Microsoft Announces Service Pack in Light of Vista’s Numerous Problems
“I hate it, absolutely hate it very much.” said freshman Sandell Stangl about Microsoft’s new operating system Widows Vista. “Everyone I’ve talked to that knows about computers hates it,” he said.
With its release in January, Microsoft promised Vista would be safer, faster, and more user-friendlier than previous systems like 2002’s Windows XP operating system. However, since then, the system has not lived up to expectations.
Four months ago Stangl spent $230 for a Vista Premium Pack, but then deleted it from his computer because of numerous problems. One problem Stangl encountered was with playing games on it. He played one round of a one game and then it simply didn’t work.
Searching for a solution, Stangl went to the Microsoft troubleshooting website, but to no avail. He even contacted Microsoft via phone, but they said they couldn’t do anything about the conflict.
“It’s a relatively new operating system that desperately needs fixing. Windows Vista is a downgrade from Windows XP, ” Stangl said. He said people interested in upgrading a computer should buy either Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Edition.
However, Stangl is only one of a recent of wave of people who have experienced many problems with the system.
Freshman Bradley Thaw, a “computer guy” according to friend’s accounts, sat alone in Naismith’s narrow computer lab working on homework. “I’ve had it [Vista] for one month and it crashed today,” he said from the lab. Thaw summed Vista up as, “A better looking version of XP,” but that “too many background services and protection decrease its [Vista’s] speed and performance.”
Although, unlike Stangl, Thaw didn’t buy a copy of Vista— it came with the new computer he bought—like all new PCs. However, he’s still experienced many problems with it, especially when using the Internet. “Whenever I play a sound or music it slows down the Internet,” he said.
Sophomore Eric Kuch echoed Thaw’s comments. He said, “If you run Windows media player your speed drops significantly (online).”
Another internet-related problem Kuch dealt with was setting up accounts on the University of Kansas’ Internet provider Resnet. He said the problem with Vista is “You need Internet Explorer seven and Java to run the Internet, but Vista won’t allow Java,” he said. He said he installed Java via disc to get the Internet to work.
Though Kuch has used Vista he doesn’t have it installed on his computer. He said the only reason to buy it would be for the Direct X 10 graphics card, (unavailable elsewhere) which is a very powerful card that makes things look more realistic.
Another Vista feature, it’s security system, was supposed to ease user’s worries, but in fact has done the opposite.
Kuch said every time you try to run a program or do a simple task like right clicking on your computer’s properties, a message pops up.
“A box will pop up asking you basically, “Are you sure?” Kuch said.
As for the annoying questions, Stangl said, “Vista doesn’t have an option to turn [only] these off.” He too said any time he would run a program the computer asks if it’s ok to run it. He said you either deal with all the security features or none of them, which includes turning off any anti-virus protection.
The excessive security features have been so unpopular that Stangl said he’s only spoken to one person who has liked them, but said that this was because this person later figured out how to uninstall them.
Despite its many problems Thaw said he’s not going to switch operating systems though. “I’m going to wait until a service pack comes out. I think it will solve most of the problems.”
Thaw said the second service pack for Windows XP solved a lot of its problems. “Service packs are the only way to go,” he said.
Despite its problems, according to Microsoft, Vista sold more than 20 million copies of its new operating system in one month after its release. The company said this was double the number of copies sold during the first month of Windows XP’s release and more than the number of copies of XP sold in the first two months of its release.
In a March press release Microsoft said the figures, “reflect the broad interest in the security and usability enhancements in Windows Vista.”
Though, in response to user complaints, on August 29th Microsoft’s senior vice president of the windows core operating system division Jon DeVaan announced Microsoft is releasing a Service Pack for Vista.
In a Q & A news release from the company, DeVaan said the pack is slated for release in the first quarter of 2008. DeVaan added, “We’re making a beta available to more than 10,000 people in the next few weeks – that’s a critical step for us on the road to release, and we’re looking forward to the feedback we’ll get.”
To improve the system DeVaan said Microsoft draws on, “Windows Vista’s built-in, automated feedback systems, such as the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) and Windows Error Reporting (WER).”
Devaan said the new service pack will “address specific reliability and performance issues that have been discussed on many self-help forums, such as copying files and shutdown time.”
As compared to previous Microsoft operating systems, Devaan said, “We think Windows Vista is one of the best versions of Windows we’ve ever released, and, just like with past Windows releases, the servicing model is about continuously improving the quality of the code after it is released and keeping up with an evolving PC ecosystem.”
Financially, Windows Vista’s problems have not had a significant effect on its stock price, which was $30.53, a share on January 29th (before Vista’s release) and $28.91 as of September 6th.
Locally however, at places like the Kansas Union Bookstore, sales have not kept up with Vista’s initial hype. Weekend supervisor at the Kansas Union Tech Shop Daniel Wulfkuhle said of Vista, “There’s been a lot of people interested in it, but not a lot of people picking it up.”
However, of the copies they have sold, Wulfkhule said no one has come in to complain about them. Since its release in late January, they have sold ten copies of Vista. In the same time period they have sold 16 copies of the newest Mac operating system OS X Tiger (released in 2005).
Wulfkhule said of the slow selling rate, “Sales-wise it [the new service pack] will greatly improve it because of all the problems with the Vista operating system. There’s a stigma on Vista because of the bugs on it.”
Wulfkhule said he thinks Vista has had so many problems with it because “Microsoft wanted to get it out as soon as possible because they didn’t want to spend the time to do more research on it.” In contrast, he said Apple recently delayed its release of its new operating system OS X Leopard from April 2007 to October 2007 because of problems with it.
He added, “When Leopard comes out in October we’ll be able to see how it compares since Mac hasn’t released a new operating system in a while.”
October 14, 2007
Transit Systems Seek Input for Next Highway to Take
The rain pummeled cars as people struggled for shelter outside of Lawrence’s downtown Public Transit office—a block away from the 9th and New Hampshire bus stop.
On a rainy Tuesday in early October no one sat at the front desk of the Lawrence Transit Office. Suddenly, a figure with straight slicked-down black hair approached—Cliff Galante, the Lawrence Public Transit Administrator.
Lately, the city of Lawrence and the University of Kansas have been in talks about better coordination between the two bus systems. “Merger” has been on the lips of citizens and the media alike.
However, speaking on behalf of the city, Galante said, “A merger is at one end of the spectrum, keeping the status quo is at the other end. We don’t know [what we’re going to do] at this point.”
Galante stressed the importance of coordination between the two systems, though he said most people don’t know that the two systems already coordinate (to some extent). For instance, “the University is now using the same contractor we’ve been using the past five years,” and “the park and ride buses were purchased by the city.”
Another example of coordination is that city routes put KU on Wheels routes on their buses. In addition, KU students can ride any city bus for a reduced fare of 35 cents with a KU On Wheels bus pass. “People are wrong about lack of coordination,” Galante said.
However, coordination can be difficult as the city bus system and KU bus system have different priorities.
“The main goal of KU is to get students to and from class. Our mission is more broad-based. We take them [people] to school, work, and social events. We’re always trying to learn more about university needs,” Galante said.
May Davis, transport coordinator for the University of Kansas, disagreed with Galante that the two systems are coordinated.
“Everything’s separate right now. Everything that could be shared isn’t,” Davis said. She also said bus shelters and bus routes were two areas of concern.
As for a merger, Davis echoed Galante, “Nobody wants to jump in and say ‘let’s merge.’ The first step is changing routes.” Davis said a route like KU on Wheel’s 31st & Iowa route should be combined with the one the city runs, which she said is “nearly identical.”
Also, because of their different missions, problems within the city and University systems could be what is putting the brakes on better coordination between the two systems.
One problem the city is dealing with is in attracting “choice riders.” Galante defined such people as those who can make it to a destination by other means, but could ride the bus instead. He said attracting new riders is all about convenience. Although, until the city can make its routes more convenient the city can “try to offer financial incentives to keep it [the bus system] an affordable option.” Though the city system raised its fares to 75 cents a ride on July 1st because of rising costs, Galante said riding the bus is still cheaper than driving or especially taking a cab.
KU is dealing with more basic problems—like keeping riders happy with buses running, and those that are running, on time.
Olathe transfer sophomore Garry Stieham said the buses on campus are often late and “sometimes they don’t show up at all.”
The problems are especially frustrating to Stieham because he relies on the KU bus system to get him to and from campus Monday thru Friday. Stieham bought a bus pass because he didn’t want to have to pay for an on-campus parking pass to save money. However, Stieham said he doesn’t think his input matters in improving the system at all. “The University of Kansas isn’t going to listen to one guy,” he said.
Lenexa fifth-year senior Tyler Lamb has had similar problems to Stieham’s. “I’ve been late to a number of classes because buses haven’t been showing up on time, or just passing me up.” Lamb said the problems were habitual. In fact, he said he’s lost track of how many times each happened. “I’ve had to wait 40 minutes to an hour on a number of occasions.”
According to Davis, buses breaking down have been the cause for the delays. She said this year they’ve experienced far more breakdowns than usual because the fleet is now using bio-diesel fuel. She said the bio-diesel increases the rate of breakdowns for the buses for the first couple of months. She said the fuel filters on the buses still contain debris and particles from the diesel fuel, which cause the buses to breakdown. However, she said eventually the new fuel would flush out these particles. She said there was nothing the Transit Department could do but wait for the buses to adjust.
As for other University transit issues Davis said it’s difficult to know what they are because of a “lack of student interest in transport.” She said, “I just do what students say.” In fact, she said, “We’ve changed a route based on one student’s input.”
Davis said a lot of students aren’t interested because they have cars or friends with cars. Also, she said it’s difficult to change someone’s lifestyle when so many people “grew up driving their cars to high school.
However, possible major changes go up for a vote—like last year’s plan to give all students unlimited free KU on Wheels rides (by simply showing a student I.D. upon boarding) for a $15-$20 student fee increase.
The referendum passed, but enough students didn’t vote so the change could not be instituted. Davis said that only about 1200 people voted—about 40 percent of what the Student Senate requires to pass a referendum (about 10% of the student body she said).
As both the city of Lawrence and the University of Kansas are still unsure what the next road to take will be, administrators on both sides have invited the public to participate in the process.
The University will look toward students and the KU community to decide the next course of action for the transit system on 1:30 p.m, October 23rd, in the English Room in the Kansas Union.
Via e-mail, the KU Parking & Transit office said of it, “The purpose of the meeting is to hear your comments on the Parking & Transit departmental policies, rules, or fees. Individuals may speak at the meeting or send comments in written form to Margretta de Vries, Parking Commission secretary, at mdevries@ku.edu. General issues included in these comments will be summarized and shared at the hearing. You may also e-mail comments to kupark@ku.edu.”
As for the city of Lawrence’s system, it will next meet at 4:10 p.m., December 11th, at 933 New Hampshire. The city website said, “This committee advises on all matters regarding the city public transit system, such as proposed routes, service changes, ridership policies, fare structures, funding and budgets.” The city meets the second Tuesday of each month every other month at the above time and location.
November 10, 2007
From the Bottom of the Hill
Part I: Guitar Dave
“I’ve been a brick dog for eight years,” Guitar Dave (who wanted to be referred to by his performing name in this piece) says with acoustic guitar in his leathery calloused hands outside of Signs of Life coffee and bookstore in the heart of downtown Lawrence. Books & Art, Truth & Beauty repeat in white lettering at the bottom of the giant glass windowpanes of the store.
Outside sits Dave—a 51 year-old homeless man. He often sits on the sidewalk strumming his guitar. His black hard-shell acoustic guitar case lies open. Dave has a full, black beard, wears a red bandana, dark sunglasses, blue jeans, and a black leather jacket. He describes himself as being “counter culture,” but says he wasn’t always like this.
“I was part of the original Jesus people—the Jesus freak movement,” Dave says. Then, in his senior year of college, “I had a close friend who was taken out (killed) by one of those serial killer pigs (police officers). It kind of made me realize my faith was not as strong as I thought it was. I got mad at society and God. The tragedy at Kent State affected me a lot too. I’ve been pretty much counter culture ever since” Dave says.
However, until June of 1999 Dave was a member of the workforce like most adults. He worked custodial jobs at places like Ellsworth Hall, Murphy Hall and the Kansas Union.
“Most of my time in the workforce has been spent up on the hill,” he says. When he wasn’t doing custodial jobs he was still working at the low end of the pay scale. “For 18 months I worked at the alumni center busting suds—dishwashing.”
Then, in the summer of 2000, his girlfriend of two years was found dead underneath a bridge. He said according to the autopsy she died of heat exposure, malnutrition, and dehydration. After her death Dave decided to become a full-time street musician. He had no desire to return to the workforce afterwards.
“After my woman died I had a hard time making any of this matter so I decided with the time I got left I’m going to do what I love. It’s not exactly lucrative, but that’s ok. When a coin comes down I’m grateful, but when one doesn’t I’m still doing what I love.”
What Dave loves to do is play music. Since Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 he remembers, “Practically every other kid on the block wanted to be the next Hendrix. We got guitars and got busy.”
Today his music echoes legendary rock music from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Dave cites bands like Pink Floyd, Grand Funk Railroad and Led Zeppelin as some of his musical influences.
Almost thirty years later he still remembers the time he almost got to see Led Zeppelin perform. “The year I was going to go to the concert, which was ’79, Bonham fucked up and drank himself to death. It was disappointing,” he adds.
But, long after Jimi Hendrix died and Led Zeppelin disbanded, Dave’s still playing guitar. He’s been playing for thirty-seven years. He plays seven days a week on the street (weather permitting from April to October).
When the weather gets too nasty Dave works as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army—also where he stays during the winter months. However, he says he only does that if he’s “not doing a stint in the county.” He adds that he can make roughly $2500 if he works the six-week holiday shift.
Once the snow melts and humid sunny weather returns to Lawrence, Dave heads back to the street—unlike most local street musicians he says. “I’ve been out here longer than any of them. Most of these guys are here for a year or two seasons (two years).”
On a good day Dave can make $30 or more playing his guitar on the street. He said the best day he ever had occurred last year when he made $180 in twelve hours.
With the money he earns Dave buys cigarettes, sandwiches, and alcohol. He admits to having a drinking problem.
"I’m also an alcoholic, which means I’m not always in top form. I usually try to keep the drinking and playing separate, but it doesn’t always pan out that way.”
When in top form, Dave draws crowds and recording offers. In fact, “Four different guys over this past year have come by and said they want to record me and put it on a CD and distribute it, but so far it’s all been talk—yak yak.”
However, one man recently recorded Dave’s rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing and posted it on Youtube. “It’s good exposure,” Dave says. As for original tracks, Dave says he’s written about ten.
Dave’s had a lot of time to think since leaving the workforce eight years ago. He’s learned from the street “It’s not about what hits you; it’s about how you handle what hits you.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkQW1dPL92M
(Guitar Dave Playing "Little Wing" on Mass Street)
Part II: Anthony
It’s now mid-October and Dave is preparing to head back to the Salvation Army for the off-season. However, this year will be different.
Anthony Williamson, Dave’s son, is a skinny 18 year-old with a tenor voice and scraggly black facial hair (not too unlike his father’s beard) fresh out of high school. This year Williamson will be taking a year off—but he plans on spending his year off on the street with his dad (so far Williamson has been out here for three weeks).
According to Williamson, he decided to leave home after a friend of his stole some of his mother’s diabetes pills and his mother blamed him for it. “He’s a druggie and he thought it was going to get him something,” he says of his friend.
Another reason Williamson is here now is because he wants to be with his father. He remembers sneaking off to see his father play on the street when he was a kid. He says before he turned eighteen his mother forbid him to go see his father.
“Before then I’d see him every day—or as many days as I could.” Williamson is reluctant to say why his mother did not want him seeing his father. Then, his dad pipes in.
“I pretty much drank myself out of the marriage,” Dave says in his slow drawl, looking away from his guitar for a few seconds.
However, Dave’s son has had his own struggles too. Though he graduated high school last May, he says, “Nobody thought I was going to be able to do it. Except for computer programming I was pretty much flunking out of everything.”
Williamson says computer programming helped him stay focused to graduate. “I got mad skills on the computer,” he adds. Although if programming doesn’t work out, he plans to go into graphic design. “I’m an artist also,” he says.
Williamson, like his dad, plays guitar. “Him (my dad) and Jimi Hendrix are pretty much my inspiration for my guitar playing,” Williamson adds. “I’m going to be trying to get as good as him. When I get enough practice, we’re going to do Hotel California. When I’m good enough I’d like to see if I can be in some of my papa’s work.”
(Above: Anthony plays guitar on Mass)
December 1, 2007
Burroughs Creek Trail Bogged Down Three Years After Proposal
West of Haskell Ave. and east of Learnard Ave. from east 11th to east 23rd street, sits an abandoned rail corridor—what used to be the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad.
Three years ago, east Lawrence citizens submitted a request to the Lawrence city commission to develop this abandoned railroad track into a trail. The concrete trail would span a length of about three miles and would be used for walking, jogging, and biking.
One east Lawrence resident, John Rasmussen, got involved with the project five to seven years ago—before community members officially submitted the plan to the city commission in 2004. He took an interest in the trail after seeing similar projects in other cities.
“I’ve seen other rails to trails projects and always thought that this is a good candidate for that. It would provide a great pedestrian and bicycle route. And, I think it would provide a wonderful green space for many neighborhoods,” he said.
Rasmussen has attended numerous neighborhood meetings about the trail. Two years again he attended one every month, but recently has not.
Currently, Rasmussen is waiting for the trail to begin construction.
“The main thing is that it (the trail construction) actually follows through. Hopefully it gets completed,” Rasmussen said.
Now, three years after the city commission submission, the trail’s construction is still in limbo. However, if the Lawrence parks and recreation department’s most recent funding request is granted, construction of the trail could begin as soon as early 2008.
According to Mark Hecker, Lawrence parks and recreation superintendent, “We applied for a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) grant last year and weren’t able to get funding, so we’ve just recently applied for a new grant. We’ve been master planning this past year, which we didn’t do in the previous grant application.” Hecker expects this year’s request to be granted because of this.
However, the current funding request from the KDOT is for $750,000 of the $2.4 estimated cost of the trail. According to Hecker the cost of the trail has doubled since first proposed. Although, he said the increase in cost is largely because of amenities not originally included in the plan.
Two major amenities now included are a spray park and a playground.
“It’s not just a trail, we’re trying to build park facilities on the way too,” Hecker said. “We don’t have facilities like that on the east side of town,” he added.
According to Hecker the spray park will be active during the summer and will feature jets of water that shoot out of the ground. The playground will be open year-round and will be a typical playground with slide, jungle gym, and wood chips.
As for the remaining cost of the trail, Hecker said sales tax would fund it.
However, according to Bruce Muzzy, member of the parks and recreation advisory board, he has not heard anything about a sales tax increase to help fund the trail. Even if one is used, Muzzy is skeptical the money would go solely to the parks and recreation department.
In the early 90s Muzzy said a one-cent sales tax increase passed to support the parks and recreation department, but since at least in part has been used for other purposes.
“They’ve used it (the money) for many other things,” Muzzy said.
However, Muzzy said some of the money from the sales tax increase was used to build the Lawrence Aquatic Center in western Lawrence. He said he thought the remaining money was used for things like street maintenance.
As for opposition to the trail, both Hecker and Muzzy said they are not aware of any.
However, according to Rasmussen, “I’m sure there’s been opposition to the trail. People are probably concerned with how it gets paid for and what the development would look like.” Though, Rasmussen said there isn’t a lot of opposition to the trail—which may have to do with the area it will be in once completed.
“The east side of Lawrence is a more depressed side of Lawrence. They (the east Lawrence people) wanted to be included,” (in the parks and recreation system) Muzzy said. He added that there’s not anything like the Burroughs Creek Trail in the area right now.
Once completed, administrators and citizens alike agree the trail will make east Lawrence a better place to live.
“I think it will be very positive. I’ve talked to a lot of people who want a trail all over Lawrence. The parks and recreation plan is to connect the existing trails. This would be one link to the trail,” Muzzy said.
Rasmussen agreed with Muzzy.
“It could be the start of a great network of trails that we could have in the city. Parks are great things for communities,” he said.
Although, funding again remains the key issue.
Muzzy said Lawrence currently lacks the funds to build a trail that would span Lawrence and is instead focusing on financing the Burroughs Creek Trail.
“The biggest thing is how to finance it. So far it’s just trying to fund it through the parks and recreation commission,” Muzzy said. He said that there are no private funds available for the trail. “From what I’ve seen they’re (the parks and recreation department) trying really hard to build this.”
Muzzy said he didn’t know how long the trail would take to complete—as the time it takes to build again depends on when the parks and recreation department receives funding.
Above: Trail Map (in Red)
Map: Parks & Recreation Department