Anyone actually using Windows Vista?

Won't touch it yet - we did quite a lot of testing on it to see if we could introduce it to our network, and it failed just about everything despite being live and on sale. I'm much happier with XP.

Bought a PC for my father from eBuyer.com recently and had the choice of XP or Vista, needless to say went for the tried and tested.

I guess most bespoke PC builder firms will still give you a choice, won't they? I use Crystal Technology of Sussex for all my PC stuff, excellent firm.

Not being the Steve on here who knows everything about computers, is it that much different? Surely if you download all the updates Microsoft send you you're system should be pretty much up to date anyway?

I always thought these 'new' versions were marketing gimmicks!

Who knows, could be the next ME.

I got a Dell a few weeks ago which shipped with Vista, and though I havent had any stability issues, the mining software I use bombs on it more than it did on XP. Its pretty enough, one or two nice new screensavers, but that's about it - I don't see that its worth the bucks to upgrade. Its a real security nazi though, haven't risked my music, er, collection with it yet.

Al - just got mesel a new pc @ Easter (instead of an egg) & 'still' got XP SP2. Don't go for Vista until at least the 1st SP comes downline. Lots of issues still need sorting & virus issues abound with the main players (norton..) I tried it for 3 weeks & got loads of grief with the programs/torrents etc.. that ran/(run) so well on XP (yet)

Deek's got Vista, and thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread. He's been telling me why, but I haven't been listening .. I'll ask him when he gets in (god, that's me in for another long lecture )

plague!

treat accordingly.

XP will be quicker forever, and far more compatible with the known universe for the forseeable future.

BTW, beware vista's security, after all the 32000 "are you REALLY double sure with sugar and raisins you want to install "flummy.exe"???" crap, it just bails out and gives whatever it is, full root access with no impediments at all.

All it has going for it, is nice eye candy. If that's what you care about, you can do a LOT better than Vista, for free......

I think the mightiest foolish thing I did this year was to buy a brand new computer with... Vista on it... It is a mix of Stasi-like and unefficiency...

I regret my XP O/S... Even if you use legal Microsoft products, it warns you that your stuff is dangerous for the sanity of your computer... what a (feel the space between brackets with the words of your choice) !

And I like the communication sequences like :

1. Are you the one who ordered the computer to do that ?
2. Are you sure to want to do it even if "I" think it is unsafe for your computer ?
3. If you are mad enough to do this, do not complain about anything to Microsoft, you silly (then type what you want in the space between brackets) !

• all that for a simple copy/paste or move a file from a folder to another !!! -

Steve One wrote: Not being the Steve on here who knows everything about computers, is it that much different? Surely if you download all the updates Microsoft send you you're system should be pretty much up to date anyway?

I always thought these 'new' versions were marketing gimmicks!

There are fundamental differences to vista from the kernel up.

Most of them are designed to fuck you over (like making your DVD's look like youtube clips in case you are copying them...no really!), and some of them designed to help and protect you, that just end up fucking you over as a byproduct.

As for new versions being a marketing strategy...they are for PC makers.

Moore's law states that the speed of computers (as determined bu transistor density) will double every 18months.

GATES Law, on the other hand states that the speed of software as determined by how much time it pisses away doing things you didn't ask for, or doing things in a way a 3 year old could see the inefficiency of) will HALF every 18 months.

Windows 2000 advanced server here

Steve Lea wrote: I got a Dell a few weeks ago which shipped with Vista....

although Dell has received a lot of complaints about Vista, so much that they are back to offering their consumers a choice between XP and Vista. Microsoft, naturally, calls the people who choose (and want) XP "a small minority of customers". Hmmm.

P-I Microsoft blog

I'm not using Vista yet, and my uni is delaying their decision of our computers using Vista because of compatibility problems. There was an article on the net stating that Bill Gates wants the XP to be discontinued some time this year. So, I guess we all have to use Vista. I hate Bill Gates, but I have no choice but to use Windows.

[magenta]cozmonite61[/magenta] wrote: I'm not using Vista yet, and my uni is delaying their decision of our computers using Vista because of compatibility problems. There was an article on the net stating that Bill Gates wants the XP to be discontinued some time this year. So, I guess we all have to use Vista. I hate Bill Gates, but I have no choice but to use Windows.

Which apps/tasks do you use that can only be done in Windows?

No choice me arse!

you COULD be using, Linux, BSD, HURD, OSX,Solaris,Minix........

etc ;)

I cannot comprehend why anyone would spend money on something that makes their PC run at half it's current speed, for no compelling reason but a nice desktop (which as you can see above is PISSED on by free stuff anyway).

Vista is a downgrade, until I see 3dMark and Aquamark score showing Vista scoring higher than XP. Imagine you spent £300 (about what a non-crippled vista costs) on a new CPU or video card and upon installing it, found your machine taking twice as long to do everything....you'd go fucking MENTAL and demand your money back. But if it's a disc from that cunt Gates, we all line up to be bum-raped...."oh me next Mr Gates, me me!!!!....my PC scores FAR too well in Doom3, can I have Vista first please to cure this horrible affliction".

Any wonder that 80% of Vista sales are "forced" on people buying new machines. I DARE you to ask them in the shop...."ooooh, £600, quite reasonable, and that's what....£350 without Vista then?".

( FWIW, you can FORCE them to take vista back......get PC home, put linux/bsd/winxp/win98 boot disc in and switch on for the first time. Use the bootdisc to format hda1 (or "C:" as fischerprice windows calls it for kids, sigh), Then put the Vista restore or install CD that came with the new PC in. When Windows installer asks "do you accept the EULA (end user license agreement)"......you answer "no I do fucking not you evil cunts, I wouldn't agree with the statement "beer gets you drunk" if you said it", remove the disc an return to the store for a refund, which they HAVE to give.

Crew Member of Space Ship Earth wrote: Windows 2000 advanced server here

Either you are kidding, or we've just found why so many things that work for everyone else seem to bite you in the bits.

Between that and AOL, I'm genuinely amazed your PC has not shot itself yet.

Doc, my laptop was given to me by the uni. Anyway, as far as choices go, there are people who do use Mac, but some software (ex. used in physics classes) have problems in that operating system.

OK, "it's somebody else's machine" is as good an excuse as any ;)

Physics students would be better off with Linux....you think NASA or CERN use windows? :)

Doctor? wrote:

you think NASA or CERN use windows? :)

I've seen enough Sci-Fi films to know that Nasa use windows

im not sure which is best, but i have really really enjoyed reading all the interesting posts on this matter, keep it up folks.

I use vista ultimate since January. It's better because it supports directly advanced features of graphic cards. My only problem is synchronizing the siemens-mobilphone with the PC. BenQ-Siemens will not update their sofware anymore. Scanner and so on works very well with vista.

DirectX 10 is not Vista only surely.

Dunno what card you have but I see nothing but people screeching about Nvidia drivers being broken.

From what I can remember being told last night, I wouldn't bother just yet. Seems you have to fulfill an incredible set of requirements, a lot of older programmes won't run, trouble with anti-virus, DRM on all music, prompts for permission to do just about the simplest thing ... but he's still insisting that it's all worth it

Doctor? wrote: DirectX 10 is not Vista only surely.

Dunno what card you have but I see nothing but people screeching about Nvidia drivers being broken.

I have the latest nvidia driver on PC and the latest ati driver on the Notebook. Both works. The Desktop of XP slows down the system, because XP for itself don't make use of functions as directx. I think, if you buy a new system, you should take vista.

never seen the need to upgrade from 3.1 really....

problem with vista as i understand it is compatability with a) hardware - patches etc & b) other (non microsoft) programs.

my new laptop has xp

no fuckin way!!! I wait about 18 months until any Windows OS is usable. I am not going to spend loads of $$ to be a beta tester. I have heard that Vista Service Pack 1 is due for September so we'll see how badly it is screwed up at that point.

I am on XP SP4 I think....(had this box about two years) Hums along nicely-does what I want. I can actually use my printer with it. Lots of peripherals do not have drivers for Vista-making your scanner etc a nice paper weight.

I work at a big box where we sell a lot of laptops and a few towers. MS moved all the buttons etc from XP so I am playing with it wondering "where is everything?" vista seems like a badly done patch and not a true upgrade.

Look someone asked The "New York Times" tech editor if he should get Vista and the answer was "Get a Mac"

XP is good enough for most folks and so they'll keep running it cause it does what they want.

Tho I actually someone call the other week asking how they could uninstall Vista and put XP on their computer....