Vista

**nova** · **12-25-07, 09:31 PM**

Well,... bought my wife a new laptop for Christmas. Dunno why she does not like the souped up, overclocked monster desktop I built her, but, laptops are,...ok I guess.
Other than the fact that it came with Vista,....hmmm.... got two words for this and can't decide which better describes it, ... ICK, or ... YUCK, ....OK, OK, I can think of many other words to describe it but I won't go there.

This is the first machine I've bought in many, many, many years (I prefer to build them) and was really surprised at all the junk that is loaded on them these days,... deleted or un-installed ~1.08GHz of junk.

**Sonnie** · **12-25-07, 09:57 PM**

I've heard some not so good things about Vista... more so on the operations side of things. I have a free upgrade with my laptop but I've procrastinated installing it in fear it won't work smoothly with all of my apps.

**mechman** · **12-26-07, 10:11 AM**

I've done the same as you Sonnie. My Vista upgrade has collected dust since it arrived. I've seen how poorly it runs and have no desire to slow down any of my machines.

Mark - how much is 1.08GHz of junk? LOL!

mech

**wbassett** · **12-27-07, 02:30 PM**

Like all of MS's Operatings systems, definitely wait until at least Service Pack 2 is out.

I work for a big company and we're something like 2-3 years behind the 'most current' OS Microsoft has out. Sounds odd at first, you'd think a multibillion dollar a year company would be bleeding edge, but the truth is they'd rather play it safe and wait until all the kinks are ironed out... and that's usually sometime after SP2 comes out.

That's my personal recommendation for us consumers... wait for SP2. Sonnie and Mech I'd also check your free upgrade vouchers and make sure they don't expire. If they do, I'd say go ahead and get the disc and just shelve it until SP2.

Oh, not that this matters because I think everyone now has a DVD Rom in their computer, but you need a DVD drive to install Vista. The disc image is over 2Gigs in size!

In the past I usually had one system sitting here with the latest and greatest OS on it for testing purposes and so I could get used to the OS, but my wife decided to blow up her PC and the spares so no more test units for now

In March I will be building a HTPC from the ground up as an HTS project and I'll be installing Vista on that. Not because I am in love with it or anything like that, but to identify any problems that people may run into. Wish I had a free upgrade, that way I wouldn't have to shell out the bucks for it!

**nova** · **12-29-07, 10:03 AM**

Been a couple of days now, and it is NOT growing on me in any way, shape, or form. Just about ready to wipe it out and install XP, except for two little issues; 1. my wife has not complained one bit about it

2. not sure if there are drivers (or lack there of) or other reasons that would prevent XP from running properly on this laptop.

**bobgpsr** · **12-29-07, 06:08 PM**

I have Vista 32 running on a UMPC (Fujitsu U810) and Vista 64 running on a E6600 desktop. No real problems. It does help to learn how to turn things that are not required off (use msiexec as needed). Also set back the look and feel to classic Windows.

What are you trying to do that Vista is stopping?

It does a much nicer job of burning CD's for use in the car for me -- includes artist name, song title, etc for car player LCD display.

**Big Worm** · **12-29-07, 08:10 PM**

I actually installed Vista on my wifes machine as soon as it came out. She has been running it great with no real problems. I love the new eye candy! I am about to rebuilt my desktop and put Vista on it. Also going to be putting on Visual Studio 2008!

Vista is here to stay. SP1 comes out here soon and it should help things.

**imbeaujp** · **12-30-07, 05:37 AM**

Hello, got a new HP Pavillion with Intel Dual Core Quatro 2.6 Ghz and 2Gig memory. It came with Vista Home premium and many trial stuff from Micosoft (office, etc.).

What I really like is the new user interface and the Media Center. All my CD are on that PC now and it plays verry fine using the bulit in RCA digital coax output.

But yes, some "old" software does not work yet with Vista and you got to upgrade some. But many new PC only supports Vista...

**JimP** · **12-30-07, 07:25 AM**

Something else to think about is that Vista is more secure than earlier MS operating systems and there is some debate as to whether or not you need to run additional antivirus software.

A week or two after getting my laptop to run REW, I reformatted the hard drive and reintalled Vista. Did not reinstall the antivirus software (McAffee). Laptop boots and runs noticably faster.

Now I would be hesitant to recommend that everyone should eliminate their antivirus software, but if your computer is only going to be used for something very limited, what's the harm. Worst that can happen is that you reload your OS.

**nova** · **12-30-07, 04:43 PM**

Quote:

bobgpsr wrote:

Also set back the look and feel to classic Windows.
What are you trying to do that Vista is stopping?

Oh,... nuthin'. Bought the laptop for my wife. Everything works, I just really don't like the,...ummm "feel" of it. Or the look of it. Then again maybe I'm just fighting the change. I get the feeling Vista is just a big flop, it's right there with Millenium and 2000 in my book.

**nova** · **12-30-07, 04:55 PM**

I also bought an HP Pavilion but it is an AMD X2 also 2 gig mem.

The interface is one of the things I really don't like. I just like to get in there and do what I want to do, I really hate having to follow a "script". Couple of examples, I really hate Kodak's Easy Share Software and Harmony's set-up program. Probably sounds like I'm making a bigger deal of it than it really is.

Vista is not getting anywhere near any of my desktop's

**Big Worm** · **12-30-07, 05:03 PM**

Quote:

nova wrote:

Oh,... nuthin'. Bought the laptop for my wife. Everything works, I just really don't like the,...ummm "feel" of it. Or the look of it. Then again maybe I'm just fighting the change. I get the feeling Vista is just a big flop, it's right there with Millenium and 2000 in my book.

XP has been around for such a long time now that everybody is fighting change. Everybody feels that nothing wrong with it so why change it. But unlike Millenium, Vista has to much invested in it to not continue. So my opinion is get used it because it is here to stay.

Windows 2000 is still used my a crap load of companies so that was not such a bad operating system.

I guess for me I love the look and feel of it. I am one of those people that never used the "Windows Classic" look in XP. I turned on all the eye candy in XP.

**lcaillo** · **12-30-07, 08:07 PM**

I have found vista to be fine. It takes a little more machine to run it, and there are some differences, but I have not had any problems with it compared to the move to XP. I agree, people are resistant to change.

**wbassett** · **12-30-07, 08:41 PM**

I will be installing Vista on the HTPC I'm building. I do expect some quirks but in the end think it will be fine.

For you guys that have it installed, what's your take on the multimedia features?

**warpdrive** · **12-30-07, 08:55 PM**

I'm running Vista on my home PC and it's fine. It does have 2GB RAM but RAM is dirt cheap these days. I don't notice it being any slower (I do have a very nice video card which means Aero runs fine)

I had issues with Nvidia's drivers at first but otherwise, I think it's no worse than XP...at least there is no reason for me to switch back to XP. There are a few programs which I run in XP compatibility mode but other than that, I have had no other reason to complain about it.

I was in the market for a handheld PC and I decided to buy one of Sony's VAIO UX series PC's that come with Vista.

I bought a 3850 ATi card and I run Call of Duty 4 on it on a AMD x4200

**drf** · **12-31-07, 05:29 AM**

I have been consulting, building pc's and doing basic tech support on the side for about 10 years now. It maybe just my Autistic traits but I find Vista to be confusing to navigate, a real resource hog (especially on run of the mill home pcs), not compatible with old people who are trying to upgrade from 95' and is basically a bloated DOS/network controller. The only reason I run XP now is for compatibilty with my clients otherwise I would rather be running one of the many available linux distros.
I guess for those with the time to sit down and learn its quirks theres probably nothing to horrid about it, but for average everyday people (the ones who rely on me to advise them on the easiest and cheapest wordprocessor/email computer to get) its just too much.

**imbeaujp** · **12-31-07, 07:16 AM**

Hello again,

I understand that many people wants to stay with their old operating system. But if you want to go Microsoft, you do not have choice: You must go Vista. It is like saying that you stay with windows 95 or 3.11 and thay you will not upgrade. It's ok if you do not change your PC or software but...

The choice you have, if you do not want to go Vista, is eventualy to switch to Mac or Linux. But you can not stay XP for the future.

JP

**JimP** · **12-31-07, 07:33 AM**

drf,

What would you recommend as a word processor containing spell check thats compatible with MS Word?

I have a friend who would like to add word processing to her Vista laptop but doesn't want to spend to get the latest version of Word.

For compatibility purposes, does it make more sense to find an older version that can be bought for less?

**wbassett** · **12-31-07, 09:24 AM**

One that I like is Open Office by Sun. It is compatable with MS Word as well as many other programs and you can even export to HTML or PDF without any additional software.

**drf** · **12-31-07, 02:42 PM**

Quote:

imbeaujp wrote:

Hello again,

I understand that many people wants to stay with their old operating system. But if you want to go Microsoft, you do not have choice: You must go Vista. It is like saying that you stay with windows 95 or 3.11 and thay you will not upgrade. It's ok if you do not change your PC or software but...

The choice you have, if you do not want to go Vista, is eventualy to switch to Mac or Linux. But you can not stay XP for the future.

JP

Thats what I don't like about it, for majority of my clients they have to learn a whole new operating system, previously the jump from 95 to 98 was small, then 98 to ME was small also. Unfortunately from ME to Xp was a step which meant that I had to spend an extra 4 hours with each client tutoring how to navigate, install and run programs with compatibility issues. But on Vista I can't do this as I no longer have the time that 4 hours became ???. Basically MS are making very complicated operating systems for people who only want to wright letters, send emails and occasionaly surf the web. My cliants aren't interested in multitasking, network compatability/sharing, 3D games, multiple monitors or hard drive control and maintenance.

Quote:

What would you recommend as a word processor containing spell check thats compatible with MS Word?

What wbassett said, open office is a very good alternative and one that I would recommend alot more often if my clients were able to adapt to new software easliy. The only reason I would tend to promote MS and maintstream software like Norton AV over the free stuff is for the 24/7 tech support these companies provide, which in turn saves me a lot of time sorting out minor issues. So in short if your friend is computer savy and doesn't mind surfing forums/manuals problem solving then get open office.

**nova** · **12-31-07, 07:21 PM**

Don't agree with that. I totally skipped 98SE, NT, 2000 and Millennium, went from 98 to XP. Vista may go the way of 2000 or ME in the next year or so, and we will have Windows 7 or Vienna and then ???? I think it is totally realistic to think I/we could skip 2 or 3 generations of Windows upgrades,...I believe there is a choice.

Quote:

imbeaujp wrote:

I understand that many people wants to stay with their old operating system. But if you want to go Microsoft, you do not have choice: You must go Vista. It is like saying that you stay with windows 95 or 3.11 and thay you will not upgrade. It's ok if you do not change your PC or software but...
The choice you have, if you do not want to go Vista, is eventualy to switch to Mac or Linux. But you can not stay XP for the future.JP

**drf** · **12-31-07, 09:28 PM**

Quote:

nova wrote:

Don't agree with that. I totally skipped 98SE, NT, 2000 and Millennium, went from 98 to XP. Vista may go the way of 2000 or ME in the next year or so, and we will have Windows 7 or Vienna and then ???? I think it is totally realistic to think I/we could skip 2 or 3 generations of Windows upgrades,...I believe there is a choice.

There is only a choice if the current upgrade options (including not upgrading) don't pose an obstacle. I guess what I was trying to say before is that there are people out there (usually over 50) that do not have the disposition or educational resources to embrace OS's that are becoming overly complicated to navigate, the learning curve is just too much. At least with the minor differences between 95 ->98-> me each step is not so demanding. While the jump to vista is not a must as imbeaujp said, it is currently the closest OS to what people are already using. And that is, I'm afraid, not close enough for some people.

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