Windows Vista Experience - RF Cafe Forums

 Post subject: Windows Vista Experience

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:13 pm 

Greetings:

My daughter, Sally, just bought a new Dell notebook computer with Windows Vista pre-installed. It is a mid-grade machine with 2GB of memory. Everything I read prior to ordering the machine said that 2 GB is the minimum RAM for Vista, so I complied. 4GB is recommended as the min for running the Aero environment, and I can see why - the interface runs like XP on a 100 MHz PIII, with jerky window movements while dragging. So, off went the Aero environment and the operation smoothed out.

My first impression is that I wish I had specified a model that came with Windows XP installed and the free Vista upgrade (which knowing what I know now, I would not have installed). I suppose there are some real advantages to Vista, but I have not identified them yet - it's just a new interface to learn. MS renamed some of the Control Panel applets, like Add/Remove Programs, so that you have to work to identify the replacement. Other familiar things have been changed for no apparent reason. After installing Office 2003, there is now a persistent error on boot-up with a Sonic something-or-other driver that I cannot clear, even with scouring the Internet for solutions.

When attempting to connect to her wireless router, the dang computer kept wanting to connect to itself. That's right, there is an automatic computer-as-the-router thing going on whereby the notebook's WLAN system wants to pretend it is an open access router. It detected itself as having the strongest signal (duh) and wanted to connect to itself. I managed to get everything straightened out, including turning off the dangerous router connection feature, but Vista was supposed to make everything simpler. Not.

When the TV commercials come on with the Bill look-alike ("PC") and the "Mac" guy, where PC is in hospital garb preparing to be "upgraded," I can see where the Mac folks are coming from. With few exceptions, the Mac has been famous for its simple upgrades and both to hardware and to software. To be fair to "PC," however, it must be acknowledged that "Mac" has a totally closed and controlled hardware and software environment, so Mac doesn't have to accommodate an unlimited number of configurations like PC does. Still, it is frustrating that something as simple as having a WLAN connection self-configure is so error prone. I can’t imagine what a computer novice would do in that situation.

Here are the PC and Mac ads:
http://www.apple.com/getamac

I have thrown a poll up with this post to gauge what others have experienced with Vista, or whether you have no plans to upgrade (although if you buy a new computer, soon you will not have a choice).

_________________
- Kirt Blattenberger
RF Cafe Progenitor & Webmaster

 Post subject:

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:19 pm 

I can't think of even one reason to "upgrade" to Vista. Anything that would have made a compelling reason to upgrade was taken out long ago. I think the reason they moved everything around and renamed things is to show the user that it is different than XP. And this is the most expensive Windows upgrade ever.

Acutually, I can think of one reason to upgrade - I don't doubt that eventually I will have to upgrade but only because XP will cease to be supported - not because Vista is anything special.

I hate Microsoft.

 Post subject:

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:25 pm 

I have become a big Mac fan, after years of running Linux. It's easy enough for my mother to use yet I can run all the open-source unix stuff. I still use Linux for the server. Now if only all the RF CAD software ran on a Mac. I think Apple has a trick hidden up their sleave; being able to run Windows apps seamlessly on Mac. Not virtrualization or emulation (there are already products that do this), but something even slicker.

 Post subject: You sheeps will be fleeced.

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:43 pm 

I just bought a Gateway MT6451 for my college kid fully loaded with bloating useless-ware and u know what?, a Vista Home Premium. I was aware of all of the above and have full intention to wipe the OS out of existing in that laptop and replaced with WinXP. To my chagrin, checking at Gateway site, there are no available drivers for XP on that system but only Vista's drivers. Not to be deterred by MS$ and Gateway, I was looking into certain forums known only to PC hacks and found out even those guys have hard time to find XP drivers for the laptop preloaded with Vista.

So I reluctantly give Window Vista a try and manually remove the useless- bloatware from the laptop and tweaking it so this beautiful Corvette can pull thousand ton of useless bricks to work every day. I kid you not, this laptop is the fastest machine in my home with an AMD Turion X2, loaded with 2GB DDR2 DRAM and it is not running faster than my son 3years old desktop with a AMD Athlon XP-2000, 1.5 GB DDR PC2700 DRAM running with Window XP. Worse, it takes forever to start and then to find the our wireless network router. Well, my son took a consolation that at least his laptop is prettier than any computer we have at home. So I told him the moral of our first encounter with Window Vista is this laptop is like a beautiful girl all shining but nothing underneath. Her hardware is good but that's all there is and you can find them plenty in Mustang Ranch (if still existed)

 Post subject:

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:08 pm 

Yeah
I was looking to buy a new laptop. Looks like you are going to get Vista no matter what so I stopped looking. I think Vista is like Windows ME all over again. Maybe they will fix it with a SP one day but until then, I am not buying any new computers. I did buy low-end machine and put Ubuntu Linux on it to play with. That has promise but I don't think that it is yet to the point that it is going to make the masses want to switch.

 Post subject:

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:16 pm 

He's a graphic art student so he uses graphic intensive apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat etc. I was a little bit scare to get in Vista because I read about a lot of people having problem with software compatibility with Vista. If the new laptop doesn't work with the recent version software then either we have to get him another laptop with XP installed or buy updated software which he could buy at discount price at his school (but it is still a lot $).

Luckily, after spend some hours reading at Adobe's website about Vista's issues I can install most of his software without any major problem. We have to buy him a new graphic tablet for the old one doesn't work with Vista. $300 plus tax right at the batch at Academy Discount.

It's my faulty assumption that I think I can wipe out Vista to reload XP pushing me to buy that laptop, and I didn't realize the conscious effort of lacking XP drivers by manufacturers. Talking about a great scheme to fleece the consumers by all parties involved in the Vista's conspiracy to push the consumers into Vista direction. MORE RAM, FASTER CPU, BETTER GRAPHIC CARD, BIGGER POWER SUPPLY, MORE FANS, NEWER SOFTWARE. Price/Performance wise, Vista is a sucker bet.

 Post subject: Vista

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 4:48 pm 

I have to admit that I was reluctant at first, but must say after a little tweaking and learning, I do like Vista. I just bought a Gateway NX860XL for school, and just love it. I wanted XP, but could not get it. Dell was the only ont to offer XP on their $$$$Big Rig$$$$. I removed the bloatware: McAffee, works 8.5, Napster, AOL, etc.. and installed my own AV. It came with a Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz, 2 Gigs 667MHz RAM, amd a 80Gig 7200 RPM HD. These were my top criteria for the laptop. Dell and HP had to upgrade their packages, and cost $300 to $800 more than I paid for this one.

I do not use AERO, but do like the way the windows fade in and out. My main gaming computer is an AMD FX-60, Nvidia 7800GT SLI, on a A8N32 MB, 10K Raptor, but the laptop will open apps faster??? I won't run games on it, mainly to do schoolwork somewhere other than my desk for once.

The wireless links right up by the way, so I am not sure about your issue. Also, Office 2003 Pro installed flawlessly to include internet activation. I was anticipating a phone call to activate as I have done it a number of time on my desktop. The only issues so far is that Appcad wont' run, and Visio works, but gives a non-volitile error on closing the program. Visual Studio 2005 works fine after I installed the Service Pak for Windows Vista.

I have XP64 on the desktop, and switched to that when everyone was crying about that. That has been the best Os I have used thus far. I now am tryin Vista, and have to say I like it so far, just have to do a little learning and searching to figure out the new OS. I am using Home Premium BTW.

Hope my views add some diversity and enlightenment to the discussion.

Happy Learning,

69Bee