What is your experience with Vista?

[Broni]

What prompted my question was reading some post on this board from people, who were unhappy with Vista.

How about myself, first.

I've been running Vista for about month ,and a half. Bought brand new.
This is my config.:
Desktop - Compaq Presario SR5152NX
2.1 GHz Dual Core AMD
2GB RAM
250GB HD (230GB in reality)
512 MB ATI video card
19" LCD

I've been running this machine rather heavily.
Except for some nights, it's on 24/7.
Lot of programs. Many installs/uninstalls.
Initially, it took me about a week to bring it up to my liking. I changed several options, settings, i.e User Account Control, Windows firewall, running services, running startups, uninstall some HP crap, which came with my computer, etc. etc.
Then I had it set.

After all those changes, when it became MY computer, I've been really happy with Vista.
In all those 6 weeks, I just used System Restore once, and only because of some ill download.
Other then that, I didn't have any single, serious problem.

Please, let me know about your Vista experience.
Thank you.

[Zylstra]

I have had no real major problems with Vista, and I absolutely love it!
The one problem I had was caused for some unknown reason, however, Windows Vista Repair tool fixed it by itself with no problems.

Its not too much of a resource hog at all, and all is going well, and believe me, I install and remove a LOT of stuff as well.
Nothing has really gone wrong.

I am glad to see many improvements coming in through Windows update, as compared to just security. Actually, recently, updates haven't asked me to restart, its mainly been Windows Defender definition updates...

Things work well for me

[Broni]

For how long have you had it?

I got rid of Windows Defender. It was too annoying to me.

[GX44]

I'm glad this topic has started because I've been seriously considering upgrading to Vista on my computer... From what I've been reading, the "resource hog" tag came from the fact that Vista treats the RAM like Cache memory.

[patio]

I have been tinkering since it still had the Longhorn tag. Shortly after was a tester for the Mothership all the way up to RC2. Won a full copy at a Tech Partner conference (fix).

I would say that the only complaint i have for the end user is they actually made it more difficult to customise to each user's needs instead of simpler.
I don't buy in to most of the horror stories and bashing...happens with every new OS they release and always will.
And since most driver issues have been resolved it has settled in nicely. SP1 will be a welcome addition as well.

But it still has not earned the right to be my main platform...Win2K still owns that.

[soybean]

I'm glad this topic has started because I've been seriously considering upgrading to Vista on my computer...

I have Vista on a Notebook PC I bought about 3 months ago; I do like the eye candy it gives me.  My main computer, a desktop PC, runs Win XP Pro SP2. 

Here's my perspective on the notion of upgrading.  Unless you have a specific reason to upgrade your OS, and I don't think many computers have a good reason yet, then I would wait until you buy a new system that comes with Vista.  Granted, for some people, just wanting to have the latest OS, may be a compelling reason.  But, most users simply have no real need to upgrade to Vista at this point in time.

[tommy gusack]

THE PRO

[Zylstra]

THE PRO

Your posts, I am sure, all end up going together, forming the word:
Pointless

Anyways
Yes, agreed. Its not necessary to upgrade unless you need to. For many users, it would be beneficial, for example, being able to use a normal talking voice, and type a letter with my voice, is a very useful feature of Vista Home Premium. (And, it works, and is included with Premium, requiring no extra software, with no training needed)

I happen to think that a cleaner looking desktop makes the workplace/me more productive. Vista seems to allow this. Its easier to look at, and being that it is, its easier to deal with.

The annoying features of Windows Defender can usually be disabled. Seeing how Avast detects most adware and spyware, I could probably disable it.

[patio]

Windows Defender should be removed...and never re-installed.

[Zylstra]

Windows Defender should be removed...and never re-installed.

Could you please provide:
1) reasons for why
2) an alternative and free program

[patio]

Reason one would be that it scored one of the lowest on threat detection tests in the low 70's i believe ( I'll dig up the article )
Reason two It seemed as though it wanted to bang heads with other protection apps such as NOD and Ewido.
After seeing that review i just turned it off and never looked back. Have had no issues on the Vista box since.

[Broni]

Unless you have a specific reason to upgrade your OS, and I don't think many computers have a good reason yet, then I would wait until you buy a new system that comes with Vista.

I totally agree.
First, i don't like upgrades.
Secondly, being little bit more, then average user, I spend a great deal of time to set up my new computer to my liking, and I really hate to do it again...LOL
Even now, I still have my 8 years old Win 2K, next to my desk, fully, and nicely functioning. Still networked with my new Vista.

[Broni]

Interesting (negative, though) article at PC Pitstop:
http://pcpitstop.com/news/vista6months.asp

Vista: The First 6 Months

It was six months ago that we were anxiously awaiting the introduction of Microsoft's new operating system, Vista. My love of computing started when XP was introduced so Vista's introduction carried me back to the excitement of those days. If only it could have been the same.

My disappointment with Vista wasn't immediate, but with each problem and irritation the overall experience became a negative one. I'm not alone in this feeling. It seems everyone is mostly disappointed with Vista.

Lets look as some figures and see if Vista is really the disappointment we're hearing about.



Sales of the Vista stand-alone unit are only 60% of what the sales of XP were in its first six months. That's not conjecture it's fact. That drop is reflected in individual units and in a corresponding drop in revenue.

However, a full 80% of Vista sales come from copies installed on new machines at the factory level. Since new computer sales are almost double what they were during XP's introduction, 128 million yearly then compared to 239 million yearly now, Vista shows an increase in units sold at this level. But does does this reflect an increase in computer sales or an increase because Vista sales? Vista's increased hardware requirements might be inspiring some new computer purchases, but computer sales are up in general without Vista's help.

Another interesting fact and one that seems to cement the poor acceptance of Vista is the great reception of Microsoft Office 2007. It's sales were double the 6 months sales of Office 2003 and 60% higher than Office 2003's current sales figures. Office 2007, released the same day as Vista, is a hit. Vista is not.

So what is causing this flop of an introduction?

1. Tough Hardware Requirements: The first thing we heard about Vista was "Check your hardware". Without upgrading most users would experience Vista computing at a crawl. A decent processor and plenty of memory are mandatory to having a good experience with Vista. Did I mention memory? Money decisions involved in a computer purchase, not to mention the loss of info and data by the inexperienced, are enough to slow the change to Vista. Couple this with the continued discovery of networking problems:

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Vista is the cause and that the problem resides in the use of an outdated router. "An outdated network router may not function correctly when you use it together with new networking features in Windows Vista," informed Microsoft. In some cases, the network router will stop functioning completely and require a reset.

2. Lack of proper drivers: While the development of drivers is the responsibility of the device manufacturer it doesn't much matter whose fault it is that they are not available or faulty. Before Vista was formally introduced I was using a copy of Vista RC1 from Microsoft.I had a problem then, installing drivers for Nvidia video cards and motherboards, and darned if I didn't run into the same thing just this week. We're more than six months down the road and yet I still can't use Vista on my preferred hardware. It's not like Nvidia is a small player in the graphics card market. Besides there has to be a reason for Nvidia dragging their feet. It would be nice to know whose fault it is but the problem isn't solved with placing blame. I can't use the OS regardless. It won't work on my hardware. Case closed.

3. Application compatibility issues: Anyone heard of QuickBooks? If you're using QuickBooks 2007 you're in luck. If not plan on spending the money for the new version. The 2006 and earlier versions won't work. According to QuickBooks Product Manager George Jacquette,Vista file management makes it to hard to rewrite earlier versions of QuickBooks. No problem? Right, just add another $200.00 for QuickBooks Pro to your total for the new machine or the New Vista Boxed version.

4. User Account Controls: For any product to be successful on a grand scale it must fill a need and be easy for the masses to use. Since it's beginning we've heard about increased security with Vista People have been screaming about Windows virus and spyware activity forever. Microsoft's answer, User Account Controls. While it may supply more security it just isn't easy for the "average" user to contend with or configure. You be the judge. Think of your five closest neighbors and imagine them configuring Vista UAC using this document from Microsoft as a guide. It's not going to happen. Most of the people reading this will be somewhat computer savvy. I wonder how many of us have actually configured the UAC and how many have just removed it. I removed it.

So there you have it. There are other signs that the launch is going slower than expected. Microsoft has extended availability of XP until June of 2008. Business is, as usual, awaiting the first update or service pack. Is this unusual? Will Microsoft pull the plug on Vista? Naw, it's been the same with each introduction of Windows since Windows 95. Some were accepted faster than expected and some slower. The interesting articles will be written at the one-year mark. See you then.