Revise or Remove CNET Vista Upgrade Advisor
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We, the undersigned, insist that the Vista Upgrade Advisor at http://www.cnet.com/4520-33_1-6671810-1.html be revised or removed because it makes provably false claims, misinforming consumers who could otherwise benefit from proper information regarding Windows Vista before making buying decisions.
Although the site states that the recommendations given are CNETs own, many of these recommendations are categorically wrong and are beyond dispute.
It is our belief that while the quality of a publication is at the discretion of the publisher, it is the fundamental responsibility of all publishers to be truthful.
The severity of the errors listed below is indicative of a deliberate pattern of exaggeration and shows a necessity to re-evaluate the whole Upgrade Advisor.
A list of claims that are likely exaggerated is also given below for the reference of CNETs editors; benchmarks should be measured between Windows XP and Windows Vista performance with these aspects in mind.
Claims that are ERRONEOUS:
1. DirectX: Version 10 of DirectX is installed along with Windows Vista. DirectX is not required for installing Windows Vista. All three tabs recommend DirectX 9 for Windows Vista. While a DirectX 9 capable video card is necessary for Aero, the Upgrade Advisor analyzes only the DirectX software version. Whatever the intent of this analysis, it is in error.
2. Sound Card: A sound card is not necessary for Windows Vista. Many office computers have no sound devices. All three tabs recommend the existence of a sound card for installing Windows Vista.
3. CPU: Windows Vista uses no new CPU features; therefore, if a processor passes the CPU Speed analysis, it should also pass the CPU analysis. A processor such as a Pentium 4C (2.4GHz) passes the weighted CPU Speed analysis under both Mainstream User and Enthusiast, while failing the CPU analysis.
4. CPU Speed: The Mainstream User tab recommends 2.8GHz or better, while the Enthusiast tab recommends 2.13GHz or better. The ratings are weighted differently for different processor families while the recommendation threshold is not; thus, Mainstream Users CPU Speed requirement is always higher than Enthusiast.
5. Video Card: Windows Vista does not make use of any of the Shader 3.0 features. The Mainstream and Enthusiast tabs recommend Shader 3.0. This is akin to suggesting that you need a 240V wall socket somewhere in your house for your 120V appliances to work better.
Claims that are likely EXAGGERATED and should be re-evaluated:
1. Confusion between system requirements and performance: Basic Home User, Mainstream User and Enthusiast tabs seem to depict not the recommendations for Windows Vista, but the recommendations for a Windows Vista PC as an office machine, casual gamer and high end gamer. However, when a user upgrades from Windows XP, they will presumably be using the same software that they did before. Windows Vista only inflicts a set amount of overhead and only on certain components. Therefore, the recommendations for using Windows Vista should not increase exponentially as they do amongst the tabs in the Upgrade Advisor.
2. RAM: Under normal circumstances, including for memory intensive games such as Half-Life 2, Windows Vistas operation with 1GB of RAM is comparable to Windows XP with 1GB. With more than 1GB of RAM, features such as SuperFetch improve performance in ways not possible under Windows XP. Therefore, 1GB of RAM is ideal for mainstream users upgrading from Windows XP. The Mainstream User and Enthusiast tabs recommends 2GB of RAM.
3. CPU: The CPU intensive features in Windows Vista occur only on demand or during idle time. Aero is not CPU intensive; in fact, it alleviates CPU load by offloading window management to the GPU. There are no other features in the Premium versions of Windows Vista that would add more CPU load than Home Premium. Therefore, although the minimum requirement is higher than in Windows XP, the CPU requirements for Basic Home User and the other tabs should be equal as far as the Windows Vista and all of the applications that the user had been using before upgrading are concerned.
4. Pixel Shader 2.0: Vista Home Basic does not use Pixel Shader 2.0 or even 1.0 in any significant way. It is only used for ClearType and layered window acceleration*, both of which are negligible. Any GPU should suffice as it does in Windows XP if Aero is not being used. The Basic Home User tab suggests Pixel Shader 2.0, almost defeating the purpose of opting for the Aero-less Home Basic edition.
*http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms742196.aspx
I, the author of this petition, Rei Miyasaka, am in no way affiliated with Microsoft or any of its partners. I am a consumer and ISV developer frustrated by the lack of accurate and meaningful information regarding Windows Vista in the press.
If no action is taken in response, it will be made known to the community that CNET is deliberately neglecting the accuracy of its content.
Although the site states that the recommendations given are CNETs own, many of these recommendations are categorically wrong and are beyond dispute.
It is our belief that while the quality of a publication is at the discretion of the publisher, it is the fundamental responsibility of all publishers to be truthful.
The severity of the errors listed below is indicative of a deliberate pattern of exaggeration and shows a necessity to re-evaluate the whole Upgrade Advisor.
A list of claims that are likely exaggerated is also given below for the reference of CNETs editors; benchmarks should be measured between Windows XP and Windows Vista performance with these aspects in mind.
Claims that are ERRONEOUS:
1. DirectX: Version 10 of DirectX is installed along with Windows Vista. DirectX is not required for installing Windows Vista. All three tabs recommend DirectX 9 for Windows Vista. While a DirectX 9 capable video card is necessary for Aero, the Upgrade Advisor analyzes only the DirectX software version. Whatever the intent of this analysis, it is in error.
2. Sound Card: A sound card is not necessary for Windows Vista. Many office computers have no sound devices. All three tabs recommend the existence of a sound card for installing Windows Vista.
3. CPU: Windows Vista uses no new CPU features; therefore, if a processor passes the CPU Speed analysis, it should also pass the CPU analysis. A processor such as a Pentium 4C (2.4GHz) passes the weighted CPU Speed analysis under both Mainstream User and Enthusiast, while failing the CPU analysis.
4. CPU Speed: The Mainstream User tab recommends 2.8GHz or better, while the Enthusiast tab recommends 2.13GHz or better. The ratings are weighted differently for different processor families while the recommendation threshold is not; thus, Mainstream Users CPU Speed requirement is always higher than Enthusiast.
5. Video Card: Windows Vista does not make use of any of the Shader 3.0 features. The Mainstream and Enthusiast tabs recommend Shader 3.0. This is akin to suggesting that you need a 240V wall socket somewhere in your house for your 120V appliances to work better.
Claims that are likely EXAGGERATED and should be re-evaluated:
1. Confusion between system requirements and performance: Basic Home User, Mainstream User and Enthusiast tabs seem to depict not the recommendations for Windows Vista, but the recommendations for a Windows Vista PC as an office machine, casual gamer and high end gamer. However, when a user upgrades from Windows XP, they will presumably be using the same software that they did before. Windows Vista only inflicts a set amount of overhead and only on certain components. Therefore, the recommendations for using Windows Vista should not increase exponentially as they do amongst the tabs in the Upgrade Advisor.
2. RAM: Under normal circumstances, including for memory intensive games such as Half-Life 2, Windows Vistas operation with 1GB of RAM is comparable to Windows XP with 1GB. With more than 1GB of RAM, features such as SuperFetch improve performance in ways not possible under Windows XP. Therefore, 1GB of RAM is ideal for mainstream users upgrading from Windows XP. The Mainstream User and Enthusiast tabs recommends 2GB of RAM.
3. CPU: The CPU intensive features in Windows Vista occur only on demand or during idle time. Aero is not CPU intensive; in fact, it alleviates CPU load by offloading window management to the GPU. There are no other features in the Premium versions of Windows Vista that would add more CPU load than Home Premium. Therefore, although the minimum requirement is higher than in Windows XP, the CPU requirements for Basic Home User and the other tabs should be equal as far as the Windows Vista and all of the applications that the user had been using before upgrading are concerned.
4. Pixel Shader 2.0: Vista Home Basic does not use Pixel Shader 2.0 or even 1.0 in any significant way. It is only used for ClearType and layered window acceleration*, both of which are negligible. Any GPU should suffice as it does in Windows XP if Aero is not being used. The Basic Home User tab suggests Pixel Shader 2.0, almost defeating the purpose of opting for the Aero-less Home Basic edition.
*http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms742196.aspx
I, the author of this petition, Rei Miyasaka, am in no way affiliated with Microsoft or any of its partners. I am a consumer and ISV developer frustrated by the lack of accurate and meaningful information regarding Windows Vista in the press.
If no action is taken in response, it will be made known to the community that CNET is deliberately neglecting the accuracy of its content.
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