[jpostley]

No one has mentioned the most important issue: the majority of consumers are being told they must have much more computing power than they will ever use. I don't want anything Vista claims to offer, yet I'm told I need to replace my 3.5 yr old laptop. If I didn't know better I would waste a min of $600 for no benefit to me. and I have 3 other computers. They all do more than my family and I use. ditto for the organizations I provide support to (local school, PTA, etc) When a keyboard key pops off I'm told my computer is "so old" we can't support that - "you need a new one!". I am a moderately sophisticated user and need new hardware like I need a new OS. (Not at all) If it were not so difficult to be out of the mainstream (yes it is alot of work if you don't consider maintaining your computers entertainment, even if you do know what you are doing) I wouldn't use any Windows OS at all. Look at Firefox - so much easier/safer than IE - but not supported in lots of situations. The world assumes you use Windows, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer. That is not a choice, not a free marketplace. Not the best product having a chance. And soon XP won't be supported?!? Its not like I'm asking for stuff to work with the Win '98 era hardware that still satisifies most user's requirements . . .

[McCall]

I was a Vista beta tester and I have to say that after my experience with RC1 I had no urge to "upgrade". Sure, Vista is pretty, but there is NOTHING revolutionary about it and I can't justify moving to it at this point. In fact, as long as XP is supported, I won't be installing Vista on any of my machines.
I've never been an early adopter( I just started running Windows XP two years ago) but when Windows 2000 hit the shelves, I pounced. Win2K was a BIG improvement over 9x/ME, but every OS released by MS since then has not enjoyed such an obvious distinction over it's predecessor.
It may be time to start taking Linux seriously. Microsoft already has...

[rgreen4]

Number3124 said:

no one likes Vista

I guess there are a lot of "no ones" in this discussion.

[rgreen4]

McCall - the reason that Win2K was such a big improvement over Win98/ME is that Win98/ME was the end of the line for the original Windows line. It started getting some notice with 2.13 in the mid 80's and then 3.0 came out in '90. The big improvement was 3.1 and then Win95. Win98 and ME were basically gloss jobs on 95, the major improvement for 98 was the recognition of USB with 98SE.
Win2K came off the NT platform and in fact the "Windows" directory wasn't Windows on a 2K machine, but WinNT. I still use a Win2K machine every day at work since the corporation I work for hasn't upgraded. They will have to redo several thousand images when they do, so they delay. It was nice in its day, but XP and Vista are both much nicer to use. The major change in Vista is the transitions and the tools. Adjusting HD partitions on "the fly" is nice, the snipping tool is nice, and although some don't like the UAC, they asked for it in the increased security.
As always, everyone wants a more secure OS than XP, and when they get it, they complain because its not as convenient to use. To increase the stability and security, everything now must go through the Windows control, so those games and programs that took the short cuts to the video and memory crash and won't run, if they even install.

Actually, if we look back at the Windows NT line, ver 3.1 (the actual first version, the number was to match Win3.1) used the same interface as Win3.1. Then NT 4.0 used the Win9x interface. Then 2000 the consumer line got the "bubbly" interface of ME and rather than keep the name NT marketing name, NT 5.0 was marketed as Windows 2000 Pro. Windows XP is actually NT 5.1 and most of the drivers for devices are Win2K/XP drivers. But they won't work in Vista which is actually NT 6.0. The rumored Windows 7 is actually Windows NT 7.0 but is not due until 2010. But hey, Vista was due in 2004/5 and we know how efficient MS is on keeping to delivery dates. There is an excellent Wikipedia Article on Windows NT that shows the lineage.

[Number3124]

did you even read the article??

[Number3124]

i read the Wikipedia thing you liked to it said win7 is coming out in 09-10 it sounds like the 98-ME-XP thing except it'll be XP-Vista-Win7

[Number3124]

so if you and so many people like vista so much why hasn't Vista gone on to replace XP like XP did with 98/ME?

[richardmitnick]

I think it's time to give this a rest, go out and take a walk, get some sushi, have sex, whatever.


>>RSM
Edited by: richardmitnick on Oct 5, 2007

[Carey934]

What does Vista offer that XP does not? I can't think of one thing, other than cost more for the hardware, not work with all my software and slow down any PC you put it on. So, after all that expense and sacrifice, it must do something XP can't to make it worth all that trouble, right?

Right?

Hello?

[baldbloke]

Intial response to Vista was great, system seemed stable, however over the past three days alone my system has crashed in the region of 48 times. Not good when running your business from home. May have to Upgrade to XP, know what I mean?

[adkmam1956]

If you don't want Vista, get ubuntu or some such. I like Vista, it works well for me. It now works with Flash amd Photoshop Elements 4, I have gotten overt a few bumps. This is to be expected with anything new. My computer is basically a toy. I don't work with it. It is the first one I built, and I am getting to build another with dual core. I am also getting a new latop, as my old one lost the HDD. My son bought a new HDD and I gave it to him. Both my new computers will have Vista.

[susquatch]

You have forgotten on eof the biggest reasons for sticking with XP. Vista does not support a ton of older software and hardware. So it isn't just the price of the OS, its the price of abandoning all that awesome hardware we still have. I plan to stick with XP until my hardware get outdated - especially given that I really don't see anything besides a lot of makeup on the face of Vista.

[bergrrt]

Too many versions and only the top end versions offered more than eye candy, but they did offer compatibility problems. XP Pro is just fine and I have no new problems to deal with. MS Office 2007 is also a ridiculous disaster in so many ways. Who is running this company and gave the okay for those releases? Sad. I build my own computers so I don't have the issue of a pre-installed OS.

[batres]

well, besides the fast switching between applications, widgets, desktop search available anywhere in the system, readyboost, better system apps, redesigned (better) windows explorer, a more organized way to put files documents music movies images contacts and all that, live thumbnails, preview documents and images and videos and audio files in the windows explorer, a better mail manager, tablet pc features, integrated "iCalendar" (specially dedicated to the mac fans out there), easier networking, being a more fool-proof os, directx 10 (which is pretty much useless right now), faster opengl, faster boot, a faster "add-remove" programs and pretty much faster everything... a glossy glass-like interface AND a nice bubbles screensaver wich I don't use because I never use screensavers, I can't really think of any reason to switch to an OS that lets me work faster than XP ever could... :x

as for the price... it came with the new computer so my vista ultimate only costed like 50 bucks more than xp pro ]:)

[rgeiken]

VISTA is working pretty good for me right now, but the continual need to OK programs that you turn on every day becomes a colossal "Pain the A" They need to do something about that I hate to disable Windows Defender, but since they don't seem to give you any good way to enable programs that you regularly use, it may turn out to be the best option. The Operation of Windows Defender is my biggest complaint about VISTA even though it has other problems. Don't want to go back to XP though, just want Microsoft to improve the ability to set Defender they way that I want it to work.

[dcarladler]

Was given a new computer with Vista. Found it incompatible with at least 4 of my programs. Gave it back for a computer with Windows XP. Who needs Vista?
dcarladler

[Number3124]

it has way to many incompatibility problems and it doesn't have compatibility mode like XP does in XP i can go all the way back to 95 if i need to

[kjsacramento1]

When will Microsoft start addressing the average user instead of only the users who like to tinker with advanced technology? I still know people who don't have a computer because they want stability to get their work done, not prettier screens and constant change. I had all my software and peripherals set up on an XP and it took me a long time to get the kinks out of each of those. I was finally smiling but had a computer failing. When I upgraded to a new HP they said I couldn't get XP, so now I am suffering with all the non-working software I purchased that doesn't function with Vista, a scanner that won't work, even a printer that doesn'twork the same. I have to keep the old machine to keep my old work going. Microsoft needs to address the people that don't have the money to constantly buy upgraded software and pay for techs to figure out the new problems. I am just angry about it, and it cost me the start up of my business. My budget couldn't handle any more costs and delay.

[kjsacramento1]

If you didn't have problems, maybe it is because you have the software Vista was built around and nothing else - not the thousands of other applications and peripherals the rest of us use - maybe you have no problems because you have zilch, nada.

[kjsacramento1]

Very possibly you think it is all talk because you only use the products that Microsoft designed it around - the basics. Try expanding your use a little and see if you don't start screaming. I have a pro scanner that I just purchased and Vista won't operate it - I have to plug it into my XP laptop. I have tons of specialized graphic arts and photography programs that just won't run on it. The simple software from TechSmith called SnagIt - have to buy a new version....... on and on and on. Just because you were one of the lucky few and don't use it for much doesn't mean the talk is all hype.