[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Why I Didn't Skip Microsoft Vista: Security here

[Hiliftjack]

I have used computers for 25 years. My new (8 months) Laptop (top of the line) with VISTA sits on the table, Idle. I always find myself going back to my desktop PC (XP) to knock out a task that I need quickly. This article is written to businesses who have IT staffs to help their employees, and money to train them. Maybe VISTA is more productive in the long run, but it is hard for me to visualize. Its not for the average home user.

I dont understand the security. I live by myself. My only connection with the outside is through my DSL modem. Do I really have to be asked if I want to continue with an operation that I, just the second before requested. Is there a ghost looking over my shoulder that might take over? I cant find files which I know are in the computer. Yesterday I selected a new image for my display wallpaper. With XP this takes a split second to load. With VISTA the sistem appeared hung-up. No response on the cursor. No little revolving blue circle to tell me it was working on the request. After a couple of spits and sputters and about 30 seconds it worked. It goes on and on! Give your mom and dad a new computer for Christmas so they can e-mail you?. Forget it! Its impossible for the average computer illiterate person to pick up on.

[VHMP01]

I am an IT Manager and have used Vista since it first came out so that we were ready little by little to upgrade. Vista has a few changes to get used to, but once our users have gotten the hang of it, they see XP as an old OS (same with Office 2003). We have suffered from some drivers and a couple of compatibility issues, so some user had to wait for the change, but now they are also eager to get a new PC with Vista as their coworkers have better tools to do their jobs.

[DOUGLAS666]

Hiliftjack,

You are so correct Sir! For the regular home user with limited skills, Vista can still be quite a pain in the a%$. I adopted Vista when it first came out and I was forced to learn much about computers and programs. Fortunately for me during this time frame, I had extra time on my hands. If I would have had a normal busy life with a wife and kids running around, Vista would have been a nightmare for me. It's much different for an IT and the folks working under his/her care to square away problems than it is for the normal home user. Another thing different about the home user, is the fact that they do not run the same programs that get us in to trouble. Vista is much better now than when it first came out, but I still run in to snags now and then.

[oregonnerd]

OMG. Remember some acronyms hale from teletype days. Remember some acronyms hale from teletype days.
--Glenn
Message was edited by: AuroraDizon - fixed formatting

[oregonnerd]

Remember, too, that computers make seemingly random corrections at times. I wonder what hyper text protocol was employed where, and how, in my foregoing comment. We are ruled by things we barely (if at all) understand. Then again, that seems to have been the common condition of the human race.

--Glenn

[rgreen4]

My experience has been just the opposite. I ordered the free upgrade for an HP Media Center desktop that I ordered in late 2006. I figured I would just put the upgrade on the shelf when it arrived. I found the XP Media Center Edition so troublesom that I installed the Vista Home Premium and have had no problems with the OS since. I now have Vista on a 1 year old notebook and a desktop that is a custom build.

The one thing I did is the same thing I did when I first went to XP with a 5 year old HP desktop that still runs XP Pro. I bought David Pogue's Book "Windows Vista - The Missing Manual". I discovered that many of the services in XP have been expanded and improved. For example, Disk Management in XP will only display the status of partitions on the system drive, but will modify and format the second drive. Disk Management in Vista allows partitioning and formating of new partitions of the system drive - something you would have to purchase a third party software for.

You totally miss the reason for UAC. It is not to prevent you from doing something, but to ensure that it is you doing it and not a rouge piece of malware. If you ever get the UAC popping up while you are in the web browser and an unknown program wants to modify your system disk, you will appreciate it after that point.

[joeaverage]

I have had the fortune to play with Vista many times now. Each time Vista was quickly replaced by XP or Linux. At work we had a half dozen high-end workstations that were only marginal performers with Vista on them. My first task at this job was to replace Vista with XP. Those work stations scream with XP or Mandriva Linux 2008 on them. While I agree Vista is the most secure OS they have ever released, XP remains the most usable OS Microsoft has ever released. I'll stick with linux however.
Was working in the yard when a retired neighbor stopped by. Asked me if I had ever heard of Lee-nucks? His new laptop came with Vista and he was tired of fighting it. Wants me install Ubuntu on it tonight. I expect it will be perfect for his needs - pictures, e-mail, media, surfing, OpenOffice, etc.
In Vista's favor I prefer the UAC telling me something is getting ready to happen to my computer. In Linux any significant changes made to the OS results in the OS asking for the root password. That's the way it should be. At least until there is a better way for the computer to check who is instructing it to do something.