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A petition to “Save Windows XP” has drawn more than 111,000 supporters — and continued shots across the Microsoft XP vs. Vista bow, a battle that began with Vista’s release last year.
The operating system succeeded XP, which came on the market in October 2001. Despite Vista’s much-improved security measures, it has met with criticism and some reluctance by consumers and businesses that don’t want to make the switch. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)
Among the concerns about Vista are the amount of computer memory and space it requires, its seemingly slower speed and frustration over the fact that third-party drivers for some printers and other devices are still not available from the companies that make those devices.
InfoWorld, a publication that covers the information technology industry, launched a “Save Windows XP” petition drive in January. Microsoft originally planned to stop selling XP to retailers and computer manufacturers at the end of 2007, but extended that deadline to this June 30.
The company will continue to provide mainstream tech support for XP users until April 2009, and will provide “extended” tech support for patches and security updates through April 2014.
XP also will be available for sale until Jan. 31, 2009, by “system builders,” small businesses that custom-build “white box,” or generic, PCs.
Galen Gruman, executive editor of InfoWorld, said the petition drive was partly the result of his talks over the past year with companies’ chief technology officers and IT managers. Most were unenthusiastic about moving from XP to Vista, and found “no compelling reason” to do so, he said.
“We kept hearing, ‘We don’t really want to do it; we don’t really see the benefit; we don’t really want to spend the money on new hardware to run the stuff and train our staff on a new interface.’”
‘Deep anxiety’ about Vista
In a recent article about the “Save XP” drive, Gruman wrote that “in Vista’s first year, InfoWorld detected a deep anxiety over Vista among technologists and consumers alike. … We have not criticized Microsoft’s XP support plans. We have criticized Microsoft for ending the availability of XP on new machines past the June 30 end-of-sales date. ... It does you no good to have XP support if you can’t get XP on a new system.”
Microsoft representatives have “declined to meet with us at this point,” Gruman said in an interview.
Kevin Kutz, senior director for the company’s Windows product management group, said in a statement that Microsoft is aware of the petition drive.
The company, he said, continues “to be guided by feedback we hear from partners and customers about what makes sense based on their needs. That’s what informed our decision to extend the availability of XP initially, and what will continue to guide us.”
In May 2007, XP had 82.25 percent of the OS market — and Vista, which was still a newcomer, had 3.75 percent, said Net Applications, which measures the market share of operating systems. As of last month, XP had 73.59 percent of the operating system market, and Vista had 14.02 percent.
“Windows Vista has been dogged by the traditional early adopter barriers ... yet the product is ramping toward a normal adoption curve,” IDC Research said in a recent report, subtitled “Windows Vista Momentum Picks Up Steam.”
“The death of Windows Vista has been greatly exaggerated,” the IDC report said. The operating system has “compelling features for consumers and for business users. These features will see acceptance — and potentially love — over the longer term.”
Vista accounted for 36 percent of consumer sales and 18 percent of business sales of Microsoft operating system products in 2007, IDC said. Consumer sales were 2 percent higher than the firm projected before Vista’s release, and business sales, 4 percent less than projected.
Getting flamed for pro-Vista views
J. Peter Bruzzese, who writes a blog for InfoWorld, took an opposing stance to that of editor Gruman, and found himself getting flamed aplenty for his pro-Vista views.
“Some were cursing so badly, I had to remove the comments,” said Bruzzese, a tech consultant and author of several books, including “Tricks of the Microsoft Windows Vista Masters.”
“We all know when we have a bad operating system. When Windows Millennium edition came out (in 2000), I got it, and within a week, I’d uninstalled it,” he said. “It was awful. It was the worst OS I’d ever worked on.”
If Vista “gets a long enough life cycle, it will not be remembered like Millennium Edition,” he said.
“Vista will live long enough for people to start seeing the stability, seeing the drivers, seeing their applications work, and so they’re going to forget some of the anger as time goes on, the way they do with all of the operating systems.”
That life cycle is looking somewhat shorter than XP’s. Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates said recently that the new version of Windows’ operating software, code-named Windows 7, will be released “sometime in the next year or so.”
In the meantime, the company is facing a class-action lawsuit in federal court over the way it advertised computers sold with XP as being capable of running Vista.
The suit says that the labeling of some PCs as “Windows Vista Capable” was misleading because many of the computers were not powerful enough to run all of Vista’s features.
Seeing promising signs
Gruman, of InfoWorld, says he’ll continue the petition drive “until XP is off the market. At that point, you gotta ask yourself, does it matter anymore?”
He said Microsoft has “done a couple of things lately that makes us think they might actually change their minds, or stretch the date.”
Among them, the company said earlier this month it will keep selling a version of XP for use on new, low-cost computers, such as Intel’s Classmate PC, through at least June 2010. Such computers are designed mainly for word processing, e-mail and Web surfing.
“While originally intended for students and other first-time PC customers in emerging markets, we’re now seeing interest in these affordable devices in developed countries as well,” Michael Dix, Microsoft’s general manager of Windows Client Product Management, said in an interview on the company’s Web site.
“So here’s two cases where basically the hardware won’t support Vista, and Microsoft blinked on those two,” said Gruman.
“If you follow that logic, if it’s good enough for poor people, why couldn’t middle-class people get it? It’s sort of nuts.
“They have made those two compromises. So, we’ve got some hope that, given our signatures, given the comments you see elsewhere on the Web, given what we hear privately from retailers that customers don’t like Vista, that maybe Microsoft will get the message” and extend the deadline for XP’s retail deadline, Gruman said.
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 | Windows XP fans don't want it to XPire | msnbc.com | Mon Apr 14 | 4 |
 | Users Fight to Save Windows XP | Associated Press | Sun Apr 13 | 0 |
| Dell Offers Windows Downgrade Service | cybernetnews.com | Wed Apr 16 | 3 |
| Dell offers Windows XP to save folk from Vista | The Inquirer | Tue Apr 15 | 0 |
| Microsoft Windows 'in danger of collapsing', analysts say | The Times | Sun Apr 13 | 22 |
- Public Discussion (361)
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{"commentId":1690310,"authorDomain":"BigMG"}
Being a system / server builder and 3D applications user professionally, I've had serious doubts about Vista being little more than XP64 with a worked over file system.
I care only about performance. If Vista was not, in my experience, a complete resource hog, I'd start using it.
The tipping point was when one of the guys got a great 'deal' on a laptop with Vista. First, the processor had one of its channels turned off (intel core duo--ha). Right out of the box it was like driving a garbage truck down a luge.
Then he wanted Office 2007, mostly for the new Outlook & all it's great features. By that time the machine was so overloaded that the thought of putting SilverLight on went right out the window.
There are two other examples of people in the office who were tricked into Vista by poor personal purchases and pushy sales. Each case the machines required so much horse power that little was left over for actually using it!
Gateway made it virtually impossible to go back to XP. And, finding drivers are difficult. With the laptop, I ended up finding stuff from Europe due to the embargo.
With all the dissatisfaction and resentment, why not?
{"commentId":1690310,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"BigMG"}
- 3 votes
#1 - Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:17 PM EDT{"commentId":1729525,"authorDomain":"Becki"}
I personally think that everyone who owns a Vista operating system on their computer should pick it up, walk over to their garbage can,drop it in, walk away and suck it up and take the lost.
{"commentId":1729525,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"Becki"}
{"commentId":1729825,"authorDomain":"colgrieve"}
For years we have put up with Windows and its increasing level of problems, next year end BUC Systems will be releasing Balcony cheaper than any Windows products. It will occupy very small hard disk space footprint, easier than Linux, much faster, more user friendly, more secure, no NSA interfaces. With Windows you get to look out and see how bad Microsoft really is, but with Balcony one can step out and see the weather and the opportunities available for enlightenment. There is no originality in Microsoft, as it never has been the leader in product development but, like JDR, the Octopus, and the other nine, thieves of the highest order.
{"commentId":1729825,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"colgrieve"}
{"commentId":1798869,"authorDomain":"clownubetcha"}
I agree wholeheartedly ! ! ! !
{"commentId":1798869,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"clownubetcha"}
{"commentId":2349772,"authorDomain":"crowandwolfmusic"}
Sorry, folks, but I disagree. I'm writing this from an Acer Extensa laptop running Vista, which I bought last November, and I like it just fine. And let's face it, was XP all that great the first time you used it? No. Everything about it was different, there was a learning curve involved where you had to figure out what was different from the previous Windows 9x and NT/2000 versions. I remember this same battle to save Windows 98 going on just 5 years ago when Microsoft let it be known they would no longer support that OS, so this whole flap is nothing new. Millennium Edition was a real turkey, and any comparison between ME and Vista is thoroughly unfair to Vista. So you need more memory to run Vista? So learn how to install more RAM in your PC. Mine has 2 GB, expandable to 4 GB, and another inconvenient truth here, folks: Windows is by far not the only program out there requiring more and more memory as time goes on and computers get better. Get used to it; who knows what the proposed Windows 7 will be like?
{"commentId":2349772,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"crowandwolfmusic"}
{"commentId":3754349,"authorDomain":"analogpix"}
Yes, my first XP experience was great. The change from 98 to XP was probably the easiest transition I have ever made in OS. I purchased a new computer riddled with Vista. This was a horrible experience. I had to go out and buy a new video card and sound card. Not to my suprise that these new devices were "Vista Compatable" as it said so on the box. Vista never found the drivers. The sound card had the Vista drivers supplied with it and seemed to work fine, but some of the features of the card are disabled. My Western Digital software for the MY Book drive fails everytime I start Vista. The video card, I had to goto a 3rd party driver which works ok, but not the best. Sometimes my screen goes blank for 3 seconds and comes back on. I lost half of the software I normally use. I could keep going on about the lack of luster Vista has provided me, but I am not going to. I decided to install a dual operating system. I use XP and Vista. Honestly, I run XP 95% of the time. I have never experienced anything with XP like I have with Vista starting up. If the people got used to using and modifying XP on their system, Vista was no different in doing so. I just found the same icons in different places.
Now, I think that it would be nice of Microsoft to provide New computer Vista users with a FREE copy of Windows 7 when available for all the heartache they have caused us. I think XP is a solid OS for the most part and next to Win NT, XP is the best operating system Microsoft has ever released.
{"commentId":3754349,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"analogpix"}
{"commentId":1691562,"authorDomain":"tacitus13"}
I'm still waiting for my XP Service Pack 3 to be released!
{"commentId":1691562,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"tacitus13"}
- 5 votes
#2 - Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:10 PM EDT{"commentId":1729255,"authorDomain":"newmane"}
I second that... 93 updates is ridiculous!
{"commentId":1729255,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"newmane"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1730339,"authorDomain":"thorsdomain"}
XP Service pack 3 has been out since February......go to the downloads page at Microsoft......after you install SP3 you will only have the past 2 months of updates left......like 10 or 12......
{"commentId":1730339,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"thorsdomain"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1799483,"authorDomain":"budanatr"}
Don't do it. I upgraded to sp3 and now Outlook crashes 3 times a day.
{"commentId":1799483,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"budanatr"}
{"commentId":1728991,"authorDomain":"jpettit"}
I've been using Vista for just over a year now and it has been great. My PC is 3 1/2 years old and keeps up with it fine. (3 Ghz Pentium 4 with 1.5GB) I do know of some people who tried to load Vista on a much older PC and had problems. Just like every other time a new operating system version came out, you seen the need for more memory. My PC really slowed down after upgrading from 95 to 98, and I saw the same with XP. Vista has something called ready boost for those who may be upgrading an older PC with lower memory. Just plug in a flash drive and set an option to use ready boost, then it will learn your patterns and speed up your experience after a while.
I did have some initial problems with graphics drivers. This was because the graphics card company claimed to support Vista when in reality they only had beta drivers that seemed to crash. Those problems were resolved over a year ago when that company released a final version.
Now, I have no problems at all. My experience has been rather pleasant. I bought 2 TV tuners and just plugged them in and they started working immediately. I never have to reboot, with the exception of a few new program installations.
I'd seriously doubt that BigMG has any REAL knowledge with PCs. Much of what he is saying sound made up. Then again, he could be one of those people who work at Bestbuy and can only tell you what's on the label and what someone else told him. That would explain his knowledge of "pushy sales."
{"commentId":1728991,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"jpettit"}
#3 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:18 PM EDT{"commentId":1804901,"authorDomain":"wnleed"}
Some years ago our daughter visited us, and saw our computer. At work they used a number of different ones, including Apple/Mac. This was a graphics firm. Her comment was "Oh, a real computer."
{"commentId":1804901,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"wnleed"}
{"commentId":1811233,"authorDomain":"lkruse"}
I built my own machine last November and I had the good fortune of making sure that everything I bought was Vista-64 compatible. I bought an Intel quad-processor for it, and plugged in 4GB of RAM. I think it rocks because I can take advantage of it's full feature-set. But no doubt, I've thrown a lot of hardware at it, but I wanted to build an affordable, fast machine capable of running Vista-64. My employer spent about $3,800 buying me a mediocre, dual processor development box - I built a much faster and more powerful machine for $2,000.
I'm liking Vista at home and office, but I'm not a fan of Office 2007. Too many menu and tool-bar items have been re-arranged from previous locations to suit me.
{"commentId":1811233,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"lkruse"}
{"commentId":1729030,"authorDomain":"toplevelpot"}
"We have criticized Microsoft for ending the availability of XP on new machines past the June 30 end-of-sales date. ... It does you no good to have XP support if you can't get XP on a new system"
Why would you want the ability to purchase on the last day of support? And another website pointed out that on ebay you can acquire new, unopened, copies of 98se. Yeah, you might have an activation problem doing that with xp after end of support but if MS doesn't fix that in the future. trust me, 2min of searching from two years ago will find two-hundred ways around that ( maybe not legally, but after end of support will anyone care?)
{"commentId":1729030,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"toplevelpot"}
- 1 vote
#4 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:27 PM EDT{"commentId":1729097,"authorDomain":"mmjm"}
Funny thing about converts--many become zealots. I swore by PC-DOS 1.0 for a long time, and followed that product all the way to Vista, which I've found to be the very best reason Microsoft has come up with yet--to buy a Mac.
MJM
{"commentId":1729097,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"mmjm"}
- 1 vote
#5 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:41 PM EDT{"commentId":1729116,"authorDomain":"kc-gower"}
i just read the artical saying ppl are buying pc's with win.vista,well thats only because it is the only operating system offerd with a new pc!ppl still have the need to buy new pc's.offer them with win.xp,the same pc's side by side & it is allmost certain the xp systems will sell out before the vista!!!.my own personal pc had vista,it kept messing up constantly....and did evrytime i tried to go back to vista,finally i gave up and got smart and went back to a worth while operating system...yes windows xp.....
{"commentId":1729116,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"kc-gower"}
- 2 votes
#6 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:46 PM EDT{"commentId":1729895,"authorDomain":"cgrove2"}
I totally agree with you. I was buying a new computer 9 months ago and the only systems available were loaded with Vista...which i knew i did not want!!!!! I had to settle for a Vista system and struggled with it for 8 months. It started out fine and then started destroying programs...started with my wireless router, then Yahoo IM, then graphics, then sound...until it got to a point where i could not even use my brand new computer for anything but e-mail. I finally "Upgraded" back to XP and have had no problems with anything. All i can say is that Vista is the worst system out there right now so getting rid of XP will really give Microsoft customers a reason to switch to MAC or a non-Micrsoft system.
{"commentId":1729895,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"cgrove2"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1729982,"authorDomain":"tdbriz"}
I've been using and building computers since the TI-99-4A days. I have Vista on this computer, which in my opinion is one of the worst since Windows ME. This computer was bought with Vista Professional already installed, and one of the first problems I had was it not recognizing my hardware, and even after updates from HP and adding drivers, it STILL fails to recognize my HP All in One Office Jet 6310. I had much rather make a computer and add my own operating system. My other computers have Windows XP, and had no problems at all.
{"commentId":1729982,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"tdbriz"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1730338,"authorDomain":"laura391"}
One of our sales staff received a new laptop with Vista on it. After he had transferred all of his files from his old laptop successfully, he shut his new laptop down. The next day when he started it up again, it said Vista was starting for the first time. The new laptop had reset to its factory settings--apparently this is an issue with Vista that Microsoft doesn't want you to know about. So for all you Vista users out there, make sure to backup anything you don't want to lose!!!
{"commentId":1730338,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"laura391"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1821670,"authorDomain":"jdickey"}
Vista IS "an issue that Microsoft doesn't want you to know about" until you've given them "their" money - at which point you can't get it back, unlike any other grossly/negligently defective product in the open marketplace.
I've been using and developing for PCs/micros since the TRS-80 days, and for Microsoft systems from DOS 2.0 to Windows Server 2008; Vista is the only Microsoft product that I refuse to have, at any price, on any systems which I own or manage. I have refused projects/contracts because the client "just got new systems with Vista; why should we use anything else when we've already paid for this?"
Another client of mine (5,000+ users) has data going back over five years showing that it's more expensive to support Windows than Mac, and their Windows people have lower productivity. That was on XP and 2K3. They've been running two pilot Vista deployments that have been seriously bad news - half the user productivity of XP/Office 2003, and triple the help-desk usage that XP incurred six months into ITS pilot. (Don't even ask what the multiplier is against OS X.) I got a call last week to come to a meeting to discuss "the future, if any, of Windows in this organization".
Here's the interesting part; the CIO and two of his deputies, like me, are ex-Microsoft. His internal blog has, as its very first post after he came aboard, the stated intention to promote Microsoft as the standard platform in the company "to increase efficiency and productivity." His most recent posting, the day after that "the future" meeting, has the headline "Mea culpa; mea maxima culpa".
Now if we could only get SteveB to say the same thing. Who knows, it might even start bringing the stock price back above $30. Otherwise, the next chair he throws out the door better have himself strapped to it... when is the board going to figure that out?
{"commentId":1821670,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"jdickey"}
{"commentId":1729159,"authorDomain":"glsorlie"}
I had Vista installed on my new laptop and just hate it. That was one of the big mistake I made when I ordered the new laptop. If I buy another laptop it will NOT have Vista on it. I feel sorry for anybody that has it on a work only machine.
{"commentId":1729159,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"glsorlie"}
- 1 vote
#7 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:54 PM EDT{"commentId":1729187,"authorDomain":"jmmckay"}
When MSoft quits selling and supporting XP, I'm switching to a mac. My wife, a DB Admin and not a fan of Vista, has already switched and loves it.
{"commentId":1729187,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"jmmckay"}
- 1 vote
#8 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:59 PM EDT{"commentId":1730369,"authorDomain":"krpeck"}
You sound like those people who say, "if so and so gets elected, I'm moving to Canada." And of course, rarely do.
Look, when Vista came out I was one of the first adopters and hated it. My laptop was crashing once every other day, it was slow and on my 64bit Vista box I had real issues with registering the pc on dns and getting it on the network. So I feel your pain. Service pack 1 has fixed virtually every issue I've had.
For those of us in IT, we remember well how awful Windows XP was when it came out. People hated it and XP service pack 2 was like a whole new OS that ended up fixing just about all of the issues. Way back then people were threatening to move to other operating systems and didn't.
Interesting that your wife is a DBA using a MAC when there seems to be no database management software out there for Oracle or SQL that will run on a MAC.
{"commentId":1730369,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"krpeck"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1796678,"authorDomain":"scarroll"}
Interesting that you don't know that not is there database management software on Mac, but that Oracle 10g runs natively on Mac (and perhaps better then on a PC -especially a Windows XP box that has a 4gig 32-bit memory limit).
You must not be a Mac user, or a DBA. Or just a really bad, DBA.
{"commentId":1796678,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"scarroll"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2068986,"authorDomain":"CADGru"}
Hallelujah! Ken-272076 remembers what so many (XP Devotees) conveniently forget. When XP came it had little driver support and was radically different compared to what most WIN9x, Me consumers were used to and had everyone in absolute fits! Ironic how now everyone defends it as the best M$ has ever produced. The bottom line... everyone hates change and loves to bash Bill and the clan. Suck it up and RTFM. Oh, and for the Mac Zombies.... if mac is the be all end all then why is there almost zero port from any engineering/ CAD software vendor? Mac is fine if you like proprietary lock in/ lock down, pretty pictures, etc. Mac is for the lefty tree hugger hippy liberal. MS is for the rest of us.
Oh and let's not forget the bazillion versions of Linux for everyone that has more time to compile/ tweak than actually produce anything of actual use. 'nuff said.
{"commentId":2068986,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"CADGru"}
{"commentId":1729203,"authorDomain":"boog"}
I tested out Vista on an older Dell server and an HP Livestrong notebook. Nothing but good things to say about it. The old Dell server doesn't have enough of a graphics card to run Aero but otherwise it runs quick. I recently bought 2 new Dell laptops and have really learned to love Vista and have put SP1 on all 4 machines running Vista. My only complaint with Vista is that I wasted the extra money to upgrade from Business to Ultimate on one laptop. There is nothing about Ultimate that makes it worth a premium over Business edition. I will put XP SP3 on my kids machine because I don't see any reason to upgrade that machine.
{"commentId":1729203,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"boog"}
#9 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:02 PM EDT{"commentId":1729273,"authorDomain":"jwparkison"}
My son has Vista on his computer and I have XP. He has had more problems with his computer than I have. I tried to load Vista on my computer and it wouldn't load. to get it to load I have to put in a lower grade video card than the one I have. I use my son's computer once and I think Vista sucks.
{"commentId":1729273,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"jwparkison"}
#10 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:16 PM EDT{"commentId":1729286,"authorDomain":"buzg"}
I tried Vista. I am an appraiser and my appraisal software (Alamode) would not work with it. I have found out that the Vista/Alamode interface works on about 50% of the pc's and doesn't work on the other 50%. No one seems to know why. I went back to XP. If MAC would work with Alamode appraisal software I would switch in a heartbeat.
{"commentId":1729286,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"buzg"}
#11 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:19 PM EDT{"commentId":1729297,"authorDomain":"howy61"}
Purchased a new PC in January thinking after a year that the teething pains of Vista would be over. WRONG.
At least I had an XP machine to fall back on as I figured out what hardware cards and software would not work because no Vista drivers were available.
Vista looks pretty, but XP runs.
{"commentId":1729297,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"howy61"}
#12 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:22 PM EDT{"commentId":1729305,"authorDomain":"mjsabolg"}
I purchased Vista Home Premium to update my operating system from XP Pro as it seemed to answer my needs without the added expense of the Ultimate. As I tried to install the upgrade I found out that only the Ultimate Upgrade would work because I failed to read the real fine print on the back of the package and the upgrade was locked out. This is one sure way to discourage consumers about upgrading to the Vista OS. I'm hesitant about loading it on my laptop at this time but intestinal fortitude may win out.
{"commentId":1729305,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"mjsabolg"}
#13 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:24 PM EDT{"commentId":1729309,"authorDomain":"bgrbear"}
I put Vista on my machine that I use for video editing. First, I had to try to find drivers for my programs. When I tried to edit video, it was very jumpy and erratic. I went back to XP and everything is running smooth again. All those fancy graphics just take up resources. I have helped several people when they bought new computers and all of them have had me reinstall XP on them. Just by moving icons around and changing a few names doesn't make it a better system. Check out Dell's website. They offer either Vista or XP. I'd be curious to find out which they install more of.
{"commentId":1729309,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"bgrbear"}
#14 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:25 PM EDT{"commentId":1729321,"authorDomain":"jdmccright"}
I think Vista is just a prettied up, bloated, memory-hogging, slug version of XP. There are no real advantages to getting Vista unless you pony up more for a bigger machine to run the Aero interface...of which all the performance enhancements you get are used to JUST RUN VISTA. MS missed the mark by a mile on this one...and don't hold your breath for the next version either. It's bound to be just as charlie-foxtrot as Vista is now. And we pay for this aggravation?
{"commentId":1729321,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"jdmccright"}
#15 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:27 PM EDT{"commentId":1729331,"authorDomain":"bwigington"}
"But Ballmer was adamant that "most people who buy PCs today buy them with Vista.""
I keep hearing statements like this. The strange thing is that most PC's in stores already come with Vista pre-installed. Forcing a new OS on someone by including it as the only option on a pre-built system does not mean it is popular. Only a few PC builders offer an option to get XP instead of Vista.
{"commentId":1729331,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"bwigington"}
#16 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:28 PM EDT{"commentId":1729341,"authorDomain":"trolls37"}
I am a longtime user of Microsoft, dating back to DOS and the double floppy floppies. I am now using XP Pro, and I am satisfied with the OS.
From what I read and hear, I am very reluctant to purchase a new computer with Vista installed. I am afraid many of my peripherals might have a problem, and my software programs might not be supported.
I know hardware and software providers must constantly offer new models and/or versions in order to create a market for new products and to continue the revenue flow; however, provide the user with something positive and a reason for us to purchase the new generation.
Unfortunately, I am too prone to purchase the new versions of software, such as Quicken, Quickbooks, etc. What has been my experience is that I never like the new version as much as the previous version, simply because too much extraneous garbage has been inserted for the purpose of being able to advertise and sell a new version.
Politicians are infamously not known for their working for the benefit of their constituents, but rather for themselves. Hopefully you are not following in their path, or does that fall under the term "American Capitalism"?
{"commentId":1729341,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"trolls37"}
- 1 vote
#17 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:31 PM EDT{"commentId":1849096,"authorDomain":"stepheninsanger"}
I couldn't agree with you more. The old add age: If it's not broke don't fix it. Applies to xp. But Vista is broke so throw it away, forget fixing it. That's something Microsoft should have done before they released it. Ah, capitalism at its worst!
{"commentId":1849096,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"stepheninsanger"}
{"commentId":1729359,"authorDomain":"pamathieu"}
I have been in the Computer field since 72, and have watched systems shrink and power increase, but I have yet to see an "updated OS" as poorly built as Vista. Older and very expensive programs are not compatable. Drivers for older peripherals are not available (and will not be) MS answer is to just "replace with new". Fancy graphics are not worth the upgrade. Faced with the demise of XP, I suggest buying Apple stock, as the Mac solution is far superior. May take awhile, but why support MS when they have given up on all the loyal fans that have supported them and made them the mega power that they are today.
{"commentId":1729359,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"pamathieu"}
#18 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:34 PM EDT{"commentId":1729406,"authorDomain":"berniewethington"}
I have purchased 4 pc's and had Vista taken off all of them. kc_grower is right. The reason people are buying it on pc's is that it is the way they come. Mr. prez, give us a choice and you can keep your Vista.
{"commentId":1729406,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"berniewethington"}
#19 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:44 PM EDT{"commentId":1729412,"authorDomain":"slcrawford1746"}
I agree with everyone who hates Vista. If XP goes, so do I.....to Mac!!!
{"commentId":1729412,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"slcrawford1746"}
#20 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:45 PM EDT{"commentId":1729418,"authorDomain":"rodneylear"}
I am an IT Manager and use Vista on my Laptop and so far have not had any trouble. But some of our equipment and software will not work on Vista. So I am struggling to find new PC's with XP. I end up buying a lot of refurbished desktops with XP on them. Plus alot of our users panic when you throw new stuff at them. So I hate to even think about when they have to switch to Vista.
{"commentId":1729418,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"rodneylear"}
#21 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:47 PM EDT{"commentId":1729803,"authorDomain":"peldred1253"}
You have no problems ?? In what part of your statement should we believe? I think you have problems, don't candy coat it...
{"commentId":1729803,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"peldred1253"}
{"commentId":1740831,"authorDomain":"asmcinc"}
If you are a IT manager then I would think you would know that a custom built system can be loaded with whatever hardware, operating system, and software you choose at a much lower price than the brand name equipment. Check out directron.com
{"commentId":1740831,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"asmcinc"}
{"commentId":1729438,"authorDomain":"bikewhse"}
xp on pc and vista on laptop-still prefer xp simply due to familiarity. vista is a space hog, and the annoying pop ups re: if you started then.............-so far no real issues with vista, however I wish I had had the choice when purchasing new laptop-really miss "ctrl c and ctrl v" copy and paste steps, and where is word pad gone??
{"commentId":1729438,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"bikewhse"}
#22 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:49 PM EDT{"commentId":1796433,"authorDomain":"awesomeness"}
Vista still has wordpad, use the search box genius...
{"commentId":1796433,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"awesomeness"}
{"commentId":1729469,"authorDomain":"chillybilly1"}
I had windows vista and HATED IT. they should keep XP Alive. XP is the best OS they have so far
{"commentId":1729469,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"chillybilly1"}
#23 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:54 PM EDT{"commentId":1729478,"authorDomain":"taylor-cj"}
I have 2 Vista Machines. 1 is an Upgraded Dell XPS 400 2g memory. I only had problems with two different video cards and trying to run WDM drivers. Which after some simple searching found wasn't supported. no big deal, removed one card, bought a big 22" monitor next to my 17, and I'm happy.
The other is a Dell XPS 1530 that I just purchased this year. Both have Ultimate on it. The 1530 has a bit more horsepower as far as memory, but equal on HD.
Personally and professionally I develop software. i find a lot of my development tools run like a dream in Vista. Especially Visual Studio 2005 and 2008. BizTalk installation is much easier as well as a number of other tools seem to run better.
one complaint I seem to see from people is that Vista is "slow". Part of that is memory, but it also comes down to hard disk. What most people don't realize is that most laptops (with the exception of stuff like Dell XPS series) come with 5400 RPM drives or less. Where as the dells now come with 7200. Or on my PC at home I have a 10k (expensive, yes.. worth it.. totally). After switching to faster drives I don't have nearly the slow downs people talk about. mainly because yes it is swapping, but if the drive is slow, your just adding another kink in the chain.
so before blaming everything on vista, maybe realize what the true problems are with what you are doing.
I'm sure the PC Builders will flame this. But you know the difference between a developer and PC Builder? We actually use our machines for real work...
{"commentId":1729478,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"taylor-cj"}
#24 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:55 PM EDT{"commentId":1796444,"authorDomain":"awesomeness"}
Thankyou finally! Someone finally sees the light! Vista is developed for newer machines, and not necessarily meant to be run on a machine that was last running windows 2000. Many issues are hardware related and many issues are also OPERATOR ERROR! I run vista 64 bit home premium with NO ISSUES. Those who threaten to switch to Mac might as well take the $1000 to buy one and upgrade their PC... (I built my own computer and chose Vista dor DX10 those who may know what that is.)
{"commentId":1796444,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"awesomeness"}
{"commentId":1797132,"authorDomain":"neodymium79"}
I agree with both statements to an extent. Saying that a new machine doesn't run Vista properly due to hardware that was pre-configured is like buying a car and then being told that the tires that are on it aren't safe for your vehicle. Drastic example but principally the same.
I think the biggest issue that most consumers have with Vista is the "bait and hook," tactic MS used to sell the. Look, pretty colors, 3D interface....wait, why can't I load pictures from my digital camera??? Oh, that's not supported.
My machine still runs XP. Working as intended and I'm reluctant to change. My wifes machine runs Vista. She loves it. No issues which means, I have no issues.
Although, my next machine will be a Mac for reasons outside of Vista.
{"commentId":1797132,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"neodymium79"}
{"commentId":1729483,"authorDomain":"cefgibb"}
We purchased 2 new systems with Vista for our small business ......big mistake. The systems reboot, freeze up and we have had numerous problems in other areas that we did not experience with XP. We are seriously considering replacing Vista with XP but then there is the threat of not receiving support. I believe MicroSoft should trash Vista and continue to provide XP. We are now weighing our options and the Mac is looking better & better every day.
{"commentId":1729483,"threadId":"249926","contentId":"1429859","authorDomain":"cefgibb"}
#25 - Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:55 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"249926","isPrivate":false}
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