University Microsoft Agreement is awesome.

[Molyneux]

The interface is ugly, though. And isn't it even more "OS-for-dummies" - that is, trying to keep the user from actually accessing the settings of the system - than XP is?

I've never had any troubles accessing the system settings. In fact, it's almost retardedly easy. The only real difference is that Vista actually makes you confirm that you want to change the settings so accidental changes are more difficult.

Hm...apparently the rumors I had heard were mistaken, then. It is still <i>ugly</i>, though.

[Ace Pace]

Hm...apparently the rumors I had heard were mistaken, then. It is still <i>ugly</i>, though.

Debating By Rumours, a brilliant recipee for sucess. Why don't you try it out in some random computer store? No one bothered me when I checked that stuff.

And Ugly is quiet subjective, I like the new look.

[Crayz9000]

If I was at a college that offered the MS software for substantial discounts, I probably wouldn't get it unless it was free, and even then, I doubt I'd actually use it unless forced to do so by a class.

I can't say I'm warming to Vista at all. I've been working with it on a semi-regular basis, and certain parts of it continue to annoy the hell out of me -- the burial of the actual network adapter properties is one that really grates on my nerves, because something that used to take 2-3 clicks in Windows 2000 and XP now takes about six.

Then there's the constant stream of "Do you want to run this <insert control panel applet here>?" dialogs. No, obviously they couldn't have learned from Linux, or hell, even OS X and just given it a setting that asked you for your password once and gives you about five or so minutes of relatively uninterrupted admin access to perform your duties quickly. No, they have to prompt for every single little action, even if it's something like changing the display resolution.

You know, these are people the Office for Annoying Air Travelers (also known as the TSB) could really learn from in terms of new and unique ways of irritating people.

[phongn]

The main problem with giving a 30-second (or 5-minute) authentication window is that a malicious process could elevate itself in that time.