I've found that with Vista overclocking is way easier, I've had no problems with system memory, and runs my system more quickly than XP ever did.

I honestly have had none of the problems associated with it.... plus when I bought it I had just graduated so I got Ultimate for $20.

Vista is nowhere near my forseeable future as my athlon XP 1900+ and 1 GB of RAM is much better suited to XP. My inclination on any future upgrades (would do if funds were available, no rush though) is to dual boot *nix with the snazzy eye candy and keep XP with the nice simple win2k look still.

And I am still quite happy with win2k workstation on my 1.3 ghz athlon crashbox, just finally starting to actually 'feel' slower at times using that system. The A7V 133 motherboard does limit my options on that one.

I bought a Dell laptop just last week with XP. 1.90 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2, 2 gigs of RAM, 80 GB 7200 RPM HDD. Vista was like 30 or 50 bucks more, and the IT guys at my work said to not get it, so I went with XP. That and I wanted everything to be as clean and blue as possible. Runs like a dream.

Hating on Vista is like hating on domestic SUV's. It's the popular thing to do right now.

I'm running Vista both at home & here at work. So far I can't complain too much about Vista as it's working like it should.

Problems.
At home: I was having a problem with a custom codec pack I installed. It was randomly crashing WMP11. I downloaded the newest version of the pack and the problem went away. That was the ONLY problem I had. All of my games worked just fine, I went to lan parties and never had any issues connecting nor lagging out or my FPS being too slow.

At work: I had a lot more problems at work than I did at home. We run a lot of legacy software from the nineties and early 2K's, software that just wasn't meant for Vista. My biggest problem area was Novell login and other Novell apps. I couldn't log into the network properly, didn't have the proper rights to access certain types of files, etc. About two months ago Novell finally got off their lazy asses and released an updated Novell Login program and that fixed all of my Novell issues. SP1 came out shortly afterwards and made the network move much faster (it's actually faster than my XP box). Now my Vista box does 99.9% of what I want it to do, the only reason I still have to use XP is to remote into the Novell servers. If we upgraded to the latest version of that software then I wouldn't need XP at all, but money trumps all.

Vista isn't the second coming of Christ, but it certainly isn't as bad as most make it out to be. Like I said earlier, it's just the popular thing to do right now.

I wish that was true. I run a lot of media software, not for editing, but for ripping.

First, ripping the CD audio. Anyone in this scene can tell you there are only a handful of ripping utilities to trust, and only two of those can guarantee their results objectively (against a database). Only one of those two programs is free. The free one... doesn't work so hot in Vista even when administrative rights are enabled during installation.

Secondly comes preservation of the audio. This requires not-so-Windows-standard audio codecs. The most widely used lossless audio codec out there is FLAC. FLAC finally did something which enables it to run properly in Vista but all to often a new user signs up to HA in order to ask what is wrong with his FLAC install.

Next comes transcoding. To tell the truth I haven't read any problems, but I would not be surprised if someone down the line is trying to use the simplest way to batch transcode FLAC albums to MP3, with Foobar2000, and Vista won't let the encoders write to the hard drive.

Finally comes reauthoring, either data discs or playable CDs. Only be the grace of luck does that one actually work properly with ImgBurn.

You might wonder why I give damn? That was my job for two summers: digitize my neighbor's DJ business. I finally got it setup on his system so all he has to do is put the CD in and it rips, processes, and makes a back up waiting to go to DVD. I have forbade him from getting Vista because I do not want to have to relearn a new system and figure out all that process again.

I'm pretty sure people hate on domestic SUV's because of the shitty build quality and the ugly look of the majority of them, it being popular isn't really a factor, IMO anyways.

Lets not forget that most people do not use them to their full capacity (i.e. backpacking, camping, off roading) and lets top that off with cost in gas.

Different people use computers for different reasons. Many people do in fact have issues with Vista, that I never denied. What I did say though is that much of the Vista bashing that goes on is nothing more than a bunch of novice's that don't know how to turn of UAC, don't like having the Control Panel changed, and like to complain about Nvidia & HP drivers that don't work. If XP works better for you, then that's great, but why do people seem to think that everyone else & their grandmother should care? Every day I see a new blog that makes it to the front page of Reddit or Digg bashing Vista. Why? Most of these blogs don't have any actual complaints or give any solid examples. They just complain that to delete a shortcut on the desktop takes 10 steps when I can do it in 1, the same number it took in XP.

I'm not trying to belittle your issues, but just like right now it's cool to like Linux it's uncool to like Vista.

Posts like this one prove my point

And Silent_Jay, Unless you can provide more than just anecdotal evidence I'm not even touching that. This isn't the thread and I have a feeling you're being obtuse on purpose.

All of this goes the other way, though. You're assuming that because you personally haven't had a lot of trouble with Vista that everyone else is griping 'to be cool.' Meanwhile an unacceptably large percentage of the population is having difficulties that in some cases are making their computers or software completely unusable. This is completely unacceptable, especially when an 'upgrade' is completely arbitrary and offers nothing substantial in the way of new features.

The Linux is userbase is, by and large, much more tech savvy then the general population. You admittedly have to be in order to use Linux. Most of them hate Microsoft and Windows. A large percentage of them switched to Linux specifically to get away from using Microsoft products. That doesn't strike you as odd?

Me too...

i remember using dos 3.0 then 6.1. then came windows 3.11 which seemed to be just a fancy way to do what i was already doing. windows 95 was when it was clear this was an easier way to do the daily stuf on the computer. 98 was just a shinier 95 imo but it did make some improvements. then windows 2000 which seemed closer to nt then to the 98 platform but at least it was stable unlike 95 or 98. step in xp with the functionality and stability i´ve required and i´m pretty happy. my ex´s comp is running vista along with several friends´ and it seems to have nothing more over xp at least for my needs. the thing that´s concerning me is the system requirements. my laptop is fine for me (2Ghz, 512Mb ram, 32Mb video) which apparently is only *just* enough for the basic vista.

i remember a friend followed vista while it was still longhorn which at the start of development had a series of substantial improvements and he said that he watched microsoft slowly strip any improvements out of it during development and by the time it was released as vista it waas just a new front for xp that needlessly required so much more hardware.

Sure would have been nice if you provided proof that people just make fun of them because it's the popular thing to do, aside from your anecdotal evidence that is. Not being obtuse at all I was posting my opinion on a subject you brought up, sorry for sharing my opinion on a message board.

But I'll start a thread in motors to discuss the build quality of American SUV's, I'll show you just how horribly they're thrown together.

I don't have anything against the OS itself. I turned off all the crap widgets, put on the classic theme, and it's almost just like before. The search function seems improved from what XP had, actually.
What I have a problem with is that my computer came with it, when it all it's sold with is 1 GB of RAM. What the fuck? Vista is designed for more powerful machines than mine, so don't put it on mine.

I'm assuming that when people complain about something they bring up logical, fact driven evidence against it such as what Augi did. When people do that I tend to believe it more than some blogger that doesn't know how to count or how to put a CD into a cd-rom drive. I've seen more of the latter than the former though. All I ever see are the "my HP drivers don't work" or the "The menu's are too confusing" or "a friend of a friend said Vista fubar'd his machine, raped his mother & gave him a D- in chemistry". People don't like change & Vista has been the biggest Windows change in a very long time.

I'm also not sure why exactly it should strike me as odd that many Linux users want to get away from MS. The beauty of choice is that having OSX & Linux means that if people do want to get away from MS they can. In the same way it doesn't strike me as odd that people won't buy Sony after the rootkit fiasco, or they won't buy VW's after their horrible history of electronics, or someone wont fly Delta after a horrible experience. Some people just have really bad luck with their MS box, I know I've certainly seen some people that should make a change.

Note that in our apartment we have 1 Mac laptop, 1 linux laptop, 1 Vista machine, and 2 XP boxes. I've used all of them and each has its own strengths & weaknesses.

Note 2: my spelling is absolutely terrible this morning but I'm too lazy to go back & fix it.


The Jeep Wrangler
The best selling truck/vehicle of the last few years
The original SUV

Just three examples of our unreliable trucks and because we like anecdotal evidence so much our 93 Ford Explorer has over 210,000 miles on it and is still going. You're certainly allowed to have the opinion that domestic SUV's suck but I'll continue just the opposite.

Posting links to MSN autos isn't proof of what you said, you said that people make fun of domestic SUV's because it's popular, those links don't prove that. The F-150 is a truck, not an SUV, so wrong segment.

One of of how many exploders built making it to 210,000 doesn't mean they're a reliable or well built piece of kit, so still anecdotal evidence on your part, I'm not saying they aren't, but come on, you know one vehicle doesn't mean a whole line is reliable. Explorer recalls of the 90's anyone.

I present to you the Aztek, yep the Americans sure do know how to put together an SUV, just look at this one folks.
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...tiac-aztek.htm
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/res...tiac_aztec.jpg
The H2, it's like a Hummer, that had it's bollocks removed, it's great if you're a guy with a vagina, another fine example of quality American vehicles.
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...-hummer-h2.htm
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/1132210..._Hummer_H2.jpg
You're right though, we both are entitled to our opinions.

Yes, there are many stupid people on the net, but you have no need to exagerrate. We give you genuine examples of why Vista can be inconvenient, but you'd rather go with your original point of how a lot of other people complain about stupid things.
Not everyone likes to be forced to buy the new thing when the old one was just starting to work perfectly. And before you say we're not forced to, consumer choice blah blah, yes we kind of are. With a limited budget comes a limited set of options.

Seriously people won't buy VW? You sure you aren't thinking of Jag's or maybe old MG's, and people still buy Jags by the way, because people certainly love their German engineering, and yes tons buy VW's, so I don't know where you're getting people won't buy them.

What next, you gonna tell us no one buys Honda's and they have a horrible reliability record?

this is starting to get rather off topic but without point. perhaps this latest conversation can be moved to tilted motors?

Back on topic then, Vista sucks donkey cock.

Hey everybody, let's argue about what kind of tools we are, and how being the kind of tool that we are makes us better than the people who are a different kind of tool.

Can I be a power tool?

Isn't there some sort of suite you can download for xp for that?

As long as nobody asks "Is linux finally ready for primetime?" I'm happy.

Is linux finally ready for primetime?

That is a genius idea, since Windows does offer powertoys!



With the latest release of Ubuntu it just might be getting there.

only for power tools...

//begin idiocy
 

I'm a black 'n' deck-her power tool, heh heh, if you know what I mean. Eh? Eh!

It's probably as ready as Shasta McNasty was.

//begin idiocy
 

"I AM THE FLY!!!"

Note that I never said Vista can't be inconvenient or even troublesome, that said though people do complain about stupid things. Once they're used to doing something one way they don't like doing it another. You add just one extra step to make something happen and people will complain till the cows come home. If you looked at my last post you'd see that I acknowledged the genuine complaints, I even had some of my own in the first post. I spend a lot of time on the internet, more than I should in fact, and whenever someone mentions Vista the first thing that comes out is 1) the exaggerators & 2) the mac fanatics, just visit Digg or Reddit and you'll see what I mean. I'm simply providing the tit for the tat.

I'm not sure how your limited budget argument works. If you have a limited budget then you have Linux, school discounts, or you can download Windows for free (or you can try any number of other free OS's out there, but good luck :)). When you buy a new computer it's only logical that it would come with the newest OS. If you have an old computer then nobody is forcing you to upgrade to Vista. Nobody forced people to upgrade to Leapord, nobody forced people to upgrade to Hardy Heron, and MS didn't force me, you, nor the old lady next door to upgrade to Vista. There are people still running Windows 2000 out there. When new technology is introduced the old is phased out.

Anyways, I don't think we'll get much more out of this debate. If you're having problems with Vista then stick with XP or switch to whatever does float your boat. If you're not having problems with Vista and choose to stick with it then may god haver mercy on your soul.

"It's not uncommon for major operating system updates to cause problems. Typically, the glitches are due to conflicts with software, such as drivers, system files, or applications already resident on the user's PC." I don't think the update is supposed to be in conflict with the damned operating system. I find it very hard to be anything but suspicous of this "update."

Friends,

There is a better way. I had been a PC guy since the early 80's. Without being pretentious, I know my way around a PC and Windows, having worked in the industry for many years in sales, service, and support.

After battling with Vista for a short time upon its introduction, I finally made a move I had contemplated for years and switched to Macs.

I have rediscovered my love of computers and computing again as I'm now free of the kinds of problems outlined in the above posts.

At the risk of being labeled an Apple Fanboy and stating what you've heard before, the Mac system just works. (OK.......I guess I AM becoming somewhat of a Fanboy.)

Check out the Mac. Make your own decision.

Cheers,
dan :)

Heh. I don't have that problem Augi, I use Vista. :thumbsup:

not to derail the subject but how long does an OS last befor it's totally dead and un useable ?

I ask cause I'm using win NT here but I'm on the brink of buying a new rig w/ XP on it....I need to try out this USB thing I hear people talk about :lol:
my NT box has lasted me 10+ years...how long will XP function ?