Windows Vista (r) Advisory.
Xaxero Software Recommends
Windows XP, Ubuntu Linux or Mac OSX for use at sea
Identified Vista (r)
Problems With Xaxero Software:
Help Disabled by default
–
Windows help has been pulled from Vista. Follow the link that Microsoft
supplies to download Windows help from the Internet.
Weather Fax 2000 USB
pictures washed out – try first reducing the radio volume
slightly. If that
does not work increase the radio volume.
64 Bit Vista.:
SkyEye will not work at all with this OS and with zero support and the
high cost of
licensing device drivers this is unlikely to change in the near future.
If you need to run a 64 bit
OS for Memory reasons Linux and Mac are supported.
Hyper terminal Not
included: Hyper terminal is the number one fault finding tool
of Marine Software
Professionals. Not having this available will greatly increase the time
required to diagnose and fix faults.
What is wrong with Vista(r) ?
With the introduction of Vista early 2007 we experienced something
quite new in the computer
business, an operating system (OS), where the needs of the end user
were not foremost in it's
design. The main body that influenced the design was the entertainment
industry.
The core of the system is designed to fight media and software piracy
by closely monitoring
activities performed on the machine. This puts a much greater demand on
the hardware and requires a
high spec machine to be able to implement this spyware*.
The OS needs to update itself frequently without the consent of the
user so that the people behind
the OS can ensure that the end user is in compliance. Should the
controllers of the software decide
you are in non compliance the OS is disabled.
All these features do not lend themselves to a machine on a boat where
independence from the
Internet is a paramount feature followed by the machine being efficient
and economical with power usage.
All our software currently works under Vista but the “User Experience”
is not as smooth as with
Windows XP.
To Counter this Xaxero Marine Software/ SkyEye Systems LTD recommends
that users avoid Windows Vista
at all costs.
To this end we have several alternatives to those purchasing a new PC.
Insist on XP if at all possible.
All our software will run on an Apple Mac running OS X 10.4 or later.
Nearly all our software runs on Ubuntu Linux (Weather Fax 2000 is
scheduled for release late 2007). Ubuntu Linux is free and readily
available for download. It installs trouble free on the majority of PCs
and has security feature vastly superior to Windows Vista.
Vmware and Wine will allow you to run
Windows software on the PC.
Buying a Mac is normally more expensive than buying a PC but you get a
superior quality machine.
With software like Vmware Fusion or Parallels, you can run Windows
applications seamlessly with Mac
applications.
* Microsoft Corporation website
describes spyware: "Spyware is a general term used to describe
software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising,
collecting personal information, or
changing the configuration of your computer, generally without
appropriately obtaining your consent
first." Ref http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/basics/spyware.mspx
Vista Is the registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
  
We Advocate Free
Choice
Further reading:
- -
Information Week - Microsoft Suffers Latest Blow As NIST Bans
Windows Vista
- -
CNet News - Microsoft's OneCare antivirus fails another test.
- - Inquirer
- Windows piracy hunt tool phones home if aborted.
- - CRN ChannelWeb - HP
Sees Huge Linux Desktop Deals.
- - Inquirer
- OEM Vista crack gets round 'phone home' activation.
- -
SearchOpenSource.com - Microsoft Windows ousted at California
school district.
- - The
Register - Vista makes people less efficient than XP did.
- -
DesktopLinux.com - Ohio school district upgrades to Linux,
saves $412K.
- - Direct2Dell - Dell
to Expand Linux Options.
- -
Information Week - FAA May Ditch Microsoft's Windows Vista And
Office For Google And Linux Combo.
- -
Information Week - Microsoft Hit By U.S. DOT Ban On Windows
Vista, Explorer 7, and Office 2007.
- -
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Jim Allchin's Mac message: The
full text.
- - ars
technica - Microsoft files for patent on "modular operating
system".
- - Andrew Grygus - Vista
- Broken by Design.
- -
silicon.com - French MPs pick Ubuntu for Linux switch.
- -
Microsoft - Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista Product Lineup.
Links provided by Andrew Grygus - Automation Access - www.aaxnet.com - aax@aaxnet.com
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