Amazon's right on Vista SP1
April is apparently coming early this year.
Microsoft has abruptly changed its tune on when Service Pack 1 will start showing up on retail shelves. Microsoft said it has started shipping the full retail versions of the product as of Tuesday (in addition to making it available for download). That means that Amazon.com is indeed going to be able to start sending out copies on Wednesday, as it had billed on its Web site.
As of Monday, Microsoft told CNET News.com that retail boxed copies would not be available until "as soon as April." Apparently that information was inaccurate.
"Initially, we targeted April as a conservative estimate for Windows Vista SP1 retail availability for full packaged product," Microsoft said in a new statement on Tuesday. "We were actually able to ship sooner than originally anticipated--today, in fact. Customers should expect to see Windows Vista SP1 (boxed copies) online and on store shelves as soon as retailers can make them available--in Amazon's case, starting tomorrow."
As far as when SP1 shows up preloaded on new PCs, Microsoft apparently still thinks that will take until next month in most cases.
"We released Windows Vista SP1 to manufacturers on February 4," Microsoft said. "Since then, retailers have been working to build PCs with Windows Vista SP1 and make them available to consumers as soon as possible. Based on what we understand from our partners in retail and OEMs, April is our best estimate for availability for PCs with SP1. However, there will be certain exceptions based on individual companies' distribution models."
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Don't rip & replace. VoIP as you are
people have to PAY for it? A service pack containing fixes and
upgrades? How much does this fix cost? How much is the next one?
Before you allow VISTA into your home, do a little research. Google Palladium, Longhorn, Kill-switch, Fritz-chip, etc. and follow the (non-microsoft) links within the links.
VISTA is the first step to DRM on Steroids - DRM on EVERYTHING in your PC. It should be called "Microsoft Snoop & Poop in your PC".
WinLiveID is capable of the same thing with older software. Look before you leap!
From an article on web on TC Trusted Computing - research it (on sites OTHER than "The Trusted Computing Group's" propaganda site). Get some objective information. From one such site:
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html
"The Trusted Computing Group (TCG) is an alliance of Microsoft, Intel, IBM, HP and AMD which promotes a standard for a `more secure' PC. Their definition of `security' is controversial; machines built according to their specification will be more trustworthy from the point of view of software vendors and the content industry, but will be less trustworthy from the point of view of PC owners. In effect, the TCG specification will transfer the ultimate control of your PC from you to whoever wrote the software it happens to be running. (Yes, even more so than at present.)"
The following is a subtle way of saying that freeware authors will be locked out unless they pay an exhorbitant fee to Microsoft - meaning no more freeware for users - that is also one of MS's goals:
"TC will protect application software registration mechanisms, so that unlicensed... (i.e. "free")... software will be locked out of the new ecology."
Stopping freeware is a large part of "Trusted Computing" for vendors who are trying to SELL software that is often no better than the free offerings.
And so-called "piracy" is MS's public excuse. This technology gives them the ability to disable your older, but legitimately purchased software whenever they decide they want to coerce/force you into purchasing it again - in their newest version. Think they won't do that? They ALREADY HAVE (using WinLiveID as the vehicle, since it wasn't a "vista-ready" app.)! WinLiveID is nearly as dangerous as vista.
AND the Intel vPro chip allows them to detect your PC, remotely turn it ON in the middle of the night, "inventory" your hardware and software VERSIONS (yes, it specifically says "versions") and "bring them into compliance" by reinstalling any remote management software you have disabled, (IE Snoop & Poop in your PC) - and then disable anything they don't want you to have, including a legitimately purchased old software VERSION, and then return your PC to the state it was in (off, hibernate, etc.). And all of this takes place secretly in the dead of night, hiding its tracks so you won't know (except of course, for disabled programs and disappeared files). Don't believe it??? Read Intel's White Paper on the abilities of this "vista-ready" mobo chip at:
http://download.intel.com/products/vpro/whitepaper/crossclient.pdf?ppc_cid=EC2DSynQ11H08us_A
Don't be misled by Microsoft's and so-called "Trusted" Computing Group's (TCG) propaganda on their websites. Dig deeper for the truth. It is for VENDORS to trust that you will HAVE to buy their software because there won't be freeware any longer that does the same thing better.
Microsoft's goals for "vista-ready" are:
1. Give application vendors a chance to remotely snoop and poop in your pc whenever that app starts up, including disabling the app if they have a new version out that they want to force you to purchase and altering or deleting files. Stopping "piracy" is just one by-product of the primary goal of OVERALL CONTROL.
2. Stop applications from writers of free software from being able to run on your machine - without a monthly fee to microsoft, which will no doubt be passed on to you. Bye bye freeware.
3. Marry this to the motherboard hardware (fritz-chip) so (a) you can't disable it, and (b) they can find your machine and turn it on whenever they wish (even secretly in the dead of night) and "inventory your hardware and software VERSIONS" (yes, it SAYS "versions") and
"bring it into compliance" (re-install any remote management software you have disabled), in order to accomplish items 1. and 2.
I built a new (fritz-chip-free AMD) PC, bought XP Home SP2 RETAIL version, and all the software I think I might need it the future - just to keep VISTA off of my PC. When XP stops working, I'll look at Linux or MAC or whatever has come out in anticipation of a mass user revolt against Big Brothers.
My advice is to protect yourself - don't get a PC with an Intel vPro chip and don't use VISTA or WinLiveID. Research it IN DEPTH yourself (not just on MS & TCG propaganda sites); ignore it if you wish - but when the sky falls, think back and remember you were offered good info.
Will your Vista-ready apps run if you don't let them have unrestricted access to the internet?