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Windows Vista: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now?
- 1/16/09 4:11 PM
Vista Wait,
by idiot420 - 1/17/09 11:13 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Waiting for Windows 7 could be a dangerous thing with a computer as old as yours. Vista really isn't all that bad, if you have enough RAM and get a version other than basic. That's just because all the fancy stuff is on the upper versions. I would also go to Amazon and get at least one of the Vista help books, I've got Vista Inside Out and Vista Annoyances, both have great tips and get arounds.
Windows 7 vs Vista.
by Carsto - 1/17/09 11:58 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This is a very familiar situation. Beware the sucker punch. All marketing in the computer field is targeted to make you spend the most money. Which decision will leave you without a PC or with lost files? Which will be the most economical? This may sound like repeating the obvious, but unless you know the full scene on how your pocket will be affected, do not make snap decisions. Vista plus free upgrade may be more expensive than Win 7 (various fantastic reasons may then be punted).
Win 7 then again may suffer the usual teething trouble cycle (XP SP3 was reported as faster than Vista). XP has been terminated and will not be supported after March 2009 according to posts I got.
In the 1980's "upward/downward compatibility" became very ugly words and the main base of Microsoft's severe problems with street cred. That scene cannot anymore be exploited fully, but nothing stops anybody from milking the market.
Give the devil his due. Bill Gates may not be able to program, but this is irrelevant. He can manage and market, which he did. See that you get value for money and consistent service.
Excepting custom built software, how much more can anybody offer than the standard off the shelf goodies? Sales now depend on touting.
Get Windows 7 out ASAP
by ncreb - 1/17/09 12:49 PM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Windows Vista was a bad experience for many Windows users who hated it more than any other OS Microsoft has come out with. Windows 7's earlier than usual release is evidence of this fact and an attempt to respond to plummeting market shares. For me Vista's major drawbacks have been incompatibility with existing Windows software and applications which previous versions of Windows seemed to integrate without the lockups, shutdowns, and failures Vista users like me experienced. Therefore, many of us had to re-buy software for Vista to do the same things we could do with XP, 98, and 95. If Windows 7 does the same things Vista did for users of XP, ie: present major incompatibility problems with Vista compliant software, Microsoft might see Windows users simply throw up their hands and abandon Windows altogether. However, if Microsoft makes the effort to integrate Windows 7 OS not only with "certified" Vista compliant applications but all the Windows XP software that users still like and heavily rely on, then Microsoft will have saved the day and reclaimed lost market share. But, if I once again have to re-buy software and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars, I'll dump Microsoft and look elsewhere for for an operating system that works for software that was designed to run on its own systems! Maybe Google should come out with an OS and give users a third major alternative.
Just one more subjective response....
by vizenos - 1/17/09 12:54 PM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, Jerome,
This response, like all others, will be subjective opinion based on my own personal experience.
Having used Windows XP Home for several years, I like XP but do *not* like its tendency to corrupt both drivers and applications over time. On balance, I would *not* agree with those who recommend that you buy a new computer running Windows XP, both for that reason and because a large percentage of the computers currently being sold with XP loaded on them have hardware issues that make them unsuited for either Vista or Windows 7.
So, for me there remain two viable choices: buy a computer running Vista now, or wait to buy a computer running Windows 7, sometime after an unspecified and unknowable number of months waiting for Windows 7 to be released.
I'd say both those choices are viable because the hardware requirements for Vista (other than Vista Home Basic, of course) are pretty much the same as the hardware requirements for Windows 7. In picking a computer running either Vista or Windows 7, pay particular attention to video hardware, as this is the single hardware issue that most frequently lowers the base of your Vista Experience index or (for Windows 7) your Windows Experience index. You need something *far* better than your average bargain-price video card; I'd recommend you not accept anything less than a PCIE card with at least 1 GB of DDR3 VRAM on it. I did, and as a result both experience indices tank out at 3.0, which is the same score as my two video cards.
Other important minimums include RAM (minimum 2 GB, preferably more) and CPU speed (minimum 1.5 GHz before overclocking, preferably at least 2.0 GHz).
My personal preference, after having run both Vista Home Premium and the Windows 7 Beta, would be to wait for the Windows 7 public release, and get that, because Windows 7 is essentially Vista done right. A lot of things in Vista that will probably be a constant annoyance to just about anyone appear to be fixed in the Windows 7 Beta.
Vista @#$%&!
by QuickGrayWolf - 1/18/09 12:09 AM In reply to: Just one more subjective response.... by vizenosI cannot use the words which I feel are suited to Vista. I am not a power user but took great pains to migrate from 98 to XP Pro. But I ran out of disk and stepped up to a new box about 9 months ago. I have had numerous problems with Vista and I don't care what all those people say on TV about liking it.
I don't want to learn Vista so they can roll another Beta version of an OS under my nose while they can shake it down at my time and expense. Immediately, upon getting my new box, I learned that, oh..incidentally, your XP software (Office 2003, etc.) won't run so "here guy, use the new version of Office for 30 days then send us $130". In about two weeks I lost my D drive and had a hell of a time finding some guy in India who finally got me out of that situation. No thanks to MS. I discovered Open Office which is freee! And it does the job.
I have a copy of Partition Magic which I believe will allow me to run XP and Vista on my box but, so far, haven't had the courage to undertake that task.
I would love for some other PC compatible OS so I don't have to deal with any of MS's misguided efforts. If they had said Vista or XP when I got the new box, I would have (following all the local gurus advice) opted for XP. It was not offered.
Summing it up, I don't like Vista and that is a 50 megaton understatement.
There is always an alternative
by waytron - 1/18/09 2:13 AM In reply to: Vista @#$%&! by QuickGrayWolfI am sorry to hear that you have had such problems and hope that you have at least upgraded to Vista Service Pack 1. First I would like to say that Office 2003 will install and run perfectly fine on Vista. Second, Don't even bother trying to install XP on another partition. If you are having problem now, this will only add to them. If you really want to go back to XP, then completely remove Vista and install a clean copy of XP. By the way you mentioned that you had wished there was an other alternative to MS for your PC. There is, and it is Linux and it is free. Combined with Open Office, you have a great system. The other option is to run OS X on your PC.
Vista @#$%&! Addendum...
by QuickGrayWolf - 1/18/09 5:35 PM In reply to: There is always an alternative by waytronIn addition to some of my early morning laments re. Vista, I'd like to ad that my new PC is a Compaq (you know...owned by HP). My HP 3150 All-in-one would not run with Vista. It had performed admirably with XP Pro on my old desktop (ran out of C disk) and it continued perform perfectly well with my laptop which runs XP Entertainment or whatever. I wound up sending myself documents and printing on the laptop.
I don't remember what happened when I tried Office 2003; so, I'll try that again. When I attempted to run HP's s/w for the printer, it put the machine into super-duper ultra slow motion. It took 3 or 4 minutes to get the cursor across the screen so I could uninstall HP's s/w.
Thanks for the Linux suggestion. Some time ago on my old machine I tried Red Hat. It kind of reminded me of the pre-windows days with IBM OS and DEC's VAX coding. There did not seem to be any real user friendly handles.
I am an enthusiastic user and supporter of Open Office. Linux is, I believe Unix based, which I dimly remember was all about cryptic codes and such. Where can I get Linux free and is there an interface that won't overload my diminishing ability to absorb technical bells and whistles.
The reason for running Vista alongside XP is/was that I figured that in the foreseeable future, MS would do something to leave me in the same position I was in when I finally decided to blow away 98 and join the 21st century with XP.
Also, being a little paranoid, has MS set some traps for me, which will foil my installation of XP Pro. I assume my first step is to reformat the C disk and retake the steps I took with my trusty copy of XP Pro about four years ago.
I will follow your suggestion re. Office 2003 and see if it runs. I have put up SP1 since I last tried Office. Somewhere along the way, in the daily updates that come to Vista, my HP printer s/w became functional...so, maybe that's cool for Office, as well.
I really do hate vista. Half my time on the system is running Windows Explorer to find stuff that it stashed in some illogical(to me)place.
Mr. or Ms. Waytron, I really appreciate your responses to laments. It gives me anew direction to go, instead of fumbling around with too little knowledge
If you need a new PC now...
by presleydotcom - 1/17/09 12:56 PM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
"My 7-year-old computer running Windows 2000 Pro is on its way out..." To me, this sounds like you need a new computer now. If that's the case, then don't wait. You could end up limping along a long time.
I would recommend that you get a PC with Vista installed. Your transition to Windows 7 will be easier from Vista than from XP. Just make sure you get Vista SP1. If you can spring for Ultimate, I'd do it. The complete PC backup, incremental backups, and restore features are worth it, in my opinion. Way better than my Mac with TimeMachine.
Good luck.
-jack
There is only one that beats the rest!
by vattan2005 - 1/17/09 3:56 PM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Rock solid and a very comfortable interface: XP Professional. I will stick with XP Pro until I am the last one left standing! I don't like the looks of Vista and cosmetic changes for the sake of cosmetic changes. 
Windows7
by #4BobbyOrr - 1/18/09 1:25 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello;
In regards to the upcoming release of Windows 7, for myself, I always wait at least 6-12 months when any new software platform is released...especially when it involves mircrosoft.
Waiting the 6-12 months would enable most of the bugs to be worked out by that time rather than YOU experiencing those problems first hand.
In the meantime, the polls seem to suggest that XP is the prefered choice over vista-but it boils down to what you intend to do...play games, business apps.,multimedia..etc..
If you wait till windows7 does come out, you can ask the vendor to load what you want now, xp or vista; and make arrangements for a FREE upgrade to windows7 after the bugs have been worked out.
Hope that helps you.
Windows Vista or Windows 7
by larrylw - 1/18/09 4:30 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Until now I have continued to use XP pro after making a sincere effort to adapt to Vista. I hated using Vista and eventually gave up on it. Vista drove me to trying various versions Linux and apple operating systems. Although I have always tried to avoid Beta products I decided to try Windows 7 out of desperation. It's the best thing I've ever done. It appears that Microsoft may finally have a winner. I have been using PC's since the pre-DOS era and Windows 7 is the best operating system I have ever used. The Beta version is out there and available for download. I can't wait until a tablet version is available.
All I have left to say is "Try It, You'll like it"
Larry Whittington
windows7
by muis25 - 1/18/09 5:13 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
the program runs smooth wait for it or download the beta from microsoft
going from 2000 to vista/win7
by shipjax002 - 1/18/09 6:51 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First, most of the experts recommend a clean install, as opposed to an up-grade. My own experience tends to agree. Vista has a few problems, Win 7 tests as a major improvement, so if at all possible I would wait, and wait to get the latest word once the finished release has been in use for a bit. But, after running Win 2K for 7 years, you re going to have a few problems. A lot of your peripheral hardware, and some of your software, probably won't run on Win 7, (or Vista). In addition, you are going to have a lot of learning to do. The "classic" desktop option is not available in Win 7, so just finding your way in not going to be easy. That is just the beginning.
I would recommend, in addition to waiting for Win 7, put your old drives in your new machine and set-up to dual boot. that will keep all your old stuff available,keep you functioning, give you the time & ability to up-grade divers and software/hardware, and also, you your old hard drives will still be in YOUR possession, which is best from a security view. This will be a bit more work than just plugging in a new machine, and will create a few issues of it's own, but I've found on other up-grades it will save you a lot in the long run. Good Luck!
Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now?
by andyclar - 1/18/09 11:20 AM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think you better wait for Windows 7
If you get a computer with two hard drives try both.
by WayneRichardJ - 1/18/09 12:12 PM In reply to: Should I wait for Windows 7 or move on to Vista now? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have two hard drives and am using my bios to select between
Windows 7 Beta and Vista both 64 bit sytems. So far Windows 7 Beta beats Vista hands down! The only problem I have had so far is a problem loading the correct driver for my new Magicjack device.
The speed of Windows 7 is a least four times faster in my opinion
My internet speed is even faster than before. It also so far better than My XP pro os seem to be if my memory is correct. I am sure that the device manaufactures are hard at work devloping driver for Windows 7. So if you need a new computer and get one with two hard drives you could have ether XP or Vista on one drive and try out Windows 7 beta on the other but you need to download Windows 7 while it is still available for download.
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