Ok lets start off by simply stating that everyone who has used both windows Xp and Vista preferrs Xp right? Well Microsoft dont really like that.

Microsoft have started up a “Fat or Fiction” quiz to help you to see just how good Vista is and to help you to sell Vista to your nearest and dearest and any schmuck that walks in off the street. This little quiz comes with an offer of a free Vista polo shirt and a chance at a $15000 prize but then again its Australia only so most people wont care about it much. But wait… if its an Aussie only thing why should we at IG care? Well its just too funny not to have a look at it.

Well first things first the site for “Fact or Fiction” runs Microsoft Silverlight which is in my own personal opinion a complete waste of Microsofts time and resources. I may be proven wrong but not any time soon. Anyway you go in and agree to the terms and conditions and start right into the swing of things.

QUESTION 1

Windows Vista sold more copies than any other Microsoft operating system (Including Windows Xp) in its first month.

Ok thats fair enough. The reason of course for this may have been that fact that we have been waiting for this offering for a completely unreasonable amount of time and we are now realising how terrible it is. After all more and more companies selling Vista machines offer downgrades to Xp…. Wait a minute. Are Microsoft still counting those machines in their statistics?

QUESTION 2

Microsoft Vista has significant compatibility issues with hardware devices

Yes it does. I have yet to see a Vista machine that didnt have some form of problem with Vista capable parts and dont even get me started on machines without said parts. Their answer though is:

FICTION: In fact Vista now supports over 2.2 million devices - meaning the vast majority of your customers shouldnt have any compatibility issues. If in doubt our online compatibility tools can help assess your customers suitability for Windows Vista.

QUESTION 3

Same as 2 but dealig with software

Vista is still as twitchy as a crack addict after a week without a fix. Its been a horrible OS for software integration since it came into being and will remain as such until they get off their high horse and come down to our level to realise the problems tat exist. I dont see that happening though with their answer.

FICTION: With 98% (WTF?!?) of the top applications for Windows currently compatible with Windows Vista and with an additional 30-40 new releases each month its unlikely that compatibility issues will be a problem for your customers.

QUESTION 4

Windows Vista delivers all new levels of security compared to other Windows Operating Systems.

Yeah i suppose theyre right. That is if they are referring to Windows 3.1. Now yes it does have some funky security features that may be useful to some but ultimately any security you want can and should be gotten from third party applications. And hearing their answer is also nice i guess.

FICTION: Windows Vista is actually the most secure operating system released by Microsoft. Internet Explorer Protected Mode enables your customers to restrict malicious software from writing to any location beyond temporary internet files without explicit user consent. In addition User Access Control (Kill this feature NOW) better supports users runing as a standard user. This helps reduce vulnerability to security risks.

QUESTION 5

Windows Vista is expensive to deploy and run

Yes. Yes it is. Im sorry MS but it is. Its extremely espensive for what ya get and the hardware and software issues will cost hundreds or thousands in tech support and training. Its ridiculous really. Oh and heres what they say about it.

FICTION: A Microsoft funded (sounds fishy already methinks) IDC study of large scale early adopters (U.S) showed an expected annual saving of US$140 per PC due to reduced downtime and self-maintanance.

QUESTION 6

Windows Vista hasnt been popular with businesses.

Thats absolutely true. Businesses were the very first to ask for downgrades to XP. I dont see how that statement can be seen as anything other than pure FACT. Microsoft can though.

FICTION: In fact early results show that businesses are moving to vista faster than with any other version of Windows. (lots of other stuff that i cant be bothered copying out due to its obvious level of insanity)

QUESTION 7

Windows Vista is unreliable and requires more technical support than Xp

Yes it does require more. Much more in fact. I have tested the level of tech support required bu calling several (Unnamed) tech support companies and each and every time i heard an audible sigh on their end and in no less than 3 cases was told that all my problems would be solved by downgrading to XP. But then we have Microsofts answer.

FICTION: In the first 90 days after it was launched Windows Vista actually attracted 21% less technical support calls than the launch of Xp attracted over the same period.

QUESTION 8

Microsoft has been swift to notice and rectify initial issues with windows Vista.

Almost all the initial bugs vista had are still present. They removed some of the problem items when some small amount of sense came up and slapped them around a bit but that same sense must be caught in traffic heading over there for the next round of slaps. Microsoft believe thusly:

FICTION: The inbuilt diagnostic tools allow Microsoft to pinpoint the cause of system crashes application crashes application hangs and to identify missing drivers and performance bottlenecks. This feedback loop means that Microsoft can ship fixes quickly to customers through windows update and automatic update.

QUESTION 9

Windows Vista can help deliver peace of mind for parents in terms of their childrens safety.

I have to agree with this because while their parents might not realise how terrible Vista is their children as long as they are old enough to know what a computer is will avoid Vista like the plague. Its kinda hard to be put in danger by going online if you dont use the home computer to do it. This of course drives them to outside computer sources. Look after your kids in a better way parents. Please. As for what MS thinks though…

FICTION: the easy to use settings in all versions of Windows Vista (LMAO) make it simple for parents to monitor usage set time limits and control access to websites programs and games by each individual family member.

QUESTION 10

Windows Vista wont be ready until the first service pack is fully released.

MS says this is fiction and I believe it to be fiction also. Albeit for different reasons of course. Now maybe im just biased but i dont think that it will ever be ready as it stands. They would need to remove half the OS and replace it with pure coded heroine before it will attract enough popularity to call it anything but a complete failure on the part of Mircosoft. Hers what they said.

FICTION: Windows Vista is ready right now and is getting better every day. (I read this and stopped. If the first line is such a blatant lie then the rest is pointless prattle)

Now once you answer these as fact or fiction you then move on to listen to clips of what people want in regards to their OS and you then pick out the main things they want from a list and then offer them a certain form of Vista. When I had to offer Vista Ultimate to a guy who heard of media Centre I nearly laughed myself to death. Honestly if someone is stupid enough to buy the ultimate then they deserve the torment that ensues and more power to them for being able to stick such a horrible thing.

If you want to have a look at this fact or fiction debacle then you can follow the link below. Please tell your family members not to sue us for sending you there ok. We did warn you that you might die of laughter didnt we? Well im doing it now.

Fact or Fiction Requires MS Silverlight.