[cropcircles]

What a visionary you are. The timeline is appropriate for MS and their OS releases. The Windows 7 pre-alpha model is just the cover of the book so far, modeled from a Vista skeleton. So we'll all be back in 3 years to read your help and support information. Cheers.

[cropcircles]

Open pipelines through the internet will always need security. A high security fence surrounding Fort Knox might be a better visual.

[cropcircles]

This is a little off subject but relevant to reply's. This doesn't exclude myself. Please keep in mind that your posts over about 3 lines become babble and people stop reading. "KISS"

[footer]

I switched to Linux (Kubuntu) almost 3 years ago and have never looked back. I've poked around in Vista on some relatives machines (for maybe 20 minutes) and didn't like what I saw so 'no thanks'. XP is OK, I prefer it or Windows 2000 which was probably the most stable OS to come out of Redmond to date. XP is pretty close.

[luvduchovny]

I'm a person who has used XP Pro, Vista Home Premium/Enterprise/ and Ultimate versions, and tinkered with Ubuntu. When XP first came on the scene I grumbled why do I need it Win2000 works just fine. But I put it on my home system, grumbled that it didn't like my flatbed scanner, bought a new scanner and moved on. I think Service Pack 2 is what made XP well loved. I really liked XP. Then we tested Vista on a few machines and work (Enterprise) and I waited for six months before sucking in my gut and putting Vista Ultimate on my system at home. This time I lucked out I didn't need to replace anything. Although it initially fought with my nvidia drivers, and my tv card, it settled down and I like it just fine. I get tired of all the whiners who touched a Vista machine for 5 minutes then gave up and went back. I have ubuntu on an ancient laptop just to much about with it. I like ubuntu, although I had to struggle to get it to play a commercial dvd. It's nice but you have to be willing to tweak things (like the blasted wireless which took even longer to get working right than the dvd issue).

I guess I'm just one of those evil people who generally don't mind mucking about in different systems. I've used Leopard/Tiger/Panther/Jaguar/10.1 (Puma but no one ever called it that) in Mac. One must become zenlike and go with the flow or else nothing will ever change. Should XP be discontinued? As long as folks have older machines and don't plan to buy or build newer ones, then no. It should still exist. Do I think it should be made easy for folks who bought new machines with Vista on them to want to downgrade because they don't like it? No.

[rkinne01]

All my media plays just fine on Vista, including Blue Ray and HD DVD. I dare say the video actually looks better on Vista.

[JamesEvens]

I have used all major versions of Windows starting with version 1.0. Versions 1 and 2 not much use except for playing Reversi. The first computer I owned came with DOS 4.01 and Windows 3.0 and eventually upgraded to DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.l1. Used NT 3.54, NT 4 and Windows 2000 at work. Purchased 2nd computer with Windows 95 which was upgraded to Windows 98. Built computer and installed Windows 98 upgraded to XP SP2 only after end of Microsoft support. Fixed problems with father-in-laws ME machine. Using Dell notebook with XP SP2 installed. Of the 3 PCs I currently own only two are capable of running Vista and then only Home Basic without extensive hardware and memory upgrades. By the time I do this and pay for the operating system might as well have purchased new computer.

[dandy1949]

Newer is not always better! Vista is a lethargic non-green system as compared to XP. XP is lean and mean and does it all faster and more efficiently. XP doesn't obsolete software or hardware. Microsoft would be better dropping back and refining XP rather than continuing with Vista or at least continuing selling XP and it's support or face losing out to the newer Linux based distros. The changeover to Vista from XP is very similar to what Windows millenium was from windows 98 - it required more memory and had a larger footprint than 98. The end customer doesn't always want to be purchasing new hardware and software just to accomplish what they're currently doing on their machine. Microsoft makes it's money by selling new (not necessarily improved or efficient) operating systems and applications. But, when the new op system obsoletes existing hardware and software because of the nature of the system - - well it's contrary to best interests of the PC user to purchase such a system.

[mcconnell]

I don't see what all the fuss is about. I have a new PC with Vista and it prompted me to buy Vista for my laptop. I have grown tired of XP and wanted something new.

I can't believe that sme people would rather buy a Mac OS than Vista. Wake up people, it is the new MS OS, get used to it.

[mcconnell]

I am writing this on my XP compter and I must say, my desktop- Vista Business was just upgraded to have SP1. Vista w/ SP1 is much better than Vista w/o SP1. SP1 really makes a difference in speed and security. I ordered Vista Premium with SP1 on Friday for my laptop and can't wait to install it.

[JimH443]

I have XP on my computer, and it does everything I need. I've heard that Vista is much more visually pleasing, and that may be true - but I'm not about to spend the outrageous price for an OS just because it's "prettier." If the day ever comes where Vista does something I need that XP doesn't, then I'll switch. I don't see that day coming any time soon.

[Tedster]

Why not get the best of both worlds? Use a Vista emulator on XP!

[eMJay]

This Vista vs XP debate is beginning to resemble the Blu-ray vs standard DVD issue - one's prettier and sharper but the other does the same things without the 'wow' effects and at a lower cost. I think MS probably made XP 'too good' since what would really drive an exodus from XP would be some new technology that could not be supported by XP - but, alas, there's no such thing at the moment. At least until DirectX 10 becomes mainstream that is...

[cyclelogicpress]

Just bought a swack of Toshiba laptops for work ... because of Vista's slow booting and crashes the big debate in the IT department is whether we should put XP on these new machines. Isn't that like putting an old engine in a new car?

[JimH443]

I predict that if DirectX 10 ever gets mainstream there will be a service pack (authorized, or not) for XP.

[JimH443]

Yes, it's like putting an old yet more reliable and fuel efficient engine in a new car. :)

[frozentundra]

I have a new comp with Vista and am quite happy with it, despite some occasional crashes that never seemed to happen on my older XP machine. However, I see no great improvements with vista, other than the nice interface and the ability to view and switch between windows easily. Since I like to play games,the biggest advantage of Vista was supposed to be DX10. However, this is useless now unless you have a 250.00 video card, since almost any game that runs acceptably in my computer using DX9 will basically not run on DX10 due to the slow framerate. (I have what I would consider a midrange machine, E4500 and HD2600 pro video card.)
I think it is OK for microsoft to stop selling XP, as those that have it now will be still able to use it if they hate vista so much.
I feel that the biggest unfairness is if windows 7 replaces Vista as soon as rumored, because it seems that with the high cost of the OS and the high hardware requirements, Vista be state of the art for a long time.

[JamesEvens]

Everyone seems to discuss the obvious visual pleasantries of Vista over XP. What about the "Parental Control" features? It was also recently reported that game developers are dropping the PC in favor of consoles.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143646/article.html This development could render DX10 useless.

[dandy1949]

Much depends on how critical it is to operate the software involved without hangups or crashes. XP when tweaked properly is faultless and easily maintainable. It just keeps running. If ya'll have the time to tweak and refine Vista to your requirements and occasional hangups or crashes are not a problem then do so. If you're doing a network install then either way you can make up a standard and install the archived system at your discretion. If time allows setup one of each and then determine by observation ( at least on one of each XP & Vista) which outperforms the other over a reasonable period of time. Because you have a refined system of either in archive you can always install the other easily.

[JimH443]

I'm not sure if "Parental Controls" are the bells or the whistles. In either case, it's nothing more than bloat for the vast majority of users.

As for its usefulness... how many parents are using the V-Chips that are built into their TV's? How many even know they're THERE, much less how to use them?