Windows Vista: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now?
- 1/16/09 4:11 PM
Windows 7 has no release date
by 3rdalbum - 1/10/09 1:56 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you need a new computer now, then buy one with Vista preinstalled - Vista and Windows 7 are realistically the same operating system and are "similar enough".
As usual with computers, hold off buying until you need a new one; the price/performance ratio is always increasing. If you really need a new computer before Windows 7 comes out, then so be it. You can always upgrade, if you want to. As you're currently using Windows 2000, then you will probably be happy sticking with Vista even after Windows 7 comes out.
New computer
by exeterjohn - 1/10/09 2:20 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Any computer, especially, a 7 year old computer could fail at any moment so the first thing to say is to ensure that you make very regular backups of your data and documents.
I have heard that Windows 7 will not require any higher spec hardware than Vista so if you buy now and and choose to upgrade your operating system later it should not be a problem. However, my advice would be to resist the temptation to wait for whatever is due to appear shortly and buy the best you can afford now. All operating systems are less than perfect on first appearance and get improved by service packs over time. The same will be true for Windows 7.
There is a lot of nonsense talked about Vista - it is a very good operating system with many improvements over XP for the average user. My advice would be to buy now if you wish and if you want to consider upgrading to Windows 7 in a couple of years time, then you can do so. You get the benefit of a much improved computing experience right away.
John
Dilema on Vista or Windows 7
by normta - 1/10/09 3:05 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Me personally I would wait until windows 7 because vista is ok if you are after a gaming machine but if your after a bog standard pc then don't bother wasting your money.
I have a 5yr old pc which I built myself and running XP Pro and running brilliant I am going to wait until windows 7 comes out even though updates will be stoppin soon.
Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now?
by alpalok - 1/10/09 3:53 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't think there is any need to wait, because the hardware requirements for vista and windows 7 will be nearly the same and it will be easy to upgrade to win 7 when it arrives beacuse the drivers would also be nearly the same as microsoft is not making any significant changes to the kernel. Hope this helps you make a positive decision, beacuse also win 7 is not due for release till late 2010.
The release date is incorrect...
by John.Wilkinson - 1/10/09 8:20 AM
In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by alpalok
Windows 7 is targeted for a late 2009 release with January 2010 being the 'failsafe' date.
John
Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now?
by rhamapefan - 1/10/09 4:03 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
ok this is a toughy but it doesn't have to be
i use windows vista and i love it, i have been using it since it was released (crack version and then a real version) i have a new system and the hardware is update regulary depending on my needs(bit of a hobby of mine).
i have also been reading all the press about the new windows 7 os and will probably buy it once released but i am going to try the beta version (as soon as i can get my hands on it that is, demand is high!).
whie reading many articles on windows 7 on various website and magazines, i have discovered that many resellers of new pc systems (i think pcworld or dell might be some of the possibles for this ) will be offering vista on thier systems but when windows 7 arrives they will offer a free upgrade to windows 7 os if that is desired .
all i can say is have a look around for these offers and snap one up while you can.
vista isnt a bad os, it just had bad press after the hype of the release, many of the inherant bugs have been fixed and new systems run the os very nicely.
there is also nothing worse than an ageing system that has trouble completing the most basic of tasks
hope this helps
jason
Note from the Windows history
by PeteVfi - 1/10/09 4:03 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi!
OK, it's quite hard to advice and give a straight answer to the question, it's much upon the users preferences and the usage environment the new system will come, e.g. business users' environments may be much more critical than a home user's regarding this topic.
Anyway, as a general remark, the new versions of Windows have always been just "half-ready" when released, and first the millions of new users test them thorough enough ... so, they become working good and stable first upon quite a bunch of updates or even SP1.
This means, that Vista has been "ready" and stable first since SP1 June 2008 even released early 2007. If something like this is true with Windows 7, too, it will mean being "ready" and stable first late 2010 ... still depending on the "real" release date, which may get postponed a few times ...
I think your Windows 2000 is already much too "ripe" and when now having the chance to jump over XP you could jump into Vista SP1 as a next step, and then see what will happen with the Windows 7 actual "ready" schedule some day in 2010/2011.
Best regards,
Pete V.
Vista or Windows 7
by geomurray - 1/10/09 4:08 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Personally I would go with the windows vista. Windows 7 may be delayed and if your machine is that old I wouldn't wait. 99% of the bugs are out of Vista and the only problem you may encounter is your devices such as printers and scanners. Vista comes in 32 bit and 64 bit. The 32 bit will work with most of the older printers etc but 64 will not so I would upgrade all your devices also. Also remember many older programs will not work on it. 2nd and 3rd party software must say vista compatible. Many people don't like Vista because of its high security but its for your own protection and also remember you can make it look like windows XP.
Wait if you can
by DOSpower - 1/10/09 4:30 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Like everything technology based, if you can wait then you will be better off and probably save a few dollars in the process. Depending on what you mean by your Windows 2000 machine being "...on its way out..." I would be inclined to hold onto it long enough for Windows 7 to emerge. I would also strongly recommend an external hard drive to back up all your current data in case your machine does something nasty in the meantime.
The other recommendation I would make is do your research before you hand over your money. If you take on a new machine you might consider installing Windows 2000 (if you can get the drivers for the new hardware) and then when Windows 7 is released you can either dual boot the machine or do a completely fresh installation.
Otherwise, wait, wait, wait and use the time well.
Do you need a computer now?
by jrhmobile - 1/10/09 4:53 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The issue isn't so much whether Vista is "OK", or whether the promise of Windows 7 vaporware will be "better." The issue is do you need (or failing that, just really want) a new system now.
I still have one older system in my shop with Windows XP and the previous versions of needed software packages. The only reason I have it is because I do training and occasional support for clients who may be using older systems. All the rest of the WinTel machines in the shop run various versions of Vista with the latest Service Pack upgrades. On the Mac it's easier to run systems off external drives, so all my Mac systems run current versions of OSX 10.5 and my software and I have a couple of external hard drives configured to run OSX 10.4 and previous versions of those applications.
Three of the four Vista-WinTel PCs in the shop were bought with Vista on them. The fourth I upgraded with with a Microsoft Windows Vista upgrade package. It went easily, as I hope it will when I upgrade systems to Windows 7 sometime next year. Then I'll turn my older XP system into either the office jukebox or a charitable donation and leave my oldest Vista system on its current platform.
If you really want to "hold out" for Windows 7, I'd recommend that you hold off purchasing a new system. Undoubtedly next year's hardware will be faster/better/cheaper to some degree, and buying later will get you more power for less price ... or buying the same power you want today will cost even less because those leading-edge faster/better/cheaper machines will be widely available. But if you need (or just really want) a system today, buy one with the most RAM, video processing power and fastest Core 2 Duo/Quad chip you can afford. That will extend the servicable life of your new purchase through Windows 7 and perhaps beyond.
Enjoy your Vista system today. Upgrade after Windows 7 has been introduced and others discover what bugs may be found in the new OS, and what it takes to overcome them. Don't deprive yourself today on the hope that something else down the line "might be better." When Windows 7 is released, I can assure you that there will be an upgrade path to take any Vista system you buy today to that new plateau.
Why wait for the uknown?
by wcrutcher - 1/10/09 5:10 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There is nothing wrong with Vista now. I would not move to any new operating system until after the 1st "patch" has been released. When buying a new computer, get the most powerful processor, most RAM memory and the biggest hard disk you can afford. New software is increasingly using more of the resources of your computer and you need reserve power.
No operating system is bullet proof at any time. Apple's OS X has as many problems as Windows Vista. Apple has better advertising!
Wait for windows 7
by ihfwt - 1/10/09 5:15 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you can still use your old pc with 2000 Pro I would wait for Windows 7. If you can't get by with the old one, I would validate the hardware requirements for 7 and make sure any new pc that I bought or built would far exceed those Microsoft minimum requirements to run Windows 7.Check to see that the video card supports Direct X 10 although 7 requires a minimum DX 9 compatible video card I believe.
This is the tricky part, will hardware drivers for Windows 7 be available for all your new hardware if you decide to buy a new pc now?
Worth the wait
by Spockva - 1/10/09 5:17 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My personal opinion is that Vista is kind of like Millennium, not really better, just new to keep the company name on everyone's mind until the better program is finished and is released. I made the Millennium mistake and don't plan to make the Vista mistake. I am keeping my present desktop and my wonderful Windos XP Pro that works perfectly, never crashes and has no problem with any of my hardware. If Windows 7 proves to be as good or better than XP, I might consider upgrading the computer and OS then, but Cnet and other computer experts will ahve to prove to me that it is better. One other thing, Microsoft will have to offer it for a reasonable price. If they fail on that end, I will be staying with XP Pro. That is the other reason I don't think Vista is worth getting, they want too much for it.
As a General Rule...
by Flatworm - 1/10/09 5:51 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
With computers, as with any technology, a general rule of thumb is that newer is almost always better. Furthermore, newer is usually cheaper.
I am sure that Windows 7 will be an improvement over Windows Vista. But I am not sure it will be much of an improvement.
Despite what you may have read, Windows Vista is an absolutely marvelous operating system, attractive, stable, and very user-friendly. I think it offended some so-called "gurus" because there were some differences between Vista and XP in such things as file locations, the names of some features, and in the ways you accomplish certain tasks, and so they were temporarily robbed of their guru status. They resented this, and sought revenge by trashing Vista in their on-line blatherings. It was easier than learning the new stuff.
But Vista is as big an improvement over XP as XP was over 98. After you get used to Vista, going back to XP is like driving a '63 Valiant with a slant-six after you've grown accustomed to a modern BMW.
Yes, Vista takes up MUCH more resources than XP, just as XP did over 98, but you're talking about a NEW computer here, so that's not a problem. It might have been a problem had you considered upgrading your old computer, but you seem smarter than that.
I got my Vista computer in March of 2007. I use it extensively every day, multitasking, compiling programs, editing videos and high-end graphics, and doing all sorts of things, often simultaneously. Although I am not a gamer, I put this thing through its paces all day every day, and I have never, not even once, experienced a system crash. Not once. With few exceptions (fewer than when Microsoft released XP SP2), all my "legacy" software worked, although I had a few problems with legacy peripherals like my old (c. 1998) HP 6300C scanner, for which no Vista drivers were available.
The end of the year is a long way off and that's a long time to wait if your old computer has become inadequate, which I suspect it has. I doubt that Windows 7 will be worth the wait.
Go Ahead And Get Vista For Now
by bjmarler - 1/10/09 5:53 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you must get a new computer now, then go ahead and get Vista. The driver module that Vista is the exact same one that Windows 7 will be using, so you will be safe for upgrading to Windows 7 when it is released.
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