Visions of Vista

[lordshipmayhem]

So I was at my Kichener client the last two days - sans internet, as Rogers was down, and had been all week. Not only was my client down, but so were two other Rogers users in the same street, all in a row. This word, BTW, is from the Rogers tech support gurus who were co-operative, but at the mercy of the London dispatch office. The London dispatch office can't get a field tech out there before August 6 unless someone cancels.

As a result, I have a message up on the GTA Linux Users' Group mailing list asking for recommendations for alternatives available in the Kitchener area. If anyone reading this blog can make any recommendations, please feel free to do so.

In another example of technological frustration, I had a chance to experience the Wow that is Vista. Unimpressive, to say the least.

The dual-core processor computer is walking Vista Home Premium. I'd say "running", but it takes longer to boot up than my Pentium III. In fact, it takes longer to boot up than my T41 Thinkpad.

I'd heard about how annoying those "Are you sure?" questions, but after the umpteenth "Hey, idiot, what the fsck do you think you're doing to Microsoft's computer?" pop-up, I'm sure my blood pressure was setting records.

I couldn't get all the stuff off the desktop. I'd drag an unneeded shortcut or duplicate file to the trash can, the system would cogitate for about four or five minutes, then "Are you sure?" (AAARG!) followed by "this doesn't delete the application" (noshitshirlock whatwasyourfirstclue). THEN I'd be able to drag the next document or link to the trash can, IF the previous icon transfer to trashcan finally made it to the "Are You Sure?". Which half the time it didn't, which meant that the icon stays on your desktop.

("Are you sure?" Sure is an underarm deodorant. I am Mayhem, mighty mighty Mayhem, and Mayhem is five minutes away from landing a lot of Mayhem on your motherboard.)

Comments

[sierralad.livejournal.com]

If your client can stand DSL, I suggest my ISP, Sentex. They require you to buy the modem (~$65) and service is about forty bucks a month for a home user, but they don't care how much bandwidth you do or do not use for that period. I've had ZERO problems with these guys.

[lordshipmayhem.livejournal.com]

You're the second to suggest Sentex. I'll have to check them out (the client doesn't care if it's DSL).

[dejana.livejournal.com]

BLAAAAH, the handholding. Thank you so much for reminding me of that. :P I had to use Vista for all of an hour when I was trying to fix something on my dad's fiancee's computer, and nearly exploded from frustration.

[lordshipmayhem.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed the chokeholding. If we don't need that 'puter for the security system software, it's getting Linux on it right quick.

As a test, I ran Kubuntu on it, off the CD, without installing it to the hard drive. Believe it or not, it was faster booting up from the CD than Vista was booting up off the (infinitely quicker) hard drive. Damn Digital Rights Mismanagement. Damn Microsoft Genuine (Dis)Advantage.

[yumelady.livejournal.com]

Much as many users (such as I u.u) still require much handholding (chokeholding? not so much). There is an entire generation or two that has grown up with computers and actually knows something about how to use them. Users are getting smarter...so why are they acting like they are getting dumber? Wait...isn't that what the Microsoft Genuine (Dis) Advantage was all about? nvr mind...

[lordshipmayhem.livejournal.com]

The chokeholding is to try to make Windows Vista appear as secure as the *nixes like Linux and OpenBSD. It's an illusion, of course - many programs insist on you being logged in as Administrator, with all the privileges that implies (i.e., being able to tell your hard drive to reformat itself), most of us operate in Administrator mode without a second thought, and after awhile you quickly find yourself pressing the "yes" button with a "go away, dammit" whispering past your lips.

Microsoft Genuine (Dis)Advantage, of course, is only an advantage to Microsoft. It's to guarantee that you, you incredible thief you, haven't stolen their (cue Gollum) preciousssss operating system crapware. If when it phones home it either doesn't get the answer it wants or can't get an answer at all because the servers are down (which has happened twice in the past 10 months), you enter Reduced Functionality Mode and eventually can't use your computer at all. I suspect this is because not only have there been rampant instances of piracy, but also because they themselves basically stole the code to their first operating system: MS-DOS is disturbingly close to DR-DOS, they ended up buying the maker of DR-DOS for a mint.