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Community weekly poll: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista?
- 3/14/07 12:59 PM
Why move to Mac? Its not Microsoft's fault
by carab666 - 3/14/07 10:46 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Lee Koo stated that one of CNet's members would consider moving to Mac due to the frustrations of Microsoft. I'm not attacking when I say this, but wouldn't that create more problems due to software incompatibilities? It would cost an extensive amount more to buy all the software packages which are compatible with Mac, which does not even include the computer itself.
I am currently using Vista as a second boot which I plan to leave this way due to one incompatible driver which is my sound card (Creative X-Fi) which although it is supported, is a little bit glitchy at times whilst playing games. I merely state this because its really up to the hardware developers ie. everyone but Microsoft, to keep up with Vista. Not the other way around. If you see it from their perspective (Microsoft), it is they which have jumped ahead leaving everyone else behind. Why? well maybe they rolled out Vista a little early but it isn't like they had short notice. I think driver developers need to pick up the pace if they don't want to get continuous complaints from end-users such as myself.
Why move to Mac? Here's why and under what conditions
by Hugmup - 3/15/07 6:54 AM In reply to: Why move to Mac? Its not Microsoft's fault by carab666Microsoft didn't roll out Vista too early, it was a five-year development cycle. Microsoft has an extensive partner program, so if the hardware and software vendors aren't ready, it's because Microsoft didn't manage their program right.
For people who have to buy new hardware, the cost of moving to a Mac and the cost of "upgrading" to Vista are pretty much the same. It might even cost less to switch. The advantages to the Mac are:
1. Apple doesn't limit you to a number of seats on software (where that is relevant, it makes Apple cheaper).
2. There is only one version of OS X. You get everything. (Upgrading OS X costs only $30 more than Vista Beta, and you get everything.)
3. All languages and drivers are installed by default. Sometimes you have to download a driver, and occasionally there isn't one, but all in all, installing hardware is easier. You don't have to purchase an $80 language pack if you need a language not shipped with Windows in your region.
4. OS X doesn't constantly nag you or brag about what it is doing. Saves time, time is money.
5. USB devices are more quickly recognized and usable. Saves time, time is money.
6. Many network printers don't even need to be installed. I took my MacBook Pro somewhere and, without thinking, printed a document. Then I remembered (oh no!) that I had not installed the printer. Didn't matter, the document printed out.
7. When your computer doesn't work, you don't need to figure out whether it is a hardware or a software problem.
8. Apple's KB articles are concise, to the point, and comprehensible. Microsoft can't say "hello" in 50,000 words or less.
9. There has only been one virus for OS X since 2000, and it was pretty harmless. Cost of anti-virus software: $0.
10. The developer tools (the counterpart to Visual Studio) are free and are included with every machine. That means there is a lot of very high-quality shareware and freeware, so when you collect equivalents for your Windows software. In my case, the cost was trivial. (This also means you can become a software company with zero initial investment.)
11. Unlike Windows, you spend more time using OS X than fixing it. You don't sit down to accomplish a 15-minute task and find yourself spending three hours fixing something. If your time has value, this saves you money.
12. OS X doesn't send me to my system administrator or "the person who runs my network" like Windows does. Those guys live in my bathroom mirror and they don't know anything more than I do.
13. Windows needs to reboot more often than Imelda Marcos, OS X does not. There's no danger of being arrested for impersonating a shoe salesman without a license. <grin>
14. I can get help from Apple, on the web, on the phone--or in person without flying to India. On the other hand, I can use Microsoft's KB to get 200 answers that are not relevant to the question I asked.
I loved Microsoft and hated Apple until I bought a Mac and Microsoft perpetrated Vista. Now my whole world is upside down.
Sonic Sounds/Roxio driver
by RM Barker - 3/15/07 3:19 AM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The only incompatible driver I have is the Sonic Sound/Roxio driver which came installed on a new Dell Dimension computer. I updated Roxio which partially solved the incompatibility warnings, but the driver is still being reported as incompatible, even though it may not exist.
I hold Dell and Roxio responsible for the incompatibility. MS VISTA is entirely responsible for the continued incompatibility reporting on a non-existant driver.
Problems with Vista
by dayman - 3/15/07 3:26 AM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My main problem was a decent firewall.
Now PC Tools have kindly provided a free firewall which works just fine.
Nvidia and Creative are just plain neglectful. Shocking.
by redbear.sam - 3/15/07 3:27 AM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Four problems:
Steinberg's Cubase, however compatability was quickly fixed.
Nero, however I've found that as I'm not a pirate and thus don't need to break through copy protection the standard Vista software is superior for general use anyway.
Creative, who simply havn't done enough. My Soundblaster Audigy ZS is only working in 2.0 as opposed to the 7.1 I'm used to. Tut tut Creative.
Nvidia is pants. ATi was quick to release drivers for almost all their platforms to my knowledge. Nvidia on the other hand were very slow, and even now have yet to release a driver for their Go range, leaving me with a hacked 7800 GTX desktop driver. Unimpressed. Never buying Nvidia again.
Incompatabilities
by philiphd - 3/15/07 5:02 AM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't blame Microsoft for these problems. The software and hardware vendors had ample time to upgrade there drivers. The failure to do so is an effort on there part to sell you new products not get your old ones up and running.
I had to purchase a new wireless mouse yesterday as my old one wasn't compatable with Vista and no new driver was available. I purchased a Microsoft Mouse so I wouldn't have this problem.
I now need updated drivers for my printer (Epson) and (Sonic). I am able to use printer thru my network but not hooked direct. If new drivers aren't offered by these vendors I will go to different vendors for replacement of these products.
Who Is to Blame is not the Issue
by holdcraftm - 3/15/07 6:50 AM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Placing blame for incompatabilities is a useless exercise. The whole game here is to sell a new operating system that will force you to buy new hardware if you have a old computer, or force you to buy new software if you have a newer machine but an older operating system (OS). After all, the computer hardware and software businesses have to remain in business, right? In a year or so Microsoft will stop all support for XP, thus all XP owners will fen for themselves or move to the newest OS. Vista isn't the last "newest and best OS" only the latest. Progress requires it, Businesses need it - after all, they have employees to pay and CEO's to make million/billionares. It's our system and our chosen way of life.
40% incompatible major system components
by Ruffian1950 - 3/15/07 9:40 AM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Following don't work with Vista for me. The manufactures have stated no Vista support will be forthcoming either!
Canopus DV Raptor Video Editing Card
Promise Ultra IDE controller (add-in)
Without the Promise controller, two WD hard drives are not accessible. Luckily the controller on my mobo is recognized, but still, I'm out two drives for storage.
Canon Scaner (only about 1 1/2 yrs old)
USB card reader
Vista drivers
by q8i - 3/15/07 12:52 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I upgraded to Vista ultimate on the first week of february just a few days after Microsoft officially launched vista. I had some problems finding the correct drivers but as time went by, and as vista users reported the problems they were facing to the manufacturers of their softwares and hardwares, many drivers (eventhough they are beta till this day) became available.
On the other hand, I upgraded from XP to Vista without formatting my PC and accordingly many programs that worked with XP worked also with Vista but I realised that my system was crashing at times and it also became slow so I decided to format the computer and install a fresh version of Vista (mind you I did this with the UPGRADE version of Vista and not the full version ) I was wondering if it would work but took the risk. I actually was able to format the PC with an upgrade CD of XP home edition as well as a french full version of windows 98. The way I did it is by formatting the PC with the upgrade version of XP and during the process I was asked to put either a 98 or ME version CD so as for the installation to continue. Once the PC was formatted and XP was installed, I tried to install the upgrade version of Vista Ultimate but was not able to continue the installation because in order to do so XP had to be updated with SP2. Once this was done,installation of Vista was smooth.
Now with Vista on, all is running smoothly and much better after formatting the PC. My advice, uninstall XP before running Vista and again this can be done with an XP cd AND either Win 98 or Win ME cd. I tend to very much agree with the editor of CNET when he writes in his letter that Microsoft is not to blame but rather the manufacturers of softwares and hardwares who had ample time to be ready for Vista.
q8i
incompatiblities with pc games
by chiliman2001 - 3/15/07 1:27 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have three games that don't work with vista or not compatible with it (sims 2 not compatible and its exp.packs, but it does play in window mode).C&C Renegade don't work on it.Painkiller don't work on it.I bet theres more games that don't work on vista.
90% driver incompatibility - Hogwash!
by MiKeyes - 3/15/07 1:49 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
These CNET polls are interesting and informative if readers respond honestly. The 17% who claim that more than 90% of their drivers were incompatible obviously did not.
Whew! Glad to get that off my chest. Now about that "blame" question...
I'm sure there are plenty of vendors who either made a decision not to supply Vista drivers for older hardware (What the heck - I needed to replace that old scanner anyway!) or just plain dragged their feet. OTOH, consider the fact that Microsoft was making significant changes to the OS right up to its release date. Pretty hard to hit a moving target, so maybe we should cut the vendors some slack.
IMHO it's too early to buy Vista unless you want to dual boot with XP. That way you can get the real work done with XP while you learn Vista and await driver maturation and Vista SP1.
I don't blame MS
by Dr. Zoltar - 3/15/07 2:07 PM In reply to: 90% driver incompatibility - Hogwash! by MiKeyesI don't blame MS for items not working with Vista. MS is just responsible for anything MS produces, nothing more.
I don't blame the vendors if they are working on creating a driver for Vista. I do believe most are working as fast as they can. I'm sure they had to estimate the length of time it would take to create a new driver and started working as soon as MS released the code to them. And MS had to make sure the Vista code was free of any high severity bugs before getting it to the vendors.
I not too fond of vendors saying they won't create a driver what-so-ever. Yes my scanner is 7 years old, but it works fine and I hate that I have to get rid of a perfectly functioning piece of equipment because Agfa won't support it anymore. But that is their right, just as it's my right to take my business elsewhere.
And for those of you who want to research if your SW if compatible with Vista, here is a wiki page I found: http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List
Nobody saw Vista coming????
by treinitz - 3/15/07 2:10 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This is the same discussion that followed the release of XP - the 'merchants of doom' were saying the same things then as they are saying now about Vista.
I think it is up to the hardware and software manufacturers to prepare their products for the new OS - you can hardly claim that Vista was a secret!! There were pre-release versions available for at least a year before it hit the retailers.
I have had no hardware problems - there were updated drivers available either from Microsoft or directly from the manufacturer - and the only software of any consequence I have had to forego is ZoneAlarm Security Suite, since they have not yet released a Vista version.
If you have favourite software or hardware that is not yet supported in Vista you should complain to the manufacturer of that product(s).
Get Compatible Or Perish!
by dburr13 - 3/15/07 8:44 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Microsoft builds the operating system...Program and hardware vendors who want to stay current with the dominant operating system on the planet will adapt or perish...That's just the way it is...But if the incompatibility problems last for too long...Microsoft will pay too...with slower adoption rates...giving rival operating systems a "window" of opportunity to exploit...You can be sure that Microsoft does not want to see that happen...
I bought a new laptop with Vista installed...The only problem I have is limited compatibility with my HP printer...HP says they are working on getting completely compatible in the near future...These problems are just part of the deal when an operating system gets updated...There are many more programs and hardware items to deal with now than there were when XP debuted...So there are going to be more problems and more complaints...
Vista Home Basic
by HowieSD - 3/15/07 11:26 PM In reply to: What percentage of sw or hw are incompatiblities with Vista? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I purchased a new Dell CPU and although I requested Win XP with an upgrade disc to Vista, I was delivered Vista as the OS. My nightmare began from that moment on. At one point I returned the box and received a replacement. The horror continued. It would seem no driver is compatible with Vista. HP Printer, Logitech Webcam, sound problems preventing usuage of Skype program, even headset and microphone had problems. Dell has a good enough tech help program called "Dell Connect." Two and a half techs later problems persisted.
I became proactive and took my destiny back into my own hands. Contacting HP produced a hybrid driver for one from a different model printer than mine and it worked. HP was extremely helpful and sensitive to VistaVictims. Logitech not quite as helpful but offered a list of drivers to try, one finally worked. Sound problem was a protracted struggle of weeks but was finally resolved with assistance from "Dell Direct" tech.
Anyone who says Microsoft is not culpable for the Vista fiasco is not in touch with reality. The code for this OS is buggier than the Brazilian rainforest. When 90% of drivers do not work it is not the vendor's fault but Bill Gates' for rushing this deeply flawed product out into the marketplace. He is using all the unfortunates out there as his unpaid troubleshooters.
Greed, is the only explanation and his fear that those footsteps he hears coming up on him is Apple and Linux, closing the gap on the almost unchallenged reign of Windows all these many years.
My next PC will not have a Microsoft OS and just might be a Mac.
Sorry for the length of this diatribe but felt good to vent my anger and disappointment.
Howard Jackson / Pifka2@aol.com
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