Microsoft to Offer Downgrade Option for Vista Business Users - Page 2

mogui · 09-25-2007, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

My former employer finally upgraded everyone to XP Pro and Office 2003, from a hodge-podge of machines running Win98, WinNT Workstation, and Win2K, with Office 97 and Office 2000. They'd been wanting to do it for some time, but couldn't get the funding from corporate under the previous ownership. When the company changed hands, the new owners were more sensible. While it required some long days and a weekend or too, I was all in favor. The old mess was a major pain to support.

I doubt they will move to Vista until a gun is pointed at their heads.

Microsoft would like to migrate everyone to Vista, to maintain the revenue stream, and at some point could simply refuse to sell new XP licenses to OEMs.

We may see differences depending on vendor. For instance, Dell is the biggest corporate supplier. If Dell says "Our corporate customers don't want Vista. They want XP.", Microsoft is going to be hesitant about refusing to sell Dell additional XP licenses. A smaller manufacturer will have less clout and less options.
______
Dennis

Just more headaches that GNU/Linux servers won't give you. An earlier post referred to GNU/Linux infrastructure with Win XP user stations. Not bad!

DMcCunney · 09-26-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

Just more headaches that GNU/Linux servers won't give you. An earlier post referred to GNU/Linux infrastructure with Win XP user stations. Not bad!

The upgrade I mentioned was the desktops, not the servers. Those were an assortment too, but a different assortment: predominantly Win2K Server and Win 2003 Server, but with legacy Novell, SCO, Linux, and Solaris in the mix. (My piece was the *nix boxes.)
______
Dennis

mogui · 09-26-2007, 10:39 PM

Everyone here in the Middle Kingdom seems to run Win boxes -- either 2K or XP. Vista is available too for a little over a buck. Comp sci students know GNU/Linux but end up running Windows. So do I, for the sake of compatibility. When I do run GNU/Linux, it is off of a DSL live CD.

In my reading, it seems more people favor Ubuntu. Someone has asked me to teach them GNU/Linux. Which would be a better system for a newcomer to start with? She has a degree in comp sci. It is easy for me to download any distribution.

Azayzel · 09-27-2007, 08:18 AM

Ubuntu or Knoppix are easy bootable distros people can use/play with to see if Linux is their cup of tea. Both distros have HDD installs, just in case users want to make a more permanent installation. If they're looking for something that will help them in industry later on down the road, I'd recommend Red Hat/Fedora, since that is what the majority of people tend to use (or have been using/advertising for). Lasty, if you want to play with the latest and greatest builds, you can opt for Gentoo.

It's been a little while, but the bootable distros are still the rage with Ubuntu being the most user-friendly/n00b-proof.

mogui · 09-27-2007, 08:31 AM

Thanks! I have been hearing so much buzz about Ubuntu I must try it soon. Knoppix is an old friend. Dsl is a sort of a Knoppix-lite. I think all of these come from Debian.

What would be the ultimate is a distro that would change languages at the user's option, just like my cell phone does (Chinese/English). There is a real need in my household to support Chinese. But I want this to be as easy as the flip of a switch. One second everything displays and inputs English -- flip the switch and it all changes over to Chinese -- display, input, everything.

DMcCunney · 09-27-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

Everyone here in the Middle Kingdom seems to run Win boxes -- either 2K or XP. Vista is available too for a little over a buck. Comp sci students know GNU/Linux but end up running Windows. So do I, for the sake of compatibility. When I do run GNU/Linux, it is off of a DSL live CD.

In my reading, it seems more people favor Ubuntu. Someone has asked me to teach them GNU/Linux. Which would be a better system for a newcomer to start with? She has a degree in comp sci. It is easy for me to download any distribution.

Which one you choose will depend on what you wish to do. All Linux distributions are based on the same Linux kernel and the same set of Gnu utilities. They differ in which desktop is offered (Gnome or KDE), how they install, and how packages are added, as well as the precise hardware supported.

Ubuntu is currently popular because of relatively easy install and good hardware support. You can get a Live CD that will let you boot it from the CD and play, then install to the actual system later.

You can teach the basics of Linux with any distro, but if the ultimate goal is working with them professionally, you probably need to explore Fedora Core or SuSE, as you are more likely to find those installed in server settings.
______
Dennis

kovidgoyal · 09-27-2007, 02:55 PM

Learn one, learn 'em all. They really aren't that different.

And with the moves towards standardization like portland and LSB, they're becoming less and less distinctive.

mogui · 09-27-2007, 10:26 PM

My preference in the past has been to run something with a light windows manager. That is why DSL (Damn Small Linux) appealed to me. It is installable via a script and I believe it will expand itself to become a full-blown Debian distro if you so choose.

There is a lot of merit to teaching something that is a commercial skill. Since we have a network here at home (Ethernet and WiFi) it could be a rich experience. Non-users of GNU/Linux can't imagine the depth and richness of the computing environment compared to Windows of any generation.

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09-26-2007, 10:39 PM	#18
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Everyone here in the Middle Kingdom seems to run Win boxes -- either 2K or XP. Vista is available too for a little over a buck. Comp sci students know GNU/Linux but end up running Windows. So do I, for the sake of compatibility. When I do run GNU/Linux, it is off of a DSL live CD. In my reading, it seems more people favor Ubuntu. Someone has asked me to teach them GNU/Linux. Which would be a better system for a newcomer to start with? She has a degree in comp sci. It is easy for me to download any distribution.

09-27-2007, 08:18 AM	#19
Azayzel Cache Ninja! Posts: 643 Karma: 1002300 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: PRS-500, HTC Shift, iPod Touch, iPaq 4150, TC1100, Panasonic WordsGear	Ubuntu or Knoppix are easy bootable distros people can use/play with to see if Linux is their cup of tea. Both distros have HDD installs, just in case users want to make a more permanent installation. If they're looking for something that will help them in industry later on down the road, I'd recommend Red Hat/Fedora, since that is what the majority of people tend to use (or have been using/advertising for). Lasty, if you want to play with the latest and greatest builds, you can opt for Gentoo. It's been a little while, but the bootable distros are still the rage with Ubuntu being the most user-friendly/n00b-proof.

09-27-2007, 08:31 AM	#20
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Thanks! I have been hearing so much buzz about Ubuntu I must try it soon. Knoppix is an old friend. Dsl is a sort of a Knoppix-lite. I think all of these come from Debian. What would be the ultimate is a distro that would change languages at the user's option, just like my cell phone does (Chinese/English). There is a real need in my household to support Chinese. But I want this to be as easy as the flip of a switch. One second everything displays and inputs English -- flip the switch and it all changes over to Chinese -- display, input, everything.

09-27-2007, 02:55 PM	#22
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Learn one, learn 'em all. They really aren't that different. And with the moves towards standardization like portland and LSB, they're becoming less and less distinctive.

09-27-2007, 10:26 PM	#23
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	My preference in the past has been to run something with a light windows manager. That is why DSL (Damn Small Linux) appealed to me. It is installable via a script and I believe it will expand itself to become a full-blown Debian distro if you so choose. There is a lot of merit to teaching something that is a commercial skill. Since we have a network here at home (Ethernet and WiFi) it could be a rich experience. Non-users of GNU/Linux can't imagine the depth and richness of the computing environment compared to Windows of any generation.

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