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OK, I'm a pc user, but my objections to Apple are getting narrowed further and further until the only *real* objection I have is that the PC equivilent is cheaper.
Let me tell you the current hell that is Microsoft.
1) You cannot purchase any new computer or laptop without also getting Windows Vista. You have no choice, you will have Vista whether you like it or not.
2) When you purchase a computer with Vista on it, you get an OEM license for it, which means you did not actually purchase Vista, you just have permission to use it temporarily on this machine.
3) Vista does not come with drivers for existing hardware
4) Existing hardware does not support Vista at this time. So that means that if you buy a computer with Vista on it, none of your existing peripherials will talk to it.
5) So you go to the hardware manufacturer's websites to download the drivers, but they're not available.
6) Tech support says the Vista installation CD should have the drivers on it, just pull them from the CD
7) But the computer didn't come with an installation CD because it's an OEM licensed version. This also means you can't uninstall Vista and put any other version of Windows on it that works better. You can't even format the fucking computer and start from scratch.
8) So Microsoft's website says to contact your supplier for the computer.
9) The supplier (Acer, in this case) says they can't help, it's the hardware manufacturer's responsibility to make drivers that support Vista
10) But the hardware manufacturer says the Vista CD already has the drivers and they can't provide them
11) But Microsoft says to contact Acer for issues about missing Installation CDs
So I have a computer that won't talk to my printer or scanner or any number of pieces of software (like Acrobat and Office). The manufacturers of these hardwares and softwares say that they have no drivers available but the installation CD does. Microsoft and Acer say the only way I can get my hands on the installation CD is to buy a legitimate copy of Windows Vista that I didn't want in the first place and that I already have installed on my computer to get the installation CD, but that it's really the hardware manufacturer's responsibility for making drivers in the first place.
So basically I have an E-Machine that won't let me install my printer, my scanner, or any other software that I already own, but it'll let me browse the internet and check email, using 40% or more of my system resources to do so.
Let me tell you the current hell that is Microsoft.
1) You cannot purchase any new computer or laptop without also getting Windows Vista. You have no choice, you will have Vista whether you like it or not.
2) When you purchase a computer with Vista on it, you get an OEM license for it, which means you did not actually purchase Vista, you just have permission to use it temporarily on this machine.
3) Vista does not come with drivers for existing hardware
4) Existing hardware does not support Vista at this time. So that means that if you buy a computer with Vista on it, none of your existing peripherials will talk to it.
5) So you go to the hardware manufacturer's websites to download the drivers, but they're not available.
6) Tech support says the Vista installation CD should have the drivers on it, just pull them from the CD
7) But the computer didn't come with an installation CD because it's an OEM licensed version. This also means you can't uninstall Vista and put any other version of Windows on it that works better. You can't even format the fucking computer and start from scratch.
8) So Microsoft's website says to contact your supplier for the computer.
9) The supplier (Acer, in this case) says they can't help, it's the hardware manufacturer's responsibility to make drivers that support Vista
10) But the hardware manufacturer says the Vista CD already has the drivers and they can't provide them
11) But Microsoft says to contact Acer for issues about missing Installation CDs
So I have a computer that won't talk to my printer or scanner or any number of pieces of software (like Acrobat and Office). The manufacturers of these hardwares and softwares say that they have no drivers available but the installation CD does. Microsoft and Acer say the only way I can get my hands on the installation CD is to buy a legitimate copy of Windows Vista that I didn't want in the first place and that I already have installed on my computer to get the installation CD, but that it's really the hardware manufacturer's responsibility for making drivers in the first place.
So basically I have an E-Machine that won't let me install my printer, my scanner, or any other software that I already own, but it'll let me browse the internet and check email, using 40% or more of my system resources to do so.
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no subject
Date: 4/4/07 10:15 pm (UTC)From:This is actually not true. I just did my research last week for purchasing a new laptop. All the options I was considering (aside from the MacBook Pro) had options for Windows XP or Vista.
And yes, some computer manufacturers make it really difficult to reformat and start from scratch. Another reason I stuck with Dell. I ordered Vista Business (with media discs) with it, but keeping the option open to reformat and go back to XP Pro.
Sounds like a frustrating circle you're stuck in.. eeeks. Part of me is really dreading my new laptop arriving next week with Vista on it.
no subject
Date: 4/4/07 11:40 pm (UTC)From:I could have had the same option as the one Dell gave you, if I purchased my copy of Vista over and above the cost of the laptop, but I didn't want Vista at all, so I'm certainly not going to pay for it. But unless I pay for it, I can't get rid of it. How about that? I have to pay for the privilege of NOT USING VISTA.
I am thoroughly unimpressed with Vista. It seems as though getting it down to 40% resources used when it's doing NOTHING is an impressive bit of resource management. I can't find anything, they renamed stuff and moved it around, and even took out some features that I actually liked with XP. Oh, and the last convention I worked had a workshop all about Vista and how to use it. It crashed no less than 6 times that morning. With the Microsoft guys running it.
Good for you for purchasing the discs so you can go back to XP if you need to. Don't expect many of your peripherials to work without smacking the computer a few times, dancing naked in moonlight and sprinkling it with chicken blood.
Wait, that sounds like a party. OK, so maybe you'll have fewer problems than I did ;-)
no subject
Date: 4/4/07 10:43 pm (UTC)From:I <3 my macs.