Full Version: Windows Vista
I have not rushed out to buy Windows Vista. I have read some things that concern me. There are problems with drivers for RAID setups, ATI All-in-Wonder video cards, etc. Worse, according to one soure, Vista must be installed over XP. According to this report, Microsoft has made wiping the disk and doing a clean install difficult.
A Problem:
http://www.thetechlounge.com/news/11089/Vi...t+CleanInstall/
A Work Around:
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
Questions for Debate
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
A Problem:
http://www.thetechlounge.com/news/11089/Vi...t+CleanInstall/
A Work Around:
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932
Questions for Debate
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not? I upgraded a month or so ago (we had early access to the RTM version). My XP had crashed, so I figured as long as I was going to have to install an OS, it might as well be the new one. As with most new OS's, it takes some getting used to...where they put things in the Control Panel, etc. But, so far, I really like it. The UI is very nice...much better than XP.
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems. Not really. Having problems getting a driver for one of my sound cards (the built in one on the motherboard is working fine)...but I haven't looked very hard yet. It's just not available on the Vista DVD, and won't find it on the Internet (Turtle Beach Riviera). Other than that, all good so far. Do be prepared for a hefty hardware hit--that pretty UI takes a lot of juice.
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems. Not really. Having problems getting a driver for one of my sound cards (the built in one on the motherboard is working fine)...but I haven't looked very hard yet. It's just not available on the Vista DVD, and won't find it on the Internet (Turtle Beach Riviera). Other than that, all good so far. Do be prepared for a hefty hardware hit--that pretty UI takes a lot of juice.
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
Yes, I have a plan to upgrade to Vista, and it's the same way I've upgraded PC operating systems since starting out with a Tandy TX in, if I remember right, 1988. Or was it '89? Eh, it was a long time ago.
If a machine comes my way with Vista preinstalled, I'll consider it an upgrade. If XP stops being supported and I have to go to Vista, I'll consider it an upgrade. Otherwise I have no compelling reason to move away from XP, we're licensed for several copies, and it works. What I have upgraded is my hardware to run XP, moving away from a laptop with 1 GHz processor and 320 MB RAM to 2 GHz CPU and 1 GB memory, a micro-mini-teeny-weeny desktop (8x7.5x12 inches). 80 GB hard drive too, SATA (serial ATA, heard good things about it). The laptop isn't worth upgrading and barely handles XP, so it's being donated down the family line.
What's more interesting to me is what's being sucked into the motherboards in new PC hardware. Strong video and audio, RAID-0 (striping) and RAID-1 (mirroring) are in there, this one can take up to 2 GB memory and if I cared to spend lots of money, a very fast CPU. I'm also impressed with USB 2.0, ten times faster than 1.0, and you can link two machines together with a special $20 cable, and thereby share a printer and disk drives. This works well for my current setup, home machine next to work machine down below, two flatpanels up on top, single keyboard/mouse with KVM switch, wired DSL, local backup to USB drives. It's slick.
This machine came in under $500, including FedEx shipping and extra packing, and the assembly charge of $29, cheaper than zapping things myself in the heavy winter static electricity. PCs are still the bargains of the computing world.
The troubles with Vista are similar to the problems other upgrades have had, mostly with drivers for older hardware. The recommendation I have heard is to get it with a new machine. That way your hardware will play well with the software. The dual-boot has some gotchas in it, as does backup/restore from what I've read. It's usually best to buy separate backup/restore software or use a reliable Web service, or even better, both. In all, the disadvantages of Vista outweigh the advantages for upgrading on older hardware.
But this has happened before. Best thing to do is go along with what works now until the hardware isn't worth upgrading or has been maxed out, then get Vista with the new machine.
There's also the idea that you want to wait until the first service pack is issued, and that attitude is very old, going back to the mainframe. Don't be on the bleeding edge if you want to compute reliably.
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
Not Vista but almost everything else Microsoft was brought out since DOS. Yep, the best way to do it has always been to get the new OS on new hardware. This is also the best way to do it in the large datacenter environments, although customers ignore the recommendation often enough to give us headaches. Don't put new wine into old skins, eh?
Yes, I have a plan to upgrade to Vista, and it's the same way I've upgraded PC operating systems since starting out with a Tandy TX in, if I remember right, 1988. Or was it '89? Eh, it was a long time ago.
If a machine comes my way with Vista preinstalled, I'll consider it an upgrade. If XP stops being supported and I have to go to Vista, I'll consider it an upgrade. Otherwise I have no compelling reason to move away from XP, we're licensed for several copies, and it works. What I have upgraded is my hardware to run XP, moving away from a laptop with 1 GHz processor and 320 MB RAM to 2 GHz CPU and 1 GB memory, a micro-mini-teeny-weeny desktop (8x7.5x12 inches). 80 GB hard drive too, SATA (serial ATA, heard good things about it). The laptop isn't worth upgrading and barely handles XP, so it's being donated down the family line.
What's more interesting to me is what's being sucked into the motherboards in new PC hardware. Strong video and audio, RAID-0 (striping) and RAID-1 (mirroring) are in there, this one can take up to 2 GB memory and if I cared to spend lots of money, a very fast CPU. I'm also impressed with USB 2.0, ten times faster than 1.0, and you can link two machines together with a special $20 cable, and thereby share a printer and disk drives. This works well for my current setup, home machine next to work machine down below, two flatpanels up on top, single keyboard/mouse with KVM switch, wired DSL, local backup to USB drives. It's slick.
This machine came in under $500, including FedEx shipping and extra packing, and the assembly charge of $29, cheaper than zapping things myself in the heavy winter static electricity. PCs are still the bargains of the computing world.
The troubles with Vista are similar to the problems other upgrades have had, mostly with drivers for older hardware. The recommendation I have heard is to get it with a new machine. That way your hardware will play well with the software. The dual-boot has some gotchas in it, as does backup/restore from what I've read. It's usually best to buy separate backup/restore software or use a reliable Web service, or even better, both. In all, the disadvantages of Vista outweigh the advantages for upgrading on older hardware.
But this has happened before. Best thing to do is go along with what works now until the hardware isn't worth upgrading or has been maxed out, then get Vista with the new machine.
There's also the idea that you want to wait until the first service pack is issued, and that attitude is very old, going back to the mainframe. Don't be on the bleeding edge if you want to compute reliably.
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
Not Vista but almost everything else Microsoft was brought out since DOS. Yep, the best way to do it has always been to get the new OS on new hardware. This is also the best way to do it in the large datacenter environments, although customers ignore the recommendation often enough to give us headaches. Don't put new wine into old skins, eh?
QUOTE(BoF @ Jan 31 2007, 02:59 AM) 
Questions for Debate
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
I have no plans for my home computers or the 720~ for my company. I have been recommending that my home users strongly consider OS X or at worst XP.
Vista isn't much of an upgrade from XP and since Service Pack 1 is out for Vista I think we're looking at a lot of Tuesday Updates until they settle this one in. I appreciate all you early adopters for getting all the bugs out for me.
Unless there's an app that is not supported or has a doppelganger on OS X I can't see a compelling reason to use a Windows based PC. I like games too, get a PS2.
I've been playing with it on my test computer and upgrading for the sake of upgrading doesn't seem like an option to me.
It looks a little different, but I don't see much value in that. However, it seems most stuff that I try to do pops up a window that I need to confirm.
I would like to upgrade to the x64 version of Vista, but everytime I tried to do that in XP, there was some major show-stopper incompatibility. First it was video, sound, motherboard drivers, etc. After they started coming out, I got most drivers working, but my anti-virus wouldn't install and/or run so I gave up.
If I find out that there is the same amount of 64 bit support as 32 bit, I'm willing to make the jump. Up until 3 months ago, I've built all my computers. I've been building and upgrading for at least 15 years. But I finally had enough and bought me a Dell with the dual core AMD64 X2 500+. That thing smokes. If I can get the 64 bit stuff to run on on that system and my AutoCAD, Visual Studio, Borland Builder, Rockwell, and other major software packages I use everyday works, I think it would be well worth the upgrade. Otherwise, I just don't see the value. Had WinFS come with it, my opinion might be different.
It looks a little different, but I don't see much value in that. However, it seems most stuff that I try to do pops up a window that I need to confirm.
I would like to upgrade to the x64 version of Vista, but everytime I tried to do that in XP, there was some major show-stopper incompatibility. First it was video, sound, motherboard drivers, etc. After they started coming out, I got most drivers working, but my anti-virus wouldn't install and/or run so I gave up.
If I find out that there is the same amount of 64 bit support as 32 bit, I'm willing to make the jump. Up until 3 months ago, I've built all my computers. I've been building and upgrading for at least 15 years. But I finally had enough and bought me a Dell with the dual core AMD64 X2 500+. That thing smokes. If I can get the 64 bit stuff to run on on that system and my AutoCAD, Visual Studio, Borland Builder, Rockwell, and other major software packages I use everyday works, I think it would be well worth the upgrade. Otherwise, I just don't see the value. Had WinFS come with it, my opinion might be different.
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
It feels like I've been developing on Vista forever. It's a great OS on machines built for it, but I wouldn't advise upgrading to it until you are ready to buy a new computer with it pre-installed. I much prefer Vista to XP, but there's really no major reason to upgrade any time soon unless someone is forcing you to. XP/SP3 and Vista/SP1 are already in the works, so both OSes will get some power/stability/security boosts in the near future.
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
Less and less as the public betas and release candidates progressed. Installing the official release on laptops more than about a year old is a bit of a letdown, even if they claim to be Vista compatible; many of the new features are simply not there, and Vista can actually disable some features that worked fine under XP. Ultimate Edition installed on some machines that check out for Vista will degrade themselves to Basic level performance, no refunds.
In general, unless you have a brand-new machine or really enjoy tinkering, stick with XP until it is time to get a new computer with Vista pre-installed. Overall, though, Vista is a great OS and quite stable on hardware designed for it. If you're in the market for a new PC, don't buy one today unless it has Vista pre-installed. It's definitely the OS of the future, but not necessarily of the present.
It feels like I've been developing on Vista forever. It's a great OS on machines built for it, but I wouldn't advise upgrading to it until you are ready to buy a new computer with it pre-installed. I much prefer Vista to XP, but there's really no major reason to upgrade any time soon unless someone is forcing you to. XP/SP3 and Vista/SP1 are already in the works, so both OSes will get some power/stability/security boosts in the near future.
2. If you have upgraded, have you encountered any problems.
Less and less as the public betas and release candidates progressed. Installing the official release on laptops more than about a year old is a bit of a letdown, even if they claim to be Vista compatible; many of the new features are simply not there, and Vista can actually disable some features that worked fine under XP. Ultimate Edition installed on some machines that check out for Vista will degrade themselves to Basic level performance, no refunds.
In general, unless you have a brand-new machine or really enjoy tinkering, stick with XP until it is time to get a new computer with Vista pre-installed. Overall, though, Vista is a great OS and quite stable on hardware designed for it. If you're in the market for a new PC, don't buy one today unless it has Vista pre-installed. It's definitely the OS of the future, but not necessarily of the present.
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
Maybe. I have a new laptop that I can upgrade to Vista for free, question is, do I want to be an unpaid tester for Microsoft? I'll have to look into how long my upgrade window is, as I'd have few concerns upgrading to SP1. Of course, if I return to the IT field, then the upgrade is pretty much a given.
Maybe. I have a new laptop that I can upgrade to Vista for free, question is, do I want to be an unpaid tester for Microsoft? I'll have to look into how long my upgrade window is, as I'd have few concerns upgrading to SP1. Of course, if I return to the IT field, then the upgrade is pretty much a given.
Questions for Debate
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
I will get Vista when I upgrade my Mac. Probably run it in Parallels for things like Access and other non-3d Windows specific software and will run it under Boot Camp for games. Apart from these instances, I will continue to use OS X and look forward to upgrading to OS 10.5 Leopard.
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
I will get Vista when I upgrade my Mac. Probably run it in Parallels for things like Access and other non-3d Windows specific software and will run it under Boot Camp for games. Apart from these instances, I will continue to use OS X and look forward to upgrading to OS 10.5 Leopard.
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
No. I have an older computer with XP that works just fine. A new Window OS release is like the first model year of an entirely new car - not worth dealing with all the kinks and bugs they didn't think through before dumping on the naive public.
It sounds like a huge, lumbering bear of a system...no, thanks. By the looks of things, Vista may go the way of New Coke.
Within hours, Vista was hacked and cracked by hackers from Canada and Singapore, and lord knows where else.
Wired
Entertainment Wise
And experts aren't too impressed with Vista's newest security features, either.
Not an auspicious beginning. (damn, I wish I had a Mac!
)
No. I have an older computer with XP that works just fine. A new Window OS release is like the first model year of an entirely new car - not worth dealing with all the kinks and bugs they didn't think through before dumping on the naive public.
It sounds like a huge, lumbering bear of a system...no, thanks. By the looks of things, Vista may go the way of New Coke.Within hours, Vista was hacked and cracked by hackers from Canada and Singapore, and lord knows where else.
Wired
Entertainment Wise
And experts aren't too impressed with Vista's newest security features, either.
QUOTE
Expect more holes to appear over time. Rick Howard, director of intelligence at iDefense, a subsidiary of security company VeriSign (nasdaq: VRSN - news - people ), predicts a Vista-specific virus will appear in the next six months. His company is offering an $8,000 reward to the first six researchers who can find holes in Vista or the newest version of Internet Explorer. If they write code that exploits the weakness, they'll make up to $4,000 more. Forbes
Not an auspicious beginning. (damn, I wish I had a Mac!
)
Questions for Debate
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
My immediate reaction is that I will likely be forced to install it over a period of the next couple of years. I am basing this on the fact that at least two of our four computers were originally purchased as Windows ME machines. (A third is from eBay and I have no documentation other than the decals on the front of the machine.) I was forced to upgrade the machines when "automatic updates" to Windows ME made the machines inoperable. On the other hand, four OS packages at $159.00 each is prohibitive, and I am in no rush to make the world's richest man richer...
I have tried to see whether the machine I am typing on now can be upgraded, it has a 2.6 GHz Intel Celeron processor, but the Intel web site essentially tells me the chip is obsolete, not whether or not it is a 32 or 64 bit processor...
My experience with Apple computers was limited to a single machine that was used as a terminal on a mainframe (as were several hundred in house built PCs that I had access to when I was employed.)
The advice that I seem to be getting here is to update the machine and not just the operating system, I had heard rumors that the Apple operating system was somewhat compatible, and I thought I would see what I could learn from their website. I found their website confusing, but their pricing structure for their OS a lot more favorable. Unfortunately, the nearest Apple dealer is about 40 miles away, I'm broke, and it will be several months before I will be licensed to drive again.
Our next computer purchase was going to be a laptop...
1. Do you plan to upgrade to Vista? Why or why not?
My immediate reaction is that I will likely be forced to install it over a period of the next couple of years. I am basing this on the fact that at least two of our four computers were originally purchased as Windows ME machines. (A third is from eBay and I have no documentation other than the decals on the front of the machine.) I was forced to upgrade the machines when "automatic updates" to Windows ME made the machines inoperable. On the other hand, four OS packages at $159.00 each is prohibitive, and I am in no rush to make the world's richest man richer...
I have tried to see whether the machine I am typing on now can be upgraded, it has a 2.6 GHz Intel Celeron processor, but the Intel web site essentially tells me the chip is obsolete, not whether or not it is a 32 or 64 bit processor...
My experience with Apple computers was limited to a single machine that was used as a terminal on a mainframe (as were several hundred in house built PCs that I had access to when I was employed.)
The advice that I seem to be getting here is to update the machine and not just the operating system, I had heard rumors that the Apple operating system was somewhat compatible, and I thought I would see what I could learn from their website. I found their website confusing, but their pricing structure for their OS a lot more favorable. Unfortunately, the nearest Apple dealer is about 40 miles away, I'm broke, and it will be several months before I will be licensed to drive again.
Our next computer purchase was going to be a laptop...
No. The work PC's are staying on XP for at least another year. We stayed with windows 95 until 1999, if I recall correctly. The home computer, well, that's running OS X and for the "virtual PC" I use rarely, to run a few legacy windows and dos programs, windows xp is just fine for that too.
Thanks to everybody for working out the bugs though. Can't see why Mr. Gates doesn't feel the need to pay you to do so though. At the very least, Vista should be free for the first year.
Thanks to everybody for working out the bugs though. Can't see why Mr. Gates doesn't feel the need to pay you to do so though. At the very least, Vista should be free for the first year.
i am planing to up grade to windows Vista but i will also what for six months first! i don't wont to rush in to buying the new OS. my reason for this is because of windows millennium edition. remember what a failure that was? it was a down grade from 98, on the other hand i don't think vista will be another millennium but its best to wait until they work out the bugs.
This is a simplified version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.