Subject:Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Posted by: Zacchino

Date:11/15/2005 6:36:50 AM

Is anyone aware if Microsoft will get closer to the Pro Audio customers with Windows Vista ?

I mean, is this OS going to be a real benediction for us, or more like another bloated OS from which we'll still have to cut some "fat" (i.e. slipstream installation, tweaks, etc.) ? I'm wondering if I have to spare money for a stable XP 64bit Edition, or wait for this next major OS release... I know it's a bit early, but I just don't wanna find myself buying a 64bit hardware equipment and finding out it's not any better because the OS is bloated...

This post on the subject is quite interresting... It's talking about Floating point in WinVista. Larry Osterman's Weblog : Windows Audio Quality Enhancement

This other one, is talking about Windows' Audio enhancements during the years, and where they're heading to right now : Click here and scroll down to Dugq's post

Here is a list of all the different editions of WinVista (any guess which one will be the best to choose ? Mine is Vista Pro Edition N, without the windows media bling blings) : Paul Thurott's Supersite - Windows Vista Product Editions Preview

Any ideas ?

Subject:RE: Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Reply by: Spectralis

Date:11/15/2005 3:10:48 PM

I think MS will be suprised if many people opt for the N editions. I think this is likely because I and many I know use freeware to replace the bloat (mediaplayer) that comes with XP.

The last think I'm looking for in an OS is bloatware so the more stripped down version I can buy the better IMO.

The MS strategy of multiple OS isn't new but this time they've gone bezerk. I'm confused just reading about all the different options. Isn't the best strategy in business to keep it simple?

Subject:RE: Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Reply by: Ben 

Date:11/16/2005 9:29:19 AM

Agreed, Spectralis - this is nuts! Didn't know about this until I just checked that link. Eekkk. Surely, surely, surely... one would hope... they gotta simplify this before Vista hits the market...?

Otherwise, I think a lot of people will just go "*f*** it, I'm gonna stick with what I know", and carry on using XP. I certainly don't want to spend hours upon hours deciding which version of Vista is right for me. I think Microsoft have lost the plot!

[Btw, I can't work out whether 'Vegas Vista' sounds cool or ridiculously cheesy. I think the former...]

Ben

Subject:RE: Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Reply by: Spectralis

Date:11/16/2005 11:07:25 AM

Another issue I have with bloatware is security. If Vista incorporates everything then hackers will have a field day exploiting security flaws. I definitely prefer my software to come from a variety of sources not just one mega corporation.

Subject:RE: Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Reply by: Weevil

Date:11/18/2005 5:55:30 PM

I’d wait and see the product before I started clanging the chimes of doom.

All the fancy graphics stuff will be handled by your graphics card so it won’t be sucking any juice from your cpu. On top of that you’ll be able to turn it all off and go back to a classic XP theme.

They are totally rewriting the audio core of the OS including a bunch of low level APIs spaciffically written for pro audio. XP is going to look like an audio dinosaur in comparison.

Same with the security stuff, Vista is going to be massively more secure than XP.

I’m not saying that it is all going to be perfect, just pointing out that you shouldn’t look at one or two features and make presumptions from that.

I’m beta testing the new version of office. If that is any sort of indication then Windows Vista is going to be absolutely sensational...

Subject:RE: Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Reply by: Spectralis

Date:11/18/2005 10:22:03 PM

We're going by the info that MS has disclosed. Minumum requirements seem pretty high.

A lot of bloat can be switched off in XP but a lot of it is hardwired in like IE. And some of this bloat is what creates security compromises.

I'm happy with XP and a 64 bit version would do me fine. I'm not having security problems because I use third party protection. I'm sure Vista will have many innovations but the way MS is marketing it doesn't seem to inspire confidence in anyone so far.

I can't see how the Office beta really indicates very much about Vista.

Subject:RE: Windows Vista and Pro Audio...

Reply by: Weevil

Date:11/19/2005 3:05:33 PM

??? Errr my understanding is that Microsoft are spaciffically not saying anything about minimum requirements because they don’t know what they will be yet. Won’t be released for another full year yet, hell of a lot of tuning to go. A friend of mine is testing Vista and says it running very happily on his pretty modest machine.

IE isn’t hardwired into XP, just go to Add or Remove Programs and take it out if you want. Same with Media Player, Outlook Express, Messenger, etc.

At the moment most of the marketing for Vista is targeted at 3rd party software and hardware developers, letting those people know about all the different facets of the system. I expect it all to become a hell of a lot more focused closer to the release date when they actually start targeting end users.

It was an offhand comparison with the development of office 12. I said ‘if’ that is any sort of indication, not that there was necessarily a direct link...