Poll: What?s your personal experience with Vista?

My computer is one I built in 2001 and it has everything I need at the moment. A DVD burner, 3.5 floppy drive, wireless, 17 inch monitor. Unfortunately, I have an AMD 950 processor and have 1.5 gig of ram, so my computer is not a candidate for the new Vista operating system.
That suits me just fine, because I don't play games, do little more than read e-mail, surf the net and do my college homework on it. Until Microsoft quits supporting XP, I will stay with what I have-it will cost me much more than a simple upgrade.

Will not upgrade from 2k until after the last web site requires better than dir. X 9.

When I first installed Vista, a lot of programs would crash during use, and the information on the crash was sent to Microsoft via the Internet. Right now, I rarely have a program crash. I was a Victim of Microsoft's WGA program, but got through that, and since that was resolved, the computer has performed fine. It is a brand new one with a Q6600 quad processor and 4 gig of ram. This normally keeps thing moving smartly. I think that Vista will provide a better experience on a brand new computer since it will be built to work with Vista. I would not install Vista on a computer with XP. I actually have a Laptop with Vista, and that seems to be working fine. Since Vista required more Horsepower than
Windows 98 or XP, it will work better with a more powerful computer. Right now for around $1000 or even less you can get a quad processor with 4 gig of ram, and that should work just fine. Vista is much much better than it was in August 2007.

I am not an IT professional -- just an amateur computer user. My main interest is hobby oriented i.e., internet, music, pictures and building computer hardware (I've yet to buy a 'store' computer). I would guess that I represent 70 to 80 percent of the computer users in the world today. I switched to Vista simply because it was there -- started with an old Franklin in computer class (Mac) and graduated to Win 3.etc -- then to '95, 98, 2000, XP and finally to Vista.

Personally, the Vista move was far less onerous than to 95. The FEW programs which balked were easily patched via the internet and most of my old favorites (such as XP Office) are running just fine. I have wondered if a lot of the flack is coming from Mac users who use any excuse (even TV ads) to knock Microsoft.

I will have to go along with crowd who say 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. I do enjoy the upgrade because it represents a further learning experience and (in my case at least) the machine does boot faster and seems quite stable -- although XP was very good and the BSOD was very infrequent.

* I don't own Vista and never will, at least until I absolutely have no choice.

My sister bought a Gateway laptop with 1 gig memory and Vista Home Premium. After 3 weeks, she asked me to downgrade it to XP because even with 1 gig memory it was slow and some programs she need to use are a bit old and thus not Vista-compatible.

I?m building up a new PC for me, but it?ll have XP installed instead of Vista - will wait as long as possible till Vista gets some real bug-cleaning (a.k.a. sp2).

Quoting from the lead in to this poll, "I would have to say the majority of the things I've come across about Vista haven't been all that positive--with complaints ranging from software and hardware incompatibilities to IT staff .... To me, that just comes with the territory of a new OS release. Eventually, many of these kinks will be ironed out--at least, we hope they will be."

My first thought: Is Microsoft paying for this?

I purchased an HP Vista Laptop - I don't use it because I tried it & grew tired of clicking on Yes, answering if I wanted to do what I told the OS to do.

I puchased a Dell Vostro with XP - I commend it to you. Dell isn't stupid, they charged me $99 for XP!

I first hated Vista when I started, but since service package 1 it runs smooth and I like it. However, it is too expensive. You can buy a new notebook for less than 500 Dollar and the operating system shall not cost the same. When pre-installed, the cheaper the notebook, the better the Vista version on it (makes no sense) and service ....... oh man sorry, I cannot call this service microsoft is offering. Try to get help and you get lost in searching machines. Microsoft does not help if you bought a OEM and the pc producer is not qualified to help with Vista. So it?s all a matter of luck or paying almost 50 Dollar to enable yourself to ask a question and get silly answers.
Ralf Haschke New York, NY

Not long ago, I bought a brand new laptop, not the best, but definately supeior to my desktop computer. I took it home, all excited that I had my new computer to play my games on.

I installed ut2003 (I was yet to get 2004.... cos I'm lazy) and started the game. as it sluggishly draged through the loading screen(which my computer from 2001 breezed through effortlessly) I started to think, "maybe it's because it's the first time it's loaded this level" after a ahort while it loaded the level, and the game was jumpy as all hell. It didn't take long for me to say "****** this!" and give up with that. I was dissapointed, but gaming wasn't why i bought it. I needed it for school work.

After decyphering the messed up start menu I found that it had office installed already, but i had to pay more for it. Like i didn't just pay over $1500 for my laptop. Not happy.
next thing i tried was the internet. I had heard that networking with it was supposed to be easy. So i pluged it into my router, and BANG the internet was going within 2 seconds. Happy. after talkin to some friends on msn using the little inbuilt camera for a short while, the problems REALLY started. First, the camera cut out. Nothing I did could get it back. after that, it blue screened me. I reset it, and again, blue screen. his went on for quite a while, as i was trying to convince myself that i hadn't just blown most of m measly pay on a piece of crap.

I gave up. I packed it back into it's box and took it back to store. As if I wasn't already annoyed, that idiot at dicksmith then went on, asking me questions like "you said it blue screened, is there any possibilty it was a blue screen saver?"

I do remember there were annoyances when i moved up to xp, but it was never this severe.

All in all, i'm not sure if it was a junk laptop, (although knowing dicksmith it probably was) or if it was vista's fault, or if it was a combination of the two, But my lesson learned that day was, "DON'T BUY PREBUILT COMPUTERS, AND STICK WITH XP FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN"

I run Vista 64 in a VMWare Fusion virtual session on my MacPro and my MacBook Pro. It works flawlessly. The only issue I found initially was that the 2GB of RAM included with both computers was insufficient to enable the Vista 64 sessions to work efficiently. There were no crashes, just that it was slower than I liked.

I upgraded the MacPro to 6GB and the MacBook Pro to 4GB and allocated just over 25% of the RAM to the virtual sessions and it is great.

I recently purchased my Mom a new computer and it has Vista 32. She loves it and there have not been any problems. While the security steps to make any changes are cumbersome for those of us with some technical expertise, it is ideal for the average user.

XP, while it was working in its final iteration, was like a suit that has been altered too many times. It was comfortable, but threadbare and there were too many pieces of thread of various quality purportedly holding it together.

I still prefer Mac OS/X at this point, but Vista 64 is pretty good.

I recently got a new laptop, and had no choice in OS. So I got Vista Home Basic, whether I wanted it or not.

With time, I want it less........

I have a bunch of old programs that I still use because they do what I want. I don't need upgrades, or newer versions. I also have several games that are kind of antiquated, but I enjoy them.

None of them will run on Vista.

My printer is old, but prints just fine. Won't print on Vista.

My two digital cameras are old. Won't connect to Vista.

I have my home network set up for security, the default settings for the NAT addresses changed, and set manually by me. Vista will not allow me to do this. I tried to reset them, but the "Network Assistant" insists that I set the default, and even tried to reset my ROUTER. I have to disconnect the Laptop when I shut it off, because I dont feel its secure.

Of course, I could pay Microsoft for its security service.......don't you love how they write an OS that is full of security holes, and then try to force you to use their paid service to secure the OS?

I am sure many new computer users will be quite happy with Vista. I liked XP when it came out, and lisened to many gripe that it was too slow, eats resources, and was not secure. It was my second OS ( the first being 98 first edition....shutters....) and so my experience was shaped by it. I think the same will be true for Vista. New users will like it, old users will not, and the same will happen when MS comes out with the NEXT disaster of an OS. It is a repeating cycle that seems to never end for them, but there is no end in sight.

I bought a new laptop with a Core2Duo processor and 1GB of RAM and Vista. It was really slow - especially when switching users. But I did find a cure:

I sold it and went back to my old PC running XP just fine, although it has less than half the power. Highly recommended!

Tim

Dell XPS M1330 - Vista Ultimate
4GB RAM
Intel Core 2Duo CPU T7500 2.20GHz
128MB NVIDA GeForce 8400M GS video card
160GB 7200RPM HD
LED display
WiFi and BT

I'll grant that Vista was problematic upon its initial release deservedly so or not is the big question. OS upgrades from XP to Vista on the same PC were not the best. Especially since Vista requires more RAM (at least 2GB), a fast CPU, and better Video cards; preferably with dedicated RAM of 128MB or more.

People who upgraded a desktop XP to Vista were probably the least adversely affected as upgrading certain components was relatively inexpensive. Those individuals with laptops were probably faced with a choice to either not upgrade or purchase one with Vista already loaded. Of course if you had just purchased an XP laptop within a year of Vista's release purchasing a new one was probably not an option. My XP laptop was approaching 4 years. Although I could have upgraded the OS to Vista I was lacking CPU speed and Video RAM. So I purchased my Dell XPS M1330.

The driver compatibility issue (in my opinion) should fall squarely on the shoulders of the hardware/software manufacturers. They should have started releasing driver updates where possible early on in the Vista release stage. Vista does allow programs to be run in XP-SP1 compatibility mode.

My Dell XPS M1330 (purchased in November, 2007) has gone through two Bios updates from Dell; and I have also installed SP1 for Vista. My point here is that everything is in a constant state of evolution...not just the Vista OS but hardware as well.

At this point I have no Vista issues and would recommend it to anyone except a hardcore gamer.

Since my involvement in the early days of the PC industry (circa 1983), I've seen all the Microsoft OS's come and go starting with the first version of DOS. I'm running Vista Ultimate SP1; it's working as advertised, and I like it. Is any operating system perfect? All I can ask as a consumer is that it be tested rigerously prior to release. From what I have read from industry pundants, Microsoft did just that. We seem to have a strange love-hate relationship with success in the U.S. We embrace free enterprise and the goal of success, until success is reached. Then, the trendy thing seems to only criticize those who made it to the top.

I really love Vista. I bought a Dell Vostro 1500 Laptop in January with 3G Ram and Vista Ultimate (32). I just can't get it to recognize any of my usb flash or mini or mp3 drives. I'm using Norton 360. The drives work with XP computers. The ports are okay for my printer and mouse connections. I've been through many rounds of tech support and just can't figure it out. And yes, at least one of the Sandisk Cruzers is Vista compatible - says so on the package. The Verbatim drive too. Any body else have this issue???

I currently use Vista Home Premium and fall in between having little to no problems to having several. It is relative. "Search" feature is something extremely crucial for me, I and REALLY dislike the way it functions on vista. Someone posted a review on this site that said it perfectly. Windows Vista Home Premium does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista. I feel like saying to the person who came up with that bright idea, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." LOL I get a lot of runtime errors. I don't like the way the the administrator account works. If those things aren't important to you, then you will love it.

I have used Windows Vista for about 10 months now. Yes, I am one of the silent Vista-loving users. I have had absolutely no issues with it. I had one BSOD, an error caused by none other than me installing the wrong version of Alcohol 120%.

Aside from running a little slower than Windows XP, I personally don't find anything wrong with Windows Vista. I am a hardcore user so I do everything possible to squeeze every second out of performance, but I think the benefits of Vista outweighs the speed loss. Such small things like Copy-Paste changes, speed displays and integrated Windows Search makes my life a whole lot easier compared to Windows XP.

I am not going back.

Having talked to many a competer pall, many who got stuck with Vista buying a new machine, the concensus appears that Vista is a great peronal single computor system with impressive bells and whistles, but is a screeming example of Microsofts attempt to controll the market which they got sues over before.
Vista has too many gagets and gyzmos to be a good system for business use and largly seems to suffer huge security issue even worse than its predecesors and the every insecure IE

IMPORTANT EXAMPLE - a buddy regularly checked baseball box scores, so in the middle of doing something else, up pops a screen reminding him of the fact that there was a baseball game being played - it does that on it's own - he didn't ask for reminders --- what if had surfed something else and was showing is boss something on his laptop - and up pops " new XXX video of so and so availanle now"
--- yes I'm sur it can be turned off - but isn't that backwards --


so therfore there is no room for it on my PCs - maybe if I get into computer gaming some day

I Can't Believe the Poll Results; I've never met anyone who hasn't experienced MAJOR PROBLRMS with Vista.

I have spent at least 20 hours on the phone with Dell XPS Technical Support. 100% of the problems we've worked through have been Vista-related. Finally - after 5 months of H _ _ _ my computer is working. At one time, back in January 2008, Dell offered me the opportunity of returning my Vista PC. My intent was to then buy a Dell PC with XP. I made a mistake - and didn't do it.

Since then I've then had the thrill of losing all of my data, restoring my PC back to factory settings, reinstalling software, working through lost data issues, and getting on with my life. I'm retired now, but I use to design software packages for the Department of Defense. Had I ever fielded a product with so little configuration management, and hard-core testing I would have been fired! So should the people who field Vista be handled.

I have my second Vista machine and Vista stinks!! XP definitely leaves much to be desired in an operating system, but Vista TOTALLY fails to fix any of the problems with XP and adds many, many more of its own.

Walked into store, checked out the memory, etc. and bought new computer---yep, Vista...got it on a good sale.....no wonder....it is trash. The Office store should have paid me to haul it out and shoot it into a million pieces for them so that no customer would hate them for selling such shoddy junk. Couldn't get on the net or would have investigated beforehand, but I live on a ranch miles from town, thought I would twist off and just pick one up while in town. I was so stupid, unaware that "Vista" would become my most favorite thing to hate. I bought a Netgear Wireless adapter with states on the box "Windows Vista Customers: Software Upgrade Ready." That is a lie. It will not work, no way, no how with Vista. So I cannot connect to the internet with my new Vista computer. Also bought new Canon printer. Yep, same scenario...box says will work with Vista---NOT!. Printer is fabulous for my pics, it just won't work with Vista. So basically that Vista computer is a high dollar file cabinet. Load pics onto it, play around, but when I want to print my pics or send on e-mail, I have to copy them to a flash drive and use an old computer (XP) which, I kid you not, I found in a dumpster. I also have to use the dumpster computer to connect to internet (Netgear adapter works great with XP). Thanks alot, Vista. I have never touched a Mac (always even considered it a dirty word), but I guaran-dang-tee-you when my dumpster computer dies, my money is on a Mac. Please don't be stupid like me. If you buy Vista after this warning, I am afraid you will get what you asked for. Go ahead, though, but rest assured you may only like Vista if you plan never needing ANY software or hardware to shake hands with it.

Very stable, very quick and responsive. XP is a great OS, but Vista beats it hands down.

My client had a very specific application, A very small PC for a Kiosk. I found one with Vista, an Athlon 64 ~3.5GHz, 500MB ram. But the performance of the box was pathetic. Then found out my application would not run on Vista. So I replaced the hard drive and loaded XP professional.

WOW, the box screamed. You would never believe it was the same computer.

Vista? Not ever on my watch. So go to www.savexp.com. and see if we can get Ballmer to keep shipping XP Pro.

Hallo:

Vista dose not provide you with Drivers you need for your System.
You have to Download them from the Manufacturer in the Internet.
These Include (Graphics,Mouse,Keyboard,Printer,Sound, and whatever else you Installed on your Computer).I don`t have any Problems with Vista since I did that.It`s faster as XP and runes very smuthley.I`m
very satified with it.

Sincerly yours,

Fritz Duerr

Ok i know vista been out for quite a while but i've tried and its all what its meant to be. Its a nice, fully packed, extremely versatile piece of software. Nice- Aero, fully packed- which is like being fat (my analogy, a slim somewhat healthy person is xp, a fat unhealthy person is vista its needs more to run, and a healty person is tiny xp)... Extremely versatile- slow but versatile.
My experience with vista is horrible i was a avid pc gamer that's been turned to console(PS3) because of vista... a console does not clog up your memory or so i don't think so(x-box 360 might) it leaves it for the game to use. i have since upgraded my vista 64bit ultimate edition geforce 8800 gts 640mb, 1gb ddr 2, soundblaster x-fi machine to tinyxp with service pack 3 and never been happier....

In 10 months - Only 1 (I'll consider minor) problem when I first installed it. Every music track I downloaded had an annoying "blip" or "skip" in it. Someone (I believe it was on a CNET discussion) give me an immediate fix - I had to tweak something in the preferences - and it's worked beautiful ever since. Never have had another problem with the system.

I'm sure I had more "problems" with the prior "Windows XP OS" over the same time period.

I'm not a MS basher, and have used all incarnations of Windows, and was pretty satisfied with XP. However, Vista is the nightmare I cannot wake up from that has cost my business dearly, which is what puts me in the "own it but have a lot of problems" category. Actually, if there had been a "own it and am switching to something else as soon as I can" category I would have been in that. Just a few lowlights: the UAC causes so many problems, delays, irritations and outright malfunctions that I had to turn it off (so much for improved security). Despite being on a 2.66 quad-core, Vista is ssssllllloooooowwwww. My son's 1.4 single core running XP runs circles around it. It's so slow I had to turn off the graphics "enhancements". The "Windows Genuine" is constantly causing problems as the OS keeps fooling itself into thinking it's not legitimate (the 2007 Office Suite is even worse), and the online authentication never works, so I spend hours and hours on the phone with the MS folks in India for no good reason trying to get software I paid for to quit shutting down my property. Even the DRM malfunctions, shutting down my media center and media player. There are hundreds of my files that Vista refuses to even allow me to open, and no amount of "taking ownership" and tweaking the admin settings will get it to let me use my own files. There is whole lot more, but the hundreds of hours lost on these defects are simply a nightmare which SP1 did nothing for (apparently because these defects are mostly by design, not error or omission). If you are a Vista user and happy, I'm glad for you, but give it time, as many of these defects don't jump out at you right away, and you may find yourself in a nightmare too.