Will Microsoft Ever Simplify Vista For Older PCs?

[Guest]

Will Microsoft ever simplify Vista for older computers? But at the same time
be able to keep everything looking the same as the more complex ones, like
keeping the AERO(C) interface. I think this would push Vista in the righ
direction and get Microsoft alot more sales, my PC is not Vista compatible
and I would love to have the Home Premium! Please Microsoft!

----------------
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http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...5fd&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

 

[Dave B.]

Not likely, although they may have a secret team hard at work trying to get
XP to run on an 8086

--

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

There is a version that is available only in certain markets for this. These
are generally poorer nations that are not up on technology. This version
will not be released to other nations. Things like Aero are not included in
this version, as the hardware necessary to run those features simply is not
present. For nations and parts of the world where the newer hardware is
available, there are no plans to back port to older hardware.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Zim Babwe]

I would like to see Vista run on an IBM-360!

That would be cool

 

[Dustin Harper]

Windows Vista Starter Edition, if you can get a hold of it, is designed for
lower end PC's. It is hard to find in the US (unless you know people!), as
it was created for emerging markets and countries with a lower standard of
living, where a high end PC would be impossible to find.

Why they don't offer this in the US is beyond me, though. It would increase
sales for the lower end PC's. But, it might also kill the sales for the Home
Basic and Home Premium versions.

Good luck!

 

[gls858]

Windows Vista Starter Edition, if you can get a hold of it, is designed
for lower end PC's. It is hard to find in the US (unless you know
people!), as it was created for emerging markets and countries with a
lower standard of living, where a high end PC would be impossible to find.

Why they don't offer this in the US is beyond me, though. It would
increase sales for the lower end PC's. But, it might also kill the sales
for the Home Basic and Home Premium versions.

Good luck!

It's a conspicacy! If they made it available here Dell, HP and the
others couldn't sell new hardware.


gls858

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Windows Vista Starter Edition, if you can get a hold of it, is designed
for lower end PC's. It is hard to find in the US (unless you know
people!), as it was created for emerging markets and countries with a
lower standard of living, where a high end PC would be impossible to find.

Why they don't offer this in the US is beyond me, though. It would
increase sales for the lower end PC's. But, it might also kill the sales
for the Home Basic and Home Premium versions.

Good luck!

The Starter Editions are not available to US or other developed country
users as the user experience on the start edition is seriously degraded to
the point where the experience felt by the user from the development world
who may have had a previous OS on a at the time reasonable machine will feel
extremely dissatisfied or short changed etc.

Even if you had had Windows 95 you would not accept the restrictions of the
Starter Editions

Some Highlights

Basic Differences
You can create multiple user accounts in Windows Vista Starter, but fast
user switching is unavailable. In Windows Vista Starter, right-clicking
opens the same shortcut menus available in Windows Vista Home Basic.

In Windows Vista Starter, a user can only open three programs at a time.

Entertainment
In Windows Vista Starter, you can do many of the same entertainment-related
tasks that you can do in Windows Vista Home Edition. For example, you can
download pictures from your camera, edit and organize these photos using
programs that come with your camera, and send pictures by e-mail to family
and friends. You can burn a CD using the built in features of the operating
system. The basic features in Windows Movie Maker can also be used to edit
movies. Media cannot be streamed from a Windows Vista Starter computer.

The following advanced features are disabled in Windows Vista Starter:

• DVD video authoring
• Direct Media Mode (Hot Start)
• Media Center Features
• Limited Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) cannot establish inbound connections
• High Definition Publish from Movie Maker (high definition home movies)
• High Def capture from HDV camcorders
• Advanced Photography
• Premium games (for example, 3D chess, Shanghai Solitaire)
• Windows Codec package (for example, Dolby and mpeg2 decoders) for DVD
movie playback and editing movies
• Windows Media Player network sharing service

Networking and Sharing
A Windows Vista Starter computer can connect to the Internet using a
wireless, dial up, or high-speed connection, and can access a server using a
variety of protocols. A Windows Vista Starter computer can be connected to
the Internet through a router. Windows Vista Starter computers can access
the resources on another computer, but cannot share its resources with
another computer. You cannot connect to a Windows Vista Starter computer
from another computer using Remote Desktop Connection, but you can connect
to another computer from a Windows Vista Starter computer using Remote
Desktop Connection. Even though you cannot access a Windows Vista Starter
computer using Remote Desktop Connection, Remote Assistance can access a
Windows Vista Starter computer.

Computers running Windows Vista Starter cannot do the following:

• Connect to a domain.
• Share its resources such as printers and data.
• Share its Internet connection with other computers.
• Belong to an ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network.
• Create a network bridge to join two or more networks together. However, a
Windows Vista Starter computer can communicate with computers on a different
network if someone on another non-Windows Vista Starter computer has created
a bridge between the networks. If you still can’t connect to a share, make
sure that the Ipsec policy allows connection to computers that are in the
workgroup.

Printers
In Windows Vista Starter, you can print using a printer that is connected
directly to the computer or a printer that is shared on a non-Windows
Starter Edition computer. The printer connection can be set up using
protocols like SMB and LPR, or via a hardware print server.

More details at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7e-a254-4658-b941-4ba21ae371e2&DisplayLang=en

 

[John Locke]

Will Microsoft ever simplify Vista for older computers? But at the same time
be able to keep everything looking the same as the more complex ones, like
keeping the AERO(C) interface. I think this would push Vista in the righ
direction and get Microsoft alot more sales, my PC is not Vista compatible
and I would love to have the Home Premium! Please Microsoft!

I'm in the same boat. I have several computers at home that aren't
Vista ready. I have 12 more at work. Two of those are at the bare
minimum. I can't afford to upgrade all those machines.

I'm hoping that Microsoft will do the smart thing and reintroduce a
revamped version of XP (XP 2007 ?) without the DRM, the UAC and all
the rest of the stuff I don't need. I'm sure they are capable of
producing a streamlined OS and would it definitely be a big seller.

It a nice thought, but giving people what they want in an OS is not
currently within the realm of the Microsoft philosophy. And there are
major pressures from the entertainment industry, contracts
with PC suppliers and agreements with hardware manufacturers
that complicates things. Their main objective right now appears
to be AACS...get it in place and working.

Unless Microsoft suffers major financial catastrophe, you will
probably be looking at a Vsta future.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

I'm in the same boat. I have several computers at home that aren't
Vista ready. I have 12 more at work. Two of those are at the bare
minimum. I can't afford to upgrade all those machines.

I'm hoping that Microsoft will do the smart thing and reintroduce a
revamped version of XP (XP 2007 ?) without the DRM, the UAC and all
the rest of the stuff I don't need. I'm sure they are capable of
producing a streamlined OS and would it definitely be a big seller.

It a nice thought, but giving people what they want in an OS is not
currently within the realm of the Microsoft philosophy. And there are
major pressures from the entertainment industry, contracts
with PC suppliers and agreements with hardware manufacturers
that complicates things. Their main objective right now appears
to be AACS...get it in place and working.

Unless Microsoft suffers major financial catastrophe, you will
probably be looking at a Vsta future.

John, If you have machine now running a supported OS then continue to run
them.
If you require the functionality and features of a new OS then there is no
point in complaining that your kit is not up to the job - if you cannot meet
the minimum spec then you can't run it period.
BUT bare in mine what the minimum spec for Vista is - it is probably not far
off what you have now - but you may not have access to all new features such
as Aero etc, but will then compromise you ability to do your job - again if
you need the extra functionality then you need a system capable of running
it.
A minimum spec Vista machine with a few minor tweaks
to disable certain functions can certainly be used for day to day office
productivity application use and other apps.

Frankly I find this conversation very odd - if you have a running XP machine
now then why do you want a feature derelict Vista on the same machine when
your machine will probably run XP and .Net 3.0 , WinFX, Office 2007 etc - so
what feature of Vista do you want that your old machine is not capable of
running that you think would be left in and function in any "cut down" Vista
??

 

[john]

I'm in the same boat. I have several computers at home that aren't
Vista ready. I have 12 more at work. Two of those are at the bare
minimum. I can't afford to upgrade all those machines.

I'm hoping that Microsoft will do the smart thing and reintroduce a
revamped version of XP (XP 2007 ?) without the DRM, the UAC and all
the rest of the stuff I don't need. I'm sure they are capable of
producing a streamlined OS and would it definitely be a big seller.

That would defeat the entire purpose, which as always, is to force users to
buy all new hardware AND software.

 

[nobody]

Will Microsoft ever simplify Vista for older computers? But at the same time
be able to keep everything looking the same as the more complex ones, like
keeping the AERO(C) interface. I think this would push Vista in the righ
direction and get Microsoft alot more sales, my PC is not Vista compatible
and I would love to have the Home Premium! Please Microsoft!

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...5fd&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

MS Released Windows Foundation for Legacy PC last year. It is only for
SA subscribers though and it not offered for sale to ends users. It is
the scaled down version of XP SP2 that runs on old hardware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Fundamentals_for_Legacy_PCs

It would be nice if they would sell this retail but that would cut
into OEM computer makers sales of new PCs. A VISTA equilvalent would
be even nicer.

 

[Jeffrey S. Sparks]

If you have XP why on earth would you downgrade to Vista Starter Edition?
XP has more features than starter edition does.

Jeff

 

[Jeffrey S. Sparks]

Ok, lets take out all of the features such as Aero, indexing, everything
that we can to make vista run on older machines. Now whats the reason to
upgrade to it?

As software becomes more advanced and adds more features it is going to get
larger requiring more memory, hard drives, faster CPU etc... It's called
technical evolution.

I suppose you wish they could make dial-up internet as fast as cable
internet too?

Jeff

 

[Mark Rae]

As software becomes more advanced and adds more features it is going to
get larger requiring more memory, hard drives, faster CPU etc... It's
called technical evolution.

I've *never* understood why this utterly obvious concept remains so
incredibly difficult for some people to grasp...

 

[Wrecklass]

I suppose you wish they could make dial-up internet as fast as cable
internet too?

Bad example, as DSL works over standard phone lines without rewiring
anything at all. So without any change to the hardware that comes into
your house, you get MUCH faster network connectivity. Yes, you need to
have a router, but the technology rides on top of your current phone lines.

 

[Jeffrey S. Sparks]

Bad example, as DSL works over standard phone lines without rewiring
anything at all. So without any change to the hardware that comes into
your house, you get MUCH faster network connectivity. Yes, you need to
have a router, but the technology rides on top of your current phone
lines.

You still won't get dial up to be as fast as DSL either...


If you want to get technical, cable and telephone lines are both made of
copper but either way dial up will never be as fast as cable or dsl...

Jeff

 

[John Locke]

I've *never* understood why this utterly obvious concept remains so

incredibly difficult for some people to grasp...

I think the problem might be that people perceive the technical growth
of Vista to be unnecessary. AACS, UAC, desktop indexing, etc. etc.

Why not incorporate a really good file manager, an effective disk
management system, a home network monitoring system...things
that are useful for everyday processing.

 

[Christopher L. Estep]

I think the problem might be that people perceive the technical growth
of Vista to be unnecessary. AACS, UAC, desktop indexing, etc. etc.

Why not incorporate a really good file manager, an effective disk
management system, a home network monitoring system...things
that are useful for everyday processing.

Technical growth has nothing to do with it.

Desktop indexing actually started with *Windows 2000 Professional*, and was
standard. (It was in Windows XP as well; in both OSes it was called
Microsoft Index Server.)

UAC is a security measure (would you run Windows XP without security
*deliberately*?).

AACS is part of iTunes, not Vista (and can be added to Windows XP as well).

I run Windows Vista (Ultimate, no less) on a three-year-old PC without
issues (how old a PC are you talking?).

Be more specific in the questions you are asking about, please.

Christopher L. Estep

 

[Don]

I think the problem might be that people perceive the technical growth
of Vista to be unnecessary. AACS, UAC, desktop indexing, etc. etc.....

That's my cue to interrupt )

There is only one feature of Vista that is really mandatory: UAC!

<Rant>
The rest is eye-candy and marketing fluff which (unhappily) is full
of bugs and is forcing unnecessary hardware upgrades. That's pissing
people off. No one wants Vista to succeed more than I do, because
the internet will be a *much* safer place if it does.

Look at automobile ads: sex and horsepower seem to trump safety and
fuel economy every time. The consumer is more to blame than Microsoft
at this point, for spending big bucks to chase phony marketing dreams.
</Rant>

 

[John Locke]

Desktop indexing actually started with *Windows 2000 Professional*, and was

standard. (It was in Windows XP as well; in both OSes it was called
Microsoft Index Server.)

The Vista search/index feature is completely new and has performance
issues. The processes (SearchProtocolHost, SearchFilterHost,
SearchIndexer) run even when you are doing other tasks.
This has been reported by many users.

UAC is a security measure (would you run Windows XP without security
*deliberately*?).

I don't want security they way it was implimentend in Vista. Just
plian annoying.

AACS is part of iTunes, not Vista (and can be added to Windows XP as well).

You are wrong. Windows Vista includes an extensive reworking of core
OS elements in order to provide content protection.

Please get your facts straight.