windows has not change visually that much since windows 95

i think people will not buy, the vista unless there is bigger visual change.

most people don't care about the technical bull *BLEEP*

they want new design for they OS,

OSX has very nice design

I think that despite the change in visual appearance, most people would buy Vista because of the new features.

One of the better features that I have heard was that there is no startup screen. You just boot up your computer and it boots straight to your login screen. And besides the fact of the whole OS being faster, there is supposed better security features and firewall updates.

Sure the visual appearance maybe almost the same, but performance wise, nothing can stack up to the 64 bit power of Vista.

Check out www.microsoft.com for more information on Vista and its awesome attributes.

I just visited the Microsoft website and some screenshots from the Vista preview. For the most past, it looks similar to previous versions of Windows, but it is getting slicker with every major release. Windows 3.1 looked really different, then Win95/98/2000/Me had the same look. The only difference were the features they added to make the OS faster and better. Windows XP went with a change in colour scheme and made it a bit stylish overall. Vista looks to be continuation of that, along with the improved features.

Is Vista like Longhorn. I downloaded a couple of screenshots of the Longhorn releases, and there seems to be a big visual change. I don't care about the visual aspect though, because I can change the way my computer looks with third party software without having to pay hundreds of dollars to upgrade my system to something new and buggy. Microsoft never takes their time on anything they create and if I had the time I'd learn the Linux operating system. The only thing I can appreciate about Microsoft is the ease of use and the large software community. Even though hardly anything is open source.

I think ppl will buy it just because is from microsoft not many ppl go with linux or Mac all they know is windows I dont think the visual will affect the selling of this product just because of that fact. Other think is that must of the programs are made for windows and that is one of the problems with linux and mac atleast that is my point of view. I personally will had to buy it because my computer cant run linux otherwise ill would go with a linux OS.

I admit i dont kno much about this, but i agree with cumar. I mean sure Vista and Longhorn may have better features...and make the OS preform better overall, but I think it would be nice to see a change every now and then. Windows XP (Whihc is what im currently using) took Windows 98 a step up...I think if Vista took Windows XP a step up from where its currently at, Microsoft would have an easier time advertising for it and selling it overall. People want sometihing different, I would for one.....lol does any1 agree or am i talking out my a$$

OK I have been using Linux for uhm 4 yrs, along side with Windows, because I use PhotoShop and have to use Windows for a few reasons.

What are your computers specs? Maybe then I can point you to a suitable Linux distribution

So far in Linux you these days have, a vector program (like Illustrator); graphic manip proggie The gimp (like Photoshop), music programs that play the same as Windows Media player or WinAmp (XMMS is the winamp clone sorta speak)

----

Windows Vista, the release name of Longhorn, I don't know if I am willing to spend that much money on an OS, yet I must admit that I will spend that much on Win XP Pro (I bought a new computer which had Win XP Pro pre-installed in Dutch and I only have a recovery disc)

I just think Vista has more bells and whistles than XP, but I doubt it's functionality on pc that are not the top of the bill.

where Windows is concerned I really think Microsoft should focus on gettingit to actually work properly before they start to change the visuals mostly, and as far as the technical side goes i can only comment for my self, but I think more people care about how the OS works than many people (Microsoft included) think, also you have to remember that Vista has two years of developement (at the moment anyway) to go and it will most likely change, anyway i don't really think there are too many problems with the Windows User Interface, as i've said before Microsoft should care more about making a fast, secure and stable OS than making it look nice, your right though cumar11 OSX does ,from pictures i've seen any way (must admit I use Windows XP ) have a really nice design.

Well, people that only want an OS because of his graphic environment is a bit ignorant, I think.

I mean, windows has been sucking at least till Windows 2k and XP (still sucks but it has been really improved... at last). No colourful desktop will change this fact. I want an OS that is easy (this is ok with Windows) and in which I can change anything -that features weren´t hidden to users- (and Windows XP is not like this) I don´t expect anything new from Vista in that aspect.

The new things about Vista? Probably that you need a really fast computer to run MineSweeper.

I thought Windows was for Solitaire and not for MineSweeper o_O

if you've got WinXP or higher and a current .NET framework installed you might want to give SphereXP a try, it's a pretty nice implementation of a 3-dimensional desktop and quite stable, even though it's still in an early development phase...
-> http://www.hamar.sk/sphere/