Vista vs XP

[Gandalf]

I am quite happy with my windows XP, but everyone I've met and spoken to about Vista seems to be having endless problems with it. Is this just a bug thing that will be sorted out in later versions or is the Vista truely a problem child?

 

[mindovermatter]

my son has vista on his laptop and hates it- i'll stick with xp until they come up with something better. i listen to the "computer gurus" on the radio and they say it isn't that great, they haven't perfected it. from what i understand, vista is directx 10 capable but there aren't that many programs yet that require it. i have an extra computer and may get it just to check it out

 

[Shadow]

yes, im on vista right now, it is horrible! not really, but, the little constant bugs just annoy me alot, like, for example, EVERY time you install a new program, or anything similar to that, you have to wait 10 seconds for the damn administrator allow box to pop up and then you have to click it. not major, just a bunch of little things that annoy people.

 

[Wisp]

It's so user friendly, that n00bs don't get it, and computer 1337s hate it!

I, of course am using Linux right now... =)

 

[deserthighway]

I'm using Vista now. By turning off the new sidebar program and changing the display settings to get rid of the new fancy Vista display helped out a lot. I don't have any major complaints but I don't use my computer for anything that has special requirements or gets too technical. I don't really notice too much of a difference between my PC with XP and my laptop on Vista.

 

[murkrow]

I hate vista it has ruined my life...

I wish I cared enough to change back to XP and reinstall everything...

 

[Wisp]

Actually, Vista is supposed to be pretty good on laptops, what with the whole ACPI power management updates and all, not to mention laptops shipped with vista just so happen to have hardware that works with it, which is the biggest problem...

 

[Kuu]

Yeah I've seen the processing black hole of the vista eye candy on my friends' newer laps and desktops... what's the point of having 4gb RAM when it runs like 1gb... And the extremely annoying security pop-ups...

So my desktop remains XP and works nicely, although I use it only when absolutely necessary. It's been a while since I said good riddance to Micro$oft. I'd use Linux, but I'm lazy, so I went to sweet OS X...

 

[Kumori]

I am using vista at home, but I have a linux shell running over it.

I wouldn't use it if I didn't have a gaming PC and wanted to use my 4gig of RAM and Dx10, some features are nice, but most of it is crap.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I'm using a 1gig laptop and a 2gig desktop. Both have XP and I intend to keep them that way as long as possible. If I get my way, I'll leapfrog over Vista to the next OS.

Dave

 

[Kumori]

I use vista, purely because my computer is a gaming machine and I want to squeeze usage of the extra RAM and DX10.

 

[Ogion]

Me too i am in the rows of the Linuxusers. I use Debian since about two years, actually since i have an own pc; at my parents, i and my brother mostly used the computers for gaming. But my parents too had Linux from time to timne, so it wasn't new to me. Then again, my first Computerimpressions were in the beginning of the 90ties, with Dos, Terminals (to probably some Unix-machine; in the university of my parents) and Win3.11.
But for the moment i am really quite satisfied with my Debian. Of course there are things to complain about, but that is rather targeted at all of todays computing. Besides, my computer would realy be too slow for anything like Vista^ (AMD Duron 1GHz, with something about 380 MB RAM...) But hey, it works for me.

Ogion

 

[icywindow]

Agreed with everyone. Vista is the bane of the direction which m$ will be unable to fix for the next 5 years. On the plus side, it means that either Linux or Apple can easily have a share of the pie, or someone can come along with another operating system that works over 9k better and make everyone happy

 

[Dissident]

For a different OS to be succesfull it has to be compatible with all the software made for Windows, and they cant do that without breaking copyrighted M$ stuff (I think), which they are not likely to give up/sell. So I see it unlikely.

 

[Wisp]

Nnnnn... Ubuntu is doing quite well for an easy to use Linux destop. And there are a LOT of people who don't like Vista. And the people who work/maintain Linux have done a lot of really good work.

And Apple is just... blech.

Apple is the polar opposite of Linux, seeing as it strangleholds all 3rd parties from having any freedom, so as to promote "ease of use". I suppose it's just me being fully opposed.to the philosophy of it.

 

[fullerene]

I'm actually on Ubuntu right now (switched over about 6 months ago from Vista), and it's working out quite well for me. There are Linux-based versions of pretty much every common Microsoft one (OpenOffice copies Microsoft Office so well that it actually developed the same flaws, like when you try to number in lists and stuff), and programs line Wine that emulate Windows if absolutely necessary. I like playing bridge online, for instance, but the site (Bridge Base Online) is only compatible with Windows... so you just break open Wine, a windows emulator, and run it through that.

lol, for some programs it's even better. Pokemon Pearl on a DS emulator was very slow and didn't work all that well straight through Vista, but running it through Wine on Ubuntu it runs perfectly smoothly. It's a fantastic distribution of linux for people like me who didn't really like windows, but don't know nearly enough about computers to start piecing things together on a "lighter" version of linux.

edit: lol damnit wisp... you slipped that post in there before I could write this one . I guess I'll amend it to "what he said."

 

[Wisp]

I really don't like apple though. They have, however, done a fantastic job in securing a fanbase from the "arty" people who don't know any better about computers.

 

[icywindow]

You see, Vista is marketed to the wrong crowd. If they wanted to do eye candy, they should have eye candy'd the pants off of Apple, right now it just looks like they're trying to make it look like a mac except not as pretty; beryl does this pretty well with minimal resources.

This would be a great time for a company with a lot of resources (hint hint, Novell, IBM, Sun) to start pushing development for an operating system they are working on (e.g. OpenSuSE). Yes, they're still relatively evil, but more competition means more possibilities, and potentially more diversity of software and pain for software developers and... oh... I think I shot my argument.

 

[Decaf]

I'd love to see some standards for program writing that would allow easier conversion between operating systems. There's not enough incentive as long as Microsoft controls almost 90% of the market (though that number is pre-Vista, but its probably gone done a bit).

 

[icywindow]

I'd love to see some standards for program writing that would allow easier conversion between operating systems. There's not enough incentive as long as Microsoft controls almost 90% of the market (though that number is pre-Vista, but its probably gone done a bit).

Java seems to be a good medium between the two, but it tends to be resource heavy at times. However, I think there have been people who have tried to write an entire netbook OS with basically Java with small linux kernel and windows manager.

 

[fullerene]

There's a class in the computer science department at my university where the purpose of the class is literally "to write an OS." If students at a university can churn out some basic OS in 16 weeks while worrying about other classes, I'm sure companies could turn one out quite easily if they wanted too.

 

[Decaf]

but would Microsoft retaliate? When ASUS started loading their EEE PCs with Linux to keep the costs down, Microsoft rattled its sabre and low and behold, the next edition of EEE PCs came with XP. I like Bill Gates, but I don't like the corporate policy of his company.

 

[fullerene]

I had never heard that story before... how did Microsoft force that?

I agree... onea my friends said that she could just "tell" that Gates was a really generous and awesome person. I've only ever heard of his company really, so I couldn't imagine how someone could be generous and have created that monster (and I trust her judgment too). Gates actually donated $40 million to my university for a computer science building, because we have the #1 CS department in the country and I guess he considered it a good business opportunity (thinking he could hire students after they graduate with their better education). I found out from one of my friends in the psychology department, though, that it was under the condition that they replace all the "computing clusters" (places on campus where there are computers students can use) with Microsoft, because some of them are Mac and some Linux now. When the school refused (because there would be an uproar from our CS kids, who love linux), he cut it back and only donated half.

I'm not sure if this was him or his company... but I just thought "what an asshole thing to do."

 

[Jesin]

No, no, no! Not Java!

Also, cryptonia, that would be enough time to write a basic OS. Very basic. Nothing useful or useable, though.

 

[Decaf]

All Microsoft has to do is tell the hardware developer that they will not allow them to package windows with their systems anymore. A company would have to be VERY confidant in their Linux sales to take that stance. So far ASUS puts Linux only on their cheap, lightweight laptops and Windows on everything else.

I think Bill Gates believes in his software. I'm sure he'd agree that it needs work, but he believes that Windows is the best way for the world to operate. I also think he's afraid of Linux. Think about it... his company operates SOLELY on the sale of software and the Open Source movement's SOLE goal is to create a community that produces FREE software. How do you compete with that? A freely accepted Linux (first in schools, then businesses, then homes) could spell the death of the Microsoft era. I still don't like their business tactics, but I understand them.

Everything needs to move over to Python

 

[Jesin]

his company operates SOLELY on the sale of software

Xbox.

 

[Decaf]

touche. That's true, but the xbox is primarily a means of selling software (the console itself doesn't make that much money)

 

[Wisp]

Tiny portion of their overall profit.

EDIT: Decaf slipped in ahead of me


MS make s oodles of money off selling Windows to corporations. The big X is just a side project.

 

[Jesin]

I know. I just caught the factual inaccuracy, and couldn't resist pointing it out.

 

[Wisp]

Mmmm... we're posting so close together, we COULD head over to the desolation zone... the chat box~!

 

[Jesin]

No. I don't like "flashchat". It's too slow. What we need is an IRC channel.

 

[Wisp]

I missed you.

I have a bad mental latency!

 

[fullerene]

haha... the imminent threat of the flashchat suggestion shut that conversation up pretty quickly.

 

[Wisp]

I know.

What are you people, Anti-social? Oh waaaaait...

Happy 300th post!

 

[icywindow]

What about... IRC WITH MONSTERS??!!?!!? Yay MMOs <3

 

[Wisp]

...what?

 

[icywindow]

MMORPGs, like Ragnarok Online or FlyFF or Mabinogi or any of the other 3490234805 ones that are out there?

 

[Wisp]

I know what an MMO is... However I believe the single best example would be WoW...

 

[icywindow]

For now, yes, but WoW isn't free or have propensity to be free

 

[Wisp]

Blizzard makes, like more money than our number system can account for, each month!

 

[icywindow]

With binary, I can count to 2^20 on my digits if I take off my socks.

 

[Wisp]

they make , about, 2^google each month.

EDIT: Aww... I missed my 800 post celebration...

 

[icywindow]

*celebraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaates anyways *

 

[Wisp]

... Icanhascookie?

 

[Decaf]

omg... I can't believe there's actually a site at www.icanhascookie.com ... what is the world coming to?

 

[Wisp]

how about icanhascheezburger.com?

 

[macronet]

I've got a 1 Gig ram and 80 Gig hardrive on my desktop. Recently having Vista installed, It does nothing but screw you over. The many bugs will drive you up the wall which is why i have finally installed XP over it and have turned into a very happy person :-)

 

[macronet]

http://ihavetime.net/

I need more time Lord be with me, Bless you

 

[Wisp]

Not to mention you need about 4gb ram to run Vista effectively...

 

[*Stabbity*]

Not to mention you need about 4gb ram to run Vista effectively...

Not exactly true. It does operate more efficiently with 4, yes. It uses the more RAM it see's to effectively cache certain tasks. It prefetches much more efficiently with 4GB for sure. overall the system reacts faster too.

To run effectively though, for a normal user 2Gb is fine. Turn off all that Aero crap and run the OS in classic mode ala 95'98 and it certainly speeds up whilst using 2GB.

Most people want the "pretty" though, so I may end up proving you right and contradicting myself.

Normal user = Subjective.

I run 8GB myself.

Short answer: If you turn off the useless crap, 2Gb is more that enough to run Vista.

M$ does a good job pushing hardware with Vista. Them: "You need the extra RAM to run Vista faster". You: "Ok. Yea. It sure is pretty!!"