Microsoft gives it to me good (thanks to House Party).
So dig it: I’ve been jumping back and forth between Apples and PCs (some with Windows, some with Linux, some with FreeBSD) since the early 90’s, and right now I’m smack in the middle of a “Apple Bites Ass” phase. I’m actually planning a post explaining that, so I’ll refrain from going into it right now. Suffice it to say I hate the “don’t worry about it, we know what’s best, what’s cool, and what you need” approach Apple takes, think the douche bags that spell Microsoft Windows “Micro$oft Window$ or Windoze” are moronic, simplistic idiots, and love the flexibility and do-it-yourself aspects of a PC (I built my most recent one from the ground up, fancy, goober-ey lights and giant cooling tower included).
Yeah, I even have a clear side panel so I can see the blue and red fans, the drives, the motherboard, and the cooler. What of it ?
Anyway, I will say this: Vista has shortcomings. It’s not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be, but it’s not great. In fact, for some audio programs to run optimally, I still have to boot into XP, which was written in like 1845. Yet, I still prefer it to working on a Mac these days (and I was a huge Mac evangelist for quite a while). Such is life.
So I’m looking forward to Windows 7. I’ve tried the public beta, really liked it, and have been psyched to get away from Vista. And, lucky me, I was selected by House Party to host a Windows 7 launch party. Is there anything geekier? Probably not. But, I do get a full, free version of Windows 7 Ultimate, which is worth, like 300 bucks or something, and it arrived today, two weeks before the official launch (which makes me cooler geekier than you).
My copy of Windows 7, embossed with Steve Ballmer's signature. Strangely, he has the penmanship of a serial killer.
In addition to my Signature Edition copy of Windows 7 Ultimate (in both 32 bit and 64 bit flavors if you’re interested) I got a Windows 7 puzzle for my mentally challenged side, Windows 7 cards for gambling with my children for their allowance money, and a bunch of other swag, like tote bags. But Jesus do I hate the term “tote bag.”
What’s interesting about this to me is the whole “house party” thing. Simple concept: if you go to the House Party site and sign up, you can apply to host parties for all kinds of shit (by the way, I’m not endorsing them – just telling the tale). And, if you’re selected as a host, they’ll send you a box of stuff, too. Mostly, the products are kind of chic-centric (I don’t know many guys that are into scrapbooking or garden parties), but, as in the case of the Windows 7 launch, they occasionally have some pretty neat stuff, and I happened to click an ad (I swear to god, that had to be the first banner ad I’ve clicked in a decade) that lead me to the application for the Windows 7 party. Magically, a few weeks later, I find myself awash in Microsoft goodies.
Streamers and puzzles and napkins, oh my!
Thousands of other people across the country have a box of Micorsoft swag too, having simply promised to invite people over for a geek-fest. And for those unsure of how to have a truly geeky geek-fest (and simultaneously ruin any future chance at a social life), the House Party site provides videos showing you how to sit around a computer with your guests and take turns doing things like changing the desktop background. No, I’m not kidding, that’s a suggested activity. Frankly, were I to do as they suggest, I’d have to finish the party by doing a beer bong filled with Drano.
Their silly scripted suggestions aside though, this is a pretty interesting idea, and I’ll admit to being really curious about how many people Microsoft and House Party expect to actually have parties. Obviously they know that a percentage of “hosts” will simply collect the free crap and sit in the dark, alone. I’m wondering what that percentage is.
Whatever it is though, I’ll tell you this: it may not really matter. Take me, for example: regardless of whether or not I have people gathered around my computer in a couple of weeks doing things like rearranging buttons on my taskbar (another thrilling suggestion) I’m fairly sure that Microsoft will get their marketing dollar’s worth. I’ve become more of a fan of both the company and their products recently, and my box ‘o swag will only further that trend. But not for the reasons you may think.
See, I appreciate the fact that they’re trying new things and working to gain fans, unlike Apple which either a) coasts on iPhones and iPods or b) takes the position that if you don’t use an Apple, you just aren’t cool. Fuck that noise. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Microsoft is clearly working hard to make up for Vista, and from what I’ve seen they’re doing a great job (though time will tell).
By the way, this post was written from my box running Vista. Once I publish it, I’m going to format the drive and install Windows 7. So if I don’t ever return, well, you can go ahead and forget all the nice stuff I said about Microsoft.
But Apple will still suck.
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My eyes glazed over “FreeBSD”…
I actually have no opinion over Apple vs MS anymore. I used to be a total Windows gal just because I loved to fiddle with DOS, but I have no freakin’ idea how to even get to the DOS prompt anymore with my PC.
Have fun with your…um…tote bag!
Ach – actually haven’t used FreeBSD in a while, and I use Windows on my desktop. Windows 7 actually, which I am using as I type this. Installation took a while longer than I though it might, but no snags at all, and the 64 bit version is fucking FLYING. I’m happy tonight. We’ll see about tomorrow (everyone knows I always find something to bitch about).
You didn’t bitch – you wrote a nice soap review! I fell off my chair.
But I am still getting acquainted with my IMac! (3 years later] However, most of your info about Windows is completely incomprehensible and I feel comfortable with the little I know about the world of computers. The fact is, this over 80 lady is rather smug about being a user at all!
What I meant to say-your info about Windows is completely incomprehensible to ME. I suspect you knew that already!
I used PCs for yonks, and was happy with them as machines, aside from the crap MS software that accompanied it. And I am not just talking about operating systems, the whole MS suite was pretty awful.
I have used an iMac for about 2 years now. Never a Mac believer before, as the lack of control irritated me. But now I’ve decided I’ll swap what little control MS gives you these days for reliable operating systems and software. And OpenOffice rocks.
By the way, does anyone but me find Brad’s clear side panel a wee bit scary??!!
I know how you feel Ann, but I just can’t get over my problems with Apple. And really, Windows 7 is really great. I also don’t have problems with Office, though I’ve used Open Office as well, and have the Sun version of it, Star Office, on my laptop. I still like Office better, though the PC version better than the Mac version.
Frankly, I prefer text files to all of it. Then of course there’s Google Docs, which is useble, if not as flexible as the others (and I actually don’t feel 100 percent confident in either Google OR the cloud).
If you edit true 24P HD video though, the only way to go is a PC, unless you want to shell out for the full version of Final Cut (the icky iMovie and Final Cut Express programs not only don’t support it, they import video using the Apple Intermediate Codec, which is a lossy codec that isn’t true HD).
I liked Apple better when I had a Mac tower and could switch stuff out. Now, with iMacs, if, say, your DVD drive breaks (and mine has) you are SOL and have to send the whole fucking thing to Apple, or take it to an Apple store and leave it there unless you can convince them to do a house call. YUCK. That, the ridiculous premium you pay for their products, and the fact that they’re slowly turning into a lifestyle and gadget company has turned me off.
Smug corporates of any kind are a real turn off. I agree that Apple users like to think of themselves as part of an elite club, rather than just people buying bits of plastic.
Agree also with the iMac issues, but I have to say, it is a cool looking machine, looks great on my desk (she says smugly). lol. It would scare me if something goes wrong, though, hence continual backups and a ‘just in case’ laptop!
Windows 7 may be really good, but it is pretty hard for me to get over 20 years of disillusionment with MS operating systems!
And is it my clear panel or my geeky lighting that scares you the most? I will say this: that box is stupidly fast, has over a terabyte of drive space, and cost me about a third of what a comparable Apple product would have. And like I said, Windows 7 has so far been amazing – far better than OS X has been of late (I still use and manage Macs at our store, so I’m up to date with them and the software – though there’s no way I’m dropping the money on Snow Leopard, at least not now). Not that OS X sucks completely (not like, say, the Styx song Mr. Roboto); I’m well aware of the positives as well as the negatives – I’m just burned out on the latter, and have begun to hate the company itself.
Have to say it was the geeky lighting that scared me the most! Yeah, Apple pricing is way over the top – snob appeal again. I’ve not taken Snow Leopard either – have read some iffy things about it online, so will wait until it settles down…