soeren says » Blog Archive » Boneheaded Microsoft decisions: they keep on coming (1 update)

Boneheaded Microsoft decisions: they keep on coming (1 update)

January 31st, 2007

So Microsoft released PowerShell 1.0 today. It’s an alternative (but not a replacement) to the traditional DOS/NT shell, it’s object-oriented, and it’s quite powerful. I don’t personally like their approach (see my reply to this reddit comment as to why), but it’s a great step in the right direction nonetheless.

If it wasn’t, that is, for their decision to once again screw people over. I’m talking about the System Requirements, as stated on the download page:

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Ultimate

No, I didn’t expect it to work with XP (Update: yes, I’m aware there is an XP version; my mistake) or even 2000. Or with the Vista Starter Edition.

I did, however, expect it to at least work with Home versions of Vista. Neither Home Basic nor Home “Premium” (what exactly, then, is “Premium” about this any more?) will do!

*headdesk*

When will they get that they’re really hurting themselves with this stupid “Editions” policy? Would it have killed them to at least make a trial available for Home Premium users, to give them an upgrade incentive?

Posted in Chuckellania, Windows

Others' Thoughts

# Tweek
Comment on January 31st, 2007 at 4:49 pm

I say let them screw up, the more they do it the sooner they collapse and someone decent comes in to fill the gap.

# moiety
Comment on January 31st, 2007 at 8:17 pm

That’s pretty amazingly fucked up. Wow.

Also, did you hear how the Vista EULA revokes your license for XP if you are upgrading from it? Making dual-boot solutions with an XP version you legally own, well, illegal?

Unfuckingbelievable.

# myst-bert
Comment on January 31st, 2007 at 9:16 pm

I’d have to ask how many home users would expect to use such a program (perhaps a better question would be how many even could tell what such a program does)…I don’t think this will slow down Vista sales to any noticeable degree…

# moiety
Comment on January 31st, 2007 at 11:38 pm

I think you miss the point entirely, Mystbert.

# Jim Gray
Comment on February 1st, 2007 at 6:00 pm

So did you actually try installing on Vista Home, or…

# gelyon
Comment on February 2nd, 2007 at 1:03 am

Um, there is a Windows XP version.

# chucker
Comment on February 2nd, 2007 at 1:13 am

Yes, there is. Now, explain this to me: the XP version is implied to work even in XP Starter Edition. Yet the Vista version requires at least Business?

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