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Community weekly poll: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet?
- 1/4/08 3:23 PM
Vista upgrade
by nodbets - 1/12/08 1:39 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes, I installed Windows Vista Home Premium version in April '07 on one of my three self-assembled PCs. Works OK (with an Windows 4.7 rating) but is noticeably slower versus my other two machines (both older and of lower specification) which run XP in an exemplarily manner. It will be interesting to see if Vista improves in performance as and when MS Service Packs become available.
Yep 2 Laptop and 3 Desktops all running Vista
by noddy35 - 1/12/08 4:03 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I understand many people are having problems with Vista, people have described it as a the new Windows ME. I have overheard Sales People at our local mainstream Computer outlets recommending to stay away from Vista and recommending products that still are available with XP, and or describing how to wipe Vista and install XP! I live in Australia, which is why I haven't bothered to name the retailers.
However my experience has been nothing but excellent. You would think having 5 pc's in the house for which I am responsible one would have suffered issues, but nope, none, all run as expected! That is well!
The three desktops in my home have been upgraded from XP with out a hitch, only requiring the correct driver install for various peripherals. I have built each desktop using various components from different sources at different times over the last 2 years. One of the desktops is really more of a media centre PC, and before the upgrade to Vista I admittedly upgraded the Tv tuner cards, aware that there were no drivers available, but they also were old and I have a new HD TV so there was added incentive.
The two laptops are both Dell XPS and purchased 2007, both pre-installed with Vista and no problems. To define problems, I have not seen a blue screen once, nor other members of the family since the Vista upgrades.
I must conceed they do run slightly slower than XP did, but in my case more stable. I justify the slight speed difference with the aero interface, the extra security and the fact that if there are problems, my pc's tell me about the problem and recommend the solution..oh I forgot my Logitch Orbit webcam caused a crash once!! Vista recommended a driver upgrade, and viola no problems.
Further to the mix is an XBOX 360 and each desktop has a webcam connected plus 1 networked brother MFC and a Cannon MFC, all fully functional!!
Yes, With New Computer, But Wish I Hadn't
by tonyny77 - 1/12/08 7:30 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Based on the many comments and editorials I read about Vista, I knew I didn't want it. However, I was in need of a new PC and at the time, the major vendors were not offering XP on new systems. In other words, I bought my new system with great reluctance. Had I known the vendors would be offering XP again, I surely would have waited.
Why don't I like Vista?
1 - At my age, "eye candy" is useless. Knowing that Vista was a huge drag on system resources, the whole idea of Aero was not appealing to me at all. It would be as if Detroit came out with a new car capable of 30 MPG, but the car came with a feature that could make and serve your breakfast to you, as well as shine your shoes, all while driving to work, but this "feature" lowered the mileage to 15 MPG. Sorry, but I can make my own breakfast ... and shine my own shoes, too.
2 - In producing Vista as they did, it seems someone at Microsoft may have said something like this: "The new security features cost us a lot to produce, but won't sell us many copies of Vista. We need to find a way to make Vista extraordinarily appealing to our customers. Hey, I know the answer: Let's just scramble everything around to give it an entirely new look and feel and call it an improvement. The big dopes won't care; they'll eat it up and buy it anyway." Yes, I am that cynical.
3 - Indexing? Are you kidding me? I very much prefer the look, feel, and controls offered by X1 Desktop Search. You can control exactly which directories (I'm old-fashioned and haven't gotten accustomed to "folders" yet) to index, which types of files to target, as well as whether to index just the file name or the file's contents as well ... not to mention that you can preview a file's contents without the need to open it in its native application. Can Vista's indexing do that? I don't frankly know the answer; I didn't hear anything especially appealing to me about Vista indexing, so I presumed I'd be better off without Vista's indexing ... and I haven't regretted that decision.
4 - Backups with Vista capture only your data??? Another nearly worthless tool! Sorry, Microsoft, but when I think about all the installs, updates, tweaks, and preference/setting changes I've made, there is no way I could be satisfied with protecting my system by backing up just my data. I bought Acronis and save my entire system. If/when my hard drive fails, I can be up and running in hours, not days or weeks by having to re-install the OS, install all my software and updates, and make those tweaks, preferences, and other settings again. If their Vista backup covered the whole system, I guess they'd be competing with Windows Home Server. However, buying a whole system just to backup one or two PCs is a huge leap. If I had three (or more) systems in my house, I'd go with Home Server, but until I reach that point, I'm sticking with Acronis.
5 - The Vista firewall is lacking too; that's my impression from some of the technical reviews I've read. I decided to stick with the free version of ZoneAlarm.
Are there some things I like about Vista? Yes, but not much ... Just my humble opinion.
Vista problems
by Bobbi - 1/12/08 7:50 AM In reply to: Yes, With New Computer, But Wish I Hadn't by tonyny77Great article and I feel the same way. I bought a new HP M8200N with Vista which looks great but I like XP much better. XP was user friendly which Vista is not. Also I keep getting a 'Blank Page IE' which I never got before and the Geek Squad didn't know either and after $142. put me back to the original OP. My backup was corrupt so I lost everything.
What is Zone Alarm?
Thank,
Bobbi
Speaking of Vista Problems....Windows Mail vs Windows Live
by tireloop - 1/12/08 12:15 PM In reply to: Yes, With New Computer, But Wish I Hadn't by tonyny77Got error message thatC:\Users\User name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsMail\Backup\old is corrupt and unreadable. Have been using Windows mail and can still send and receive email but not able to do any backups. Microsoft told me to reset WM which is very tedious or swith to Windows Live. Have never heard of it and cannot find any info. I know it is upgrade. Does it function same as Windows Mail. Checked Micro Forum and they have set up Windows Live for me and all I have to do is create password. I have lots of problems with my new Lenovo installed with Vist Business!!!
Vista "Upgrade"
by jimsberg - 1/12/08 8:57 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes, when I got a new computer which I returned, going back to my aged Dell with XP (SP 2). I found that Vista and Word 2007 were infuriating slow (Vista) and clumsy to work with (Word 2007). If I do upgrade the computer (which is nine years old and has been absolutely troublefree) it will be to XP or sometime after Vista gets a decent SP, plus an older Word version (I happily use Word 2002). I haven't heard of criticism of Word 2007 but I find that for usual typing chores it is frustrating to use because of the multilayering of what should be easily accessible commands. I also found that MS "Mail" lacks some features that were in MS Outlook Express. All-in-all, a horrible experience.
My Vista 2007 will not go to sleep
by Vickie Rakich - 1/12/08 9:14 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I love my vista windows 2007. Only recently I installed the software of my New Kodak camera into my computer. It will not go to sleep. The monitor goes to sleep temporarily; then my pc wakes up my whole computer. The only way I can get it to go to sleep is to log off and shut it down. What power option settings should it be set at? I have Power Saver selected - Turn off display is set for 10 minutes - and put the computer to sleep is set at 15 minutes. Which I have been trying different time settings and have been unsuccessful.
I do know it takes 3hrs to charge the camera battery. But I do not need my computer not going to sleep at all while not in use. Do you have a suggestion?
PCU - compac presario model number sr2180nx; processor intel pentium D processor 820, memory 1024MB, hard drive 250GB.
Could you please email me with a suggestion?
michah7vs18-soar@yahoo.com
Thank You
Vickie Rakich
Compaq with Vista
by jimsberg - 1/12/08 11:18 AM In reply to: My Vista 2007 will not go to sleep by Vickie RakichThe computer with Vista and Word 2007 that I took back was also a Compaq laptop. Hummmmm.....
Kodak Camera
by kjdinoc - 1/27/08 8:00 PM In reply to: My Vista 2007 will not go to sleep by Vickie RakichTotally off topic but I too have a Kodak Camera (V1253) that came with no charging adapter.
You need to check this carefully, but if you have an Ipod wall plug adapter that you use to charge the ipod by plugging into the wall, it might work for you camera. Check the voltage first because it could do damage if its not the same, but on mine it works perfectly. I no longer have to rely on the PC to charge the camera. I plug it's USB plug into my Ipod adapter and then into the wall.
Check the voltage and give it a try.
OK....on topic....I LOVE MY TWO VISTA MACHINES! I find all the downgrade back to XP drama quite odd! Vista and Pictures are a great combination. The media capabilities are far Superior to XP.
Vista
by efpalmer - 1/12/08 10:01 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
No Happy with XP Pro. Waiting for the final verson.
No, but I have upgraded 3 systems to Windows XP
by Bobwojo1 - 1/12/08 2:57 PM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For some reason Microsoft seems to think the color or shape of the start button is what's important. Leave the menu interface alone and work on making the PC as stable as a MAC.
Works for me.
by Igiveup2 - 1/13/08 7:17 PM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Using Vista since Feb '07 on new equipment, laptop with 2gb RAM, 1.66 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. I've found it rock solid stable and secure. Routine RAM use is under 1 gb with unnecessary stuff taken out of the startup. Sometimes I max out the shared graphics with video-intensive applications.
I run a McAfee firewall and NOD32 antivirus, and run ccleaner periodically. Defrag and backup are automated. Just practice good computer hygiene and it will serve you well. It's a far cry from the Win 9x days that soured me on Windows for a few years.
I've tried Ubuntu Linux and Mac. Meh - don't believe the hype.
VISTA
by jeffjeffw - 1/14/08 4:46 AM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Only on one of six computers.
It is not the panacea MS lead uf to believe.
I do like the new GUI.
upgrade
by winsoftwareman - 1/24/08 9:15 PM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I went smart and bought a vista capable lenovo 3000 J series desktop computer with 19 inch monitor for $540 U.S dollars. IT has AMD 64 Atholon x2, 1 GB of RAM (upgraded it to 2 recently), 250GB HDD, and a okay graphics card. The bad thing was no firewire and the graphics card was shared. I upgraded the graphics card. I also added a TV Tuner card and a secondary 350GB internal HDD. Are you discouraged? I got the monitor and the box for $540, the Second HDD for $50, the RAM for $45 (it's DDR2 and 800 megahertz), the TV Tuner for $70, and the graphics card for $110. Pretty good, isn't it? Anyways, it came with XP Home Edition, and I upgraded it to vista. Like claimed by many, I did have driver problems with my 2WIRE wireless modem, my webcam, and my integrated sound card. Those were fixed in about an hour or two. It was Windows Vista Home Premium. I love vista, and overall it was worth it both buying the new computer, and waiting for the rebates on vista!
P.S. Forgot to tell you, it came with a free upgrade to vista that came in the mail, you then pay $120, and then you get a $120 rebate. 
Yup
by Wolf_Domen - 1/27/08 6:11 PM In reply to: Have you upgraded to Windows Vista yet? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i got it with a new machine i got because my old machien just was not up to par anymore so at futureshop i got a new one, and i threw a new video card in it, after that, vista runs great, its really not slow at all, (3gb Ram AMD Athalon X2 processor Nvidia BFG 8600 GT) and if you want to watch movies or anything like gaming, well worth it, unless you want to play old games JEEZE! that can be a hassle sometimes!, but overall, worth it if you have need.
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