For those contemplating the VISTA O.S. vs XP O.S for FSX might want to read this article.

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

While cruising on various sites discussing VISTA, I found what is the most concise RED FLAG warning article for deciding to **NOT** leave XP behind in favor of VISTA.I put this here as many of you would be considering this move if it could garner another few FPS using FSX.I **SERIOUSLY** recommend you at least read this one article before making any such moves. It will make you a little bit better informed.http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/175801P.S. If this article raises eyebrows, it might also be a good idea to go out and grab a full-install RETAIL of XP Pro. as it is the most powerful XP version. Just a thought.... I'd imagine (IMO) that Microsoft will want to see the supply of XP (any version) dry up as soon as possible....following the release tomorrow of VISTA. Now I can see WHY!!!!!Mitch R.

[aerdt 0]

In plain English: MS added additional protection mechanisms, which will make it harder, if not even impossible to run a pirated version of Vista. They also added their own spyware tool (which can also be uninstalled), which could delete malicious software files.Pat

[Guest Logan826]

Pat, That's quite a bit less then what I read into this. It sounded more like MS had a considerable amount of control over my pc dictating what I could have and could not have on my pc. Not trying to start a flame, but read the article again. I read it twice and picked up alot more then what you said in "plain english" :)Dan

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

Oh...they (M.S.) have applied a lot more 'English' than what you seemingly wish to acknowledge. No matter, your right to your perception of the article.For myself, I'm running, not walking to grab a retail of XP Pro tomorrow.Just the fact alone that they (M.S.) in collaboration with Hollywood are willfully sabotaging HD-DVD Blu-Ray visualization quality, etc, content and I get to PAY FOR THIS?!?!?VISTA will impact the user FAR greater than the bounds of flight simulation and the rendering of it.K.M.A Microsoft, is what I say back..... I'll speak tomorrow with my wallet.Cheers!Mitch R.

[aerdt 0]

What does Blu-Ray have to do with the original topic?I think that the EULA is vastly over-hyped. It states that you don't own the software, but lease it from MS. All this talk about invading the user's privacy is just hysteric banter and taken right off the set of Hollywood hacker movies.Fact is that with the start of the industrial age 150 years ago, technology is something completely non-transparent and foreign to us and outcries for the coming of the next doomsday have become common.I have heard similar urban myths about the use of GPS that the government will track your position and about cameras embedded in television tubes to lurk into your home. The amount that MS/Vista is spying on you is just yet another one.If you're all so paranoid, then you shouldn't use the Internet, don't use email or instant messaging, don't use any credit cards, don't bank online and/or store any information on your computer, because who knows what AOL, your bank or the hard disk manufacturer does with your data? Do you know?To all the people so seriously frustrated that Microsoft doesn't let you install a copy of Vista that has been downloaded illegally or violates DRM: Don't use it! Personally, I don't mind even a short call to MS, if the activation fails. I did so numerous time with my XP installations and never had a problem.Fact is that MS has to comply with international privacy laws and cannot simply "spy" on you, nor has the capabilty or intention to.Sorry, but all those conspiracy theories are getting really old.Pat

[Sesquashtoo 2,846]

Right on topic.Replacing W98 or XP with VISTA so as to run FSX is not going to be as per the user's computer an 'isolated' environment.Want to run Vista?Be ready to deal with all that comes with the good AND BAD, when you close FSX.Right on topic, as there are users that will ONLY consider going beyond XP as a result of their wishing for better performance of their 'on-topic' usage as per VISTA.Cheers!P.S.BTW, who at ALL in this thread is referencing pirating and illegal USAGE and INSTALLATION of a pirated VISTA, than of course yourself? We are talking about the ramifications of using a purchased and legal copy of Vista. What else?Mitch

[W2DR 1,860]

As some of us have said all along, the decision to upgrade or not should have nothing to do with FSX. It's all the "other stuff" that's important. It's hard for me to believe that anyone would, at this point in time (or perhaps ever), give up XP Pro for Vista, but... to each his own.Doug

[Guest SoarPics]

To all the people so seriously frustrated that Microsoft doesn't let you install a copy of Vista that has been downloaded illegally or violates DRMThat's a long leap you took there with that comment.The pirates are not concerend about the DRM in Vista. They'll crack the package very quickly (some have already). The folks who are concerend about Vista are those buying it and are genuinely concerend that the developer has covered his rights at the expense of the consumer's rights. Finally, the developer can claim the customer is only "leasing" the software, but most consumers believe just the opposite. They believe they are buying a product. And in the end it will be the consumers (and their money) that will have the final word.

[FTD1949 0]

>What does Blu-Ray have to do with the original topic?>>I think that the EULA is vastly over-hyped. It states that you>don't own the software, but lease it from MS. All this talk>about invading the user's privacy is just hysteric banter and>taken right off the set of Hollywood hacker movies.>>Fact is that with the start of the industrial age 150 years>ago, technology is something completely non-transparent and>foreign to us and outcries for the coming of the next doomsday>have become common.>>I have heard similar urban myths about the use of GPS that the>government will track your position and about cameras embedded>in television tubes to lurk into your home. The amount that>MS/Vista is spying on you is just yet another one.>>If you're all so paranoid, then you shouldn't use the>Internet, don't use email or instant messaging, don't use any>credit cards, don't bank online and/or store any information>on your computer, because who knows what AOL, your bank or the>hard disk manufacturer does with your data? Do you know?>>To all the people so seriously frustrated that Microsoft>doesn't let you install a copy of Vista that has been>downloaded illegally or violates DRM: Don't use it!>Personally, I don't mind even a short call to MS, if the>activation fails. I did so numerous time with my XP>installations and never had a problem.>>Fact is that MS has to comply with international privacy laws>and cannot simply "spy" on you, nor has the capabilty or>intention to.>>Sorry, but all those conspiracy theories are getting really>old.>>Pat Pat, You should read the article again. Here is part of the article. "Vista's legal fine print includes extensive provisions granting Microsoft the right to regularly check the legitimacy of the software and holds the prospect of deleting certain programs without the user's knowledge. During the installation process, users "activate" Vista by associating it with a particular computer or device and transmitting certain hardware information directly to Microsoft." They aren't theories..they are fact. If you want to install a drivers for your graphics card and it's unsigned MS can simply stopyou from using it...period...no questions asked...and you might endup stitting there starting at a blank screen. Microsoft has the rightwith Vista to revoke drivers. Same thing is possible with audio drivers, codecs, etc. Fact not fiction. Craig

[Guest fireflyfx]

So Vista is basically spyware then?

[FTD1949 0]

Couldn't agree with you more Greg. Sooner or later folks will see the light. Try and buy a machine (as an avg. consumer) after today and your going to get Vista...that's it. Craig

[Guest N247K]

Microsoft's future is "HOLLYWOOD" ... and NOT (are you sitting down?) ... Flight Simulator.VISTA is all about multi-media, and that includes movie / TV watching, "YouTubing" (which they want badly), and photo / video -sharing, and "messaging" folks about a recent "oh my gosh!".Microsoft plans to remove those pirated movies and copies of "Office" through VISTA ... and, you'd better jettison those porn clips.I dislike to think it, but our kind of the species is already "tagged" and in an evolutionary death spiral.Get a "box" to Flight Sim with "XP" on, and another to watch movies with the bride and kids.That's where the world is as I write!I'm with you ... and I'm doing just that.

[NWarty 0]

After reading this about the motion picture industry's involvement with Vista and then Universal Music Group's sharing of MS's Zune profits. You have to wonder, exactly how many Media companies/entities have their hands in Microsoft's cookie Jar and vice versa?

[Kosta 122]

Good thing that I'm not an average consumer then ^^ I build my owns PCs, I configure them manually. I seriously doubt that MS will EVER get into my PC, XP or VISTA.

[aerdt 0]

...and the problem is? I would be more than happy to have only certified drivers on my system. It is a simple way for MS to control the quality of the drivers. It is usually not the out-of-the-box OS that creates instability, but poorly written and implemented drivers.As for the codecs: I don't have a problem with that either. If it's illegal or pirated, then I won't use it anyway. It'll only punish the hackers and pirate junkies - not me.Pat