Vista gets out of PC sync

Microsoft has dropped a feature from Windows Vista that would have allowed people running the new operating system to keep data synchronized among multiple PCs.

The software maker said quality concerns were behind the decision to drop the feature, which allowed people to keep files up-to-date across multiple Vista machines.

"While PC-to-PC sync is a great feature that improves productivity and collaboration we don't have it at the quality level our customers demand," Microsoft said Wednesday in a statement.

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The PC sync capability was present in earlier test builds, but it was stripped from Vista just before Microsoft shipped Beta 2 last month.

Microsoft is trying hard to meet its already postponed release target for Vista, with the operating system currently set to be finished by November and to hit store shelves in January. Many outsiders, including analyst firm Gartner, have suggested that further delays are likely.

The decision to drop the synchronization software is all part of the company's normal beta testing, Microsoft said, but added that it doesn't expect a lot of changes to Vista's feature set between now and the final release.

"At this point in the development cycle, we do not expect to make any major feature additions or subtractions, but will continue to listen to customer feedback as we begin to prepare for final availability," the company said.

Microsoft is not permanently dropping its plans for the PC sync feature. "Work on PC-to-PC synchronization continues and is something we plan to deliver to our customers in the future," it said.

The feature's removal was noted earlier Wednesday by Microsoft Watch.

[miketkrw]

Vista sounds more and more like a train wreck

I am glad that I decided to upgrade last year, to OSX. Best decision
of my life, no more XP headaches and free of the Vista of disaster.

[MacGregory]

and doesn't OSX have iSync already?

I'm hoping Leopard this winter will add pc syncing to iSync. iSync
has already saved my cellphone and iPod data just fine.

[miketkrw]

Vista sounds more and more like a train wreck

I am glad that I decided to upgrade last year, to OSX. Best decision
of my life, no more XP headaches and free of the Vista of disaster.

[MacGregory]

and doesn't OSX have iSync already?

I'm hoping Leopard this winter will add pc syncing to iSync. iSync
has already saved my cellphone and iPod data just fine.

[rcrusoe]

Vista features are dropping like flies

By the time Longhorn was christened Vista it was only a shadow of
the next generation operating system that was supposted to ship
years ago.

By the time it goes on sale what will be left to set it apart from XP?
A hardware intensive new skin and "gimme your password" security
layer?

[qazwiz]

you ask what will set it apart from XP but

You ask what will set it apart from XP but the real question is what will keep it different from Firefox!

And with the only upgrade that I can think of being tabbed browsing, a feature that has been in Firefox for years, the only differences promise to be more M$ troubles with a record of ten times the security problems and three to five times the updates... the difference is even inverse with their betas. while I was doing betas for firefox there were often multiple upgrades each month if not each week which pass without advertisement,,, while there are big fanfare releases for vista but only every month or two...

Hmmm? could there be a connection? I mean besides the fact that Firefox is a labor of love by volunteers while Micro$oft won't even consider (openly) to use donated time/software.

There are suggestions that M$ will steal free (and maybe ever not so free) ideas, But there hasn't been any evidence shown to me that even suggests the possibility.... Rather I believe that Gates left the love in his garage.

[cgrande]

Another lost feature...

Oh vista how we knew thee. I've been working with Beta 2 at my
work and it is nothing but a warmed over XP, new network stack?
new kernel? new display driver model? etc..etc.. Those are all great
but when the higher level stuff is this shaky makes you wonder
about the lower foundations!

On the Sync note: Mac users have been had Mac to Mac sync of
files/bookmarks/settings/contacts/etc. since 2003.

[cgrande]

Another lost feature...

Oh vista how we knew thee. I've been working with Beta 2 at my
work and it is nothing but a warmed over XP, new network stack?
new kernel? new display driver model? etc..etc.. Those are all great
but when the higher level stuff is this shaky makes you wonder
about the lower foundations!

On the Sync note: Mac users have been had Mac to Mac sync of
files/bookmarks/settings/contacts/etc. since 2003.

[klo_2k]

So what's Microsoft to do now?

Ok... there goes another feature...

There are 2 options for Microsoft now:
1 - Drop the price of the OS?
2 - Push it back further - integrate more of the features planned in the original specification and cut down on the resource used.

I mean, by now, I really don't care about the fancy graphics (which I'm sure my laptop won't be able to run and will probably cripple performance on my desktop) and since most of the things will get back-ported to XP, I really cannot see a good reason that tempts me paying to upgrade to Vista when it is available.

[mstrclark]

You're Correct

100% correct. I've been telling people the same thing for months now. While dropping features may allow MS to hit today's target ship date, it doesn't make the OS look like a worth-while upgrade.

When it come time to advertise, I bet the focus will be on security and "Fast Application Load times".

[klo_2k]

So what's Microsoft to do now?

Ok... there goes another feature...

There are 2 options for Microsoft now:
1 - Drop the price of the OS?
2 - Push it back further - integrate more of the features planned in the original specification and cut down on the resource used.

I mean, by now, I really don't care about the fancy graphics (which I'm sure my laptop won't be able to run and will probably cripple performance on my desktop) and since most of the things will get back-ported to XP, I really cannot see a good reason that tempts me paying to upgrade to Vista when it is available.

[mstrclark]

You're Correct

100% correct. I've been telling people the same thing for months now. While dropping features may allow MS to hit today's target ship date, it doesn't make the OS look like a worth-while upgrade.

When it come time to advertise, I bet the focus will be on security and "Fast Application Load times".

[Jahntassa]

What're they trying to do?

I think this release should be called 'Microsoft Security Edition', because all they're really accomplishing is making it harder for people to get a non-legit copy, while still punishing those that do shell out the money!

Nevermind the fact that this seems to be turning the way of ME, it's going to be yet another evil child of Microsoft. Few useful features, extra crap.

[Jahntassa]

What're they trying to do?

I think this release should be called 'Microsoft Security Edition', because all they're really accomplishing is making it harder for people to get a non-legit copy, while still punishing those that do shell out the money!

Nevermind the fact that this seems to be turning the way of ME, it's going to be yet another evil child of Microsoft. Few useful features, extra crap.

[fred dunn]

Vista has ensured my next System is a MAC...

Since Apple has gone x86 and all MS is doing with Vista is trying to copy OSX then why not just get the real deal? Vista is such a boated do-nothing OS that so reminds me of of the old GEO os. Vista is incorporating the best the Microsoft has...the old Microsoft Bob Shell.

Seriously though, Vista is a bloated, candy coated OS for five year olds. I have seen nothing in the beta that is compelling enough to warrant the additional cost and resources.

Vista will be a boon for make sales.

[ss_Whiplash]

I agree

I have yet to see anything in Vista that makes the computing experience easier, quicker, or just more fun. It's really been a disappointment playing with the betas. And worse, just when they're really starting to nail XP down, now we have to start all over with Vista and a whole slew of bugs. I'll seriously be looking at Macs when I buy my next machine. I've already switched and switched back though, so I may just be staying on XP for another 5 years.

[fred dunn]

Vista has ensured my next System is a MAC...

Since Apple has gone x86 and all MS is doing with Vista is trying to copy OSX then why not just get the real deal? Vista is such a boated do-nothing OS that so reminds me of of the old GEO os. Vista is incorporating the best the Microsoft has...the old Microsoft Bob Shell.

Seriously though, Vista is a bloated, candy coated OS for five year olds. I have seen nothing in the beta that is compelling enough to warrant the additional cost and resources.

Vista will be a boon for make sales.

[ss_Whiplash]

I agree

I have yet to see anything in Vista that makes the computing experience easier, quicker, or just more fun. It's really been a disappointment playing with the betas. And worse, just when they're really starting to nail XP down, now we have to start all over with Vista and a whole slew of bugs. I'll seriously be looking at Macs when I buy my next machine. I've already switched and switched back though, so I may just be staying on XP for another 5 years.

[Ted Miller]

Good!

Soon enough it will look very much like good old Windows XP. Why can't they just fix XP and mke it work well. I would rather have good functioning operating system then just a bunch of pretty pictures. You know... run powerpoint or Excell without crashing ...

[Ted Miller]

Good!

Soon enough it will look very much like good old Windows XP. Why can't they just fix XP and mke it work well. I would rather have good functioning operating system then just a bunch of pretty pictures. You know... run powerpoint or Excell without crashing ...

[robot999]

With so many features...

going the way of the "recycle bin", how will M$ differentiate all
those Vista "versions"??? I mean what will you get with Vista
Ulimate vs. Vista Bland? Oh, nevermind, I'm happy with OS X, and
don't really care!! LOL

[robot999]

With so many features...

going the way of the "recycle bin", how will M$ differentiate all
those Vista "versions"??? I mean what will you get with Vista
Ulimate vs. Vista Bland? Oh, nevermind, I'm happy with OS X, and
don't really care!! LOL

[mstrclark]

How Many Features Have Been Drop?

I've lost count of all the different features that have been dropped. I have to ask, with Vista needing some much processing power and memory, what's the reason for upgrading? XP SP 2 is as secure today as Vista will be after SP 1.

[mstrclark]

How Many Features Have Been Drop?

I've lost count of all the different features that have been dropped. I have to ask, with Vista needing some much processing power and memory, what's the reason for upgrading? XP SP 2 is as secure today as Vista will be after SP 1.

[ss_Whiplash]

By the time they get done...

... we'll be left with Windows XP sporting some new icons.

[ss_Whiplash]

By the time they get done...

... we'll be left with Windows XP sporting some new icons.

[jasiano]

The Hunter is now the Hunted

We are jumping out of our lazy boys! Verosee, the only Groove competitor has already made this work. What have we done with 12 programmers on the Silicon Pampa has eclipsed Microsoft. And all for U$1MM.
WOW...
Jim