Computer Borders

Vista and freeware: two extremely different (often not compatible) ways of thinking! February 20, 2007

During the last week, we received some comments about the difficulties that some users (Bob Titus, for example) have in using freewares on PC with Vista installed. Unfortunately, till now we have not found a possible solution for this matters. Somewhere on the web, we read that the architecture of Vista strongly limits the possibility to install “independent=not verified” software because the main goal of this new OS is the security; in few words Vista prefers not to risk with “independent” (not verified but often free) softwares. We are not experts so we prefer don’t tell you our personal ideas about Vista, we simply prefer to remind you that, for example, Apple “recommends, however, that customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes which will be available in the next few weeks”. For this reason Apple launched the iTunes Repair Tool for Vista 1.0. We personally think (and hope) that in a couple of months new versions of the freewares we normally use (and introduce you) will be launched. Another possibility could be a multi task “repair tool” or a “passport” which will allow all us to continue using freewares and decide ourselves how and how often we want to take risks from “independent” software. If someone knows one or more solutions, please, let us know (at the moment, I am so disappointed that migrating definitively to Linux is the only solution I have in my mind)!

Update (21 Feb. 2007): We suggest to use Windows Vista Update Advisor before upgrading to Vista. This small Microsoft’s software allow you to know how many freewares (if any) will not be compatible with the new OS after the upgrading. The Update Advisor seems to work properly and it could represent a more conscious way to decide if and when upgrade to Vista.

Update (22 Feb. 2007): Today we found some extra information about Vista compatibility on the Microsoft website. Microsoft released an official list of compatible softwares for its new OS. The softwares are divided into two different categories: “Certified for Windows Vista” and a more generic “Works with Windows Vista”. Unfortunately these lists are dramatically short if we consider the huge amount of software (and freewares) we normally use everyday. Moreover, Microsoft released also the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 for users who want to check deeper the “impact of operating system updates” before upgrading to Vista.