Who is running MS Vista?

[cleanteamofny]

What version are you running and does it meet your expectations?

So far I'm running Vista Ultimate 32 bit on a separate hard drive while Windows XP resides on another drive in RAID 0 and it has been stable but it had a few quirks like XP in the beginning. Tweaking this OS is time consuming, but when it is all done, the wow factor really kicks in. There are a few thing that I dislike but I will list later on.

So what are your views on this new OS?
Do you like the eye candy?
Do you like the way it downloads drives that needed during upgrading?
Did it work? Or are you waiting until all the bugs are worked out in a year or so???

 

[panthera]

set up two

over the last few weeks for friends who couldn't/wouldn't wait.
piece of shit.
can not recommend at present.
what good is eye-candy if the "shower" ain't a "grower"?
wait until the first service pack then will probably be ok...same held true for:
NT3.51 (SP3)
NT4 (SP 5)
Windows 2000 (SP2)
XP (all flavors) (SP 1)

 

[2drumsallergy]

Vista Sucks

I am running Vista Ultimate Edition 64-Bit. I am very disappointed in Vista; there is not a single feature in Vista that Apple has not already done 10 times better in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. Five years of development and that is all Micro$ft have to show for it. I am not being a snob or trying to inflame Windows users but as user of both the Apple platform and Windows Vista I can directly compare my experiences. Vista feels unfinished and has many bugs, also the UAC (User Account Control) is downright annoying and if one turns it off the system is wide open to malware attack. I also run a Windows XP Professional SP2 system and to be honest it is a sound and stable computing experience, Micro$oft have had five years to perfect Windows XP, and in my opinion at this time XP is the better OS, no doubt when Vista receives Service Pack 1 it will resolve a lot of issues until then there is nothing wrong with XP.

In Micro$ofts defence I have to say they have done a great job with Office 2007, I am running Office Ultimate 2007 on Vista and it is impressive, especially Outlook 2007 which is much more stable than Outlook 2003. The new Toolbar Ribbon takes a bit of getting used to but once you do it makes work much easier.

David

 

[2drumsallergy]

TuneUp Utilities 2007

Oh I forgot to mention, one of the best Windows maintenance and tweaking applications available is TuneUp Utilities 2007, there is a Vista compatible update coming in May. TuneUp Software is based in Germany and their Software is always very well written and bug free, at $39.99 per Licence I think it is very reasonably priced too.

David

PC Cleaner & Tune Up | Download Trial | AVG

Tune up your PC for speed & performance with computer cleaning software. Download an AVG TuneUp free trial.

www.tune-up.com

 

[gregm]

thanks David

Hey, that is helpful info because I have been in the market for a new laptop and was wondering if I should go with "vista" or not. I currently have "xp", basically my PC just runs to slow now and I don't know how to fix that. I did install another 256mb RAM chip so that I have a total 512. I know most systems nowadays are double that. I have also deleted cookies, temp files, etc. Defragmented and still slow performance .........

Anyways, sorry to drift off, just wanted to say I appreciated the info re: vista ........

 

[DADoES]

Hell no. I'm living in the past with Windows 2000 Pro. I don't much care for XP, much less to deal with Vista! I use Win NT Workstation at the theater. Can't upgrade to 2K 'cause of a crucial piece of software that won't run on 2K or higher ... although I suppose at some point in time I may have no choice.

 

[panthera]

Greg,

If you don't have to, I suggest you wait on Vista for a while. As several of us have suggested, at least until the first service pack there are going to be lots of problems.
I surely am not going to advocate Apple to you, but may I suggest that a competent tech. should be able to resolve your XP speed problems. XP has been on the market long enough now (and was resisted by the professional community for many years until it was working)that just about all the problems have been resolved.
As a side note, Microsoft themselves suggest that if your system does not meet certain minimum requirements, it is better to stick with XP. Five hundred and twelve MB is too little for Vista to be anything more than a buggy, unstable XP...without even the pretty side shows.

 

[2drumsallergy]

Slow Windows XP

Hi gregm,
Most problems with XP can be resolved by a format and reinstall of Windows, however only attempt this if you feel confident and after you have backed up all your data. Remember after you back up any data to verify that the backup is OK, if you use a DVD or CD please look at the files on the disk to ensure they have not been corrupted or damaged.
After the reinstall your PC should run like new. Most OEM PC manufacturers supply a restore CD which automatically restores your hard drive to factory condition. If you have a restore CD it is a simple operation returning your system to a clean state, hovever it is a bit more involved if you are using a Windows XP CD as you will manually need to install your device drivers. A reinstall may sound drastic but it the surest way to restore your system to clan fast condition.

I can also recommend a small free utility called CCleaner, you can download it free from the authors (Piriform) site on the link below. It is worth giving this a try before you reinstall.

Panthera why would you not advocate Apple? An Apple system can do anything a PC can but does it faster, smoother and better.

David

CCleaner Makes Your Computer Faster & More Secure | Official Website

CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your PC. It protects your privacy and makes your computer faster and more secure! Download it FREE today.

www.ccleaner.com

 

[jasonl]

Vista = XP on drugs

Yes, I like the trippy fading in and out and the cool multiple windows screen. And did you notice those multiple windows are live, not screenshots. Animations and videos within those windows will still play.

Installation is EASY. Windows updates just run automatically without a fuss. Connecting to a domain is not as straightforward as 2000/XP.

There's still alot of compatibility issues with Vista/IE7. ALOT of business apps don't work with Vista. Some games (usually older) won't play.

Vista needs AT LEAST a Pentium 4 and 512mb ram. Which means you really need a Core 2 Duo and 1 gig of ram to run it comfortably and a 3d Graphics card like a Nvidia 7300 or ATI X1300. Both video cards suck for games but at least has enough power to display the fancy windows.

I'm sticking with XP as long as I can.

 

[retromom]

To Vista or Not to Vista....

We recently purchased a laptop with Vista (Home Version) installed. The jury is still out. I don't really like it as much as XP. The screen is kind of Sesame Street in nature. In addition, as some previously mentioned, there is the compatibility issue. I had to download a new driver for my existing printer, etc. Frankly, I'd rather use the desktop with the old XP system. Then again, I'm kind of an analogue person anyway. ;-)

 

[cleanteamofny]

Greg,

At the right bottom of your taskbar, how many applications are running?

 

[panthera]

David,

I'm glad you asked that. I don't recommend MAC OS and Apple computers for several reasons. Forgive me if I just list them as bullet points:
1) For the same money or slightly more, you can get outstanding design from other computer makers. Nobody questions that Apples are beautifully designed, it is just that;
2) The "innards" are no longer special or in anyway, shape or form better than standard components used by other high-end PC builders at the same or lower price.
3) Most of the statements regarding the superiority of Apple PCs to IBM-Compatible PCs are based on either outdated systems or assumptions which are no longer true.
4) For much less money, you can have a UNIX-derivative, Linux or Solaris, with customer support. Not one of these operating systems has anything to do with Microsoft. Except for some of the really exotic variations, I have not seen a Linux system in the last year or so which was inferior to MacOs X.x.
5) Customer service from Apple in Germany is absolutely horrid. I know their customer service in the US is much better than here because I routinely buy Apple components for friends when in the 'States, resp. take broken Apples over where their warranty claims are honored in the US despite Apple Germany being arrogant, unfriendly and nasty.
6) Unless you are running a very dedicated software, for any given task, other Unix derivaties, Linux and Solaris offer free programs which are equally stable and fast when compared to MacOs.
7) Because Apple and MacOs are only sold by one firm, you are at their mercy when they decide that the useful life of your computer is at an end.
8) I spend more time working on up-to-date, properly set-up and serviced Apples running the most current, stable MacOs than I do on PCs running Solaris, Linux or NT. These Apples crash more frequently than do PCs running Linux doing the same tasks. The crash more frequently than PCs running NT; I have yet to have a workstation crash running Solaris...
David, I have been extremely cautious here not to advocate Microsoft. I understand the passion with which many people adore their Apples...I use a lot of their software and prefer it. But the scorn heaped upon all other systems by so very many Apple users (I did not say all here and I repeat that I use Apples professionally more than any other computer) is simply arrogance and nastiness for the sake of being so. If you like Apple, great. But the only reason to buy their equipment today over another UNIX system is because a certain visual design or ergonomic aspect appeals to you. Reason enough for many, not for me. I like good design and the computer I am writing this on cost a good deal more than the equivalent Apple. It has (ahem) also not crashed once doing the work which I frequently bring home to finish after the Apple(s) in our office on campus have had another bad-hair day.
Please, let's not start another Apple/Wintel war here, ok?

 

[retroguy]

Vista

I've had the evaluation version of Vista Ultimate residing on a separate hard drive since they released it. I DO like the eye candy. Sadly...that is ALL i like. Would that be enough to convince me to switch from XP to Vista? Maybe. If I ever thought I'd use any of the eye candy at all. IMHO, that window button and tab at the same time to do the 3-D flip thing is a lot less convenient than flipping through the task bar tabs with my mouse. On top of that, My computer is a 64 bit machine. I'm still using a 32 bit OS for lack of stability and compatibility in 64 bit versions. I'm all for technology progressing, if it works. Must be why I'm into older appliances and not the new stuff. Old just seems to work. Better even! =)

 

[retroguy]

Animated Windows in Flip 3D

I'm a famously bad picture taker, but here is Flip 3D with Media Player going. Even works with You Tube and DVD's flawlessly. I can waste more time viewing those than I like to admit.

 

[retroguy]

Now I do like the Log in screen....

The kitten is just TOO cute!! =)

 

[mistereric]

Interesting to hear what people have to say about Vista. We're not installing it on our machines yet, and I'm not running it yet because it doesn't seem to have much we need in an educational setting. I can't justify upgrading machines to P4 and CoreDuos just to run an OS - even with the Dells we buy being cheaper than the Apples, it would still be a huge cost in hardware, let alone software. Microsoft does like their yearly fees.

When I get a copy, I plan to install it on my virtualizer and see what it does though. I have an Intel mac with Parallels, which is an incredible way to run Windows - I love to be able to dedicate one display to mac and one to XP.

Do the folks who are running the OS find it to be slower than XP or about the same? Binding is big for us too, so its not encouraging to hear that thats harder. Also, quite a bit of our software, being educational stuff, is old, and it seems like it won't play nice.

Panthera, out of curiosity, what sort of crashes do you see in Mac OS? The systems I support rarely crash, both our macs with 10.4.9 and our windows boxes running xpsp2. Do you see Kernel Panics? Application crashes? Trouble with Adobe CS2? I'm curious. (FWIW, i've been an Apple Certified Tech for the past 5 years, and I do all the mac OS image creation here so maybe there is something I can point you twoards that would help you out).

 

[rp2813]

I tried to purchase a new Dell laptop through my company because we get a discount. I wanted to use this new laptop to work from home, which requires special software to be loaded so I can access my company's network. As it turns out, all but the most expensive Dell laptops now come with Vista (why the more expensive ones come with an older OS is beyond me). My company's software (actually Cisco's) is not compatible with Vista and may not be for at least a year. What's up with that, Cisco? So now I need to find a new laptop that comes with XP, not Vista, or I can't work from home anymore.
I let Dell know that they should at least provide a choice of either Vista or XP, but that fell on deaf ears. It seems that for now the wise thing to do is stick with XP since as usual, the sloppy people at Microsoft have released a new OS that is full of bugs. No doubt they were under pressure to do so, but it reflects poorly on them.

 

[panthera]

Eric,

Thanks. Panic is the biggest problem. Mainly, I think, do to some rather horrid software which has been "adapted" since OS7 through Carbon, Aqua...to today. Each reincarnation seems less stable than the rest.
A Mac running software written directly for whatever OS is running has - since OS7 at least - been very stable for me.
You could help by convincing my colleagues that Apples are not needed in our academic environment and switching over to Solaris. Now that is a stable, user friendly system!
PS: My mom's "Lisa" just recently bit the dust...and my Apple II ran 'till a lightning strike took it and a few old commodores with it in 2000...

 

[panthera]

Eric,

Sorry, I hit send too fast. The two Vistas I set up in the last weeks were absolutely no problem to connect to WLANs. One is running with a very unsafe WEP 64 bit, and that whole system is going down as soon as my friend can afford to replace it.
The other is running in a semi-demi-sorta-"just-like" linksys "N" protocol system.
No problems, no bugs there.
Since both machines are running AMD Duals at 3.8Ghz, with only 1024 MB Ram and 256 MB (dedicated) graphic cards, they are pretty much standard stuff. Neither is slower running Vista in terms of the feeling...but, realistically, there is so much going on in the background that I bet video rendering would take significantly longer...just a feeling though.
What I don't like about Vista is all the hand holding and hysterical "the sky is falling" bullshit. It is like the boy who cried wolf once too often.
Not to mention that the whole DRM junk drives me crazy. There I am 100% in Job's camp...
Thanks
Keven