Microsoft sez "all done" on Vista

It's been a long hard road for Vista, beginning in 2001 -- before Windows XP was even released -- as the bright-eyed bushy-tailed "Longhorn," and finally getting out the door more than 5 years later looking a little bit worse for wear, but still lumbering on. Today Microsoft announced that Vista has been released to begin manufacturing copies of the OS, putting it right on track for its November 30th release to big businesses customers, and the January 30th release to consumers. Of course, the job of an OS developer is never finished, and we're sure Microsoft is already gearing up to patch day one vulnerabilities, but we suppose the developers can have a few hours in between to crack open a cold one, plop down for a bit of Gears of War, and celebrate this monumental achievement -- at around 50 million lines of code, they sure seem to have earned it.

[Abe @ Nov 8th 2006 4:50PM]

Now onto the wait for Vista SP1!

[Attillia @ Nov 8th 2006 4:52PM]

50 MILLION LINES OF CODE!!! Wow

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Nov 8th 2006 9:06PM]

So that's one line of code per day right?

[Alex C @ Nov 8th 2006 4:54PM]

I really don't have much respect for the way they slashed feature after feature from the OS.

Yet i still feel like saying a big congratulations to Microsoft on this release. They have shaped the IT industry like no other. Not always in a good way, but impressively nevertheless.

[Deezee @ Nov 8th 2006 5:03PM]

Lookin forward to this one. I need to upgrade my system but I wanna wait for the new OS.

[DaLa @ Nov 8th 2006 5:09PM]

To Alex's point... I have also lost respect because the new file system was left out which was to be based off of SQL, and the other ones...

They can say security will be better, yatty yaatta yaa, all they want. It's the same argument for OS X, the security is only better because there is less end users to target.

Now I for one have always believed the best OS is the one with the most support. I used and loved all of MS's previous OSes for that reason. But I see no reason to upgrade from XP x64. It's rock solid and with support and a host of syware and anti-virus apps, I dont see the need to pay all that money for a 3d UI and improved built in search feature. You can download WMP 11 and IE7 and I did and removed them cause they are garbage anyhow. I'll stick with WMP 9 and firefox thank you. Security wise, XP will have a nice long ride of continued support and I will stick with it.

What are my plans for my next OS? Who knows. I think my next move is towards open source.

Vista's biggest flaw in my opinion, is it's DRM infected. I don't need that. I consider that a security risk more than all the patches you go through with XP.

[inlogic @ Nov 8th 2006 5:19PM]

I give two minutes to the first windows/microsoft bashers start appearing along with lame Virus & adware jokes.

[pito189 @ Nov 8th 2006 5:20PM]

How man lines of code is OSX? Just out of curiosity.

[jg013d @ Nov 8th 2006 5:23PM]

50 Million lines of code can't be wrong!

[For English, Press 1 @ Nov 8th 2006 5:25PM]

Stop with the "sez." 3rd time this week in a story. Try to at least have a shred of credibility to your reporting by using the English language. We only have a few years left in this country speaking English; don't butcher it.

[CharlieX @ Nov 8th 2006 5:36PM]

You know the vernacular is changing, and all the geezers will get left behind. fo shizzle.

[Lane @ Nov 8th 2006 5:54PM]

Why do commenters insist that this website is a "news" site subject to a Journalistic Code of Honor? It's just a bunch of kids talking about gadgets. If you find it provides useful information, read it, if not, feel free to read something else. Really, chastising the (likely poorly paid) writers of this website for an attempt at a casual colloquialism to cut through the necessarily technical language of the subject matter is annoying and largely misses the point.

[Jim Snyder @ Nov 8th 2006 7:44PM]

It annoys me too. I like the gadget news here but apparently they have a 10 year old audience they're trying to stay hip to. It's sad.

[Justin France @ Nov 8th 2006 8:09PM]

What a joke - it's a blog.

If you really care that much for the way language is used go to the WSJ, read Pogue and STFU.

[the other steve jobs @ Nov 8th 2006 5:38PM]

I know from close friends that Apple employees get a beer bash the day after its gone gold and on to the copiers. Then, they start cracking on software updates.

this is why Mac OS X is continuously better while Windows users have to wait for-fscking-ever to get service packs.

[MarkZ @ Nov 8th 2006 7:53PM]

"I know from close friends that Apple employees get a beer bash the day after its gone gold and on to the copiers. Then, they start cracking on software updates.

this is why Mac OS X is continuously better while Windows users have to wait for-fscking-ever to get service packs."

I heard you're an idiot.

[Blake @ Nov 8th 2006 5:32PM]

OSX has ~81 million lines of code, ported to two different architectures

[ark_v2 @ Nov 8th 2006 7:32PM]

jg013d @ Nov 8th 2006 5:23PM

50 Million lines of code can't be wrong!
______________________________________________

Well, actually that's what can be wrong :P, that's too much lines for a hacker to play with and find gaps, but of course not so many lines as OSX though. Still I'll be using linux distros for the next generation of OS's.

[Todd @ Nov 8th 2006 5:37PM]

First of all, the "50 million lines of code" thing isn't something I would be bragging about.

Second, I would like to take a moment and use this video I saw over on Download Squad to remind everyone that "Vista" is just XP Service Pack 3 with the Mac "look and feel" ( that is, if you can find a video card that supports Aero )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ifQvQCO7Y&eurl=

Note that in the video, from 2003, none of the features shown made it to todays release - what happened? You guys who already have Vista installed, check out the video and compare it to the "50 million lines of code" you have installed and tell me how they differ.

[tcc3 @ Nov 8th 2006 6:04PM]

You could also say that XP was just 2000 SP 5 with the Fisher Price interface. But you'd be an idiot.

There were plenty of changes and improvements made, just as I'm sure there are for Vista. Not every release has to be a world shattering change (like win 95). In fact, its good if that only happens rarely and only when necessary for a significant improvement.

I agree its a shame that so many of the Longhorn improvements got dropped. That doesnt mean there are *no* improvements.

[Michael van Goethem @ Nov 8th 2006 6:08PM]

On msblog.org you find an interview with Jim Allchin where the following question was asked: "What happend with Vista? Because there is a great difference with Longhorn in 2003".

His answer: "We removed WinFS, because it was not ready and all the fancy animations you've seen in Longhorn, we saw that it wasn't practical, we had to search for a great work experience and a modern look, that's Aero."

And he's right, I would go crazy every time I opened a window there is an icon turning arround... Less is more.

Great work!

[mespinosam @ Nov 8th 2006 5:46PM]

Hasta la VISTA , XP

[greg @ Nov 8th 2006 5:45PM]

i am somewhat excited for vista but i must say Microsoft you let me down

and apple im am some what against you but you are growing on me. since now im using their os more now and its growing but somethings about it really bugs me.

apple i must say I APPLAUD YOU!


if only you could build a custom apple system and they had some more support.

[eoin @ Nov 8th 2006 5:48PM]

bittorent copy in 3...2...1

[mespinosam @ Nov 8th 2006 5:50PM]

i, for one, welcome our future OS overlord.

[Matt @ Nov 8th 2006 6:48PM]

i for one hate people who welcome robot overlords cause they clearly have no life

[lanejasper69 @ Nov 8th 2006 7:38PM]

The one with the "longest Line of Code Wins!!! LMAO!!!

OS X Rules, and proves it.

[DM @ Nov 8th 2006 11:41PM]

You are an idiot. Idiot Apple fanboys like you are stupid to think that the more lines of code the better, which they claim the OSX is superior. In basic programming, a MEDIOCRE programmer could make a program like say, a simple program that adds two numbers in more than 10 lines. Expert programmers can create the same program in less than 10 lines of code. Bad programmers = using redundant codes. Efficient programmers = less code.
That should tell you about your ignorance.

[nightryder21 @ Nov 8th 2006 5:52PM]

I've been using Vista RC1 and notice a lot of different things among Vista that differ from XP. I defenitly plan to upgrade once my school's msdnaa program gets it so i can pick it up for free. Here is a good site that shows most of Vista's highlights: http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,1206,pg=0&s=400&a=193538,00.asp

[Andrew C @ Nov 8th 2006 5:58PM]

EOIN (and to everyone else who does this)

First of all, I think pirating someone's hard work is wrong all in itself. Regardless of whether the product is good or not. It is wrong.

But it is one thing to actually pirate something, and another to go around being proud of it. You're nothing but a crook stealing the product that allows thousands of Microsoft employees to live comfortable lives.

They studied for years to be able to write this code and spent the past few years doing so. Being proud of abusing their years of hard work is just wrong.

APC

[eoin @ Nov 9th 2006 6:02AM]

hey, i never said i wasnt going to pay, ive paid for every OS so far and am planning on getting the "home plus" or whatever name it is package.

nevertheless my original comment still stands, this will end up as a torrent within minutes of it reaching consumers

[disciple83 @ Nov 8th 2006 6:01PM]

Actually, they are gonna release another preview build to "a select few" for testing before it goes gold in build 6000...read up before you do all your complaining and stuff..."better safe than sorry" maybe?

[Jaxim @ Nov 8th 2006 6:13PM]

Does anyone know if Vista will play nice with Mac fonts?

I have nothing against Macs except when I get files from clients who designed on a Mac and the fonts they use aren't compatible to a PC. I'm not sure if this is a PC/Mac issue, but it's an annoyance when you need to work with people from the different platforms.

I think Macs can use PC fonts, so it would be great if PCs could use Mac fonts.

[Tracy L @ Nov 8th 2006 6:21PM]

What language is Vista written in? Is it "C" or "C++"? If so, I thought carriage returns had little or no meaning in that language. Which means the number of lines is relative. Couldn't they just say it's one line of code, albeit a really long one?

As a programmer of old, you were measured by how FEW lines of code you could do something in. This feels like bragging about how much you paid for your stereo system. All your friends nod appreciatively but laugh about it when you're not around.

(And if you read that last sentence and wonder if that happens to you, then it probably does.)

[Brendon @ Nov 8th 2006 8:52PM]

From what I have understood a LOC isn't the same as the number of lines in the file. Whitespace and lines with only a curly brace don't count. Anyway it doesn't matter, counting how many lines of code is just a rough estimate of how much code there is.

Also about coding in as few lines as possible. I think when I was in school it was cool if you could have the slimmest most efficient code (no matter how obtuse it was) but after being in a working environment it is not the case since others have to be able to understand your work.

[Jarod @ Nov 9th 2006 9:51AM]

God PC users are stupid. No wonder its easy to make billions off of you guys.

[roman.kim @ Nov 8th 2006 6:27PM]

Thats 50 million lines of buggy code.

[Me @ Nov 8th 2006 6:33PM]

Jeez, I click to this tab and all of the sudden I am blinded by the huge bright Windows logo! I actually jumped back a little.

[Steve Handjobs @ Nov 8th 2006 6:45PM]

Vista - from the latin for "you will spend the next three years of your life downloading security upgrades".

[Squee @ Nov 10th 2006 10:32AM]

Have to wonder how many of those 50mil lines are bloated programming that a 5year old could improve on.

[Squee @ Nov 10th 2006 10:28AM]

Im actually surprised i didnt see this here somewhere...

V I S T A
Viruses Infections Spyware Trojons Adware

Enjoy

[rip @ Nov 8th 2006 7:21PM]

Considering they gutted the impressive features like the new file structure, I'm not sure congratulations are in order.

Thousands of programmers taking 5+ years to release xp with an Aqua, er, "Aero" interface. Color me unimpressed.

VIsta is Microsoft's version of Apple's Copland.

[rob @ Nov 8th 2006 7:33PM]

does this mean it comes out on november 30th as in 20 days?

I hope boot camp supports it too

[clarkitekt @ Nov 8th 2006 9:57PM]

First, congrats to the guys at MS for getting this thing out the door. Macophiles: when you consider that Windows is always backwards compatible with the last release's software, supports legacy hardware, multiple hardware architectures, and from even more various venders; why wouldn't it take MS a long time to complete the new OS? Spread that installed base across millions of possible permutations of software/hardware installations on millions of machines and some bugs are inevitable. In my opinion the fact that they can pull it off with as few bugs as they do and in such a short time is nothing short of awe inspiring. Compare that to Apples's closed ecosystem with scant (if at all) legacy support and you might know why the corporate world isn't exactly sprinting out to change over to Mac. Don't get me wrong either, Apple makes an absolutely beautiful system (OS and hardware) that is commendable in its own way. They are just very different fruits.

[Jason @ Nov 8th 2006 10:04PM]

Prediction...in 2012 when Microsoft comes out with their next release of Windows BS - Apple and Google own the home market and MS has lost a huge % of their business market share these guys as well as Linux. I used to be excited about Longhorn, back in the good ole days...installing the beta on a kick ass 700 MHZ computer with a massive 40 gig hard drive...Windows Vista...what a joke!

[Coluch @ Nov 8th 2006 10:42PM]

In case some of you haven't seen this yet.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4134446112378047444

They've taken the audio from an actual Vista presentation and placed in video of Mac OS X.

[Ethan @ Nov 8th 2006 10:54PM]

What is this? They haven't started work on Vienna? I demand that they ship by 2009 and that they keep their promise to get rid of the start bar!

Or else!

[DM @ Nov 8th 2006 11:08PM]

Idiot Apple fanboys are stupid to think that the more lines of code the better, which they claim the OSX is superior. In basic programming, a MEDIOCRE programmer could make a program like say, a simple program that adds two numbers in more than 10 lines. Expert programmers can create the same program in less than 10 lines of code. Bad programmers = using redundant codes. Efficient programmers = less code.
That should tell you about your ignorance.

[Ted Brown @ Nov 8th 2006 11:26PM]

Ugh... it's so painful sifting through the lame Microsoft jokes. Some guy actually made a "I welcome my _______ overlords" joke. At least use a lame joke when it's in context.

Jason: What's funny is you're all anti-Microsoft and anti-big corporation, but you would have no problem if Google and Apple monopolized the industry. You do realize that once Apple overtook Microsoft in sales, you'd no longer be one of the cool outcasts, and would have to shift towards Windows again, right?

Coluch: Kekekekekeke that's funny man. It was funny when some guy posted it on page one, and it's funny every time it's posted in EVERY windows thread. Because Microsoft copies Apple, right? Of course you would never point out that Apple copied Widgets from Konfabulater, who in turn copied Stardock, would you?

[Grant @ Nov 8th 2006 11:52PM]

I was an intern at Microsoft when Windows 95 was RTM'd (Released to Manufacturing). My primary memory of the day was two drunken developers chasing each other down my hallway armed with Super Soakers. Filled with (wait for it) Dom Perignon '88.

True story.