Just how bad is Windows Vista really hurting? Maybe web trends can answer that. I've monitored several sites over the last 30 days that I have Analytics data on. Since I'm a webmaster, and I work as one professionally, I'm fortunate enough to have a wide array of sites to evaluate. Now I know Google Analytics has some flaws - but in general I believe it captures a decent picture. I am a fairly advanced PC user and I don't blog its data tools and I doubt more than 5% do. I also believe that most folks using XP and Vista are definitely using the internet, so my sampling should give a decent picture of the trends. So I'd estimate a 5% chance of error at best. Let's take a look at the statistics.

Tech Oriented News/Support Site. The demographic here is highly male and age is typically 20-45. Typically very intelligent crowd including casual visitors.
XP - 53.51%
Vista - 43.49%

Travel Oriented Site. The demographic here is mostly female, but not by much. Age is typically over 35. Typically very wealthy crowd.
XP - 81.76%
Vista - 13.72%

Television Station Site. The demographic here is varied amongst many age groups, but typically is more predominant amongst older adults. Visitors are usually well educated and somewhat wealthy.
XP - 83.13%
Vista - 12.59%

Education Portal. The demographic here is mostly schools, students, and teachers. The average age is like under 20. Visitors are split between male and female. Education is usually K-12.
XP - 88.96%
Vista - 7.06%

Even the tech oriented site (PROnetworks) is 10% in favor of XP. That honestly surprises me. But the landslide margin of XP to Vista on the other sites is really incredible. So I ask, just how much IS Vista really hurting? Apparently if you consider the above statistics across a wide demographic... it's hurting a lot.

It is time to once again install a dual boot system for me, I think.

I have been using Vista solely for business purposes for about 7 months or so now. It works great with the exception to reading drives or storage devices over the network.

Now that I have purchased Unreal Tournament III and Crysis, I think I have now decided to put XP back on just for purely gaming. UT III was jumpy and lagged some but Crysis runs good for everything so far but I think I may have had enough and need to see XP again. I am either going to install XP PRO N 32 bit or XP 64 Bit. Now remember this will be just for gaming.

In case you are wondering how this install will take place, I have a Sata 350gig and 400gig laying around so I am going to use my Sata 350 gig just for XP. I personally have had success with this upcoming way of installing XP after Vista. I am going to unplug all my drives except for the new drive. Install a fresh copy of XP on it and then plug my other two drives back in. Now my Vista, Data, and XP will be Channel 1, 2, and 3 respectively. I will change the boot.ini and then copy the three files necessary for XP to Vista root drive. Go into VistaBootPro and add the entry for XP system. Reboot and it all works. I have been very successful by doing a dual boot this way and it has worked the first time every time I have done it.

Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.

Quick, name the 5 largest companies in the world...

Chances are you got at least two of the five right if you surf this site regularly. Microsoft ranks in at number 3 with a market value of $272,912 billion and AT&T ranks in at number 5 with a market value of $246,202 billion. The other three you'd likely nod and say, "Of course" when told, but you might not think of them immediately. In fact, I was rather surprised I completely missed number two, at least until I heard the conglomerate's name, General Electric (GE) - market value: $363,611 billion.

So who's number one? In today's world it's likely no surprise that Exxon Mobile is numero uno with a market value of $429,567 billion dollars. $377.6 billion of that came alone last year in profits. Let that sink in for a second. And speaking of profits, one has to wonder how long Microsoft will retain its lofty ranking. Of the top ten companies in the world, it was 9th in profit last year - second (worst) to only China's national bank. Granted the $51 billion Microsoft earned isn't chump change, but it's certainly a sign of changing times.

Oh and I know, I know you're thinking Google's like number six right. LOL, guess again. Thinking top 20? Keep guessing! Top 50? Nope!

Google surprisingly (or not) ranks in at number 51, with a market value of $105,421. Profits last year only accumulated to around $10 billion. But kudos to finishing one spot ahead of Pepsi Google.

Here's a few more stats that may surprise you in their rankings.

Even though 4 out of the 5 richest people in the world are related to Sam Walton, Wal-mart ranks in at number 14 with a market value of $193,643. But keep in mind Wal-mart also made $351 billion last year. That's more than it's worth!! Guess all those employees add up.

Of the top 25 in the world... six are Oil and Gas companies, six more are Health or Insurance companies (or both), and another six are banking related. Kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside don't it? Only ONE company in the top 25 is a automotive company - Toyota. This just in, "I'm sorry, GE and Ford who?"

IBM (31) isn't even in the top 30, and Coca-cola (44) is just barely in the top 45. Verizon debuts at number 45, a far far cry behind rival AT&T (5) - "can you hear me now?"

Intel is number 46, and just for grins...skipping a few... the 100th company is Canon. Even Home Depot (97) beat them out.

Oh, and in case it pissed you off I left out number 4 earlier - it's Citigroup (bank) . No snub was intended.

Interesting stuff. This list is current as of March 2007. A new list is likely to be published early next year.

View more at this Wiki page

If you've noticed a drop in your website's page rank lately, you're not alone. PROnetworks and many other sites, including the Washington Post, Forbes, and others have watched their Page Rank (PR) go backwards. Luckily, PRO only dropped a notch from 6 to 5, but others were hit a lot harder, some as many as 4 page rank spots.

Take a look at some of the major sites affected:

· http://www.washingtonpost.com/ PR7 to PR5
· http://www.forbes.com/ PR7 to PR5
· http://www.suntimes.com/ PR7 to PR5
· http://www.sfgate.com/ PR7 to PR5
· http://www.statcounter.com/ PR10 to PR6
· http://www.masternewmedia.org/ PR7 to PR4
· http://www.autoblog.com/ PR6 to PR4
· http://www.pro-networks.org PR6 to PR5
· http://www.engadget.com/ PR7 to PR5
· http://www.problogger.net/ PR6 to PR4
· http://www.copyblogger.com/ PR6 to PR4
· http://www.joystiq.com/ PR6 to PR4
· http://www.tuaw.com/ PR6 to PR4
· http://www.searchengineguide.com/ PR7 to PR4
· http://www.searchenginejournal.com/ PR7 to PR4
· http://www.johnchow.com/ PR6 to PR4
· http://www.quickonlinetips.com/ PR6 to PR3
· http://weblogtoolscollection.com/ PR6 to PR4
· http://andybeard.eu/ PR5 to PR3
· http://www.seroundtable.com/ PR7 to PR4
· http://www.blogherald.com/ PR6 to PR4

Source

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Earlier I read a Blog at CNET Networks that very much reflected my own thoughts.

As many of you are aware, I think Windows Vista is a blunder. And with its annoying UAC system and horrifically slow operation, it won't take long before the majority of home users agree with me. If the recent figures showing Mac OS X is already gaining market share is any indication of the future, look for Leopard to outsell Vista by a staggering margin.

Simply put, Mac OS X Leopard is one of the most significant operating system achievements we have witnessed in years. Not only does it add functionality that Microsoft could only have dreamed of, it does so in a snappy environment that doesn't annoy you with pop-ups asking for permission or all of those security threats we have come to know (and hate) in Windows.

But my belief that Vista will soon bow to Leopard goes far beyond the operating system itself. In fact, the major reason Vista will succumb to Mac OS X has little to do with Apple, but quite a bit to do with Microsoft's current focus. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is abundantly clear: Microsoft fears Google and is doing everything it can to become the Google slayer instead of competing in its core business--software.

The company is on a slippery slope, and to be quite honest, I don't think it can get off too easily.