Click Here To Bash Vista

Susan Betz

I got a new Toshiba laptop a few weeks back. I'm quite happy with the machine but I have nothing good to say about Vista.

I've been through all of Microsoft's OS software, from DOS 1.0 through 6.22, to Windows 3.1, Win95, Win2000, WinXP. Nothing has been as bad as Vista. Well, maybe Win98ME. I had one virgin Win98ME machine that crashed before I had loaded anything on it. I reformatted and put Win2K on it and all was well.

This time I want to reformat back to WinXP. I HATE Vista. It's bloated and annoying. The constant affirmation of action dialogue boxes make me want to scream. But the machine is dual-core and it's my understanding that Vista is built for dual-core machines. AARGH.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

silvertree

I just bought two new computers, both with Win XP. The reason is"The Devil you know" is better than the one you don't. Never saw Vista, but I expect to see more letters like yours.

floridajim

Vista Sucks!!!!!!!!!! Crappy multi-tasking. Freezes up constantly!!!!

JonM

This thread may become a contractor talk record breaker for most posts...

daArch

So Susan,

As you may notice from another thread, I'm being shipped a new beige box - Inspiron with AMD dual core and 2 gig RAM and 320 HD

I NEVER liked XP and have been using 2K for all of this century

(When you say 98ME did you mean WinME or 98SE ??? ME was a tad "problematic", but I liked 98SE. At least you could access the DOS shell easily)

Now a question for all, is there going to be any reason why I won't be able to run 2K on this new machine ????

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

mickeyco

I like XP, I went from Windows '95 to XP, and that was just 2 years ago, I won't find out how bad Vista is for a few more years (knock on wood), hopefully by then they'll have it perfected or a new, better OS.

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Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.

Giftcard

Susan Im with you, I hate Vista too and BestBuy since they sold that funky operation system on my new computer. Next year when we upgrade all of our computers it won't be from Bestbuy or any new Tv's or Dvds or Cds or Stoves Or Ice box or Desk or Chair or Stereo or Dryer or washer for my home.

Brockster

No complaints with Vista so far but I'm not computer literate.

I guess ignorance is bliss in this case.

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Chris Johnson

I'm running XP on my laptop and Vista on a new desk top, Vista was, let's say different for the first few weeks. I admit, it was crashing, errors galore, now since all updates have been completed I don't crash more than once every 10 days, crossing my fingers it gets better. The only software I have had an issue with is Sketchup, everything I have works. I admit I am still fond of XP and am still learning all the features of Vista.

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Chris

daArch

Chris,

I gotta admit, I can not remember the last crash I've had with win2K. A few freezes, but that's because I run to much and am too impatient switching tasks.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

Chris Johnson

Arch, I hear ya, I refused to use Win 3.1 many years ago, thinking DOS was it, but I realized times are a changin' and like all inventions errors will happen until perfected. I'm willing to gove this the benefit of the doubt only because I know the errors are getting fewer and fewer and at this rate I'd expect them to be gone very shortly here.

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Chris

daArch

Chris,

Thank you for being our Guinnea Pig

just let us know when the errors are fixed, and we'll jump in the pool

(sorry, couldn't resist)

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

firemike

Anyone that knows Microsoft products at all should know better than to buy ANYTHING from them on the first OS version. I have been working with windows since the late 80's (Versions 2.x) and every new major version has sucked. Yes, some have sucked entirely through the whole series, but I NEVER upgrade until at least the first major version upgrade.

Vista has many, many problems, and of course there are always those that are fortunate not to have any, and will shout from the mountaintop on how great it is, but they are usually the ones that don't run serious programs or are not power-users. They run the standard software and microsofts own products, and everythings fine.

I have 2 clients that build high-rent computers for serious users, (businesses, government, etc.) and they still will only sell them with 2000 or XP, they will not guarantee anything if the client wants Vista.

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-Mike-

gideond

I'm not buying into Vista. XP has had a long and healthy lifespan in comparison to some of the previous MS OSs. From what I've heard they are already making plans for the next OS in a few years. I don't think even MS believe Vista is going to cut it. It looks like Vista will be a stepping stone to the next OS much like 98ME was a bad start at implementing some of the features that work very well in XP.

Milhaus

I haven't got any experience with Vista, and from the sounds of it, I hope I never do.

I bought a Mac when I started the business and I'd like to think that I'll never go back. One of the best decisions I've made.

RobertCDF

Dont worry you will come back if apple does not fix it major problems. They are still doing the dumb things that almost killed them years ago.

Take for example the iphone... you cant install any software other than thiers, if you tweaked it and did the recent upgrade you ran the chance of bricking your phone... Nice huh?

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

Herk

We've got a new lappy with Vista in-house. My sweetie, Elizabeth, finally upgraded her old Gateway with a new Gateway. After a few weeks, she loves it, and has overcome problems with differences in software.

She's not a power user, but does lots of internet browsing and hotmailing. I set it up for her, starting by removing all the useless junk that the machine doesn't need and putting on the necessary protective programs.

I have a love/hate relationship with Vista, and I like XP very much. I think XP is the best OS MS has put out so far. The biggest problem with Vista is the changes in finding your way around. And don't get me started with networking . . . that's still in the stages of magic and art, and may take a long time to progress to the realm of science and usability.

For those who don't know, MS spent about five years developing Vista, which they had codenamed "Longhorn." They promised all sorts of magnificent improvements, such as a new filesystem. Then, after three years, they weren't getting anywhere and scrapped the entire mess and started over, spending the last two years using the XP (or NTFS) filesystem and format as a starting point.

So we've still got NTFS, and an extra layer of security. This is very reminiscent of how Windows ME was basically built on Windows 98, but was trying out new ideas, like an auto-repairing filesystem that didn't, and a hidden DOS, that they claimed wasn't there. And wizards everywhere that wouldn't. When you fixed one part of it, you broke another part.

So when you open Vista's explorer windows, the menu bar with "file, view, tools, etc" isn't there. But hit the alt key, and Presto! it's back. Who knows what overpaid software engineer thought that one up? I do like the little button in the taskbar that flips all your windows sideways so you can pick one - it's a great improvement over alt-tab to scroll through windows. Right now, I'm using Linux with four desktops, and it's super-easy to change from one to the other, with a different program open on each page. Maybe MS will catch up in the next OS.

Vista is pretty, but it's at a cost - an AMD dual-core machine with a gig of RAM is using almost all that RAM with no programs open, and just crawls. Considering the speed of the machine, it should be zippy. And with a hundred-gig hard drive, it seems that about 1/4 of the drive is already used up.

The Intel Core-Duo machine is much quicker and I'd recommend it over the AMD. In the coming year, both chipmakers will be fighting over the new quad-cores for a share of the market. For memory, I usually recommend a minimum of 2 gigs though it might run OK on one. (XP needed about 512 mb RAM to be comfortable.)

MS's attempt to protect the computer with the extra level of security would have been far more effective if they had actually been able to implement a new filesystem - the linux system I use for my internet fun time is not protected with either a firewall or an antivirus and I simply have no problems at all, nor am I worried about an infection. It helps that, in about an hour, I can re-install the OS from scratch and that it runs reasonably well on an ancient (In computer terms) 750 AMD Slot A processor. Even though I have a relatively new XP box for my business use, I prefer playing on this one.

FWIW - the new Vista has not crashed or hung up or had any problems at all that were not related to the new user's familiarity.

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There are no dumb questions - just a lot of inquisitive idiots.

Susan Betz

I don't remember which version of ME. All I remember is I was running Win2K on my main machine, bought it as an extra box to network to the main computer.

Win2K always ran reliably for me. No problems, ever. I had run an NT machine for a while, though, and Win2K seemed so smooth after that (anyone remember the Blue Screen of Death on an NT machine? you had to be a true geek to get past that) I let XP run through a few service packs before I bought a machine with it, and I've never had a problem there.

Even the Win95 upgrade from Win3.1 was better than Vista, and that was chunky.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

daArch

Herk,

Which flavor linux ??

When one of these computers gets freed up, I want to dedicate it to Linux.

I'm not too thrilled with Debian, if I remember it was not at all intuitive loading it - or was that Mandrake ?? But in general, three years ago, I was on the phone with my LUGNUT brother more than I was using the OS.

I would love to go to Linux if they made it more "loser friendly". I just do not have the time to geek out and learn commands. I'm strictly GUI.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

RenaissanceR

[ deleted ].

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