Two interesting tidbits this morning regarding Linus Torvalds and Microsoft allowing Vista downloads.

The first one I like the most because it is so blatantly obvious, Windows Vista “over-hyped”: Torvalds (Linux World):

With the imminent release of Windows Vista to consumers this month, Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux, has claimed Microsoft’s latest desktop effort is over-hyped and not a revolutionary advancement.

“I don’t actually think that something like Vista will change how people work that much,” Torvalds told Computerworld. “I think it, to some degree, has been over-hyped as being something completely new and I don’t actually think it is.”

[...]

“One of the things we will probably notice is the hardware requirements for Vista are obviously much higher, and that could end up helping Linux just because people notice that you can run Linux on machines and have it work very well even if that same machine couldn’t run Vista at all,” he said.

Sounds like any good entrepreneur talking about his company’s key competitor’s latest offering. However, Linus Torvalds doesn’t really own Linux perse he just has a vested interest in its success and who would have thought Linux would make it this far? The desktop environment is where Linux is really and truly hurting though.

Let’s think about Vista for a second and ask the question, “Who honestly wants the core functions of their operating system sucking up the most system resources?” I know I sure don’t and I’m very weary of the latest Windows OS because it seems like a major resource hog without any kind of testing on my part. I know that at work we had to completely revamp our desktop IT infrastructure to support Windows Vista. I sure hope the taxpayer dollars that were spent on that project somehow make us more productive. To be brutally honest, I sincerely hope it’s another Windows ME.

However, if you’re looking to get Windows Vista and are in North America you can do it online now. Ars Technica is reporting that:

Microsoft announced an expansion to their online sales efforts in the form of direct downloads for both Windows Vista and Office 2007. Starting on January 30, Microsoft will sell the retail editions of Windows Vista and Office 2007 on the Windows Marketplace. Customers will be able to purchase software keys and download the installation software. At launch, the program will only be available in North America, and will only support the English versions of these applications.

[...]

Windows Anytime Upgrade can be tapped by OEMs who can then set up their own software offerings for their customers. According to Microsoft, these partners can establish their own upgrade pricing, but Microsoft has made the following recommendations: Home Basic to Home Premium $79, Home Basic to Ultimate $199, Home Premium to Ultimate $159 and Business to Ultimate $139.

I think this is one of the smartest moves Microsoft has made in its distribution chain in quite some time. Considering the latest music sales numbers that are out detailing an overall music buying surge but 10% drop in CD sales I’m surprised Microsoft hasn’t done this sooner. There is also some talk of “family” licensing giving multi-computer homes a volume discount of sorts; another smart move. Maybe Microsoft should change their slogan to, “Not Dinosaur Robots Anymore!”

UPDATE 20 JAN 07:  Ron Schenone has written an article about the ability to download Windows Vista:

Well this according to Microsoft will be a “Wow” experience. Once Vista hits the road in just about ten days plus change, users of the new OS will be able to download copies of Vista including upgrades directly from the Internet. Take a look below.
Market Place Web site Opens January 29, 2007.

Read the whole article, folks.

[tags]linus torvalds, linux, windows vista, microsoft, Windows Anytime Upgrade[/tags]