[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Closer Look: Beta Windows Vista Service Pack 1 here

[nakedparrot]

While I have done no official, or even unofficial, testing, day-to-day use with SP1 has shown no change on my Home Premium system.
I had hoped, as I have through several versions, that Microsoft would finally teach its software to remember configuration - specifically as it affects Windows Mail and remembering hidden icons on the SysTray, something it simply does not do. I also would like to have seen a marked improvement in the speed of Windows Mail - a real snail among mail client software.
Tell Windows Mail to NOT show the View Bar and the Search Bar and it does, for one, possible two boots. Then they're back again - every time.
Tell the program to Hide or Show icons in the SysTray and it does, for a while. And then they Unhide or Unshow. Incredibly annoying.
And how about pop-up descriptions for icons in the SysTray or the Quick Launch Toolbar which continue to hide behind the Taskbar. I don't know how long this problem has been around but it seems like forever.

[McDaveH]

Interesting - not looking like a threat to OSX anytime soon then.

McD

[freaktech]

Yeah OSX doesn't have to worry about Vista taking market share...oh wait!?!? Gotta love the fan boys.

[PaulDr]

I tested Vista SP1 for 2 weeks before my system crashed for an unknown reason Dell blames SP1 but not conclusive proof. One thing to be wary about with SP1 is that it disables Automatic Windows Resort Points.

[McDaveH]

Freaktech, I couldn't agree more. Even XP is taking Vista marketshare! And are those the fan boys on the way in or those on the way out?
McD

[markww]

WAIT STOP DON'T ADD SP-1 IT KILLS COMPUTERS WITH THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH WROTE MICROSOFT,COULDN'T EVEN GET INTO SAFE MODE SP-1 6001 HAS BAD BAD BUGS CRASHES YOUR SYSTEM.THE ONLY THING I WAS ABLE TO DO WAS WATCH THE SCREEN FLASH AT THE VISTA BOOT WITH BLUE SCREENS. NOTHING WOULD WORK.

[MleB]

So a mid-February release of SP1 means it'll be stable enough for use by mid-June. Kinda like MacOS releases...
Meanwhile, I read that SP1 has disabled some video ripping programs (I rip my home library down for viewing on my Palm), so that's not exactly a selling point, either.
Then again, maybe all this is why I picked up an ASUS eeePC and am running its LinuxOS more and more...

[deaverj]

You can disable User Account Control by the following:

click Start, Run
Type msconfig
Click on the Tools Tab
Scroll Down and Disable UAC
Click Launch
After the DOS window opens and said it was succesful, type exit.

Restart your computer and IT IS GONE!! YAY!

[zipzap]

yet another article spreads FUD against Vista. PCWorld your FUD is annoying me...

[PC509]

I have done quite a bit of testing with SP1 RC's, and have found them to be a bit more effective than you claim. Also, I have had little issues with Vista. Microsoft also has a utility to control UAC a bit better. Vista may not be perfect, but it is a giant leap over XP.

[joe620]

Hi, I am a Mac. I have over 90% of the OS market share. Wait! what! Who is that?!?!?! It is me, PC waking you up.

[Chris32]

Never had any problems with Vista. The editors for PC world are actaully working for Mac world thats why you hear all the vista bashing. OSX is not that great its good but no better than vista. ---Regards

[whitekong420]

so i use vista everyday let me shed some light on its dirty lil secrets i let it go into sleep mode and explorer crash's 65% of the time certain programs dont wanna run some times but then u try it again and they work maybe yes its a big leap but vista is still a baby compared to the other operating systems and yes it has it's dark side but what dosent i just hope they fix it soon

[guitarest]

There is no security advantages over a fully patched XP Pro system and since Gate and Co tried to shove IE7 down our throats as a "Security Upgrade" I have not trusted nor supported this OS. I am not the only VAR out there either because if I was the only one who disliked Vista then Gates and Co would not still have XP available through my supply channels. I do not think they live in the real world all of my clients are small businesses and its just not a decision they can make to upgrade as that would require new machines, new software and chances are real good new hardware like printers, scanners, plotters and such. Nope they are not in the real world at all. I remember almost 10 years ago there was another OS that had as much support by consumers as Vista does its name was Win ME

[McDaveH]

Hi I'm a PC - I can quote 90% global marketshare, last year it was 97% but hey that was GLOBAL marketshare and not in my neighbourhood. Strange that I should need to find comfort in that irrelevant statistic as the chances that people using the most flexible tool we've ever invented probably aren't doing what I want to do with it anyway. Turns out 50% of that had nothing to do with me (the average consumer) as they were sitting on corporate desks keeping IT support guys in work through bad software design.

Wait! - I want to actually want to produce DVDs and other useful stuff. So when I check out who's actually achieved that (as opposed to those who COULD produce something useful) I'm in the real minority. Damn those Mac guys - they weren't fooled by irrelevant specifications, just kept their eye on the outcomes. Oh dear, I've accidentally USED a Mac so now I'm going to switch because that's the rule - everyone who ACTUALLY takes a bite of the Apple never looks back

Windows you were always a cheap/bad copy of MacOS anyway (features 2-15 years late) and now you're no longer cheaper - RIP!

McD

[SCOOPNJ78]

It doesnt matter, it is still a piece of crap!!!!! It crashes like the Hotel Vista that was attached to the WTC. Worthles piece of junk!!!!!!!!!!!

[joe620]

haha. I love how insecure Mac people are. I was clearly joking around and I get this response. I can feel the tension just reading it.
Here is the deal. I am a software engineer. My wife is a graphic designer. I work for a company that develops software for every one of the fortune 100. I don't use Macs, My wife doesn't use macs. Only 1 of the fortune 100 uses Macs on a regular basis. They are toys for people who actually believe you can do something on them that can't be done on a PC. These are for the same people that believe in miracle products you see on infomercials. There is nothing you can do on a Mac that you can't do on a PC ... period! However, I will say for a home user a Mac is quite fine. It is when you use a computer for real work that Mac's place becomes apparent. It has none (in the workplace) unless you are a graphic designer. In that case ... well you can have a mac and do everything you can on a PC equally ... but you can brag that you have a Mac and would never use a PC running software from the evil empire ... If you like Macs then I say great but bashing PC's and WIndows and putting your childish little $ in MS just shows how ignorant you are about computing.

First of all, Windows did not claim 97% last year and 90% this year. Mac only claims a 1 - 2% increase over the last 2 years. Linux claims less than .1 so unless there is some other commonly used OS that I don't know about your claim doesn't stand up.

As a software engineer for over 15 years I can say with certainty that you have no clue what you are talking about. Make a DVD!?!? Yes, that is so useful. Are you really trying to tell me you can't make a DVD on Windows? Hopefully you are talking about video and not just putting a bunch of photos on DVD. At least there I can say some of Macs free tools are better for that. Putting photos on a DVD is to quote my younger cousin "so 5 years ago".

Tell me about some of the other things you "can't do with Windows" I would love to be educated.

[freaktech]

I completely agree with you Joe. The Mac users always say that you can't do the same things on a PC that you can on a Mac. Show me. I will then show you it can be done on a PC, and in most cases with free software. I also love that when a Mac user does get one for the office they then have to go out and buy MS office for Mac to get anything done.

[joe620]

freaktech,

Great example, I hear that one all the time. The funny thing is Mac people really get mad if you own a PC. They claim you are just stupid if you don't use a Mac. In reality they make fools out of themselves in front of real professionals that use computers for more than email and surfing the web.

For everyday use I still prefer a PC with windows. I also have a Linux box that I play around with basically to stay on top of it since I don't work in that environment anymore. I used to have a Mac so I could test web apps on Safari. I used them all but really just find the PC with Windows to meet all of my needs for general use. For the workplace Windows is hands down the all around tool. Nothing against Linux but I don't find that OS to be user friendly when doing general office duties. If someone wants to use a Mac and it meets their needs then go ahead. I really won't hate them for it like Mac user apparently hate PC users.