The new Windows will be called "Windows Vista"

Microsoft is again abusing its monopoly on windows to harm yet another source of superior innovation and creativity. What does the new Windows Vista give you?

Definition - OS - Operating System - windows is an operating system, linux is an operating system, DOS (well if you know what that is then you probably already know what an OS is)

1) A ton of promised features that will not be ready yet because they slow down an already slow OS (the new Windows will need a much faster pc to run and plenty of its features had to be cut due to their load times and other difficulties).
2) A pretty 3D desktop with absolutely zero added functionality (they call it Aero)
3) Upgrades to security and stability which may not even be that great

There is little reason to upgrade. Windows XP can do 90% of what anyone is going to care about in Windows Vista. Now here is one of the costs to choosing Windows Vista.

OpenGL

OpenGL is a 3D graphics API. If you want 3D on your pc then you will either use OpenGL or Direct3D. (for most cases)

Direct3D is Microsoft's version of OpenGL and 90% (guestimate) of it's function was stolen from OpenGL.

The new Windows Vista will not support OpenGL and trying to add OpenGL support will cause features in Windows Vista to stop working. This is supposedly due to "technical security difficulties" but the reality is that Direct3D works a lot like OpenGL (since it was a stolen idea from OpenGL) and there is no reason for OpenGL to cause any security issues. Why would Microsoft want to kill OpenGL?

OpenGL is open source, that means that anyone can enhance it and make it a better system. Microsoft hates open source because you cannot have a monopoly on open source (monopoly = all the profit goes to one dominating company)

OpenGL does not have Microsoft's name on it and most developers prefer it to Direct3D. In fact the best games use OpenGL not Direct3D (Doom 3 for example). Also, many 3D graphics cards are designed to use OpenGL and they advertise their support for it.

OpenGL works on other platforms. Playstation 3 will use the latest version of OpenGL, Macs can use OpenGL, Unix can use OpenGL, PDA's and cell phone's are being made that will use OpenGL. Direct3D only works on Microsoft products.

OpenGL is leading ahead of Direct3D technology. There is a new version of OpenGL out and since it is open source, there are a lot more minds contributing to making OpenGL better as compared to Direct3D which is only for Microsoft.

A new Xbox is coming out, pushing Direct3D (which Xbox 360 will use since its a Microsoft product) will only help with their sales and their further marketing of everything Microsoft.

OpenGL is one of the best things to happen to 3D graphics. Even Microsoft had to use it to develope their own strategy. We should not allow Microsoft to kill OpenGL. Even for those who don't care. Just remember that before you pay your next $100+ Microsoft tax, Windows Vista will not give you much more than XP already gives you. It is not worth it.

links for more info
http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=337739&PageSize=25&WhichPage=1
http://www.opengl.org/discussion_boards/cgi_directory/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000001

I'm waiting on Windows Longhorn anyway.

I wish I knew what you guys were talking about :(

Some austrian hackers already wrote a virus family for Windows Vista. It's Damon.A, Damon.B, Damon.C, Damon.D, Damon.E, and Damon.F, I believe. Google Windows Vista and you should find the report.

I'm waiting on Windows Longhorn anyway.
Vista is Longhorn, Longhorn was just the code name. It sounded better to although not too marketable :\ I hope it flops, it's little more than Win XP + a service pack.

I wish I knew what you guys were talking about :(
Basically the next Windows will screw over superior open (anyone can work on it) source technology in favor of the crappy Microsoft version. And it is all being blamed on a "security issue" when in reality they just want to sell more X-boxes and Microsoft junk.

I've also just learned that large percentage of engineering and medical imaging software rely on OpenGL. I guess all of those bridges, airplanes, power plants, and dying patients will have to wait while all of that software is rewritten to use Microsoft's version. (Although the upgrade wouldn't have to be immediate that's still a lot of stuff to upset.)

http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/08/04/HNvistaviruses_1.html

They mention about this on OpenGL.org.

Headline News:
Current plan for Windows Vista Aero will degrade OpenGL performance. Act Now to keep OpenGL a first class API under Windows. Microsoft's current plan for OpenGL on Windows Vista is to layer OpenGL over Direct3D in order to use OpenGL with a composited desktop to obtain the Aero experience. If an OpenGL ICD is run - the desktop compositor will switch off - significantly degrading the user experience. In practice this means for OpenGL under Aeroglass:

OpenGL performance will be significantly reduced - perhaps as much as 50%

OpenGL on Windows will be fixed at a vanilla version of OpenGL 1.4

No extensions will be possible to expose future hardware innovations
It would be technically straightforward to provide an OpenGL ICD within the full Aero experience without compromising the stability or the security of the operating system. Layering OpenGL over Direct3D is a policy decision more than a technical decision.

The OpenGL community should encourage hardware & software developers, as well as Microsoft to maintain OpenGL as a first class API under Windows Vista.

What can you do?:

Write to your preferred ISV, hardware developer, video card manufacturer or OEM and tell them to bring this up with Microsoft (e.g. 3Dlabs, ATI, Intel, Matrox, NVIDIA, HP, Dell). This will be the most effective action you can take.

Bring this issue up on other developer and tech-related web sites. If you have a personal blog or podcast, talk about the issue there. Windows Vista might end up being a great product, but not if OpenGL is crippled.

Meh, y'all should know that Macs are 10x better than PCs anyway.

I already posted that link 3x0tIk_I2X-7. And about the Macs, Apple is about to switch to Intel processors. That means that making Mac's and PC's compatible will be much easier, and it may even become possible to have both on the same system (on different partitions). Also, with it being easier to make software that works on both Mac's and PC's, we may not have to rely on Windows as the only option for too much longer. I'm definately going to have to learn how to program Macs.

I've been tryin to get linex for a while now, to avail :(

http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/08/04/HNvistaviruses_1.html
I heard about that, that's crazy the new Windows isn't even out and they already have viruses for it.

Yeah I know it's sad, my dad's mentioning about switching to the Linux OS in maybe like late 2006 or early 2007 when Windows Vista releases.

The only thing keeping me from having a dual install of Windows and Linux is that I have a Raid 0 array and I know there can be difficulties in setting that up on a Raid 0 array.

not a clue wit any of that means

I still say Windows 98 is the best one in the series
after that every version that came out had a lot of holes

Windows 2000, what a shambles that was lmao. So unnecessary.

^Lol...Windows 2000 had the worst virus. The Code Red one. Heh.

But as for dual booting Windows with Linux/Redhat, it's not as hard as you think. The best thing to do would be to partition your hard drive, lable the parts, AND THEN install linux.

But if you wanna start from nothing, install Linux first because it comes with GRUB and then it'll ask you to partition the hard drive to whatever (or you can have it done automatically).

What about the Windows Server 2003?

What about the Windows Server 2003? That's going to be similar to WinXP SP2, but not have as many bugs/holes.

^Lol...Windows 2000 had the worst virus. The Code Red one. Heh.

But as for dual booting Windows with Linux/Redhat, it's not as hard as you think. The best thing to do would be to partition your hard drive, lable the parts, AND THEN install linux.

But if you wanna start from nothing, install Linux first because it comes with GRUB and then it'll ask you to partition the hard drive to whatever (or you can have it done automatically).
Even if you have your Winodows on a RAID 0 array? (I do keep a full back up, so my data is safe)

oh well im chillin, im put some steriods in my computer (boosted the GB) and happily running Xp with Zone Labs..No issue.and No upgrading

There was some pics on this Vista thing. It looked crap. I think they are gonna make the version of windows harder to leak and harder to pirate or bootleg. Anyway Im not gonna get it... Spend a phew 100 for this is not worth it.

Yea, Zone Labs is tight. Get the security suit if you want a secure windows. Forget Vista.