Windows XP forum: Poll: Will you skip Vista entirely and wait until Windows 7?

There are a lot of people that threaten to leave Windows for something else. How many of them ever do the math to see if their alternative is better ? Apple has almost always priced their offerings higher, and has regularly expired their hardware/software combinations. Try to run a 68xxx or PowerPC Apple system and see how far you get. Windows strongest (and also weakest) strength has been that they support their base hardware/software forever. So 8-bit daughter boards or software that have long been in the trash can with Apple may still be supported with Windows. While Microsoft is trying to be competitive in the 64-bit world, they are also dragging along all this legacy hardware/software support. At some point they have to cut and run. Then all the users of the old hardware/software will say that they have dumped them.

Most users will never fully use a 64-bit operating system, although this is what the manufacturers say is where we are headed. The consumers are just getting the leftovers of what the corporations order. The tech boards are saying that the memory requirements for 64-bit is quadruple that of 32-bit systems. 16 Gigs of RAM anyone ? It is great news if you are a power user of Photoshop, but for everyone else the future is looking pretty cloudy.

Using XP, and will more than likely not use Vista. I'm one of those with lots of time, and so read through the EULA for Vista and compared it to XP's EULA. Frankly, it was a little scary what Microsoft reserved to do. They're able to download updates to their validation software without anyone knowing, which means they could also install anything on the machine without the users' knowledge, including programs to spy on what he/she is doing. Plus, for the same hardware, I can lose a few graphics updates and DirectX 10 and have a much faster machine with better compatibility. If I need more graphics, I can just boot to Linux. Compiz Fusion is very well skinnable.

XP has a truckload of problems and shortcomings but Vista has FAR, FAR missed correcting any of them. (I have been using Vista on one of four computers on my home network since about June 2007) Vista has such a different file system to save and store your files and documents that I still have considerable difficulty finding documents that I have saved. I also have many times more freeze-ups, general instability, and operational problems with the Vista machine. I will NOT adopt Vista across the board and I will take a wait and see attitude with whatever is offered to replace Vista. I would do as I have with Vista and probably try the new OS on one computer before I would consider a network wide upgrade.

1st:When Vista was annonced, codename Longhorn (it had other codenames, but it's the only one I remember), everybody though it was going to be the best, and everybody tough it was for what? 4-5 years ago? Windows "7" won't go out soon, you can be sure of it, Microsoft never release their windows in time, and it's normal, it's hudge.

2nd: I loved XP since I studied in computer science at first, and installing anything other then XP was really not fun. I had my share of viruses on XP more than any other windows since the internet, and the viruses, bloomed while XP dominated the market. But I installed vista from day one (I bought my computer from dell 2 weeks before vista popped, and they shipped me the premium version) and I love it. Okay, at the start vista wouldn't recognise my burner... wich is wierd, and I had some problems of drivers. But after 2-3 months, everything was fine. I never caught viruses again, never had to restart my PC because of a bug, and everything is at it's place. The games into a "games" folder, my music into "my music" folder, etc. Not everything is "my files" or wathever (I'm not english so the terms are not the same, sorry if I'm not that good in english). Vista it great, it's faster on the start too, it's beautifull, etc.

Still, when they'll pop the next windows, I'll download it! I always want the newest things to see! It's better than always talk about the same stuff.

PS: BUT I never paid for a windows (only for my dell sadly, but it was a real deal), I download them (sorry M$, no, that's a joke, lol). So I can't say I would like to pay 250$ or so to update from XP to vista, frankly, I wouldn't even pay 100$. 50$ would be my maximum, but it would be a 50$ well spent since I generally spend my money on my universty/beer/drinks/restaurant/videogames/gadgets/and finally gifts for my family and friends, lol.

Because I'm a university teacher, I get my software from my university. The U. uses XP, not Vista. The three laptops I've bought these past twelve months were all Asus Eee PCs, all of which run XP (sold one, gave one to my son, and use one every day at school and in coffee shops). I have no desire to spend money unnecessarily just to update my operating system when the OSes I use (XP Home and XP Pro) do everything I need them to do. I'm not a gamer, so I don't need the latest technology to help me kill time. And who needs the overhead of that eye-candy Aero thingy that Vista offers?

I will wait for the rectified version of Vista -- Windows 7 -- and hope that it really is much better, as Mr Ballmer has promised, before shelling out dollars to upgrade.

I don't see another new PC in my immediate future, so I won't be forced to buy whatever the retailer or OEM installs on the unit. I usually do my own hardware upgrades when they are needed -- only a motherboard and a graphics card, as a rule -- so I don't have a choice of buying only the pre-configured packages that the retailers sell. And if I have to buy a new laptop, it'll be another Eee PC with an Asus-modified version of Windows 7 that is specially configured for the latest Eee PC 1000.

I'm already using Linux exclusively on two of my machines (one 32-bit dual core and one 16-bit) and dual booting a third. I continue to use WinXP on one machine as a business necessity. My wife continues to use WinXP and will do so for the immediate future. By the time Windows 7 comes out, I will have migrated entirely to Linux and so will my wife. I have never moved to Vista because several critical applications I use still won't run under Vista. Besides, it's a resource hog.

Unlike Windows, Linux is reliable. Unlike Windows, Linux is free. Windows may be slick, but I'm tired of its instability and cost. A while back, my primary Windows machine crashed and was out of commission for 4 days while I nursed it back to health. It proved a perfect opportunity to verify how much I could do without Windows and the answer was almost everything - including running many Windows applications under Wine, including the applications that won't run under Vista. Actually, the only thing I couldn't do was run a USB JTAG debugger for an embedded development project I was working on.

My computer stays on 24/7. All I ask is that it work. In order to keep Windows working acceptably for any significant length of time, I have to perform daily maintenance rituals - clean up, defrag, registry maintenance, etc. In contrast, My Linux machines have been running for periods of 6 months to several years with no more maintenance than the occasional update - and the updates almost never require a reboot. If Windows could match that performance I might even consider using it despite the cost (did I also mention that all the best Windows maintenance utilities aren't free either?) But Living with Windows is a struggle and living with Linux is a pleasure - bottom line.

I'm happy using Vista right now.

I would like to install Vista but I am very short of money
Allan
New Zealand

i like using xp because am use to this os and also is my choice,and the area am living softwares there works for xp if you want vista u will work up and down for it i dont want dat stress i will wait for xp 7...is the same purpose xp and vista

I have never used XP. Updated from
Windows 98 SE to Vista Hime Premium
and now that the initial probs have
been sorted I am happy with it.
Why Windows 7 so soon after release
of Vista ?

The reason is simple. No for Vista and no for any next OS. Why? Well why buy an OS system that need more powerful hardware and does not even get better in response time and speed for all the hardware power it has to be bought when with the same hardware use with Vista, it could run even faster and much more comfortable in a XP environment. Vista has noting that XP could have been added by modifying the same source code and adapted to XP.

The result from 28 years of experience in programming and been an MCP and as well as a high tech. repairing the bad errors made by others left to people like me to help Microsoft client to get their system working again without loosing any of their data and also with network environment badly done. I say XP could have been much better, even more than Vista. I only see here a bad marketing for selling more hardware that only fits Vista and make people spend thousands of dollars for getting nothing else than a computer not much faster than his predecessor -XP- that could have given a much more higher speed with the same machine; if all these Cie. and Microsoft had not conspired to force people to a new Windows in a bad shape without all the requirements needed for the public to be satisfied enough without being struggled by these giants in need for money but instead to put the poor people pushed against a wall without no return.

I still use XP, and I beta tested many things from Microsoft, but now they went to far by releasing a Vista in bad shape and forcing us to pay the note. Right now, all my client were advised not to buy vista because of all the incompatibilities for their old software and I'm not talking only software but also hardware compatibilities leaving the market with few Cie. in this scam exploitation.

Please, who ever read this note don't encourage this kind of politics. You are the one who can make the difference because your the buyer, the silent client who believe in anything they say cause they hypnotise you with things that are not true by doing a magical illusion on something not even worth it after all, when I thing that every windows that has been made since the beginning were always at the same speed but needed me to buy bigger and more powerful machine to get some results. I remember the time when we had to build Software as small as possible to make it work as fast as possible because the machine were so low in power. Now these giants say that they don't have to pay people doing better softwares to make it work better and faster, that its not worth paying people to do better software and OS since the Cie. are able to make machine more powerful and that the client like me can by an other machine to only make me spend more money to their own benefits.

I say stop to this scam and no to worthless OS like vista, 2008, and all the others that will follow. I don't need an OS more expensive and running at the same speed unless I have to spend a lot of money for nothing to get a little more speed. I don't need to buy more memory because the OS is to big to hold in memory; there are other ways to do it an they did it before why now its supposed to be different. Please don't be a sheep like I use to be and stick to your need and stop being drag by these giants in need for more and more power an money. I'm not rich enough to follow a crazy race invented for them and not for me and you.

Just hold your horses and think about this and the software that you will loose and buy the same again because Vista can't hold it. Is it normal for a better OS not supporting the money you invested for these software but have to buy an other one? For me it's no. I will not pay more for less.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it will make you realize in what **** we are right now -ME and YOU- to a point of no return. So do your part. Stick to your conviction, because they can do better than that and that they know it.

I thought that it would be a good idea to leave my email; after all, we all want to know about others in the same **** and help those who don't exactly understand all of this cam. Don't you. So here's my email: s.duteau@videotron.ca.

Just cut and paste the address in you email program and send me your comments.

See you later.

I needed a new computer and despite my reluctance the dealer convinced me to have Vista installed on it. I regret it. Several of my professional programs appear incompatible with Vista. I have had to install a double booting. I don't want the same experience with Windows 7, I stick with XP.

I saw Vista on my daughter's laptop (a HP machine) and did the install for her. Took me the better part of a afternoon. Lots of software I tried to install from my PC's (Desktop and Laptop both running XP) didn't work or needed a tantalizing slow upgrade.So I stick with XP besides some Linux distro's I am using more and more. Windows 7 better be good! I suspect it will still be "heavier" than Vista with even more MS control.About time to say goodbye MS.

I always enjoy this response... There are anti virus programs and security problems for macs do not be fooled by them saying "no viruses" same goes for linux. While the viruses are fewer they are harder to fix in OSX and Linux due to file system structures (osx deliberately hides them....) I have used and enjoy all 3 Operating systems but do not fall for the hype of any of the systems... All have strengths and weaknesses and all are susceptible to attacks from viruses , spyware , malware , trojans etc. Neither OSX or Linux have near as many of these as Windows does but some do exist....

As far as windows 7 goes and its release date... This isnt uncommon of microsoft.... ME was horrid and XP was released soon after. They usually do a string of total junk and then make up for it with something slightly better... I am hoping they relent on their graphics API direct X support with XP and update it on XP and allow lower specs on the operating system itself. Its interesting that they have yet to make an operating system that hasnt been more bloated down by something or another.

I will look at upgrading to Windows 7..... However i will keep XP around just in case and i will also keep Ubuntu Linux around just in case as well... I have no need to upgrade to Vista or Windows 7 at the moment unless Windows 7 really has more to offer...

There's no problem with update it's because there is error in the system or a door expose for people who want to make your life miserable. But, for the Service Pack as SP1, SP2, Sp3 is that there's a major transformation to be done to the system and this cause a little problem if it is not installed. The reason is that Cie. develop under these service pack that make windows a little different in a way. So the thing about this is when you by a new software you will eventualy in time have to have these istalled to make the software operable. Nobody is perfect. The only thing that you must understand when someone- like those who got Vista as exemple- don't realize that there computer is boosted to a way that at that extent that XP for exemple would be maybe more powerful that you would not believe your eyes. Just imagine if your computer had 3MG or more of memory, a CPU 4X or more faster, Bus 5X time or higher to deliver the information to your processor who's capable to handle both graphics and data at the same time before your video card receive it. Just thing about a computer lie this made for an OS like XP.

Like I said before, you will not get much faster. Of course when it brand new with almost nothing in it it goes fast just as XP is when first install, but with time you will not get better for your money, but you will put more butter on more bread to these Cie. That's all.