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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Aug 16, 2007 6:11:46 GMT -6
Since I have stepped onto the foreskin of computer science called Vista, I have been accumulating a body of knowledge and opinions of this beast. I thought I would share these as needed...
Would you buy a Delorean? After one week plus of use, THAT is the first point that comes to mind. Sleek, stylish, and with a flux capacitor add-in it will wow your friends. But mechanically its still a DeLorean.
I just checked the Windows update logs, I have had 20 updates just in the past 3 days. Add in the updates you would expect just after starting up a new system and the total jumps to 90. Many of these updates require reboot. It has gotten to the point that I have turned off the auto-install feature, just so I avoid getting annoying "Do you want to reboot now" Windows.
SLOW SLOW SLOW... I have a quad-core clocking at 2.8Ghz. On a pretty regular basis, things lock up, and I may have to wait for a minute or longer before control is released back to the mouse/keyboard. This happens without warning, and with no real indication of why. Task Manager shows no significant CPU use. I suspect disk indexing, there is HD activity during this time. I have ruled out virus or other malware activity for this time. I cannot imagine how long these interruptions would take on a slower (read single core) machine.
Permissions- Even logged on as Administrator you have to give Windows approval (through a mouse click) to do a LOT of things that you never had to before (renaming or deleting files, software installation, etc). This is a security thing. A lot of people have treated this as a big deal, personally, I can live with it for now, I will adapt.
Crashes- so much for the vaulted 'stability' of Vista. It has crashed at least daily, and usually in association with the aforementioned lockups. Combined with the update reboots, it seems that I am continually logging in.
Service Pack 1- Is in pre-beta according to one source I saw, dated Aug 14, and due for release late this year or early next.
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Aug 17, 2007 16:06:29 GMT -6
Interesting notes, Gordon. I agree mostly.
After 6 years, I finally upgraded my 'puter to a new Dell Quad Core Gaming machine with an overclocked processor at just over 3 GHZ. When I first got it, it shipped with XP. Dell was still checking out Vista but offered a "free" upgrade to Vista later on.
I finally upgraded to Vista.
The first thing I did was turn OFF the automatic updates. I like to see what the updates are before I click them. Nevertheless, I *still* fucked up my machine when I upgraded the Hard disk controller driver, an upgrade that was "recommended." I had to reboot from my Vista CD and "repair" the problem.
I find those warnings about starting certain programs mildly annoying, especially after I have started the program for the umpteenth time. However, you can turn that off if you wish. I leave it on on the rare chance I might get a virus that tries to run something I wish it hadn't.
I find the media center pretty cool. I can put on a killer slide show with CD audio playing that looks really cool. There are multiple ways to transition from picture to picture that makes for a stunning show. At some point, I want to burn this to DVD but have not tried that yet.
All in all, I like Vista. You have to fumble around a bit and tweak it like you want.
I admit, I did a *lot* of research before I upgraded to make sure the apps I used were compatible. I also studied thoroughly how to upgrade and whether I wanted dual boots for XP and Vista. Finally, I just chose Vista.
I'm not looking back. I like it, but realize if you ain't careful, upgrading to Vista could be a nightmare!!
............Bob
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Post by Cherbunny on Aug 18, 2007 17:29:38 GMT -6
Since I have stepped onto the foreskin of computer science called Vista, I have been accumulating a body of knowledge and opinions of this beast. I thought I would share these as needed... Would you buy a Delorean? Nope, but since this is the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis, I had to think about what was happening in my life around that time. I did date a guy who had a Delorean and I got to drive us up to the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva way back then.....
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Post by mscoachung on Aug 19, 2007 1:33:20 GMT -6
Usually I lurk but I had to pipe in on this one. After 6 months of Vista we've started noticing a few bugs. Open a second internet window and then upon closing. It shuts down both windows. same with Word. have to remember to save a lot more. P.S. My husband was engaged to John Delorean's neice for a for about a year before me! Even she didn't have one. Her dad, John's brother, owns a Cadilac dealership and that what she had to drive. Poor girl!
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Aug 19, 2007 16:20:09 GMT -6
Usually I lurk but I had to pipe in on this one. After 6 months of Vista we've started noticing a few bugs. Open a second internet window and then upon closing. It shuts down both windows. same with Word. have to remember to save a lot more. P.S. My husband was engaged to John Delorean's neice for a for about a year before me! Even she didn't have one. Her dad, John's brother, owns a Cadilac dealership and that what she had to drive. Poor girl! This may not be a Vista problem, but a malware issue... read this link... www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/30481107/when-i-have-2-ore-more-ie.aspx
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Post by Chicago Jake on Sept 10, 2007 0:51:35 GMT -6
......I find those warnings about starting certain programs mildly annoying, especially after I have started the program for the umpteenth time. However, you can turn that off if you wish. I leave it on on the rare chance I might get a virus that tries to run something I wish it hadn't....... Bob, how do you turn them off? I find them extremely annoying, but didn't see the Off Switch. Didn't look too hard, but if you found it, would you share? Thanks!.......Jake
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 13, 2007 9:20:58 GMT -6
I finally upgraded to Vista.
The first thing I did was turn OFF the automatic updates. I like to see what the updates are before I click them. I think this article likely confirms what many of us already suspected ... Microsoft updates Windows without users' consent
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Sept 13, 2007 9:32:58 GMT -6
I finally upgraded to Vista.
The first thing I did was turn OFF the automatic updates. I like to see what the updates are before I click them. I think this article likely confirms what many of us already suspected ... Microsoft updates Windows without users' consent I cant wait for the first hacker to exploit the security weakness in this feature (and we all KNOW that there is one in there someplace). We havnt had new virus genre in some time.
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Sept 13, 2007 20:45:47 GMT -6
......I find those warnings about starting certain programs mildly annoying, especially after I have started the program for the umpteenth time. However, you can turn that off if you wish. I leave it on on the rare chance I might get a virus that tries to run something I wish it hadn't....... Bob, how do you turn them off? I find them extremely annoying, but didn't see the Off Switch. Didn't look too hard, but if you found it, would you share? Thanks!.......Jake I haven't tried this yet, Jake, as I've left the warnings on. Let me know if it works!! Turn off warnings!PS: for some reason, the link goes to another page and not the one I wanted. Here's part of the text: Windows Vista's User Account Control security "feature" - which I like to call Sir Obnoxious Naggy McNag - is bound to drive any power user batty within an hour of downloading, installing and configuring your favorite programs. If you hate Vista for asking you every single time you try to do something if you're sure you want to, then disable User Account Control. The How-To Geek's got the details: Open up Control Panel, and type in user account into the search box. You'll see the link for "Turn User Account Control (UAC) on or off". Click it. Uncheck the box, and reboot your computer. You should be done with obnoxious prompts! securityicon.pngNow, Microsoft highly recommends that you do not do this. To make their point, after you ignore them and do it anyway, a scary little red X shield icon plants itself in your taskbar, visually screaming at you about the security risk. After the jump, find out how to rid yourself of that sucker. In Control Panel, go to the Security Center. On the left hand side, click the "ch-ch-change the way Security Center alerts me" and choose "Don't notify me and don't display the icon (not recommended)" as shown. ================== Google "turn off vista warnings" and you'll find the link to the correct web page. It worked for me. PS: For a slightly different approach, Google "TweakUAC"
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Post by Chicago Jake on Sept 14, 2007 10:45:55 GMT -6
Thanks, Bob. I don't have a Vista machine yet, but I figure I'll be needing the info soon enough. I'll let you know.......Jake (who only just now realized the pun in Gordon's thread title)
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 7:59:37 GMT -6
Well, the long debate in my brain is over.
This weekend I am pulling the plug on Vista and reconfiguring my computer into an XP machine. I have given this a lot of though and pondered several alternative reconfigurations (XP, Vista-64, and Linux), and I have gone with the most straightforward approach.
Vista-64 was appealing with its ability to access more than 4Gb of RAM, but there is a lack of drivers for many peripherals that I have. Linux was considered for its minimal overhead and security, but I dont think I am up for the installation challenge.
So, I am going back to the future. I will be installing VMWare (virtual machine software, rather than multiboot), that will allow separate partitions for Vista, Windows2000, and DOS 7 to run in parallel with XP.
My reason for doing this now is that I am about to shift gears in my work, back to using software that will not run under Vista. I pondered using VMWare to install a virtual XP machine running under Vista, but the memory overhead requirements of Vista doesnt leave enough to run XP or 2000 and the software that I need to use.
The Vista partition I plan to create will be used to run Vista specific programs if needed (in other words, not often at this point)
You now know my plans for the weekend. Hopefully I will be back up and running by Monday, but I will have the laptop handy in case I am not.
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Post by Tex on Feb 26, 2008 8:50:35 GMT -6
Damn, I just bought my wife a new laptop with Vista. It sounds like a PITA.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 9:43:11 GMT -6
Gordon, an excellent decision on your part, IMO. Vista has SP1 coming out and XP's SP3 is in the RTM2 phase; I have been reading reports on comparative performance tests between the two and in each test, XP SP3 beats Vista SP1 -- in some cases, by a very wide margin. (I'll try to find a link to the articles and post, if possible) Keep in mind the tests were done on identical hardware -- the hard drive on the system under test was swapped out so as to give both OS's an otherwise equal hardware environment.
Also, an outstanding choice going with VMWare. I have been using that software for the past 7 or 8 years and love it; in my line, it is perhaps the most essential tool. Having used many different versions and seen the advancements in the product, I have to say that it may be the most bullet-proof software I have ever used -- impressive particularly given its complexity. We do a lot of virtualization here and have several MSSQL Clusters (2000 and 2005) that are entirely virtual servers. Great product, I think you'll be quite satisfied with it. Best of luck.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 10:19:19 GMT -6
Thanks Beeb, I read the same reports about speed with XP SP3 and Vista SP1 and it weighed HEAVILY in my decision.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 10:57:30 GMT -6
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 10:59:08 GMT -6
Ok, I guess I'll install meatballs instead
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 11:00:28 GMT -6
They have a much easier roll-out strategy.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 11:43:10 GMT -6
But they are definitely NOT a stable platform
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 11:47:10 GMT -6
OTOH, you'll rarely have compatibility issues.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 11:58:42 GMT -6
However, if you go with pancakes, theres no stack issues.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 12:04:37 GMT -6
And if you go with pasta, you'll have to deal with a lot of spaghetti code.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 13:44:22 GMT -6
Apples have a solid core
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Post by Chicago Jake on Feb 26, 2008 14:05:53 GMT -6
But they are vulnerable to worms.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 14:08:33 GMT -6
But as far as viruses are concerned, they're vulnerable to worms.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 14:21:17 GMT -6
There is a kernal of truth to that
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 14:32:53 GMT -6
But they are vulnerable to worms. We posted within a few minutes of each other yet somehow, I managed to miss your post when I made mine. Normally at this point, I'd say something like "Great minds think alike", but ... well ...
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 26, 2008 14:46:43 GMT -6
I wouldnt go down that road, the lighting is very DIMM
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Feb 26, 2008 14:52:04 GMT -6
Please don't RAM your opinion down my throat.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Feb 29, 2008 15:25:21 GMT -6
Well, I am doing the obligatory backups, and shortly will shut down for the XP reinstall. I am doing the "Clean Install" approach.
I will be working with the laptop nearby, so I will try to update as the operation proceeds. If I dont get a heartbeat after this... everyone, its been great knowing you.
DEAD OS WALKING
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Post by nolaflacav on Feb 29, 2008 15:45:49 GMT -6
I am too lazy to do the research but I know someone will know the answer here.....can you still buy machines with XP or do they all come with Vista now?
I have to buy 4 or 5 new machines in the next two months and I want to delay running Vista for as long as possible. I especially don't want to be running 6 machines with Vista and 6 with XP.
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