| Packaging | ||
| Vista Unknown. Previous versions of Windows have either shipped with a large package with no instructions on what to do with it or in OEM booklet packaging with legal threats all over. Extras (Microsoft Plus) must be purchased separately. |
Frontier DVD style case with installation guide, migration guide for Windows users, extras, Crossover Office demo (Windows emulator for MS-Only programs. |
|
| Winner: Mepis Frontier, by a nose, for now. Both companies like to see their logos splashed all over. Both could learn from Apple. |
||
| Media | ||
| Vista: DVD only. The disc (at present) is 3.2 GB for the ultimate version. |
Frontier: CD or DVD (Pro version). For some reason Technalign really thinks that many of their customers don't have DVD-ROMs. Since Frontier can be loaded on older systems, I'll give them that. |
|
| Winner: Mepis Frontier, although irrelevant for most. ANY current computer should have DVD capability. If your computer didn't come with DVD playback capability, time to upgrade! | ||
| System Requirements | ||
| Vista: The only version I have now is Ultimate. It requires at least a 1GHz processor, wants 1GB RAM, wants a 128MB Video card. When it has these it runs well. Running the Windows System rating toy will almost universally disappoint unless you have a 3.4GHz Proc, 2GB RAM, and a gigantic Vid card. |
Frontier: Although you get TWO operating systems (one using the 2.4 Kernel and one using the 2.6 Kernel) and although Technalign claims that Frontier can be loaded on a 400 MHz machine, the 2.6 Kernel version wants a 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, and it really prefers a 32MB video card instead of onboard video. |
|
| Winner: Frontier. Both like lots of computer, but if you have an older system, better stay away from Vista. | ||
| Installation | ||
| Vista: VERY easy. Literally anyone can do it, although there are MANY tweaks to be done after the load that are beyond the scope of many users. Installation takes anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours depending on the system. Installation required two reboots. |
Mepis Frontier: VERY easy. Literally anyone can do it, although there are MANY tweaks done after the load that are beyond the scope of many users. Installation takes between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the system. Installation required only one reboot when the install was finished. |
|
| Winner: Although it looks obvious that Mepis Frontier is the winner, it is even more true since Windows is NOT all it takes to make the computer "work". With Windows, you still need an Office Suite, AntiVirus, Anti-Spyware tools, a better web browser (in the opinion of almost every Microsoft employee I have spoken with) and chat client need to be loaded. Mepis Frontier contains all of these. In reality, you can expect your Windows load + tweaks to take about five hours. In reality, you can expect your Mepis Frontier load + tweaks to take an hour to an hour and a half. | ||
| Interface | ||
| Vista: This will be VERY foreign to XP users. When the "start" (it no longer says start) button is clicked, the screen explodes with options. Although it is not a difficult interface, it is grouped by functions instead of a list of programs. |
Frontier: This will also be foreign to XP users, ALTHOUGH you CAN easily make it look and act like XP in Theme manager (Redmond theme). When the "K" button is clicked, programs are grouped by function (Internet, Office, System). |
|
| Winner: Tie. The winners here are those who are very comfortable with their computers, or those who are newbies. The losers are those who barely understand what they are doing. But listen, folks, ther interface is GOING to change, there is NOTHING you or I can do about it. You are going to HAVE to learn a new one! | ||
| Drivers | ||
| Vista: All drivers were loaded. We DID load the newest drivers for the video card we were using just out of habit. |
Frontier: All drivers were loaded. We DID load the newest drivers for the video card we were using out of necessity-the generic drivers for video cards are terrible, BUT-if you paid for a high end card with ANY operating system, you SHOULD get the newest drivers |
|
| Winner: Tie. | ||
| Activation | ||
| Vista: Vista requires activation by Microsoft to continue operating after a 30 day period. This may require you to call India and repeat a 45 digit code, three digits at at time. If the hardware changes on your computer significantly, you may have to activate again. If your computer was loaded from a server, it may report itself as counterfeit, even though it isn't |
Frontier: No activation required. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. While many Microsoft activations go smoothly, many do not. | ||
| Registration | ||
| Vista: Optional, only for Microsoft support |
Frontier: Optional, only for supprt from Technalign. |
|
| Winner: Tie. | ||
| Validation | ||
| Vista: Windows must be validated before it is allowed to update. This is in addition to activation or registration. It is an ongoing type of activation. |
Frontier: No validation required. The idea of constant monitoring is repulsive to Technalign and the linux community at large. |
|
| Winner: Frontier. | ||
| Updating | ||
| Vista: Easily done through Microsoft's Windows Update. There have been some updates in the past that have disabled computers. There are also "critical" updates that some users find annoying, or are designed to make sure that the copy of Windows is genuine. Installed programs must be updated separately. Restarts are almost always mandatory after updating. |
Frontier: Easily done through Synaptic Package Manager. The difference is that updating updates the ENTIRE computer, including all the programs installed. Updates are vetted by the community before they are unleashed. Restarts are almost never required after updating. |
|
| Winner: Frontier. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Price | |||
| Vista: Windows Vista Home Basic UPGRADE is aimed as casual PC users who do little more than surf the Web, check e-mail and create/store/share basic documents. The Home Basic version will not include support for the Aero Glass user-interface effects that will be part of other Vista SKUs. This SKU will not be offered to those not posessing a valid Windows XP license. Windows Vista Home Premium will include the same type of functionality currently delivered by Windows XP Media Center and Windows XP Tablet PC Editions. The Home Premium variant also will include technology support digital photography, movie-making and TV, as well as mobility-focused technologies. Windows Vista Business will include the full-fledged Aero user interface, as well as Tablet PC functionality built-in. The higher-end Windows Vista Enterprise will include all of the features of Windows Vista Business, plus BitLocker drive encryption; Virtual PC Express virtual-machine support; the Subsystem for Unix-based Applications (SUA), which is designed to allow Unix applications to run on Vista machines; and access to all worldwide languages supported by Vista via a single deployment image. When people discuss Vista with me, this is the only one mentioned. |
$99.00 $239.00 $399.00 |
Frontier: Frontier Simply Mepis retails for $44.95. Pro retails for $129.00 Both versions not only include the 3D Desktop interface, but also a total of 20 different desktops to choose from, each with its own background, etc. Both versions also include encryption and remote desktop. Add $79.00 for the ability to run many Windows programs, although this feature is of limited functionality as there are programs analogous to almost every Windows program. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. But the money doesn't stop there.... | |||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||
| Bloat | ||
| Vista: Takes eight gigabytes just for the operating system. Allow four more for popular programs. |
Frontier: Takes three gigabytes for the operating system and ALL programs you should need in daily use. |
|
| Winner: Frontier, by far. | ||