Windows Vista Now that SP1 has been available 6 months, what are your Vista plans?

I wonder if non Microsoft OS like some flavour of Linux would be an answer.

 

Well I put together a Vista operating system back when it first came out of Beta and other than being slower than XP hasn't caused me any problems. I did tweak it a bit and removed all those obnoxious reminders and pop ups that kept questioning what I was about to do as though I was too stupid to know how to operate my own computer. I have a Zone Alarm firewall on it as well as Spybot Search & Destroy and up until yesterday was only using the Anti Virus feature of the CA Internet Security Suite, however since I started experiencing problems with the Windows Defender Anti Spyware, which is built into the Vista operating, I disabled the Windows Defender and installed both the Anti Spyware and Anti Spam features of my Security Suite and every thing is still working fine.

I did upgrade to SP1 several days ago and until now have not experienced any problems with it. I have even installed a server on it so in the event I have some problem with my XP system, which is carrying the weight of my server and all my sites, I can also use the Vista as a server for my sites. I have a large external hard drives on the XP which I use to keep current backups of important files and I have already tested the procedure of moving the server and sites to the Vista and tested the operation to make sure it works and since it did I feel much better with it now.

 

I'm a pro computer tech, who handles Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers. My personal computers are Win XP, Win 2K, and Puppy Linux.

As far as I'm concerned Vista = Windows ME #2! It's bloated, buggy, and doesn't perform well with less than 3 GB of RAM. This leads to an interesting problem, as MANY laptops are being sold with NO ability to expand RAM beyond 2 GB. I kinda call that 'fraud'... Yes, I know I can hang a flash drive off the side of the laptop for more pseudo-RAM, but what kind of hardware design is that?!?! Why aren't the lappies being built from the ground up to accommodate the RAM-hungry OS?

For an example of a MUCH superior OS - not to mention a free one - go to www.puppylinux.com and try build 2.15 CE on older hardware, or 4.00 on newer units. The base Puppy OS with MANY apps is only 90 MB! And if you want more you can just add them...

Why isn't Windows shipped as a base OS, and a DVD provided that allows end users to install the features (and ONLY the features) they want, while giving a tally of the RAM and other resources needed for the options? Sort of like what you can do with, uh, Linux...

Then end users who want only minimal builds could have ripping fast computers, and feature lovers would know they have to pay the piper in RAM and CPU speed. Just a thought for the distribution of Windows 7...

 

Since I rolled this laptop back to XP, I've had my Vista disk sitting around doing nothing-can't sell it on amazon or ebay b/c its OEM. So the next desktop I get will be a Dell FreeDOS (last time I checked it was 30 bucks less than Vista, same specs) and hopefully by that time (about 2 years from now) the hardware and drivers will work better with Vista, and I'll slap it onto that new desktop.

 

Windows98SE forever!

I won't be installing Vista. I disn't even want to install XP. I've always been a fan of Win98SE and I used it for many years. I was forced into installing XP (SP1) simply because my brand new computer is not compatible with 98SE - talk about built-in obsolesence!!

XP and presumably Vista too are so CONVOLUTED and BLOATED. Win98SE is so TRANSPARENT. You know what you're getting.

 

I'm using XP, and hope there is a new version by the time I have to replace my desktop. I bought an Asus Eee with Linux as backup. I quit doing Windows updates a couple of years ago, since they always caused problems, and my XP system is running fantastic.

 

I plan to buy new PC with XP by Jan 2009 and use that until Windows 7 emerges or I switch to Linux, which I'm now experimenting with. That way, I avoid Vista completely and XP is supported for security issues until 2014.
david

 

I have been using Vista Busness for a little over a year and what I don't like about any of the OP systems is the programs that are included w/ the systems that you have no choice as to whether you want them or not ex: Symantec Norton antivirus & Microsoft Office.
I think if you are forced to have these programs installed on your system, then the owners of these programs should also install a file that you would be able to click on & let them know you do not want them & it would then remove all traces of these programs so that you wouldn't have so many problems installing the programs you would prefer.
I also think that Windows, especially w/ Vista, has too much control over you PC in that they decide what programs you are able to install & if they don't like the program, will completely delete it from your system.
I know Microsoft is just being cautious but you know what they say about "Big Brother Wathching. "

 

I've got Vista on all of the machines I own that will run it. No problems and I like it. I don't see any reason to upgrade if you like XP. Sincere codolences to the Australian man who used ME. Now there was an OS that deserved to be sent down the dunny.

 

I m using Windows XP Pro at home and Vista Business at work.

Must say vista has improved over time and SP1 fixed alot of headaches.But as a power user i prefer XP over Vista.

So i ll stick to XP as long as possible...LOL

 

Well if those two particular programs are installed on the computer you should be able to go into the Control Panel - Programs and Features and remove them. If they are not listed there then you can go into the "msconfig" utility and remove them by disabling them in the "Start Up" tab and the "Services" tab. That's what I did to disable the Windows Defender when I installed the anti spyware feature of the CA Internet Security Suite I am using. You can do this with any program that is installed that you do not want to run at start up or run at all.

 

It is not that easy to uninstall Norton. See http://www.pchell.com/virus/uninstallnorton.shtml When I got my XP system, I went to the Norton site for instructions for its removal. Even now, there is a reference to it in my machine, and the Belarc Advisor shows that I use both Norton and Avira, even though I do not have Norton. If I try to install AVG, AVG detects Norton and warns me not to install it, although I did do that before switching to Avira.

 

I'm still using Win 2K Pro, and don't plan to change (note I don't say upgrade) any time soon. I cut my teeth on command line DOS and resisted Windows for as long as I could; now that 2K is settled, why change? A wonderful little program called PowerMenu gave me quick access to whatever I wanted, and X-Tree allowed me good control over my files. I am still kicking and screaming, but less often now.

 

I'm happy with it

I have been using Vista Ultimate 64 (OEM), averaging about 5 hours a day since mid November of last year. I set it up dual boot with XP Pro.

Learning where everything is, and how to get to them has been the biggest problem. XP is much simpler in that respect. Or maybe I was just used to XP.

The big thing for me is that with as much messing around and D/Loading a lot of new programs to try out, I HAVE NEVER HAD A BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH even once in Vista! I’ve had some beta programs to freeze, but only one or two requiring a reboot.

When I installed it (Vista) I kept XP because I really thought I’d probably spend most of my time with it. Since Vista has been installed, I have booted to XP 3 times. Twice to use a coupon printer that doesn’t work under Vista 64 bit and once to delete some files.

Sure, Vista is bloated and is really different than XP in many ways. And I’ve yet to get Windows Explorer to open the way I want it to every time for every directory, but, I wouldn’t go back. I’ve recently installed Vista Home Premium on the computer in my work shop and only use XP on a computer running my homemade CNC machine because it runs fine as it is.

I think my success with Vista is that I had all the drivers for the 64 bit version d/loaded to another drive before I began the installation, and have faithfully kept them and Vista updated.

[FONT= "Arial Black"]And disabling the User Account Control has saved my sanity![/FONT]

I had no adverse effects from SP1. Actually, the only change I can see from it is I boot faster and shut down faster since I installed it.

 

I have XP Pro SP2 on one and Vista Ultimate SP1 on another. Both are Dell's.

 

I bought a new PC 12 months ago and got Vista installed on it. I have had very few problems with it and now I use it all the time on my main PC. I also have PCs running XP, Linux and Windows 98. I teach seniors (voluntarily) how to use PCs and maintain the community Centre's Office PCs, Classroom PCs and the Centre LAN and Wan equipment. We are finding seniors are now buying laptops with Vista on them the main problem is their adopting to Vista way of doing things after using XP and Windows 98. I also do some minor PC repairs and maintenance and have very little problems so far from my Vista users.

It took me 6 months to become conversant with Vista and after 1 months I still finding new features. I do however recommend people buying new desktops that have been using XP, ask for XP to be installed on their new PC as this will save them a lengthy period of learning a new OS - especially so for business people as they can't afford the time to adapt to Vista.

 

Not really a question - but Duh!!! Will it EVER end??

Hello All -

I have never even seen "Vista ". I may be very wrong but . . . it seems to me that MS is coming out with a new OS every year or so lately.

IMHO, Win98SE was the best OS that Microsoft ever came up with as far as usability and stability is concerned. However, I have finally, gotten used to (and become somewhat happy with) WinXP Pro on my "new ", 2-year-old computer!

Unfortunately, the folks in Renton have now gotten, (at least), two OSs ahead of me since 2006. Where will this all end? Possibly, with the "End-of-Life-in-the-Universe-as-We-Know-It" edition of the Windows OS in 2010, 2011 or beyond.

Good grief, in my estimation, MS hasn't really gotten either Win95 or Win98 completely fixed yet and they've had more than a decade to get it done!

I'm sorry but I'm not a happy camper at this point in time.

A plee to Bill Gates and company: Microsoft, fix what you have been selling us for the last two decades before expecting us to buy what you're peddling today! You already have half the money in the world. Give us what we have been paying for over and over and over again!


ME, a REALLY POed customer of long standing & !!!

 

I am out of patience with Microsoft.

I have been dependent upon Microsoft O/S for 20 years, at my home office and at corporate offices where I have no choice. The company I contract with just "upgraded" half the workstations to Vista, with the latest upgrade package (August).

The Microsoft Office programs are a step down from what was previously available (I use XP Professional at my home office), especially the Word program. It is cumbersome, inefficient in operation, and many basic tools and options are either missing or cannot be found. Internet is a joke (the office has a cable connection).

As the older workstations with XP Professional have remained the same in service capability, it isn't the office network.

I am switching to a Mac with my upcoming home computer purchase (to a laptop). I am fed up with Microsoft.

 

Home Premium very good but updates unstable.

I originally had Basic. Phew! Bad release.
Home Premium is very good and stable. However................Updates have to be downloaded and installed one item at a time so that when/if the system gets indigestion, (about 50/50) I know how far to roll back.
Gave up on the first update.
Will not upgrade other older systems.
Would upgrade laptop IF I could merely get a license to install the Home Premium on one more system. Not buying another copy. I would pay a reasonable fee for one more system.
One real criticism is Media Center. Bad menu. Bad interface. Bad integration with Hauppauge WinTv card.