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Software Microsoft Announces Vista Logo Program
Marcus Yam (Blog) - October 14, 2006 3:58 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 41 comment(s) - last by blwest.. on Oct 31 at 1:03 PM
Vista logo stickers on your new PC: the next best thing to actually having the OS

While Windows Vista won't be available for sale this year, Microsoft wants every consumer to make purchases as if the new OS were already out. The software giant announced the holiday availability of PCs, software, hardware and games that will work with Windows Vista.

More than 250 hardware and software products from over 50 industry partners have received either the Certified for Windows Vista logo or the Works with Windows Vista logo created to help consumers more easily identify software and devices that are compatible with the new operating system. The Works with Windows Vista logo helps ensure compatibility, and the Certified for Windows Vista logo indicates that a particular software or device will help deliver a superior end-user experience when used with a PC running a Windows Vista operating system.

It's also been long rumored that Microsoft will offer some sort of upgrade program for PCs sold this holiday season, even though some analysts believe that the upgrade incentives will be insignificant. It's likely that PCs sold with the option to upgrade to Vista will be a part of Microsoft's logo program.

In other logo news, Microsoft said games that carry the Games for Windows logo must meet certain requirements, such as the ability to work with x64 versions of Windows Vista and support the Windows Vista Games Explorer function. Games that feature this logo and will be available for purchase this holiday season include "Company of Heroes," "LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy" and "Microsoft Flight Simulator X."

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The Logo
By Jesse Taylor on 10/14/2006 6:19:55 PM , Rating: 2
From a graphical design point of view. Why did they not add some translucency to the logo? Which seems to be part of the big deal about vista.





RE: The Logo
By wien on 10/14/2006 6:38:33 PM , Rating: 3
So you could see through to the plain white background?


RE: The Logo
By Garreye on 10/15/2006 7:02:42 PM , Rating: 2
Haha ya...you might be able to see the shadows tho...


Linux noob
By heedoyiu on 10/14/06, Rating: 0
RE: Linux noob
By heulenwolf on 10/14/2006 7:40:22 PM , Rating: 2
I made this mistake, literally. I installed linux on my grandma's computer and its been completely secure for the last 3 years because she never uses it. I admit that it didn't get used heavily before I installed linux but now it doesn't get used at all. If anyone bothered to surf to a website on it all they'd see is empty boxes for things I hadn't installed the right plug-in for. Why didn't I install those plug-ins? Because every one took several hours of dorking around, searching forums, manually editing .conf files, and pulling my hair out. Why would Grandma use it when she sees me going through all that just so someone can watch a wmv file or view a page written in flash?

Until people get involved who don't think spending 24/7 at a computer is a good idea, Linux isn't a viable alternative to Windows or OSX for most desktop users. If linux developers welcomed non-developers instead of acting like snobs by insulting them in every forum, they might get that help.


RE: Linux noob
By pepsimax2k on 10/14/2006 8:21:32 PM , Rating: 1
>>or view a page written in flash?

you'll be lucky, there's been no new version of flash for linux since v7, and that barely works with anything nowadays...


RE: Linux noob
By blwest on 10/14/2006 9:34:48 PM , Rating: 2
My grandmother runs ubuntu...


RE: Linux noob
By mindless1 on 10/14/2006 10:38:47 PM , Rating: 2
You are entirely out of touch with reality. It doesn't matter as much what CAN be hacked as much as what IS being hacked.

Suppose you have two buckets, one full of gold and one full of apples, but you can only guard one. Which is more likely taken? One is more vulnerable than the other, for reasons other than that either could hypothetically be stolen. So it goes with Vista, it could ultimately have fewer flaws and you are still at a higher risk.


How long 'till Vista is required...
By Toebot on 10/15/2006 3:10:25 AM , Rating: 2
one year, two? If not for gaming, I'd have no reason to upgrade. The whole situation with DirectX 10 really chaps my ass. I guess the only alternative to shelling out more money to the MS monster is to let Sony stick it to me instead. Oh yeah, lets talk about Linux, what was the last title ported over to that platform? How old was it and how crappy did it run? Anyone is welcome to sing the praises of Linux, but in terms of a practical desktop OS, it's worthless. No, it's worse than worthless, it's a hindrance.




By Omega215D on 10/15/2006 11:22:13 AM , Rating: 2
You should pick up the new issue of MaximumPC and find out what Vista really brings to the table before assuming that it's only Direct X and pretty interfaces.


Why
By blwest on 10/14/06, Rating: 0
RE: Why
By Predatorgsr on 10/14/2006 10:06:06 PM , Rating: 3
They don't get voted down because they say linux is good. They get voted down because, like you just did, they just say windows is crap and linux is awesome and contribute nothing to the discussion.


Cool
By cochy on 10/14/2006 4:10:37 PM , Rating: 2
Logo...exciting stuff hehe. Soon PCs will have enough stickers on them to be confused with NASCAR bodies :P




Uprader path
By crystal clear on 10/14/2006 5:06:29 PM , Rating: 2
"It's also been long rumored that Microsoft will offer some sort of upgrade program for PCs sold this holiday season,"

This is for the upgraders-

"Microsoft has released licenses for the Windows Vista operating system that dramatically differ from those for Windows XP in that they limit the number of times that retail editions can be transferred to another device."

http://www.techweb.com/wire/software/193300234





Be nice to have a list.
By Tedtalker1 on 10/14/2006 6:52:06 PM , Rating: 2
Is there a list of compatible software and hardware yet? That would make shopping much easier.




Installing any OS
By tbrand68 on 10/16/2006 9:36:55 AM , Rating: 2
without downloading the drivers and software ahead of time isn't the smartest thing to do with any OS install. Not everyone has a second computer to do this with after the fact. In the college course I teach, they do the research first, download any drivers next, and then do the install.

Saves many many headache's... this includes when installing linux.




I'll say it again
By blwest on 10/31/2006 1:03:24 PM , Rating: 2
VISTA is teh crap




Just wait...
By INeedCache on 10/14/2006 11:49:49 PM , Rating: 1
until the EU gets wind of this. I'm sure Microsoft won't be allowed to have logos in Europe.




No matter what...
By digiman on 10/14/06, Rating: -1
Yawn
By podknocker on 10/14/06, Rating: -1
RE: Yawn
By KaiserCSS on 10/14/2006 4:24:13 PM , Rating: 1
Why such a negative attitude? Personally, I'm thrilled that Microsoft is taking the initiative to create a marketing stragetgy that will allow the everyday consumer to make future PC purchasing choice. Remember, not everyone in the world is computer savvy, and Microsoft realizes this. So, to make things easier for these people, they've started to label and designate products that are compatible.

Of course, I'm just looking at it from an optimists point of view. Feel free to counter me with a valid rebuttal.


RE: Yawn
By Tsuwamono on 10/14/06, Rating: -1
RE: Yawn
By Tsuwamono on 10/14/06, Rating: -1
RE: Yawn
By Bonrock on 10/14/2006 4:52:39 PM , Rating: 4
"Vista was hacked before it was even out at a confrence of techies. They did it several months ago and showed eachother and MS that they pluged many security holes that were in XP but still left several large ones open."

A beta build of Windows Vista still had security holes in it??? Golly, that's a catastrophe! I mean jeez, you'd almost think the word "beta" meant "not done yet."