Bad Windows

How badly does Microsoft want you to forget about Vista? Badly enough that they’re already offering people who buy PCs with Vista after July 1st a free upgrade to Windows 7.

According to sources, computer OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) will be given Windows 7 upgrade media. Of course, we still don’t know when that will happen. Maybe later this year, maybe sometime in 2010. Personally, I’m betting that Microsoft ships Windows 7 as fast as humanly possible.

Once Windows 7 is out, the computer vendors can then ship it to their customers. From this, we can conclude that you will not be able to update Windows Vista to Windows 7 online.

Read more at ComputerWorld

According to Microsoft’s own intelligence, almost 20% of the organisations in Brazil intended to move to GNU/Linux in 2003. Is that why Microsoft sends lackeys over there?

Microsoft calls this “Linux Heat Map.” It pretty much contradicts claims that Microsoft is not bothered by desktop GNU/Linux.

Look the map at Boycott Novell

Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ball­mer’s declaration that Linux “uses our intellectual property” fanned a firestorm of controversy last week, with Novell Inc. objecting to Ballmer’s characterization of its recent patent deal with Microsoft and some users accusing him of trying to sow fears about using Linux.

At a SQL Server user group conference in Seattle on Nov. 16, Ballmer asserted that every Linux user “basically has an undisclosed balance sheet liability” related to the use of Microsoft’s intellectual property. He also said that as part of a joint development and patent licensing agreement announced earlier this month, Novell had paid Microsoft for the right to tell users of its SUSE Linux software that they are “appropriately covered.”

Read more at ComputerWorld

REMEMBER VISTA 7? There is a reason why we insist on calling it Vista 7. Internally, it’s known that the operating system just Vista with some visual changes and it’s equally insecure. It’s mostly just marketing fluff. It’s the same as Windows in 2005/6 when only Microsoft fans tried and blogged about Vista/Longhorn.

A reader has just sent us some interesting information: “I just thought you might be interested to know.

Read more at Boycott Novell

The first advance reviews of Microsoft (MSFT) Windows 7 Beta are starting to circulate, and here’s what we know so far: It looks and feels a lot like Vista, but adds a handful of minor performance and UI improvements.

From Adrian Kingsley-Hughes at ZDnet:

* Software and hardware that worked under Windows Vista will still work under Windows 7, hugely important in encouraging upgrades. Windows 7 install times are below half an hour, good for Microsoft.

Read more at CNNMoney.com