[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Microsoft to Vista Owners: You'll Pay for Our Mistake here

[DavidCoursey]

Yes, I do see the missing "any" in the lead (lost when I added "almost"). But, it can't be fixed until 9am PT.

[acruff01]

Also, in the 7th paragraph, your subject and verb don't agree. "Those early notices send Vista down a road of no return..." I believe you meant to say "sent."

[peter42y]

I start using windows and surfing the web back in 2000.
At that time I was very happy with my windows 98.
Untill 2005 I saw no need to upgrade to windows XP.
I hate these change in operative system.
New OS usually means your computer will get slower since new operative system needs more resources.
I have a newer computer bought a few months ago but I still have not used it.
I stick with my pentium 4 bought in 2002.
To install a operative system..,all aplications..., its a pain in the ass.
Maybe I am getting old (I am 51).

[graxspoo]

But wait a minute... Wouldn't the people most motivated to buy Windows 7, and therefor most willing to part with $120, be the people who are currently having a bad time with Vista? Seems to me, if Microsoft wanted to make sure Windows 7 is only installed on computers able to run it, they could up the hardware requirements (which is what they should have done with Vista).
I think the author is struggling to invent a reasoning behind Microsoft's pricing that involves anything other than greed-run-amok.

[DavidCoursey]

There was a time when tech publications could afford copy editors. I am learning to proof more effectively, but at 4 a.m....No excuses.

[DavidCoursey]

Greed-run-amok doesn't quite explain it, though my "will pay any price" heads in that direction.

[acruff01]

Additionally, the capitalization of "That" following your use of a colon in the paragraph that starts, "If Microsoft persists..." is incorrect as well, as capitals after colons are reserved for independent clauses.
I don't mean to be the grammar police here, but does anyone else think there is something wrong when an article that goes to publication has three grammatical mistakes.

[DedMousie]

I cautiously waited before upgrading to Vista myself. I didn't like what I saw, and stayed with XP Pro as my computer wasn't "broke" running XP.
Microsoft is going to punish me too, as there's no upgrade path for me. The only option I have is a clean install.
Since I do web application development - I'm looking at all the stuff I've got running - several different web app servers - database servers - I'd be looking at several days of downtime just to get back up and running again.

Thanks Microsoft!
Maybe I'll borrow a cracked version of Vista, which then gives me an upgrade path. What should Microsoft care? Either way, they'll get my stupid money for W7!

[acruff01]

David, I appreciate the response, and didn't notice the time. previous comment retracted.

[terryt5231]

Unbelievable. This article is a joke. "Microsoft is betting that Vista victims will pay almost any price to get the ill-fated OS off their machines."

How about you give us some examples of how Vista has ruined your life?

Idk. Personally, it has performed PERFECTLY for me.

[bonsai1966]

You might want to change the title to "Microsoft to All Windows users: You'll Pay for Our Mistake".
I have both XP and Vista machines. For the Vista machines, as you've noted, I need to pay to get out of Vista. For the XP machines, which are older and have a lot of software and data on them, I have to do a completely fresh installation and start again from scratch or remain locked to XP as far as my Windows boot is concerned.
Either I pay for that Vista upgrade or it's start again from scratch if I want to go to 7.
And as I focus on that problem, I realize that if I have to remove Windows from those machines, Windows won't be going back on them anyway.

[AndrewJL]

It’s great that all you nerds are more concerned with grammar more then the fact Microsoft is everyone out of money.
Why bother pointing out grammatical errors when it has no bearing on ANYTHING! Microsoft is screwing us again, buy an Apple.

[DavidCoursey]

Actually, we do have copy editors for feature pieces, but the blogs move too fast.
So you know: I roll out of bed at 4 a.m. in order to have one or two (sometimes as many as four) pieces posted by 6 a.m.
I usually take one or two naps a day, since I do a 2-4pm radio program and have also have clients to write for. Go to sleep about 11 most nights.
You'd think I could write at 10 p.m. and launch at 6 a.m. but that doesn't seem to work. Stories change too much.

[EastCoast]

For DedMousie - If you feel you'll have to wipe your computer and start over, perhaps you should look into starting over with a Mac and put MS in your rear view mirror forever. It really is an option. Less painful one.

[Boozer007]

I'm a PC user because I have to be, and I'm a Mac user because I want to be.
I read the other day that the Mac upgrade to Snow Leopard will cost $29 for Leopard users. THAT I will do.
As for Windows, I'll just stick to XP on my own machine for the 10% of the time that I use it, and let my company decide on what goes on the office machine.
$120 is WAY too much given MS's recent track record with Vista.

[NYPCtechman]

Being in IT for over 12 years now I must say that last month just for giggles I decided to install Vista. And not just the regular one. I installed Vista Ultimate. I decided not to go with the 64 bit upgrade because; well lets face it, 64bit is just not main stream yet as far as drivers are concerned and hardware compatibility, however the truth is that over the past couple of years the driver lists from companies now, 95% of them have vista drivers for both 32 and 64 bit for almost everything you buy today.

I have to convey to you what a pleasure of an operating system this is. So intuitive and smart and so simple to use and the OS is truly very impressive in how it looks. Yes service pack 1 of the OS does have it’s issues but I installed service pack 2 and have had zero issues for 3 weeks of usage now.

The upgrade from XP pro was seamless. My computer is actually faster then it was on XP pro. There are too many examples to go into as to why I think it is better to be on vista 32 bit vs. XP pro. But suffice it to say I have had zero problems with vista ultimate for 3 weeks now.

The reality is that our chip companies around the world are increasing technology at an incredible rate. 64 bit is the next evolution in speed for the chips which is natural. As was the move from x86 to Pentium. It was done in the past more then a few times already. We went from 4bit to 8 bit to 16 bit to 32 bit OS's. This is simple progression of technology. Maximizing data transfer speed on the Die of the chip is the goal in order to make it faster. Creating larger pipe lines of data throughput on a single die is the second game which increases overall speed far more then the actual GHz...

The problem is that people do not like change. This is exactly the reason why governments all over the world hold back technology from the people and let it out at a smooth pace. Unfortunately people you need to wake up and smell the new code.

Be cautious of upgrades to new OS's but dont disregard new technology simply because of a brand name or its beginnings and failures. Check things out for yourselves. Vista ultimate 32bit SP2 rocks. You can take it from a Pro who doesn’t even like windows to begin with. They really have outdone themselves with this OS.

Just make sure to read privacy agreements. Turn off all software communications from the OS to Microsoft. Let them work on their own to tweak the OS for the future without our error reports.

You can do this yourself as a responsible person and install a firewall program to monitor incoming and outgoing communications from your PC. Put yourself in control.

I hate to say it but great job Microsoft on Vista. I for one am impressed and am now recommending all my users that I work with and family to upgrade to vista ultimate.

[andyoo]

you have bad/outdated hardware, then you run vista, then you complain about vista.
or you install so badly written driver..and crash your machine...is that o/s fault?
I have 1 sever and 3 laptop for 3 yrs with vista and the server is running 24/7..I have not have a problem or blue screen for 3 yrs. I had done many upgrade on my server but I only buy name brand product that have no know driver issue
(I do research before I buy).3 yrs passes and I have no issue at all. With SP1 and SP2 it runs faster and faster.
There is always some people won't upgrade ever (just like those got left out when HDTV switch) doesn't matter how long you give them or put ads on TV. They will just have to get a new TV or computer to force them to move/upgrade.There is no cure for passive behavior.
Same for Apple..you could still be running your Apple II if you don't like change and if it still runs.

[DedMousie]

For EastCoast - Guess I'm "Bi". There's a Mac sitting right across from the PC!
I'm one of these "backwards" folks when it comes to buying a computer. I looked at SOFTWARE first to find what I needed to best perform the tasks I needed to do, and then purchased the computers to run the software.
My Mac is geared towards music composition and graphic development.
The PC is geared towards web app/database development development and while I could run most of my apps on the Mac, not everything I need is going to work over there (SQL Server - for example). I've got a number of "stuffed shirt" corporate clients and believe me, they're very Windows centric and I have to march along with them if I want to keep them as clients, so I don't have much of a choice.

[andyoo]

But you know for apple fanboys...they are trained by steve job to upgrade or buy any new verson of anything.
ipod, iphone, macs,
o/s..
even if the only change is the look.
(a.k.a. 5 gens of ipod running pretty much the same way)