Opinions on CURRENT Windows Vista?

[Rush]

Okay, background story.

My mom's laptop recently died. She's not very computer savvy, it took her a very long time just to learn how to use Windows XP to do things like IM through AIM and email through Outlook. But she eventually got there -- but, like I said, her laptop just died. So my dad is looking into getting her a new laptop .. but now, all laptops automatically come with Windows Vista.

I bought myself a new laptop in July of '06. It's been working very well for me, I've never had a single problem, and I just love the silly thing. It runs Windows XP.

My dad called me up yesterday, asking if I'd be willing to give my laptop to my mom (since it runs XP and she's familiar with that) .. and in turn, he'd buy me a new laptop of my choosing. Within reason, of course.

But computers now automatically come with Windows Vista. I don't even believe there's an option to have Windows XP installed -- I don't know if the Vista drivers are compatible with XP, y'know? And all I've heard about Vista is negative, so I don't want to wind up with a new laptop that sucks .. buuuuut I only heard bad stuff when Vista first came out, so maybe it's improved.

Bottom line -- who's running Windows Vista now? How is it? Have the kinks and bugs been worked out? What's it like compared to XP?

I'm trying to weigh keeping my current laptop with XP, that I'm very comfortable and familiar with .. versus 'trading' for a spiffy new laptop, but running (possibly crappy) Vista.

Thanks for the help!

 

[mazdadude]

I am running vista, and I can not wait to go back to XP.

Vista has not been as stable, I have to reboot a few times a week, whereas with XP, I did not have any problems.

Also drivers for Vista are a problem, and I just don't think they have all of the bugs worked out.

I just heard on the news the Microsoft has extended the sale of XP for another 6 months because there are alot of users who still want XP and not Vista.

 

[altspace]

All my computers still run XP. I refuse to go to Vista. As mentioned, too many bugs and really all you get is a fancier looking OS. You can still order computers online with XP. Also note that Vista requires a lot more processing power, and many laptops that are not fully loaded become bogged down. Now of course this is all dependent upon which version of Vista is installed as well.

 

[genericuser]

Wait until service pack one. I've been using vista on a test box at work, and half the drivers still don't work. You can buy a new PC with vista on it. Format the sucker right out of the box and reinstall xp if you have the media (and key number) laying around.

 

[yashart_mp3]

These guys are telling the truth. Stay clear of Vista.

Every new HP laptop we receive, here at work, comes preloaded with Vista. I use ghost to re-image the laptops with XP. You should be able to go to the manufactures website and download XP drivers for the laptop.

 

[genericuser]

We do the same thing yashart.

Our optiplexes have been coming with vista now. I install vista with a site license, sysprep, ghost, multicast.

Done and done

 

[Rush]

Yep, that's pretty much what I figured -- I was reading recent reviews online, and everything said that Vista sucks, LOL.

But I did come across a few laptops that're still being sold with XP. Hopefully my mom can find one of those that she'll be happy with .. cause really, I don't want to give up my laptop!

 

[jred321]

i've been running vista since feb with no issues to speak of. at first my zune software had to have the "Run as XP application" selected to work properly but that's since been fixed. no driver issues or anything from day 1, many have been updated since then as well with no issues. i installed home premium and it was an OEM version on a custom pc. maybe that helped things actually since there wasn't that middle man of the PC manufacturer trying to "help" or maybe i've just been lucky, but so far for me it's been great.

my vote is to get vista, format everything the first time you turn it on and reinstall a clean version. hopefully the PC manufacturer gives you a real vista CD and not just an image of their version so you don't have to load all of their garbage and can let it do its own thing.

i would look at it as what license are you buying. if you buy an XP license you're going to have XP for the life of the computer and it's already a 6 year old OS and really isn't going to get any better. if you buy a vista license you get the current OS and any of the updates that are inevitably coming to improve it. if it comes on a purchased PC you'll at the very least have support for it and the drivers should work

as far as resources, 1gb of ram is a minimum. at idle with just a few background processes running i sit at around 512mb. rarely though with just normal use of browsing and office and stuff do i get above 1gb.

 

[MiaTurbo]

vista = overbloated and will be a dog unless you have at least 2gb RAM.

Dell is offering XP on about 1/2 of their new computers due to so many complaints. Not all models/lines have them, but most likely you'll find one for mom.

 

[daonly1around]

vista equals new ME... stay clear...

 

[altspace]

Like you mentioned Rush, she's not very computer savvy so avoid any headaches with Vista I say. With the apps you mentioned it does not sound like she needs a powerful machine anyway.

 

[genericuser]

Like you mentioned Rush, she's not very computer savvy so avoid any headaches with Vista I say. With the apps you mentioned it does not sound like she needs a powerful machine anyway.

Exactly.. Keep it familiar and stable.

 

[jred321]

coincidentally on gizmodo today news on vista sp1

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/vista-sp...1-looking-good-so-far-due-in-q1-08-308213.php

 

[gottacatchup]

buy a mac

 

[DooMer_MP3]

Most driver issues have been sorted out, as manufacturers have produced drivers. Drivers for the 64-bit version are still pretty iffy. I've been running it without issue for months.

My only gripe was file copying slowness which has been fixed through hotfixes. These aren't typically installed through Windows Update, so you'll have to download them manually.

Vista isn't the hog everyone likes to make it seem. It uses more memory at idle to keep often-used programs cached. It also reports memory usage properly, whereas XP did not. Vista's file I/O is markedly faster. In its current state, its a fine operating system with a bad rap.

Let the haters continue to hate!

 

[KronixKid22]

My friend just bought Vista for his laptop and I've been playing with it for over a month now. I can't stand it. lol They went way too overboard on it trying to make it all pretty and what not. In my opinion just stay away from it. XP is where it's at! lol

 

[RallyeRedSi]

i played around with Vista on my virtual machine and on my sisters laptop, i would wait for at least SP1, If you want a new laptop dell still offers laptops with XP, they really turned it around and their computers don't come with crapware like HP.

hell you can get new laptop with vista and dual boot it with Xp to see which one you like the best

 

[daonly1around]

i honeslty prefer 2000 over anything...

 

[DeanSweet]

i honeslty prefer 2000 over anything...

you a software engineer?

Stay clear of Vista. I was in beta, now own a few copies of it due to all the testing but still run XP on every desktop and notebook we own. At work we do the same; image the machines back to XP. It just works.

I admit it, Vista has come a long way since the 1st beta release but still... its not worth the headache.

 

[tviera]

Not to jump into the middle of this thread, but I have a question. Does anyone have a problem running Java with Vista? My wife can't get on POGO.com and I can't access many of the weather sites that I use for work. Sorry Rush for the threadjack but it may help in the long run.