So it’s finally here. After over a year of Windows Vista, Microsoft has released Service Pack 1.

Available for download here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/sp1.mspx

After using SP1 for about 2 weeks, I have to say, I’m impressed. I have not had to reboot my computer yet! As I’ve outlined before, I use the crap out of this bad boy. At any given time, I have all of Adobe CS3, most of Microsoft Office, Firefox, Internet Explorer, 2 messengers, Outlook, Thunderbird, Apache, Filezilla, and any number of other specialized apps I need for work. I do this for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

So, stability… yes. They have definitely improved stability. I’ll get back to you with more…

As some of you may have heard, Microsoft just released the public beta of the next version of Internet Explorer, version 8.

If you’re dumb like me, and want to try it, here’s the link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/default.mspx

So, I installed it on Windows XP SP2, and started using it. I am not lying here, I used it for 5 minutes (yes, 5 minutes) before I found a bug.

Now, let me clarify why this is such a monumental thing that I must blog about it. I expected bugs, it’s Internet Explorer. What I didn’t expect was new bugs. When Microsoft released IE7, they fixed a lot of the bugs that IE6 had. Not all of them, but a lot. So, naturally, I was hoping to see at least a few more bugs fixed. You’ll never guess what I found…

A new bug. Something that worked quasi-correctly in IE6 and IE7, that works completely backwards (yes, backwards) in IE8. z-index, a CSS property designed to set the stack order of positioned elements (lamens terms: lets me make stuff appear to be on top of other stuff, or stacked), actually works completely backwards in IE8.

Microsoft, can you do anything right? That’s not be being a dick… That’s me sincerely asking you. Can you?

Oh yeah, that’s right. I got it. Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, Acrobat 8…

“Anything you can do, I can do better”

I retract my previous statement about Windows Vista sucking. The only problems I have had have been software compatibility, which will fix themselves with time.

If I have to make a suggestion though, go with Vista Ultimate. Home does not give you administrative features and Business does not give you Windows Media Center. Ultimate costs a little more but it will be well worth the extra few bucks.

I do, however, have a few more statements regarding Apple and iTunes. Last week they released iTunes 7.1.1.5. It claims to work “with most 32-bit versions of Windows Vista.” I downloaded and installed it, and it seemed to work fine, although about every third time I start it, it comes up and says it needs to repair itself, then after about 45 seconds I am back on track. Unfortunately, twice now has it ceased working completely, to the point that I have had to uninstall it, restart the computer and reinstall it. That’s not cool.

I am running Vista Home Premium (probably the most common version of Windows Vista) on a Dual-Core HP dv9000. This seems to be a pretty standard set up when compared to the current market.

Steve… are you listening?

Steve, get on the ball. I know you hate Windows Vista and swear that 10.5 will make Vista look like a thing of that past (although I personally believe that 10.5 will be 10.4 with a few extra features, I don’t see what the big deal is), but you’ve got to support your Vista using iPod owners… If I buy a brand new computer right now, it will likely have Windows Vista on it. So I am setting everything up, and I go to Apple’s site to get iTunes so I can sync my ba-dass music library to my iPod. What do you know, it is still only compatible with Windows 2000/XP. Why?

Vista has been out for home overs for almost 2 months. You, Apple, had a few years to prepare for the shift, much like everyone else did. Why didn’t you? Are you too caught up in your “Apple Switch” commercials to realize that the vast majority of market share still lies with you competitor? Here’s an idea, make your Windows using iPod owners happy with the product they bought from you. Don’t slack on compatibility! Since iTunes 7 first came out it has been nothing but a disaster for Windows users.

Come on Steve, you can do it! -goo-chee-goo-chee-goooooo-

Today, 7.1 came out, and still no sign of Vista compatibility…