The inevitable flood of Vista Beta 2 reviews are starting, and today there are two prominent reviews. Tom’s Harware UK has spent 500 hours with Vista and given it a general thumbs up in its screenshot heavy review. Ars Technica also takes a look at the progress of Vista, but trivializes some larger Vista features, such as the completely rewritten Windows Mail.
Windows Vista Beta 2 Reviews Trickling In
About The Author
Adam Scheinberg
Technology Executive • Web Developer • Father • Foodie • Music Snob • OS enthusiast
Follow me on Mastodon @[email protected]
and as I’ve used Windows for a long time, there is no drastical change in the user interface. May be roughly I can say that the UI is designed by programmers that have a little sense of art, while MacOSX’s UI is designed by artists. Vista is better than previous version, but not much. Sure there are many points besides UI, e.g. security, stability, etc, but the most visible to the user is the UI, and Apple is the winner in this area.
It askes you to select a wallpaper at install? What an odd mindset these people have.
Nevertheless, I think it was about time for Microsoft to catch up a little on the recent GNOME and KDE development.
What I was missing in this review: Is it possible with Aero to have virtual desktops (like KDE)?
But I also spotted some nice features I would like to see coming to the Linux Desktops (like a simple video editing tool which just works), I am currently only at KDE 3.4 so maybe some work is already done. All in all I guess I think it is what it should be: No big leap away from the usual Windows experience (to make it less frightening for the masses), introducing some nice gadgets.
This is extensive to say the least.
But is it me, or does it begin to feel like that Vista needs a million dialog boxes, a million options, a million requests for your permission to do what OS X does with almost no dialogs.
Take network management in OS X for example. One preference pane controls most of everything and it’s very simple, even for one of OS X’s most complex preference panes.
The sheet amount of Yes/No’ing needed in Vista is shocking.
“but trivializes some larger Vista features, such as the completely rewritten Windows Mail.”
Windows Mail isn’t completely rewritten, it’s a rebranded Outlook Express. It even has the same interface as before with elements borrowed from Outlook 2003.
Windows Mail isn’t completely rewritten, it’s a rebranded Outlook Express.
Dude, you could not be more wrong.
While it may LOOK a little like OE, the indexing of the Mail files has been completely changed. The way the program works is fundamentally different in the most elemental ways – emails are stored as individual files instead of in a single database file. The program is no longer hooked to IE and is no longer a requirement of the OS. It also has a Bayesian and phishing filter. You can see more in the video here: http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=116711
Edited 2006-06-01 16:44
How *ASTONISHING*! They really use this … multi file .. storage thing?!
This has to be a _major_ rewrite!
Others do this for .. years, even support multiple formats (OMG!) for .. years, well I would guess this is a 1 man 1 week job (altering the storage).
And I bet the new format is still not maildir or mh compatible, eh?
I’ve seen enough of this bussiness “programmers” people who tell you every fart they write is a major step and blah blah blah. And this is just exactly what happens on channel9.
I’ve seen enough of this bussiness “programmers” people who tell you every fart they write is a major step and blah blah blah.
What is the basis for your skepticism? Do you have any basis, or are you just slamming Microsoft for no reason?
Is the fact that UI isn’t different enough the reason for your doubt?
If it was about the UI (as most parts of Vista seem), it wouldn’t be a “completely rewritten”.
It’s just what you told. File format. What a big change. In your news entry you write “completely rewritten”, which is not true. It’s another piece of software, partially rewritten.
I don’t understand your rationale. The video, which you obviously didn’t watch, is of the programmers explaining all the changes to the application.
You think that since it LOOKS a little like the old UI, it’s not a rewrite. And you dismiss features that are a major change to the way the app works. But you have no basis for anything you’re saying, no proof other than your obstinate insistence. You’re just blowing smoke.
The developers *have* explained how the internals of the application have changed. You’ve just ignored it.
It’s not just the file format.
Windows Mail now uses the fs as a database rather than having some crappy OCX file being it’s own database.
Each piece of mail is stored invididually on the haarddrive, as are contacts.
Not to mention the app itself can handle a LOT more than OE6 could.
Ford Perfect knows it’s not a new file format but stored in the filesystem. That’s what “maildir” is, that he mentioned. It’s standard for storing mail.
As for storing contacts in the file system, I don’t know anything about it.
Where are all the guys who’ve been towing the MS party line that we wouldn’t see the final Aero theme until Beta 2? It looks the same to me as it has since the “re-set” in 2004.
http://www.osnews.com/permalink.php?news_id=13456&comment_id=89834
Boy, do I seem like an idiot now.
http://www.osnews.com/subthread.php?news_id=13456&comment_id=89834
but trivializes some larger Vista features, such as the completely rewritten Windows Mail.
A new version of Outlook Express is trivial. Corporate users use Outlook. Home users use webmail. I think Ars can be excused for being nonplussed by a slightly new version of msimn.exe. Wasn’t the last update to that program like 6 years ago?
The worst part of Vista is the new explorer interface, IMHO. It’s terrible. I’m no longer allowed to use deep directory trees and to browse them like I was used to.
I’ll switch to the KDE filemanager if this is going to be Vista.
Maybe I’m missing something, but how exactly can you no longer aloud to use deep directory trees?
get a copy of a beta and try for yourself. of course, you can create and “navigate”through deep folder structures, but it really sucks compared to win9x / win2k / winxp. it’s like they try to discourage it.
Really? I like it better because of the new breadcrumb bar.
I’ve been running the beat for a month now and I have no idea what you are talking about.
get a copy of a beta and try for yourself. of course, you can create and “navigate”through deep folder structures, but it really sucks compared to win9x / win2k / winxp. it’s like they try to discourage it.
Bah! Are you still using Explorer? That’s like sooo 90’s
In the Ars review, the author mentions there’s no way to disable the Elevation prompt. However, it really can be disabled:
Run (or from cmd.exe) –> gpedit.msc –> Computer Configuration –> Windows Settings –> Security Settings –> Local Policies –> Security Options
User Accout Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode –> No Prompt
User Accout Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode –> Disabled
User Accout Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account –> Disabled
cmd.exe –> gpupdate
That should disable it for the Admin level users, should you feel inclined to do so at your own risk.
It does nothing and isn’t any prettier than SuSE 10.1 with the appopriate drivers installed. At the moment it’s no better than Linux with Xgl (either using GNOME or KDE) and when KDE 4 (and Gnome 3, maybe) come out, Vista will be left in dust yet again.