Today you alerted me that critical updates were available. As usual, an update to the “Windows Defender” definitions. But today something a little extra:

“Update for Windows Vista (KB947562)” – Recommended

Being curious about Vista’s updates for the first time since being subjected to this horrible OS (it’s no wonder Windows 7 has a projected release date late next year, this last OS release was obviously pure junk), I decided to right-click on it and view the details about what this update fixed.

“You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.
Update type: Recommended
Install this update to resolve a set of known application compatibility issues with Windows Vista. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.”

Love the double-reminder that I *may* have to reboot after installing it. Since the details also include a link to Microsoft to explain in more detail, I clicked on it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947562

Here are the highlights:

This article describes the May 2008 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Application Compatibility Update. This update is a package of software updates that address common application compatibility issues that occur in Windows Vista.

When you try to install and to run certain legacy games or applications in Windows Vista, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
• The game, the application, or the firmware may not be installed correctly.
• The game, the application, or the firmware may cause system instability.
• The primary functions of the game, of the application, or of the firmware may not work correctly.
This update improves application compatibility in Windows Vista by using the following methods:
• The update puts a hard block on the application. A hard block prevents an application that is incompatible with Windows Vista from running on the operating system.

What, what?! Did I just read that last line correctly? Windows is hard-blocking applications that it deems ‘incompatible’ from ever running on your Vista PC. I can just imagine the folks in Redmond flagging a ton of utilities and software just to strong-arm consumers into buying more Microsoft crap.

I never thought I’d ever endorse Windows XP, but XP seems to clearly be the winner in any XP vs Vista debate. I can’t believe Microsoft would actually stoop to fully blocking Vista just by them ‘claiming’ it’s incompatible.

Of course they shoot themselves in the foot by hard-blocking their own Zune software if you upgrade a PC from XP to Vista. Aw shucks, since my wife owns a Zune, I guess that means we just won’t upgrade to Vista. Ever.

I got chatting with Jorge about it, and decided our chat was too good not to blog.

(12:34:34 PM) jorge: interesting
(12:34:38 PM) jorge: even if he did mess up the saying (PWN To Own)
(12:36:34 PM) ian douglas: yeah
(12:36:45 PM) ian douglas: be a good show to keep an eye on
(12:36:49 PM) jorge: definitely
(12:37:05 PM) jorge: i assume they’ll publish the results…would be cool to see a “real time” update
(12:37:14 PM) ian douglas: no kidding
(12:37:23 PM) jorge: “omg and now windows is hacked AGAIN, putting it way in the lead”
(12:37:31 PM) ian douglas: http://www.cansecwest.com/
(12:37:34 PM) ian douglas: rofl
(12:37:38 PM) ian douglas: and again and again
(12:37:42 PM) jorge: haha
(12:37:55 PM) ian douglas: onoz-wtf-omg-rofl, windows is teh suck
(12:38:01 PM) jorge: lol
(12:39:44 PM) ian douglas: http://cansecwest.com/agenda.html — looks like an impressive lineup
(12:40:06 PM) jorge: rofl
(12:40:25 PM) ian douglas: assuming “TBA” means “Totally Bashing (Paul) Allen”
(12:40:28 PM) jorge: “breakfast”, “second breakfast”…is this a hobbit convention?
(12:40:31 PM) ian douglas: rofl
(12:40:34 PM) jorge: HAHAHA
(12:41:09 PM) jorge: just waiting for them to add “elevensies”, “snack”, “mid afternoon snack”
(12:41:21 PM) ian douglas: lmao