What do u want to change in Microsoft & Windows Vista?

[gxsaurav]

Well, enough of fanboyism. Lets talk about something which makes sense. This is India & "Advice" is free , everyone keeps on advising the other to use Windows or to use Linux or to use Mac. I would like to ask if so many people are pissed at Microsoft then why not come up with the explanation of why u hate Windows or Microsoft & how to change the situation.

I m making this thread here cos this topic might go into flame wars. Please do not say here that Linux is better & does this or that already. This isn't about what Linux can & cannot do, its about how can you make a product called Windows from a company called Microsoft better. I am also calling Macboys & Lingeeks here to advice Microsoft on how can they make there product better.

Plz no DRM DRM DRM DRM DRM of Prakash, or no "Windows sux cos Steve Jobs said so" of Arya here.

Also if u like, give your ideas about how to make a particular product better. Such as if u want Windows Media Player to sync with iPod then tell that here & also say how can this be done because iPod is closed by Apple from working with WMP.

Starting with my advice....absolutely free

1) Reduce cost of Microsoft software such as Windows or Office or SQL Server. For this, release the software in an "India only" edition with cost in Rupees with manufacturing plant in Lucknow (I m biased about production in U.P.'s factories ) with few features removed such as support for Multi Language User Interface (only Hindi & English) & anything server related such as IIS 7 which a home user will never need. Removal of MUI doesn't mean you can't read a Spanish web page, it means Notepad will not have "file" "Edit" menu written in Spanish letters.

Make 2 editions, Windows Vista Home Edition with features like Aero, MCE, DX 10 etc as mentioned above, & another version like Vista Professional with all features of Home edition along with support for running as a server in small business scenario like 20 or 30 computers, full MUI with support for languages like French etc but still without support for running a large scale enterprise server.

Set the cost of Home Edition as Rs 2,500 & Professional Edition as Rs 6,000 cos u will be making money by using the pro edition.

Release the "Office 2007 student & teachers edition" which contains only Word 2007, Excel & PowerPoint for Rs 1,000.

2) Release your software for other OS & platform. This isn't about releasing technology to other platform, its about software like Office 2007 Student Edition for Linux at Rs 1,000 or the whole Windows Live Suite for Linux for a modest Price of Rs 500 so that those who want to use other OS can still buy & continue to use your product such as these despite of these being closed source.

No need to open up DirectX source code for Linux, just make a runtime for Linux & Mac. The SDK should remain Windows only so that if you want to make a game in DirectX you have to use Windows due to better control over the architecture in Windows because Microsoft makes the Windows kernel & they know how to optimise the DirectX for Windows. Microsoft isn't making kernel for Linux or Mac OS X so they should not optimise for Mac or Linux kernel, it isn't there responsibility. If Apple or Linux want optimised DirectX then come to Microsoft Labs, work with MS & get an optimised version for Linux & Mac kernel & Display model.

3) Close the hardware from hacking. If someone hacks XBOX 360 with a modchip or something like that, then stop giving any support. Microsoft isn't responsible if u break your XBOX with a mod chip. Either pay for repair or get a new one. Physical damage due to consumer usage does not come in repair warranty anyway for almost any company.

4) Let users remove the components from Windows which they do not need during the installation process. In other words integrate vLite in Windows installation. For example User can either leave all drivers of printer or remove all but the drivers of HP printers only. Later on, if the user needs something like MCE which he removed during installation, he can simply insert the DVD & install it. (Which we can already do in Windows right now, just that it is installed by default whether u use it or not.)

More ideas & free advice awaited. I will myself forward these with other MVP to Microsoft feedback & developement team.

These are the things MS cannot do

1) They cannot lock the kernel from 3rd party intrusion such as virus or security software due to a Lawsuit of Symantec & Mcafee which prevents MS from doing this.

2) MS cannot bundle third party tools with Windows in the CD like Firefox or Adobe Reader cos MS isn't making them & it is not allowed for MS to bundle them

3) Windows cannot be made open source. If you say that with open source code you can mould Windows to look & feel the way you want, then you can already do this using various Microsoft or non-Microsoft tools to mould Windows Vista according to your own preference.

So far these are some feedback forum members have given that they would like to see

1) Better connectivity between different OS powered machines.

This requires work from both the sides. If Linux vendors won't come forward then it is tough to implement then what it is today

2) Windows should provide native support for read & write of HFS+, EXT2 & EXT3 file system.

In the meantime you can use Macdrive to read Mac OS X HFS+ Paritions. To read & write to Linux EXT2 & EXT3 Partition & File system in Windows you can use Ext2IFS

3) Ability to customize every part of start menu

4) A better antivirus than live one care & better security

In the meantime you can try many free AV solutions such as Bitdefener or Avast

5) Fast startups and installations

Vista installs here on my machine in 25 mins flat, then 10 minutes of auto configuration & optimisation of .net Libraries. Plz hibernate instead of restarting & Vista will resume within 8 seconds.

6) Zero configuration networking

7) More responsiveness of menus and dialogs.

To change the menu show delay in Windows, open registry -> Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop -> Click on the value "MenuShowDelay" in the right hand pane -> set value to 50 (this is in milisecond)

8 ) Networking/ssh/ftp/services start on Windows before the GUI

9) Give some customizing option in the OS install menu to remove IE, disk defragement etc

In the meantime, you can use vLite to make your own Vista installation disk with all your drivers included & remove all components which u don't need.

10) Low balloon tips

You can disable balloon tips in Windows by using the following method

11) Automatic mounting of ISO files in Windows as a virtual Disk

You can do this using Daemon tools easily or Virtual CloneDrive. However if you like you can simply install a Powertoy from Microsoft to mount ISO file as a virtual CD. I m working on a registry tweak so that it can be given as an option when right clicking on an ISO File.

12) To configure the Vista bootloader so that you can boot into Linux from Vista bootloader itself, have a look at EasyBCD 1.7.
for GUi installation. For manual installation you can read the tutorial to boot linux using Vista's bootloader

13) Windows Vista comes with inbuilt CD/DVD burning capability like Windows XP. Just select the files that u want to burn & click on the "Burn" button on the tasks toolbar. If you still want a 3rd party software to burn CD/DVD & more complex control then you can use a very good 3rd Party utility called InfraRecorder

Cost of Windows Vista & Office.

You can always find the cost of different editions of Windows Vista & Office 2007 in either US Dollers from Newegg or in India Rupess from Deltapage

For general home usage Windows Vista Home Premium is all you will ever need & is my recommendation to anyone looking to buy legit Vista.

Comparision of various edtions of Windows Vista

You can upgrade from one edition of Windows Vista to any other edition at any time using Windows Anytime Upgrade

When it comes to Microsoft office, for home use you will not need more then Word, Excel & Powerpoint. Have a look at Office 2007 Student & teachers edition. Here is a comparision of all Office 2007 Editions



Or if you use Outlook & not powerpoint then you can also have a look at Office 2007 basic edition

Right now the current Legit cost of Windows Vista Home premum + Office 2007 is Rs 9.5k. This is indeed a high price, but if you can pay for it then it is obviously worth it as u are going to use it for many years to come.

If you find office 2007 costly for yours needs, you can also give a look at OpenOffice.org which is a free open source office suite which will suffice your needs most of the times in home usage.

[nish_higher]

10\10 man..thats what we need.also i'd love if microsoft gives lifetime free updates when every new version is launched..image line gives that.

[vish786]

u really wanna know what everybody wants. ?
truth might be hurting sometimes.

[Charan]

Licensing.. yep .. if I buy a new PC .. I want to transfer my licence from my OLD PC.. I should not be forced to buy a new license.

I also want them to release .NET framework for all existing operating systems.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by nish_higher

also i'd love if microsoft gives lifetime free updates when every new version is launched..image line gives that.

You mean like free upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 without paying any money for the developement cost of Windows 7?

u nearly wanna know what everybody want. ?
truth might be hurting sometimes.

I have seen enough for fanboyism here. Everyone whines about this & that...but if someone has no solution to a problem due to which they hate MS then plz STFU & stop whining . Thats why I m saying, tell us all here what would u like MS to change.?

I want to transfer my license from my OLD PC.. I should not be forced to buy a new license.

You can already do this with Windows Vista. If you have retail edition of Vista installed & activated on a computer, & you buy a new computer then you can simply install Vista on the new computer first in trial mode for 30 days without entering any key. After that you can enter your old Windows CD key to activate Windows in which case it will "move" your license from your old computer to new computer.

Your old computer will still continue to work but it will fail to pass the WGA check if you use Windows Update because you have "moved" the license to new computer hardware.

You can do this as long as u have the same motherboard & hard disk in every new computer. A very good solution for enthusiasts who usually keep on changing the hardware every 3 months. They don't need to re-activate or call MS support. If they have same hard disk & motherboard, Vista will simply activate fine. If you change both of these components "together" then you have to call Microsoft tech support & tell them the situation after which they will re-activate your Windows on phone.

I also want them to release .NET framework for all existing operating systems.

Microsoft is supporting .Net on Mac & Linux in form of MONO Project

[iMav]

better connectivity between different OS powered machines ... bluetooth as of now is difficult if u have 1 xp and 1 vista .... iv even read wired connectivity between vista and xp has given some problems

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by iMav

better connectivity between different OS powered machines

Sure, this needs participation from other OS too. So Linux should come forward & work with MS like Novell is doing with silverlight support in Linux as moonlight

bluetooth as of now is difficult if u have 1 xp and 1 vista .... iv even read wired connectivity between vista and xp has given some problems

Thanx. Point noted . However this compability problem is not universal. So plz provide feedback to Microsoft with Error reporting or Merawindows.com

Come on guys, we need more advice. I urge Linux & Mac users to also come here & advice MS. Its better to be friendly then be enemy.

[vish786]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

I have seen enough for fanboyism here.

i 2 have seen that enough of it here.

that is why hav a look at my signature, it is basically meant for people like u and some more.

its basically the fanboys who bring a bad name to an OS/softwares, yes fanboys, who keep imposing their damn dumb ideas not to use anything else becoz i hate this & that, eg, u can take the iphone or apple threads here, where u hav been crying like a small baby after each of arya's thread and saying i'm not buying this products coz of it does nto have cut option, i'm not buying this coz i cannot install this soft, and repeating the same thing in every new apple thread, and hijack every thread. If u dont like or dont want to buy it "STFU", who d hell is tellin u 2 buy those stuff.

I'm also an windows user, and there r lot of people who r using it here, but still they never rant abt their OS like some of u guys do, basically they argue with MS fanboys with their absurd ideas. I dont want such MS fanboys to keep whining..... & whining abt the OS and make others not to select their own choices, I want those Kids to grow up , and stop Microsoft not 2 fool such kids/fanboys. This is want everybody wants, can this happen, i'm sure... NO Never. So keep an handkerchief nearby b4 u start again crying abt it and spoiling threads.

i'm sure the next reply would be this has nothing 2 do with MS.

[iMav]

vish i request u to dig up a thread made by din in the technology section where he pointed out fanboyism and i have replied to ur concerns there ....

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by vish786

If u dont like or dont want to buy it "STFU", who d hell is tellin u 2 buy those stuff.

I don't want to argue with u here.

If you have some idea about how to improve Microsoft's business practise & Windows OS then plz provide it here. If not then this thread is something you are not required to post in.

[nish_higher]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

You mean like free upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 without paying any money for the developement cost of Windows 7?

exactly.may sound wierd but check how image line does that with FL Studio.and it costs 12000-thats more than vista ultimate.
this is just a suggestion.not a thing i need the most.but i'd love to have a demo version atleast so that v can try an os or application instead of buggy betas and rc's.and of course i forgot to mention the ability to be able to read\write mac formatted drives-pods and hard drives.

[iMav]

vish i wonder u chose this topic to come into a diuscussion and refrained in almost all others ...

[kumarmohit]

I do not agree with the three suggestion of GX. While modifying software is not legal coz I licensed it, The XBOX is purchased not licensed. I shall do whatever I want with my Xbox unit. and MS should not stop support (not warranty) for all those components which I did not touch

[mediator]

change in Microsoft & Windows Vista? => MS's stupid FUDS bt Linux. Tell them that first and lets see if they listen to an MVP! I sympathise with the MVP whome they treated harshly!

[iMav]

@kumar how is that possible ... dude a gurantee or warranty is given to a whole product and not on individual components

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by nish_higher

exactly.may sound wierd but check how image line does that with FL Studio.and it costs 12000-thats more than vista ultimate.

You have a point but both are different software. FL Studio doesn't run on every computer out there & the users of FL Studio are not as many as that of Windows.

From one version of FL Studio to another version, there isn't more then 10 or 20% change in the core software. However in case of Windows OS there is a huge change which costs much more money then the developement of FL Studio XX over FL Studio X. This is one of the primary reasons Windows 7 cannot be given as a free upgrade for Windows Vista because everything is changed.

Despite of this you can buy a low cost upgrade edition of Windows 7 to update from Vista to Windows 7. For example, retail cost of Vista home premium is $300 while the cost of upgrade edition from Windows XP is about $150.

but i'd love to have a demo version atleast so that v can try an os or application instead of buggy betas and rc's.

Windows Vista lets u evaluate the OS for 30 days which u can extent to 4 months legally without activating.

the ability to be able to read\write mac formatted drives, ipods and hard drives.[

Is HFS+ an Open Standard which anyone can support freely for read & write? If it is then sure. Point taken & noted . It is supported in Windows via MacDrive already but yeah, native inbuilt support is desired.

AFAIK I know, you can use an iPod freely in both Windows & Mac USING iTunes.

[iMav]

no ... a windows based ipod cant be connected to mac and vice versa ... doin so results in data loss ... havnet tried it but read it on more than 1 more occasion

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by kumarmohit

The XBOX is purchased not licensed. I shall do whatever I want with my Xbox unit. and MS should not stop support (not warranty) for all those components which I did not touch

They will not stop support for hardware parts like if your CPU is overheating. However if this is due to Modchip or say an un-official firmware or due to the fact that u tried installing Linux on XBOX 360 which broke it, then Microsoft should not be held accountable.

change in Microsoft & Windows Vista? => MS's stupid FUDS bt Linux. Tell them that first and lets see if they listen to an MVP! I sympathise with the MVP whome they treated harshly!

This thread is not about this. If you have an idea or advice to MS for making Windows & other MS product better, then plz provide. Else, your reply is not required in this thread.

no ... a windows based ipod cant be connected to mac and vice versa ... doin so results in data loss ... havnet tried it but read it on more than 1 more occasion

Then I guess for iPod it is the responsibility of Apple to support this feature, not Microsoft.

For Normal HFS+ Partitions & drives, Windows should provide native support for read & write. Point has been noted

[Help~Is~Here]

Another Fanboy thread trying to defend the poduct that he would kill himself for! And also trying to change the perception that other OS users have about windows! What a turn off!!

Nothing more to say!

[iMav]

trying to defend ... ur ego hurts after u got pwned by us doesnt it

[dd_wingrider]

first pricing of their products should be cut down, and secondly they should now come up with some thing unique n innovative products, which not only geeks can use but common people can also go along with. want to write more but it will look too much philosophic

[Help~Is~Here]

Originally Posted by iMav

trying to defend ... ur ego hurts after u got pwned by us doesnt it

I don't want to crap this thread, but if you think I got ego or that you 'pwned' someone, because you couldn't hold your point and ran off from that thread because you got 'pwned' by everyone else and opened up a new thread to defend your croocked theories, then KMA!

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by Help~Is~Here

Another Fanboy thread trying to defend the poduct that he would kill himself for! And also trying to change the perception that other OS users have about windows! What a turn off!!

If you hate Microsoft & Windows, & there marketing strategy then why not tell here what u hate so that it can be rectified.

Plz provide advice & suggestion on why U don't like Windows & how would u like to change this situation to make Windows better.

Keep the fanboyism to nil plz. Fellow members M I wrong when I say this?

[Help~Is~Here]

Open up the Source Code of Windows and let people themselves make Windows better!

Microsofts development team has lost it's way in creativity, if that team can't do it, alteast let MS pay other developers by opening up the source. Atleast then, windows will be what people want and not what MS wants!

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by dd_wingrider

first pricing of their products should be cut down

Even I agree, Point has been noted.

and secondly they should now come up with some thing unique n innovative products, which not only geeks can use but common people can also go along with.

Sure, do u have some ideas for that. Why don't u give feedback in Microsoft newsgroup & technet user group about your ideas on how Windows can be made further easy. Like if you have a better way of how software installation should go plz tell us all here.

want to write more but it will look too much philosophic

If you can take out time, then plz write. Thanx for your comment.

Mods....I request you to delete all flamish & unnecessary posts such as the one from this thread, as that only brings flame war.

Open up the Source Code of Windows and let people themselves make Windows better!

Microsoft is running a business. They cannot give away the R&D they did on Windows just like that. If someone wants to make Windows better he can use many freely available tools from MS, or 3rd party tools. If you want to change something in Windows, give feedback to MS, MS will do it for u so that u don't have to learn programming & do it yourself. Remembar not everyone is a geek.

Even right now, using 3rd party tools, registry tweaks, resource hacking you can mould Windows to look or work anyway u want. I hope you have seen how Vishal moded Windows XP compleately to make it look & work just like Vista. The possibility is already there provided in a safe manner by Microsoft itself in the form of registry etc. Plz have a look at that too before saying that Windows can't be made to look & work like the way a user wants. It can do all that without opening the source code.

[nish_higher]

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Keep the fanboyism to nil plz. Fellow members M I wrong when I say this?

no.for i actually run have both pc and mac and used SUSE\fedora\etc..... too.nothing is perfect in any case.and this is about Microsoft-so better stick to it and write abt changes u want instead of preaching other companies

And i need the ability to customize every part of start menu the way i want to.a bit-torrent client,all codecs and included adobe reader,a better antivirus than live one care,not too big installations,fast startups and installations and above all gr8 value for money.

[drgrudge]

I really can't understand why gx_saurav created this thread in 'Fight Club'.

Coming to the topic -
I want MS to continue giving names to their Windows like motor companies give names to bikes and scooters. Vista was a good start and I want them to continue in the same fashion.

This Windows 7 seems like coping Apple. I don't want to see Windows OS XI (or worst Windows OS X!).

[iMav]

Originally Posted by Help~Is~Here

Microsofts development team has lost it's way in creativity, if that team can't do it, alteast let MS pay other developers by opening up the source.

it would be nice if u could tell on the lack of creativity and what cant they do

[Help~Is~Here]

Originally Posted by iMav

it would be nice if u could tell on the lack of creativity and what cant they do

Satic Desktops and static interfaces!, pathetic restrictions of allowed no. of activation limits and single system policy, propostorous pricing, overhyping of actual potential and what not?

BTW, read the line before what you quoted and answer that for me please!

Originally Posted by drgrudge

I really can't understand why gx_saurav created this thread in 'Fight Club'.

Because he wants to fight and prove that Windows is better than OSS which he has unfortunately failed to do in the last 2 threads which OSS supported users started! Got booted from there, so new thread in Fight Club

[iMav]

the 1 about making windows open source ... y should they its their proprietary code its their wish .... besides i asked u u said make it open source and then people can make it better ... tell us what betterments are u gonna bring abt even if hypothetically it were to be open source