[rkinne01]

In all honesty it doesn't bother me. It only pops up when I use certain programs or install new ones.

[rkinne01]

Business are traditionally slow when upgrading software. In time business will change to Vista, it is a superior OS.

[rgreen4]

Rkinne01- The UAC only pops up if you activate a program that modifies a system type file. Installing a driver, updating an anti-virus or anti-spyware program or file, updating a program or updating windows itself. It does not pop up if you load a normal user program such as Excel, Word, Quicken, or a game. It is there to protect the system and programs, not ordinary user files. That is why we don't see it very often. Why others do is a mystery, unless they are going on what someone else says.

When my machine boots, I get a Windows Defender window that pops up to allow SuperAntiSpyware continue to load, but that is not the same as UAC, although it looks similar. After that I only get on if I going to download an update. Opening IE7, Firefox, Quicken, Excel, Word none activate the UAC.

Lonewolf22 - when you say XP is more stable than Vista, define unstable. To me unstable is when the system crashes, and those situations are very very rare for either system unless there is a hardware or driver issue. In eight months of using Vista the only problem I have encountered is that of a black screen following the inadvertent loading of an XP video driver onto my Vista machine. That was over six months ago and I simply went to my backup installation. The system was operating, just no video.

The reason many businesses are slow to install is two fold - one - many still have late 1990's era PII and PIII machines with integrated video just powerful enough to load a 1024x768 window displaying an Excell spreadsheet - we still have several. Two - many commerial program providers of Accounting, Point-of-purchase, Consolodation, Purchasing and similar software have not yet provided certified applications to the businesses. They are noted for dragging their feet, as the Y2K conversion showed. Many were delivering 2000 compliant programs to businesses in December of 1999, right before the deadline, and some did not make it. There again, the hysteria reached a creshendo about the doomsday failure of all the infrastructure control programs that had not been update, and yet when New Years 2000 rolled in, it was with a wimper not a crash. And also there is a reluctance to be the first to roll it out system wide.

The company I work for is hesitant to roll out XP for the same stated reason, it has not been proven. I think the true answer is that they just don't want to make the effort to do it because Windows 2000 Pro works on the machines, and for our purposes, XP is just a better looking interface, it won't do the job of acting like a smart terminal for mainfram applications any better than Windows 2000. One of our corporate Systems Analyst's has his office just down the hall from me and his laptop has never be downgraded from XP Pro to Windows 2000.

[JimmyDahGeek]

>> I also got my OSes free.

It seems like I'm starting to see a common thread here. I have NOT heard from anyone who went out and bought Vista. It sounds like everyone who has it received it installed on a new PC or received it as a free upgrade. Just to satisfy my curiosity, has anyone here went out and bought Vista to install on their current PC? I remember when 95, 98 & 2000 came out, there were a lot of people rushing out (some even standing in line waiting for the store to open) to buy the software to upgrade their operating systems. It seems to me that Vista didn't receiving the same greeting at launch this time.

[Phineas]

I did, but as a student, it only cost me $20 US. Still, it is a rotten OS I wouldn't mind $19.75 back. It didn't fix the issues I had with syncing my Palm, and I eventually had to revert back to a "lesser" version of XP than what I had originally. (Pro Media? WTF?) The DVD is now collecting dust. (Or did I put that one in the microwave?)
Of course, since then, I've moved completely over to Kubuntu Linux (7.10) on all my machines except for virtual XP drives on which I run my one remaining Win ap. When that ap starts requiring Vista to run, I will abandon it after 12 years as a loyal customer.
I recommend to everyone buying a new PC to get it with WinXP even if they do go with Linux, because viable licenses for XP are going to become a much sought-after commodity as soon as Micro$oft pulls availability for it.

[Phineas]

Also, I tend to agree with rkinne01's point that the personal bashing is really unnecessary. I'm not slagging Vista users, only Vista itself because the GUI really runs counter to my DNA coil. I've found that Mac users don't typically care much for what goes on in the machine so long as it works (and since they write all their own drivers, it generally does). Loyal Windows users tend to have more interest and therefore know the buzzwords like "hyperthreading" and "multi-core," but seldom know what they really mean or how to use them. We Linux users, to my experience are far more obsessive about trimming the fat out of our resident processes and making as much a racecar out of our machines as can be made, convenience being a distant second.

[apatz]

I didn't get mine free. I went to Best Buy and paid full retail price for Vista Home Premium. I enjoyed my time with Vista and didn't have any issue either installing or running the program. My problem with Vista and the reason I shifted back is not with Vista or Microsoft but with the incompatability of the BUSINESS programs that I have to use on a daily basis to do my JOB! If all I had to do with write letters using Microsoft Word or surf the Internet I would still be using Vista. Unfortunately my JOB doesn't allow me to play around with either Linux, Ubuntu, MAC OS X, or anything else to play with. I need a system that WORKS with the BUSINESS applications that I have to USE. Eventually Adobe and other mainstream applications may have full compatability. Until then no Vista for me and my DVD sits on my desk collecting dust.

[catarheel]

I have given up on MICROSOFT period. I got a Mac for Christmas and I am enjoying every minute of a new learning experience.

[fmorriso]

I upgraded a 3-year old Sony laptop from XP Pro SP2 to Vista Ultimate with a purchased copy. I first ran the Vista upgrade advisor and new in advance that the graphics card would not allow the fancy Aero stuff, but since I had 1GB of RAM and plenty of disk space and don't use the computer for games, I figured it was worth a shot.

The machine ran like very slowly after the upgrade, even allowing for the initial indexing 'sweep' of the 80GB hard drive. The UAC pop-ups were extremely annoying to the point that I turned of UAC completely after talking with Microsoft who assured me that UAC is only necessary for those people who refuse to use a decent firewall and anti-virus software. Since I was using Avast, Windows Defender and the firewall features of my secured (WPA2) wireless router, I figured it was worth it.

Throw in the lack of support for my HP scanner, Sony PDA (can no longer synch it) and it was becoming pretty obvious that Vista requires purchasing new hardware with more memory and faster graphics than any of my current machines possess. Once the replacement Dell D820 laptop arrived (4GB RAM, fast video with dedicated video memory and 160GB hard drive), I 'repaved' the other laptop with Ubuntu 7.04 (since upgraded to 7.10) and use it to 'see what all the fuss is about (Ubuntu)' while still having something new that I can use that is similar to what I use at work (Windows) and will be supported long enough to stabilize itself after one or two service packs.

Meanwhile, to avoid having my wife divorce me, I've had the good sense to leave her laptop on XP SP2 Pro. OK, so maybe it also means we can still use the HP 4100C scanner, but any of you who have been married for 30 years or so will understand immediately about not messin' with the wife's 'puter. It's the modern equivalent of 'don't ever go into her purse, even if she says it's OK' :-)

Once I learn enough about Ubuntu, the older laptop will end up being donated to one of the local schools, similar to what I did with previous computers. No applause needed because I do it for the tax write-off more than for what it will do for some little skull full of mush crumb crunchers.

Just my US$0.02 worth.

[rgreen4]

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. While I did not buy a copy of Vista on the first day of release, (I was not in that much of a hurry), I was in Best Buy (yea, we even have one here is S. Georgia), a few days later, and the OS shelves were empty. They still had the store tags that identified the various versions of Vista, but no boxes. I actually got my very first copy, and upgrade version of Home Premium from Newegg. This was the copy that I tried on my laptop, knowing going in from running the Vista Upgrade Adviser that I would have trouble, but I wanted to see how much.

This is a 3 year old laptop and only has 1.25 GB (maxxed out) and the ATI 9000/9100 mobile video chip. As I said earlier, it ran ok, but the video was only 800x600. Then I got the free upgrade for my HP Media Center, then I bought the OEM copy for my new build. The new laptop came with Vista pre-installed. The upgrade copy I tried on the laptop was and still is slated to be installed on an older desktop when I put in the new video card. I have delayed it because to answer some of these forum questions, I need access to an XP machine.

As to no one rushing out to buy Vista, the sales figure in the first quarter, six months and year for Vista exceed the same figure for XP after its inital release, which was also slammed when it came out. There were driver problems galore for those converting from 95/98/ME. For those converting from NT/2000, it was as smooth as silk.

So, by your standards, I guess you consider me in the fool's camp. Maybe so, but it works well for me. And millions of others who you don't hear from.

[JimmyDahGeek]

> So, by your standards,
I guess you consider me in the fool's camp...
[/quote]
I don't recall calling anyone a fool. And If I did I'm sorry. In fact I was one of those that was in line for 98. I also was one of the first ones to get W2k. But
when XP launched I saw no need to run out and get it. In fact the onlyway I ended up with xp was when I purchased a new laptop. I used it for a while and then when it started running "slow" I formnatted the harddrive and set it up to dual boot with Ubuntu. Now I use Linux most ofthe time. My desktop PC it still has W2k on it and that dual boots also. Since I work mainly on HP UNIX servers I would rather run Linx over Windows. There is a rare (very rare) occasion that I will boot into Windows but most of the time I can do what I need to do in Linux.







As I stated in a previous post my 15 year old son and his girlfriend are also dual booting with either Vista & Ubuntu or W2k and Ubuntu. They can do most of what they need to do with Linux.
Now comes the final challange. My wife. She has been complaining about how slow Windows has gotten (XP). Windows just does that after a while. Even PC World has mentioned before that every year or so you need clean the hard drive and do a fresh install of Windows. The wife has noticed how the rest of the family is using Linux and has asked if she should start using it. Not any more this week.:0 She's a good canidate for Windows.







So to answer my own question from a previous post. I did not rush out and get Vista nor will I. If/when I get a new laptop, it will probably come with Vista preinstalled, but within the first week it will be dual booting and when I sell it I will be able to say that Vista has "low millage" ;-).

[rgreen4]

Our IT guys at work refer to that slowdown as Windows rot. It's all the little inconsistencies that build up in the registry. I don't do fresh installs anymore as that's a hassle. I use a registry cleaner called Registry Mechanic by PC Tools. I would recommend backing up thoroughly, however, as some have reported problems with some registry cleaners, mainly the "free" variety. I have had good luck with Registry Mechanic, and I actually have not had to use it on Vista. I may try it later and see how it works. I had to use it several times when this machine was XP MCE.
I may have misinterpreted a posting and appologize. I did take it in jest, not spite, as we have had a good discussion in this area and in printers. Actually, one of the nice thing about this community is that we can have "warm" discussions on opinions, and we do take our computers seriously. The members who discuss on a level without invoking personal slams far far outweigh the others, and they leave quickly once they know the rules.

With your using Unix at work I can see why you like Linux.

[rkinne01]

Rgreen, thats supposed to be the case but I get the UAC whenever I launch Diablo 2 , also a couple other minor programs not worth mentioning. Even so having to hit one button to allow the programs to run isn't that big a deal.

[Phineas]

rkinnne01,
Of course it's a big deal. How would it be if your car asked you if you were "sure" you wanted to hit the brake? -After all, it's only one more step. And then afterward, a big red icon would show on your heads-up display reminding you that your foot is on the brake, and that you should "click here to fix the problem."
Compare twenty or thirty of those "just one more step"s a day versus a single instance of typing a password when you log on or make system changes as with Linux or Mac.
We've become so conditioned to OS bloat that we've all but forgotten that computers are intended to make our lives easier and complicated tasks quicker. We're supposed to be the users of computers, not the other way around. You know, so we can go outside and play with our kids. -The graphics are astounding out there! :)

[rgreen4]

To borrow a phrase from a TV commercial, In a perfect world, we would not have to lock our front doors, wouldn't worry about leaving the key in the ignition of our car, and could leave our computers on without anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-anti to protect us.

But we don't live in a perfect world, we have to lock our front door, take the key out of the ignition, and demand protection not only from the add-on protect ware, but from the OS as well. This entire evening, I have not seen a single UAC pop-up and only one Windows Defender pop-up, and that was when I started the machine and Superantispyware started to load.

You compare it to a question about whether you really wanted to press on the brake pedal, I compare it more to the buzzer and light that comes on when you start the vehicle and have not fastened your safety belts.

[killait]

I am a IT Guy for a Investment firm and I buy laptops and desktops once in awhile and my request always starts with XP Pro Please !! But here is the kicker ... I got a laptop (for a client of our firm) and it had Vista Business, and I am a huge XP Pro fan and I'll tell you I was surprized by how nice the OS can be. Albeit this is a home user, who will probably never install games, and other software (other than MS Office). So in that respect, this computer will be fine and if SP1 is anything like XP SP1, I suspect that this will continue.
As for the 50 computers I maintain at work, I am sticking with XP Pro and Microsoft will have to pay me to install Vista. Consider this, I still have very stable Win2000 machines in some of the offices.
Vista is looking like it will be fazed out by XP Pro and then finally replaced by the next Microsoft OS slated to be released in mid 2009 (I heard rumours of this ... so don't quote me !!)
KJ

[butterfly77049]

Sure, registery cleaners are OK, but you have to keep buying them everytime they put out a new system. I'm wondering if using Microsoft's free "Virtual PC" is much better, just install programs that work and play well together into separate images. I've got a quad core that grinds to a crawl with all my favorites installed. My biggest beef with VIsta is they should have made the "XP Theme" the same working interface, with a few tabs called "new features", and not some desktop theme that is really just window dressing.

Otherwise I might as well learn the KDE and other Linux interfaces? All the program code bloat is also taking all the horses out of the new hardware? I have some favorite 16bit softies, and you really get stuck with XP32 bit as a common middle ground. I would think with all the new L2 cache sizes and 64bit pathways that Vista would be a big improvement, I can't help how many people that OS will put out of work because they are thrown a curve ball and have to learn it or else.

[Jackie40d]

Actually you can do both ! There are instructions as to how to install VMware on the computer and run both inside of Linux and make it have a MUCH Better system http://www.ubuntugee...eisty-fawn.html

Saves a lot of problems with M$ as 99.9 % of all hardware is covered by Linux . . I got the Linux Mandriva DVD from Linux Central dot com and it installs so fast . . Its not funny . . ( the other version is like 6 or 7 CD's to put in and take out but still faster than XP install )

And if you have a full 64 bit DESKTOP or LAPTOP get the Linux Mandriva i586 2008 DVD version and run faster . . The abilities of Linux to run gobs of stuff at the same time with out frezzing the computer up is way beyond what you have ever wanted . . I have 6 in my Laptop and its only got 1 gig of DDR2 ram .

I run games inside one and the program I want in the other . .

and click back and forth as needed . .

[rgreen4]

Actually my comment about registry cleaners was more about Windows in general. I have registry cleaners installed on both my XP machines, but none of the 3 Vista machines. Now, either they are not needing any cleaning, or the inconsistencies build up slower.

[benf]

I installed Vista Ultimate on 26 various name PC's the day it came out, I installed the Vista Home version on my Home PC, Compared to XP Vista is nearly flawless, with XP we had one or more BSOD's a day, since Vista, nothing, Vista works perfectly, ok, almost perfectly, 3 crashes in the last year on 27 machines (Counting my own), thats infinantly better than XP, XP is 6 year old technology, I suppose those of you that still use XP still ride horses to work and have ourdoor toilets. Most people that complain about Vista are either the source of their own problems or are just complaining about the way they think Vista is and have no experience with it. You all whine about security so Vista gives it to you and now you whine about too much security. XP is old, tired and needs to be dumped.