggest that they wait. Microsoft will eventually convince everybody to change OS again, so I guess it’s better to wait. The expected release date of the new OS is sometime in 2010, although many expect it to be introduced commercially by the second half of next year. Either way, the wait won’t be that long.

Microsoft has recently revealed that Windows XP is still the OS of choice among software pirates. Redmond says that this is due to Vista’s stringent anti-piracy features. However, company officials also concede that the preference may also be due to the fact that XP is still the most popular and most widely-used operating system in the world.

I think I’ve already devoted too many megabytes on this blog in highlighting the fact that XP still reigns supreme over its successor. XP fans can (at least those who don’t mind having an illegal copy) take comfort with the fact that their favorite OS will still be available in the (black) market long after Microsoft has already pulled the life support out of it.

While I’m a fan of XP, I do not suggest going against the law by buying and installing pirated software. Remember, unlicensed copies cannot access important updates. They might also be infected with malware. No amount of security suites would be able to protect your PC from an OS that mirrors a Swiss cheese due to the lack of patches and support.

If you think that this is the ultimate insult to Vista Ultimate, then you need to think again. That joke has already been played even before the new Microsoft OS was released, so its scathing effect has already been blunted. Redmond was also expecting remarks to this effect, too. What it didn’t expect, though, is for PCs to be still running on XP long after Vista has been released.

Indeed, persisting consumer skepticism, along with claims that Vista Ultimate performs below par compared to its predecessor, is the ultimate slap to its authors. Snide remarks on Vista’s price tag are nothing compared to comments as to its real value.

I don’t know how long PC users would continue to doubt or question the need to shift to the new Microsoft OS. XP’s not getting any younger, though. Time will definitely come when all PCs will ultimately be under Vista Ultimate’s realm…that is if a new Microsoft OS won’t jump over it.

I was scouring the Web for new applications that could enhance Windows XP when I stumbled upon SaveXP.com. As the site’s name suggests, it is a group which is petitioning Microsoft to keep its most successful software in the market for a period longer than the one that Bill Gates has in mind.

While I have lamented that XP’s plotted demise is too early and still uncalled for, I have already resigned to the impending fact that PC users would eventually forget their old fling and fall in love with the new OS. I was wrong. More users are now realizing that Vista’s advantage over XP is just skin-deep. Problems that hound the new OS when it was first released, such as compatibility problems and speed issues, still hover above it at present.

Time has already perfected XP. It’s unfortunate that its maker decided to axe it when everybody has started hailing it as “the one.” I guess Microsoft should’ve just released a new Service Pack for XP and overhauled its exteriors instead of releasing a new version which everybody thinks is a poor upgrade (if it’s even an upgrade) of its predecessor.

I don’t know if Microsoft will give in to the pressure. To date, there are 208,461 who have signed the petition to save XP. It’s going to be 208,462 after I log out of the site. I’m all for efficiency, and it’s my opinion that optimization could be better performed at a tried and tested operating system rather than on a program that seems to be still half-baked.

Don’t you just hate the fact that Mac users just seem to have it all? They have the coolest brand, the hippest laptops, and the sleekest operating system. If you own an Intel/PC-based laptop that’s running on Windows, you definitely know what I’m talking about.

If those facts (disputable) are not enough to make you sinfully envious, then check out PC Mech’s article regarding the file systems which Mac OS X and Windows use. Although the article is littered with geeky gobbledygook, it simply says that Apple’s operating system is virtually maintenance free compared to Windows XP and Vista in terms of defragmenting.

Despite the seeming lead of Mac over Windows, I still prefer the latter because of its superior compatibility with every program available in the market. Maybe the reason why the occurrence of file fragmentation is low in Mac systems is because there are few programs or files that are compatible with OS X (I sound like Bill Gates sour graping over Steve Jobs’ success ).  Just kidding.

There’s no reason for us PC/Windows users to envy Mac people that much. We have excellent system tools which make our lives a little bit less complicated like the ones that our Mac counterparts have.  Support and compatibility is our advantage.  Even though Windows is unceasingly being attacked by various types of malware, the most widely-used OS is backed and defended by all known antivirus and registry cleaners available. So what’s the worry? :)

Microsoft has recently announced the availability of the latest (and you could bet your motherboard that it’s going to be the last) service pack for its best-selling OS. The release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) was devoid of any fanfare, though.

The glitter-less presentation of XP’s major update is not surprising. Aside from the fact that Redmond is not that keen on giving a few more oxygen tanks on its aging software, Service Pack 3 hardly packs any punch at all. Its seeming irrelevance is highlighted further by the fact that the upgrade is merely optional.

Mere Collection of Previous and New Updates

XP users are not expected to rise up in arms against Microsoft’s nonchalance on their OS. Everybody knows that no overhaul could transform XP to Vista, and SP3 is far from being the upgrade or renovation that would restore a bit of youth to this once dominant OS.

To satisfy your curiosity (in case you still have any), SP3 is a collection of updates, many of which have already been released before. If you’ve been very generous in offering precious hard drive space to the updates that Microsoft have been regularly issuing, then you might find SP3 as nothing but a big zipped file of all the patches that you’ve downloaded during the past several months. Of course, there’s more to SP3 than just a big hairball of updates. However, they’re either negligible or too few to be easily noticed.

To Download or Not to Download

I doubt if many would immediately download the latest service pack. The fact that it’s optional further dampens whatever enthusiasm that XP users have over the upgrade. Some even argue that it would be better not to download SP3 at all, and their contentions are quite convincing.

Skeptics point to the fact that SP3 could wreak havoc on some systems. Just like in SP2, the SP3 installer would first advise you to back up your files as it is possible that unforeseen or unavoidable disruptions could occur which could temporarily or permanently jumble up the data and programs in your hard drive. If you depend too much on your PC on just about anything, would you risk it for an upgrade that you either already have or do not need? I think the question has already answered itself.

Only if You’re Ready

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not suggesting a snub. All I’m saying is that there’s no urgency in installing the update. Therefore, do not go out of your way and put a halt to the things that you’re doing just so that you could download the update. Do so when you have the time and when you’re prepared for the consequences. Any update is, of course, beneficial. But it doesn’t mean that it is also necessary.

If you’re really eager in stacking your hard drive with additional files, then by all means do so. I myself would download it over the weekend (my old desktop runs on XP). Before you download it, make sure that you’ve uninstalled any beta version of XP3. Microsoft also suggests that you use IE7 when downloading SP3.

Despite the fact that Windows Vista is just a quarter of a year away from celebrating its first anniversary, many IT experts and analysts still insist that there are no compelling reasons yet for people to embrace it. Even Microsoft would seem to suggest the same, having announced a few months ago that it is extending support for Windows XP.

While many are still using XP, products that are specially made for Vista are exponentially increasing. While many of those would also be able to function under the old OS, the former’s manufacturers will most likely insist on using Vista to avoid compatibility problems.

The Irony

Several months ago, compatibility problems usually refer to situations wherein hardware or software could not run under Vista. Aside from being expensive and a resource-hog, one of the main reasons why many opted to sport a wait-and-see attitude on the new OS is due to compatibility dilemmas.

This problem that separates XP and Vista still exists, albeit differently. The fortunes of the two operating systems have already been reversed. When one talks about compatibility problems today, they most probably refer to the apprehensions or consequences of installing a Vista-marked program or peripheral on a PC that runs on XP.

Interpreters

The success of Windows Vista could be attributed to the availability of various drivers that allow software or hardware which antedates the said OS to be able to function on it. Many people dared to make the early shift due to assurances that Vista drivers are already abundant even before the release of XP’s successor.

By analogy, it could also be contended that the survival of XP could or would be brought about by the availability of drivers that will allow Vista-labeled products to work on old operating systems. Indeed, the fortunes of XP and Vista have been stirred. It would not be surprising if Vista driver providers, such as RadarSync, would soon offer XP drivers.

Customer Support

Even if Vista applications and hardware could run on XP, problems would most likely still arise in the future. Customer service agents are now gradually being trained to troubleshoot problems under the setting of the new operating system. Hence, it would not be far fetched for troubleshooting problems to pop up due to the differences in the functions or options between XP and Vista. Solving the dilemma is not as simple as correlating the procedures or finding the Vista option’s counterpart in XP. Take note that Vista has many features that its predecessor does not have.

Magazines and Journals

XP users will not find solace in IT publications, either. Go to a bookstore and try to go through recent PC magazines or manuals and you will be rudely awaken to the fact that 95% of all OS articles are about Vista. Every sign now seems to point to XP’s successor. The shift is inevitable. Even die-hard XP fans know that. The only thing that’s uncertain is the ripe date to take the plunge. But believe me, it’s not that far away.

What is it about Microsoft and leaks?

NeoSmart Technologies has recently revealed that Windows XP’s third service pack will be featuring patches and updates that are primarily designed for Vista. The leak has fueled speculations that Microsoft is indeed bent on extending the life of its most successful OS by incorporating Vista technology into it.

Among the handful of Vista features inserted in SP3 include Network Access Protection (NAP). This security component functions as a filter, checking client PCs before they’re allowed to connect with other computers in a network.

Another Vista feature that will be incorporated in XP through SP3 is a new activation procedure that dispenses with tedious checkpoints and would allow users to immediately use or install the product without being asked for the activation key.

Windows XP SP3 will be made available by early next year. The new service pack brings a sigh of relief to millions of PC users who still haven’t shifted to the new OS as this would ensure the viability of the software for a few more years.

This may come as a surprise to some, but definitely not for me or for those who tinker around with PCs for a living.

Microsoft has recently announced that it would be extending the period within which PC makers could bundle their products with Windows XP (SP2). Redmond has acceded to pleas by both retailers and end users to extend its January 30, 2008 deadline.

While some analysts see the acquiescence as an admission from Microsoft that XP is far from being interred, the latter insists that the extension does not also mean that Vista sales are encountering friction from the operating system’s predecessor. It admits that many consumers are still in the process of upgrading their PC units. Until this happens, demands for XP would still persist.

Old equipment is not the only thing or factor which puts XP on the shelves of PC shops. Computer makers are still issuing units powered by Celeron processors. This Intel chip has a reputation of choking out on demanding applications. Hence, many buyers of low-end units request that it be bundled with XP instead of Vista to ensure that it would not hang on them when applications heat up.

We know what’s best for you.

It would seem that this is Microsoft’s justification for the unauthorized updates that it has conducted on its latest and previous operating systems. Windows XP and Vista users have recently complained that Windows update has modified some of their system files without warning them about it.

Windows Update (WU) is a feature in XP and Vista which automatically downloads and installs patches and updates to the operating systems. Users are given the option to either let WU get the files automatically or prompt them before downloading the necessary files. While many have taken the laissez faire approach, a good number still wants to be warned whenever patches would be installed in their systems.

So the next time you see your PC’s DSL and hard drive lamps blink like crazy, don’t sound the alarm and raise your antivirus and anti-spyware security level to “high.” Chances are, it’s just Bill Gates trying to rearrange your operating system’s files. If you’re using OS X though, then you might want to immediately cut the yellow cable.

• Nov 21 : Microsoft Delays IE8 Release
• Nov 19 : Mac Fans are Just as Vulnerable as PC Users
• Nov 19 : Samsung Beings Mass Production of 256GB SSDs
• Nov 17 : Geneva Sound Systems Releases a Funky iPod Speaker
• Nov 14 : BlackBerry Storm Comes in Nov. 21