View Full Version : Windoze Vista......Your thoughts !
Two months ago I bought a laptop to replace my Vaio that was on it's deathbed. The new computer has Vista Home Premium installed and I will admit that it takes a little getting used to. Prior to my purchase I had heard a lot of horror stories about Vista having all sorts of problems, mostly software compatibility. When I got it online I downloaded all available Windoze updates and loaded all of my software on to it. The only program that gave me trouble was Norton’s 2007 Internet Security; it said my version was not Vista compatible. Since my subscription is up to date I was able to download the latest edition that works with Vista free of charge.
Is anyone here using Vista ? If so what are your thoughts on it ?
I have had no trouble as far as software/hardware, ect and the only thing is that the start menu and control panel are different so far.
M0GLO
10-02-2007, 04:12 PM
Simple really. Install XP.
Even MS has abandoned Vista at this point.
KV1M Quick tip: If it's MS, always wait till SP2.
KC8TCQ
10-02-2007, 09:30 PM
Well... when looking at computers that are going to be purchased on a federal grant from DHS, they specifically said to stay away from Vista.... that pretty much told me there was a problem.
But I also have watched friends fight with Vista, it's lack of backward compatiability for software/hardware, yet there is no replacement software for the software thats not working. I watched a friend who is a truck driver fight with it as his mapping and logging program is a major part of his getting his job done. Both programs were brand new, yet neither one worked on Vista. Neither did his air card, his brand new laser printer, his brand new webcam, his brand new SLR digital camera... you get the picture. But when he pulled out the HD and put in a clean drive and installed XP, not a single problem.
kf6rdn
10-02-2007, 10:14 PM
I've been running Vista Ultimate for a few months on my laptop. Runs fine, plays games just fine, everything is stable.
Probably no more stable then Win XP. If I hadnt gotten it for free I probably would not have bothered. (Not pirated)
n6hcm
10-03-2007, 03:29 AM
Is anyone here using Vista ? If so what are your thoughts on it ?
I have had no trouble as far as software/hardware, ect and the only thing is that the start menu and control panel are different so far.
this is exactly my experience with vista business. no trouble whatsoever--turn off a few annoying "features" and you're good to go. works fine in a virtual machine on my macs as well ...
n6hcm
10-03-2007, 03:37 AM
Well... when looking at computers that are going to be purchased on a federal grant from DHS, they specifically said to stay away from Vista.... that pretty much told me there was a problem.
the problem isn't what you think ... two things going on here:
- most federal agencies have legacy applications for which they have no plan for vista compatability
- most federal agencies haven't yet trained their i.t. drones to work with vista, and they're terrified that it'll disrupt their existing infrastructure.
the agency where i work forbids any of the many vista incantations, along with office 2007. i don't expect vista to appear at my agency for at least *two* more years (for the reasons spelt out here, along with other issues).
IMHO Vista does NOT offer anything useful to me that XP already has. I only had problems with installing Nortons Internet Security but was able to download the Vista version free from Nortons. So far the only general operational changes between XP and Vista are:
1) Different Start Menu
2) Different and somewhat confusing control panel
3) The amount of Memory to run it
4) Outlook Express is now called "Windoze Mail"
In general everyday use I have found no advantages to upgrade, the few differences above I can get used to. I used to love Win 98SE and I went kicking and screaming to my first XP machine but eventually I got used to it and now like it. Fortunately the changes between XP and Vista as far as every day use goes is not a large learning curve.
The wife uses the laptop primarily anyway and I use my desktop with XP installed and honestly I don't see me upgrading my desktop anytime soon as the one I have is powerful and does more than I already need it to do.
kc2orw
10-03-2007, 09:13 AM
IMHO Vista does NOT offer anything useful to me that XP already has. I only had problems with installing Nortons Internet Security but was able to download the Vista version free from Nortons. So far the only general operational changes between XP and Vista are:
1) Different Start Menu
2) Different and somewhat confusing control panel
3) The amount of Memory to run it
4) Outlook Express is now called "Windoze Mail"
In general everyday use I have found no advantages to upgrade, the few differences above I can get used to. I used to love Win 98SE and I went kicking and screaming to my first XP machine but eventually I got used to it and now like it. Fortunately the changes between XP and Vista as far as every day use goes is not a large learning curve.
The wife uses the laptop primarily anyway and I use my desktop with XP installed and honestly I don't see me upgrading my desktop anytime soon as the one I have is powerful and does more than I already need it to do.
Summary:
You don't need Vista so why bother, it is not likely going to do anything more useful for you. As always you will need anti virus at the very lest, don't spend money on that. Instead use the Grisoft anti virus http://free.grisoft.com/
You should also avoid using Internet Explorer and use Firefox http://www.mozilla.com
If you were willing to deal with it and feel capable of installing it try Linux and avoid a number of issues. To my mind most people don't need that much and a browser & email client will suffice for 90% of what they are doing. If you need to use something that doesn't work on a Linux system then maybe stick with XP. If you don't know and don't care maybe XP is an easier choice. One thing is nearly certain this year few people really need Vista....
KC8TCQ
10-03-2007, 10:30 AM
IMHO Vista does NOT offer anything useful to me that XP already has. I only had problems with installing Nortons Internet Security but was able to download the Vista version free from Nortons. So far the only general operational changes between XP and Vista are:
1) Different Start Menu
2) Different and somewhat confusing control panel
3) The amount of Memory to run it
4) Outlook Express is now called "Windoze Mail"
In general everyday use I have found no advantages to upgrade, the few differences above I can get used to. I used to love Win 98SE and I went kicking and screaming to my first XP machine but eventually I got used to it and now like it. Fortunately the changes between XP and Vista as far as every day use goes is not a large learning curve.
The wife uses the laptop primarily anyway and I use my desktop with XP installed and honestly I don't see me upgrading my desktop anytime soon as the one I have is powerful and does more than I already need it to do.
Summary:
You don't need Vista so why bother, it is not likely going to do anything more useful for you. As always you will need anti virus at the very lest, don't spend money on that. Instead use the Grisoft anti virus http://free.grisoft.com/
You should also avoid using Internet Explorer and use Firefox http://www.mozilla.com
If you were willing to deal with it and feel capable of installing it try Linux and avoid a number of issues. To my mind most people don't need that much and a browser & email client will suffice for 90% of what they are doing. If you need to use something that doesn't work on a Linux system then maybe stick with XP. If you don't know and don't care maybe XP is an easier choice. One thing is nearly certain this year few people really need Vista....
for email on winblows I like Eudora
kc2orw
10-03-2007, 11:14 AM
for email on winblows I like Eudora
I even hate that I usually use SquirrelMail as nothing I have found does what I want anyway. Don't get me wrong server side SquirrelMail isn't perfect either but since everything else is just as bad that is the option I chose.
N1LAF
10-07-2007, 07:19 PM
When Vista came around, I pushed forward a desktop buy from Dell before they abandoned XP. To my surprise, XP is still being offered today. Right now, Vista is a dog, one to avoid.
My Uncle, against my advice, bought an IBM from a local dealer with Vista. Vista soon became sooooo slow, and only 212 MB left for hard drive space. Quite frustrated with it, IBM offered him XP Pro (what he had before on his Dell). If you don't push the computer, and not a power user, and just browse the internet, IM, and Email, then maybe Vista is for you. Otherwise, avoid Vista like the plague.
n6hcm
10-08-2007, 12:37 AM
for email on winblows I like Eudora
good luck with that--development of eudora has stopped. there's been talk about integrating it into thunderbird ...
IMHO Vista does NOT offer anything useful to me that XP already has. I only had problems with installing Nortons Internet Security but was able to download the Vista version free from Nortons. So far the only general operational changes between XP and Vista are:
1) Different Start Menu
2) Different and somewhat confusing control panel
3) The amount of Memory to run it
4) Outlook Express is now called "Windoze Mail"
In general everyday use I have found no advantages to upgrade, the few differences above I can get used to. I used to love Win 98SE and I went kicking and screaming to my first XP machine but eventually I got used to it and now like it. Fortunately the changes between XP and Vista as far as every day use goes is not a large learning curve.
The wife uses the laptop primarily anyway and I use my desktop with XP installed and honestly I don't see me upgrading my desktop anytime soon as the one I have is powerful and does more than I already need it to do.
Summary:
You don't need Vista so why bother, it is not likely going to do anything more useful for you. As always you will need anti virus at the very lest, don't spend money on that. Instead use the Grisoft anti virus http://free.grisoft.com/
You should also avoid using Internet Explorer and use Firefox http://www.mozilla.com
If you were willing to deal with it and feel capable of installing it try Linux and avoid a number of issues. To my mind most people don't need that much and a browser & email client will suffice for 90% of what they are doing. If you need to use something that doesn't work on a Linux system then maybe stick with XP. If you don't know and don't care maybe XP is an easier choice. One thing is nearly certain this year few people really need Vista....
Your correct, I don't need Vista but so far it is not giving me any of the troubles that I have heard some others go through. It came with MaCafee internet security which I took off and installed Norton's. My 2007 Norton's disc was not Vista compatable but was able to download the Vista version for free from Nortons website since my subscription is up to date. I can only equate the change from XP to Vista along the lines of when I changed from 98SE to XP, I got used to it.
n6hcm
10-09-2007, 03:55 AM
Your correct, I don't need Vista but so far it is not giving me any of the troubles that I have heard some others go through.
that's because most people are dumber than posts and when they see things are different than what they know they panic.
vista is different than windows xp--that's the point. you do a little rtfm and you can make things work the way you expect. no big whoop.
M0GLO
10-09-2007, 07:49 AM
Your correct, I don't need Vista but so far it is not giving me any of the troubles that I have heard some others go through.
that's because most people are dumber than posts and when they see things are different than what they know they panic.
vista is different than windows xp--that's the point. you do a little rtfm and you can make things work the way you expect. no big whoop.
Not so much with Vista though, there are security issues galore and a lot of hardware and software won't work with it.
That is why MS abandoned it so fast and extended XP's EOL dates.
n6hcm
10-13-2007, 03:46 AM
Not so much with Vista though, there are security issues galore and a lot of hardware and software won't work with it.
That is why MS abandoned it so fast and extended XP's EOL dates.
*new* hardware and software works with it ... and that's the point. MS has hardly abandoned Vista--they just saw an opportunity to take more money from more people.
and ... honestly ... if i'm doing anything that i want to be secure i don't do it on a microsoft platform.
M0GLO
10-13-2007, 09:47 AM
Not so much with Vista though, there are security issues galore and a lot of hardware and software won't work with it.
That is why MS abandoned it so fast and extended XP's EOL dates.
*new* hardware and software works with it ... and that's the point. MS has hardly abandoned Vista--they just saw an opportunity to take more money from more people.
and ... honestly ... if i'm doing anything that i want to be secure i don't do it on a microsoft platform.
I suppose you are going to say Mac is FAR more secure. Hi hi!
Only if you have been patching. And only then if Apple isn't 3 months behind like they are right now.
kr4uq
10-13-2007, 04:28 PM
for email on winblows I like Eudora
good luck with that--development of eudora has stopped. there's been talk about integrating it into thunderbird ...
That's really a bummer - I've been using it for over 10 years and love it!
n6hcm
10-13-2007, 06:12 PM
Not so much with Vista though, there are security issues galore and a lot of hardware and software won't work with it.
That is why MS abandoned it so fast and extended XP's EOL dates.
*new* hardware and software works with it ... and that's the point. MS has hardly abandoned Vista--they just saw an opportunity to take more money from more people.
and ... honestly ... if i'm doing anything that i want to be secure i don't do it on a microsoft platform.
I suppose you are going to say Mac is FAR more secure. Hi hi!
Only if you have been patching. And only then if Apple isn't 3 months behind like they are right now.
macosx is only more secure by accident--if there were more people pounding on it there'd be more malware for it ... sometimes it pays to be the minority platform. :)
but if i was concerned about security i'd stick to freebsd. even linux would be a better choice than windows.
n6hcm
10-13-2007, 06:14 PM
for email on winblows I like Eudora
good luck with that--development of eudora has stopped. there's been talk about integrating it into thunderbird ...
That's really a bummer - I've been using it for over 10 years and love it!
it definitely has its charm ... old-world charm, tho :). i used to pay for the fully-featured versions ...
M0GLO
10-13-2007, 07:14 PM
Not so much with Vista though, there are security issues galore and a lot of hardware and software won't work with it.
That is why MS abandoned it so fast and extended XP's EOL dates.
*new* hardware and software works with it ... and that's the point. MS has hardly abandoned Vista--they just saw an opportunity to take more money from more people.
and ... honestly ... if i'm doing anything that i want to be secure i don't do it on a microsoft platform.
I suppose you are going to say Mac is FAR more secure. Hi hi!
Only if you have been patching. And only then if Apple isn't 3 months behind like they are right now.
macosx is only more secure by accident--if there were more people pounding on it there'd be more malware for it ... sometimes it pays to be the minority platform. :)
but if i was concerned about security i'd stick to freebsd. even linux would be a better choice than windows.
So true, I am wondering how long it will take the Linux/Unix freakers to figure out that targeting OSX would be easier.
God knows my work systems get scanned on a regular basis as is.
kr4uq
10-15-2007, 09:25 PM
for email on winblows I like Eudora
good luck with that--development of eudora has stopped. there's been talk about integrating it into thunderbird ...
That's really a bummer - I've been using it for over 10 years and love it!
it definitely has its charm ... old-world charm, tho :). i used to pay for the fully-featured versions ...
Me to - have it on all my puters. Seemed to me it was more secure than OE :-?:
KG4CGC
10-17-2007, 04:11 AM
Until it is adopted as the business standard, I'll stick to XP.
After using it and installing it and fixing it, my considered opinion is that Vista blows chunks.
Viruses,
Intruders,
Spyware,
Trojans, and
Adware.
kf0rt
12-04-2007, 07:54 AM
After using it and installing it and fixing it, my considered opinion is that Vista blows chunks.
Viruses,
Intruders,
Spyware,
Trojans, and
Adware.
Just ran across this gem:
http://www.flixxy.com/microsoft-vista-operating-system.htm
Vista will go down in the annuals of history with the Edsel, Disco, New Coke, Windows (kick)ME, and looks like Apple's Leopard will not be far behind.
Microsoft reports that piracy is down, well, hell, I guess so, Vista is not worth stealing.
I still find Win2K to be adequate for my needs with some migration to WinXP and Win2k3Server
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