Windows Vista RTM

November 27, 2006 01:02
Excellent
2.0/5
What's wrong with Vista? Behind the translucent windows, sharp graphics and desktop "gadgets" lies Vista security to prevent you from easily doing anything that Vista/Microsoft deems as insecure. Sure,
XP was insecure unless a user maintained constant vigilance and installed all updates, but at least you still felt like you controlled your own fate. With Vista the feeling of control is gone, now Vista controls you and everything you want to do on your computer.

Say you are a bit of a techie and want to take a hard drive from your old computer and put it into your new Vista compatible machine running Vista. After you get it installed Vista sees it, you can see it, but Vista prevents you from reading the drive saying that it is "not accessible" and "access is denied". In typical Microsoft OS fashion there's no information about why access is denied, no link to more information, nothing except for the sparse error message.

Go into Control Panel and choose "Add Hardware"; an annoying dialog box is displayed requiring that you give your permission to continue. Get used to this dialog box, you will see it over and over and over again and be required to click the "Continue" button each time. In Vista's security run amok world, things you could do in XP are now considered possible security violations and require your explicit go ahead.

What about new features? Oh, they are there and some of them are good ideas, but Microsoft has missed the boat on usability. New features are worthless without an intuitive user interface that works with you, provides help when you need it and links to additional helpful information. In Vista's case the UI suffers the same, if not worse problems, than XP's. Error messages are vague, UI paths to features are convoluted, help text is, for the most part, written in the same garbled techie language that plagued XP (and ME, 98, 95, for that matter).

I can hear Microsoft now exclaiming that they've rewritten help from scratch and it's the most comprehensive ever.Maybe so, but Vista help (like XP's) mostly just tells you what's wrong and then tells you to go fix it on some menu without telling you exactly how to get there.

The shame in Vista is that after 25 years of writing operating systems and supposedly improving on Windows, Microsoft is still making the same usability mistakes that have wasted our time and taxed our patience before. You'd think they'd get the idea that the UI and the user experience is at least as important as new features.

So, what has Microsoft been doing for the last 5 years besides making Vista hard to use for the common user? They've been adding features for the the IT staff at corporations. The IT staff will love the Vista features that give them new found control over every aspect of the computers they manage. Think of Vista as the secret police working on behalf of the IT department as they seek to lower the digital curtain (my apologies to whoever coined "iron curtain").

Should you purchase Vista? Not if you want to feel like you control your computer instead of the other way around. Your best course of action is to complain loud, long and repeatedly to Microsoft about their lack of regard for Vista users. Demand they do something about it instead of throwing a bunch of features together under a pretty, but incomprehensible UI, and calling it Vista.

If you complain enough maybe you'll find someone at Microsoft that still knows what "user friendy", "it just works" and "business at the speed of thought" really means. Otherwise, just buy a Mac (and being a long-time Windows user I don't say that easily), it will save you a lot of time in the long run.

- Alanwea

December 25, 2006 12:54
Spectacular
2.5/5
Ok,
First of all, I'd like everyone to know that I am an IT professional and I do technical support for a manufacturer. With that said, I feel like I should at least speak out a bit of the new Windows Vista as it is released now. First of all, with Windows Vista in it's current state, I strongly recommend installing it as it's own separte OS on it's own separate partition instead of upgrading. One thing is that this particular OS has it's very good, and also very bad points. One good point is it's stability. Amoung all of the MS NT versions of Windows, I must say that Vista is the most stable out of all of them, however, at it's current state, the earliest version of Windows that you can upgrade to it from is Windows XP Service Pack 2. However, the good side to that is Vista's installation saves everything from your previous installation to another folder called Windows.old. I experienced this very situation when attempting to upgrade a secondary copy of Windows 2000 on an auxilary partition on my computer's hard drive. One thing I should also note is that my system at home is a 1.9 GHZ AMD Sempron with only 512MB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce MX 4000 128MB video card, and an 80GB split up (20GB = Windows XP MCE 05 Partition, and a 60GB = Was Windows 2K and is now Windows Vista Ultimate) Quantum HDD. Whoo, try saying all that in one breath... Anyway, moving on, no, I did not get to experience Aero or Flip 3D at home, however, I am mostly just testing Vista for work and research purposes, so, really, just did not see it as a very big deal. When I first started to use it, I quickly set my usual options as I usually do (folder options to show everything, control panel in classic style, etc....), and thought I was done there. First thing I noticed is that when I attempted to get the usual icons to show up on the desktop (My Computer, My Documents, My Network Places, Internet Explorer, etc....), they were not in any usual place to be found, like within the Display Properties under a Desktop tab or something. No, you had to right mouse click on the icon in the Windows style start menu, or set the start menu to classic style in order to get them to appear, and even then sometimes, if you use the full Windows start menu (which I do in XP for the convienience), not all the icons will be able to appear. One thing I did not like about the new start menu is the "nesting" of it, which seems to be a common theme in Vista. Almost everything in this OS is nested in something else. Imean, I one who's all for an object oriented layout, but there comes a point where you've gotta say... Enough! I know the desktop search is suppossed to alieviate the pain of nesting, however, like most users, they will forget that the feature is even there, and therefore, maybe less likely to even use it. I honestly think there should be three options of everything in Windows Vista (Windows Classic Style, Windows XP Style, Windows Vista Style) at this point. As far as I see it, the Windows Explorer interface in Vista is very, very simplistic. Maybe a little too simplistic without tool tips. You also have to go into folder options to show menus even. I also noticed that the address bar has become more like the "Up Folder(s)" bar. That is a very cool feature, although, you know, I wish there was a tool tip to have notified me of this so I would not sound stupid asking "Where is the up folder button." One other thing I noticed was that everytime I wanted to run a program, install something, etc, I'd get attack by the User Access Control which, I do have to say is the most annoying feature of all and should not be turned on from the beginning when you first use the OS. Be advised that sometimes this would not let me install somethings as well. I quickly found this feature under Windows Security and disabled it. I also changed the way that security center alerts me so I wouldn't be hounded by that little red shirld for turning off user access control. What was also very annoying and time consuming was finding out that I had to give myself full permissions to use the partition that it was on, even if I was set as an Administrator. Also, I had to go in and do this because Vista locked out the partition from the other OSes on my computer, and this was my partition for storing music files, downloads, etc. One thing that I mentioned before was that I replaced the OS that was on the partition with Vista. When the install moved old windows files and documents and settings to the Windows.old folder, it created and not quite a shortcut, not quite a folder junction file to my old documents and settings on the root of the drive/partition, however, before I gave myself full permission to use that partition, I would click on it, and would tell me that "Access is Denied." I simply then went into rhe windows.old folder, and accessed my old files there, however, I try to copy my old documents and settings folder back to the root of the drive and the junction file kept redirecting it back. Once I gained the proper permissions, the junction file was the first thing I deleted and then I copied the folder back. Just a note, in Vista, the old documents and settings folder no longer exists. Instead, it is replaced with a "Users" folder in the root. I did not have much of a problem running my older programs and stuff once I got through all the afformentioned junk. My final words on Windows Vista is that it's a really good and extremely stable version of Windows, however, more tips, assistance, and maybe a slight step back and less security needs to be presented to the average user right from the get-go.
I hope my opinion helped a few of you and hope you'll enjoy.

- Starkiller5

November 9, 2006 10:30

3.0/5
Having been a windows user for most of my profesional life, i was really looking to Vista - a much needed upgrade to XP. To be perfectly honest, after all the time that went into making Vista what it is today, all the delays and all the fuss, my firm opinion is "is that it?".
At the end of the day, Vista is basically XP with a visual upgrade, a few more functionality tweaks in terms of being more user-friendly (or dare i say it - mac like), and not much else. What with most users having to seriously upgrade their pc to run it, it seems that the trade off is a little unfair.
If you are seriously bored with XP then upgrade by all means, just don't expect to be blown away.

- oliverward

November 11, 2006 09:21
Good
1.5/5
Let's be honest, all that Vista turned out to be is a flashy looking version of XP. In some ways, that's great, but honestly, so what? I don't see any reason why people should have to get a high-end PC (which you'd have to if you want to run Vista) so that they can simply get a fancier looking XP. The focus of an OS isn't supposed to be how it looks. It's supposed to be stability, security, and interface. I saw no noticeable stability improvements and the interface is essentially the same, just a new skin. Want a flashy looking XP? Buy Windowsblinds. Don't waste the money on an OS overhaul istead.

- ThPengiunsRComin

November 9, 2006 11:56
Mediocre
1.0/5
Ahhh, new OS! Whoooo hooooooo. The Beta version has some really nice features and applications. The problem I have is with Microsofts ELUA (End License User Agreement). Examples: Benchmark censorship, Mandatory Renewal pricing (rumor has it that this may be removed), no virtualization technologies - you won't be able to work with DRM's(Digital Rights Management) and you cannot reassign Vista to another device. If you are a gamer(one who adds upgrades), video editor, music editor or PC builder you won't be able to legally do these things anymore. The bad thing is, most people never read the EULA's so they only find out after they have already bought the product. I wish everyone would not buy Vista just for these reasons. Maybe then Microsoft would learn that we just want a product we can use and not be controlled like children. The problem is that when every average Joe goes to buy a computer from the chain store and Vista is already installed, they will have already put the money into Microsofts pocket to add more restrictions and controls on the next version.

- RogueReaper

November 14, 2006 12:55

3.5/5
the first thing you notice about vista when you use it is the much improved g.u.i and the way it locates drivers and installs the nessecary drivers
i installed a goodmans g-shot video camera and although i had inserted the driver cd in the drive it found the drivers by going on-line which impressed me
the display drivers were not too hard to find,as i was using a nvidia 6200 card,and i located the drivers and downloaded them
when i installed them ,i got the normal warning that they were not digitally signed,so like xp i continued anyway,and once i finished installing the drivers a restart was required
i was then able to enable the aero themes to the desktop which include a 3d desktop were you can scroll through your pages while on-line and then pick whichever you need to use,excellent
the vista control panel is much improved from xp and some of the options from xp have been split into sub catergorys for easy locating
vista has also include a scoring system which rates your p.c,s quality while using vista,its scores cpu,ram graphic quality and then gives a base line score which you can compare on-line
it also tells you how to improve your score in terms of upgrading
although microsoft recommend 512mb ram to run windows i would recommend 1gb as a minimun,as i use 1.5gb and this seems just about right
with regards to the graphics card requirements,you need a card that is capable of pixel and shader model 2.0 and at least 64mb ram,but i recommend at least 128mb ram and pixel and shader model 3.0,you can pick these up quite cheap if you shop around
the inclusion of the trusty media center is a added bonus,especially to users who havent seen it before,its great for anyone who uses their p.c as the center of their multimedia tasks
speech recognition has been added to vista and is remarkebly easy to set up,it only took me around 10 minutes to start dictating and producing text
however the one problem with vista i found was the lack of drivers,only nvidia and ati having produced drivers for display and very few if any device drivers,but i suppose the companys want to wait until the final build is released so they will have error free drivers
with regards to software,i have tried various programs on vista,another new addition vista has included is a option that looks for a solution on-line if a certain program fails to work on vista,but to date,it hasent found any solution for me
there are a few anti-virus programs that are vista compatible including one-care live which works well with my version,and the trusted spybot and adaware personal both work well with vista
the sidebar is a good addition to vista,and can be configured to suit your own needs
vista,s wallpapers and scrensavers are pretty disapointing in my opinion but you can use your own images and there are plenty avalible on-line
the new vista music composed by robert fripp is a warm sounding intro and the system sounds have not really changed much but are much clearer sounding
i am using vista with a athlon 3200+.1.5gb ram and a nvidia ge-force 6200(256mb) and report no problems with vista,the one thing i did notice is the installation time which considering the size of vista(2.2gb dvd)installed in just 35 minutes comapred to my windows xp(sp2) which takes around 40 minutes to install,this is due to improved installtion technology that microsoft have used in vista
windows vista will be critisised by many comentators but give it a few years and it will be the standard in home computing
excellent

- brianthesnail123

November 11, 2006 09:21
Good
1.5/5
Let's be honest, all that Vista turned out to be is a flashy looking version of XP. In some ways, that's great, but honestly, so what? I don't see any reason why people should have to get a high-end PC (which you'd have to if you want to run Vista) so that they can simply get a fancier looking XP.

Vista has been presented as being the most secure Windows to date, and many people point to User Account Controls as an example of that. In my opinion, this does not make my computer any more secure than XP did. All it did was prompt me (sometimes 2 or 3 times) anytime I tried to run an installer, binary, or sometimes even executables. I shouldn't need to verify everything I do repeatedly, and if they are going to implement this, they should make it much easier to turn off. I still dislike the way that Windows Security Center only lets you LOOK at your security status. You don't have the option of turning things on or off on the same window, and why they can't change this is beyond me.

As for the security of Vista itself, it's mostly just hearsay. Since it's using a -slightly- newer coding version (only slightly), there are some malware/virus types that it will no longer be affected by. But this certainly doesn't apply to the majority of problems, and the change in the source coding is so slight that a few weeks of practice will allow a good coder to learn the changes the implemented in the system. So in a month, maybe two tops, there will probably be security issues coming out of the woodwork just like XP had.

As for the stability they are boasting, I saw no improvements. My computer actually crashed the first 4 times I tried to boot it after I installed Vista (and this was on RC2, not even a full beta). I still found myself intimately familiar with my CTRL+ALT+DEL keys and the task manager as well. Although many people think that MS stole the interface from OS X, they clearly didn't steal the source. If you want true reliability, you'll still need to make a switch to Linux or Mac, as this is no better than XP.

So the real selling point boils down to the new glassy Aero look. Which, in reality, will probably sell millions of copies to the everyday consumer. I, however, am not impressed. The focus of an OS isn't supposed to be how it looks. It's supposed to be stability, security, and interface. I saw no noticeable stability improvements and the interface is essentially the same, just a new skin. Want a flashy looking XP? Buy Windowsblinds, they make a Vista skin that is almost an exact replica. Don't waste the money on an OS overhaul istead.

- ThPengiunsRComin

November 13, 2006 11:36

4.0/5
It feels pretty responsive now, but there is the occasional slow down. A plethora of the features in Vista are "under the hood" and therefore it's kind of hard to get a grasp on all the features. I think we will see some very cool applications coming out soon (based on WPF). Price? I think the pricing is ridiculous. I think $400 for 1 copy for 1 computer is a joke. $400 should get you 1 copy and 3 licenses (for 3 separate computers), but we all know that's wishful thinking that will never happen.

- xxdesmusxx

November 12, 2006 05:16
Mediocre
1.0/5
Wait until more drivers are available. Stick with XP for a year.

- Jimf011

January 22, 2007 05:45

4.0/5
I've been using 'home computers' since before PCs existed (anyone for Superdos?)

Been 'in the business' since 1991.

I've seen, and worked with, every offering from Microsoft.

Every time; they claim it's going to be faster. It never is; it's usually slower - but I expect that.

EVERY time a new OS is released there are cries of 'it's no good ....'. My experience is that there are always improvements but people tend to comment before they've put in the effort (and it does require effort) to really find out what a new OS 'is about'.

My experience with beta versions of Vista were disappointing (to say the least).

I received the RTM Vista Business upgrade a few days ago.

The upgrade was a nightmare. The online advisor assured me there were going to be no problems (apart from an old version of Nero which I uninstalled). It fibs!

My test machine was running RAID 0 (SATA). I wasted hours just to keep seeing the same blue screen of death (with no pointer to a resolution). That the advisor says otherwise is very, very poor. Wake up Microsoft.

At this point my user rating should be a solid 1 (abysmal).

I so nearly threw the whole lot in the bin; but persisted and installed to a single SATA drive (without incident).

And I'm so glad that I did persist.

I've now had three days of exploring Vista 'in anger' and I have to say that, despite my usual cynicism, I think it's tremendous. A bigger leap than the change from Windows 3.1(1) to '95.

Three days and NOTHING has crashed.

I must warn at this point that the machine I'm using is fairly quick (Index Base Score of 5.0).

Further information: It's part of a domain (SBS 2003) and also has some other obscure/exotic bits.

The first couple of hours were spent just trying to find where the familiar bits and pieces had gone, changes to explorer etc etc. I have to admit it was probably an hour before I realised that, despite the upgrade acknowledging I was on a domain, I was actually logged onto the local account. And then another 10 minutes figuring out how to get the default logon to access the domain. Sloppy again Microsoft!

But now to the good stuff.

Vista ISN'T just about visuals. It is very pretty - but I think enough (too much) has already been said about that.

Running Vista feels smooth - this may not be very technical but, if you use PCs a lot, you'll know what I mean.

I'm not (yet) 100% sold on the new visuals for Windows Explorer but the functionality of copies, renames, moves etc within explorer is vastly improved.

I've seen lots of complaints about 'User Account Control' being inhibiting. Personally, I think the only question is how effective it will prove to be. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. That people, at this early stage, appear to be disabling it; I find disturbing.

I'm astounded by how well it runs existing applications. Applications that I was convinced wouldn't run, do so flawlessly. In fact one application that XP required affinity to be set to CPU 0 to avoid glitches, runs perfectly in Vista. Still early days but, apart from Nero (as mentioned), I've hit no problems so far.

Media Player 11 with XP is impressive - With Vista it's awesome.

My aging Photosmart P1100 isn't supported - but there again it was about a year before a stable driver was produced for XP. In fact Vista responded to a kludge so that it does at least print now - albeit without all the bells and whistles.

I can't begin to do Vista justice in a short review. What I will say is:

If you've used and hate it - try putting some work in. It really is unreasonable to expect to extract full benefit from an operating system by intuition alone. And therein lies the problem; so many people seem to think that expertise comes by osmosis (if that makes sense!).

If you've not used it - don't be put off by the doom-mongers. Though whether it's worth the cost; only you can decide.

So, from a 1 rating to a 8. But for the upgrade fiasco it would have been a 9 - and I don't give 9's easily.

- SteveG_UK