Windows is out the window

[Dave]

Hi, I'm a long time Windows (since 3.1) user and developer and I can say
without a doubt that Vista ("Ultimate edition", hah what a farce) is not
worth it, it's not even worth the time to download if it was Open Source.
I've been staying clear of the OS until at least a year past its release
data, just to avoid any role-out issues. Yesterday, I received a new laptop
from work, did a fresh Vista install and attempted to install all my usual
applications (Visual Studio 2005, some games, etc...). Wow, did microsoft
drop the ball on this one. I could not install any, i repeat any, of my apps
without error. Upon searching the net for solutions, I found thousands of
posts of exactly (I mean "to the word" exact) the same problem I was
experiencing, but no solutions.

As a software developer, I know no software is truley bug-free, but Vista
seems like they failed to even go through a BETA test. The annoying pop-up
that asks if I want to continue running an app is a complete waste of time
and voilates some of the basic Human-Computer Interaction principles, and to
what end? Would anyone in their right mind run an application again knowing
that it is infected? This is mearly a "snake-oil" attempt in fixing what
ails you.

In a twist of cruel irony, when installing Visual Studio 2005, it was the
"Windows Compatibility" (whatever it's really called) service that preventing
me from installing VS 2005. As explained in a technical forum, I should copy
the contents of the VS 2005 DVD onto my hard drive and install from there
because Windows Compatibility was interfering and marking the install app
incorrectly. I've even seen error messages that say you need to install
Windows XP Service Pack 1, on a (fresh) Vista install!

This is a classic example of "catch-22", as the tools necessary to create
these applications (e.g. Visual Studio) will not work on the OS it is
targetting. I smell a deadlock, and something akin to complete incompetence.
I mind as well as try to create an app for OSX.

Now I have a question directed at Microsoft, have you considered what hell
you've release on to this earth? These new implementations, at their current
state, are useless in what they achieve. Frustration is through the roof,
and any promises of these new features are overshadowed by their complete
failure to do what "you've" promised. There's nothing worse than breaking a
promise, Bill.

I hate to end a rant without contributing something in the form of a
solution, unfortunately, even considering the vast resources microsoft has at
its
disposel I can only suggest everyone to revert to Windows XP and voice their
opinion to microsoft, someday they'll check their email (if their Vista mail
server is actually working).

 

[S.SubZero]

Yesterday, I received a new laptop
from work, did a fresh Vista install and attempted to install all my usual
applications (Visual Studio 2005, some games, etc...). Wow, did microsoft
drop the ball on this one. I could not install any, i repeat any, of my apps
without error.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vs2005/aa948854.aspx

VS2005 SP1 is supported in Vista. There is a specific update for
VS2005 for running in Vista also. Did you install it?

I'd also like to know what other apps you tried. If absolutely none
of them ran without error you must have some oddball apps, or your
Vista was not installed correctly.

As a software developer, I know no software is truley bug-free, but Vista
seems like they failed to even go through a BETA test. The annoying pop-up
that asks if I want to continue running an app is a complete waste of time
and voilates some of the basic Human-Computer Interaction principles, and to
what end?

Microsoft has admitted that the UAC is too aggressive. Vista SP1 does
attempt to address this in some limited way. Still, it's very easy to
turn off. You don't sound like the kind of person that even needs it.

Now I have a question directed at Microsoft, have you considered what hell
you've release on to this earth? These new implementations, at their current
state, are useless in what they achieve. Frustration is through the roof,
and any promises of these new features are overshadowed by their complete
failure to do what "you've" promised. There's nothing worse than breaking a
promise, Bill.

FYI- Your situation, while hardly unique, is not representative of
every user, or even a large percentage of users. Your situation is
representative of the small number of LOUD users that have honest
problems and vent furiously about it. The people who don't have any
problems don't have too much to say. I ran Vista Ultimate x64 for
several months on a laptop with no serious problems whatsoever.
Everything I wanted to install I was able to install without issue.
Vista, like every OS, has it's quirks. Vista is hardly the first OS
ever made by any company that's had growing pains.

Vista's certainly not for everyone. I ended up going to XP64 on my
laptop because it runs a little smoother for me and I didn't need the
Vista eye candy nor heavy resource usage. Laptop hard drives aren't
quite big on space yet, and a 14+GB install is a bit too much to give
up for a fancy interface. Still, I have no doubt I'll be back to it
at some point in the future.

 

[jacky]

Hi, I'm a long time Windows (since 3.1) user and developer and I can say

As a software developer, I know no software is truley bug-free, >

bla bla, bla bla

You must be mentally retarded US-citizen

 

[Scott Roberts]

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vs2005/aa948854.aspx

VS2005 SP1 is supported in Vista. There is a specific update for
VS2005 for running in Vista also. Did you install it?

I'd also like to know what other apps you tried. If absolutely none
of them ran without error you must have some oddball apps, or your
Vista was not installed correctly.

I had zero trouble installing VS2005 and have had zero trouble using it. I
have the home edition, maybe that makes a difference. I did get a Windows
Compatability message, but it actually went online and found the correct SP
for me to install. Easy as pie.

Microsoft has admitted that the UAC is too aggressive. Vista SP1 does
attempt to address this in some limited way. Still, it's very easy to
turn off. You don't sound like the kind of person that even needs it.

This is probably one of the most requested items (how to turn off the UAC
prompts) and even a novice user can figure out how to turn it off.

Ranting on and on because *you* can't make simple things work might not be
worse, but it's in the same ballpark. VS2005 installs and works fine. The
UAC prompts are easy to turn off. You don't mention what games you tried to
install, but I play WoW on mine with no problems at all.

 

[Mick Murphy]

The first thing YOU should doi s to learn how to use a new system.
And report any problems in a coherent manner.

You get errors installing applications???
What errors??????

Try right-clicking on the setup.exe> run as Admin.
Compatibility mode: righ-click on setup.exe>Properties>compatibility>XP SP2
UAC; if you don't like it; turn it OFF!

Most of us have gone to the trouble of trying to use it; but you fall into
the whingers basket.
You could not even be bothered making an attempt.

You are a BIG man in IT; I don't think so, LOL!

 

[DarkSentinel]

Hi, I'm a long time Windows (since 3.1) user and developer and I can say
without a doubt that Vista ("Ultimate edition", hah what a farce) is not
worth it, it's not even worth the time to download if it was Open Source.
I've been staying clear of the OS until at least a year past its release
data, just to avoid any role-out issues. Yesterday, I received a new
laptop
from work, did a fresh Vista install and attempted to install all my usual
applications (Visual Studio 2005, some games, etc...). Wow, did microsoft
drop the ball on this one. I could not install any, i repeat any, of my
apps
without error. Upon searching the net for solutions, I found thousands of
posts of exactly (I mean "to the word" exact) the same problem I was
experiencing, but no solutions.

rest of diatribe snipped <

Actually the only 2 apps I have any trouble about from Vista were PS Pro 9
and Outlook 2007. In PSP all that was, was a message saying the interface
didn't like the Aero Glass interface, and it was forcing it down to the
plain Aero, and as soon as I close it, it reverts automatically. All my
other programs like Bryce, and Poser, etc run flawlessly. The Outlook
problem I was able to solve after a couple of days and that wasn't a Vista
problem per se. That fix is posted on my blog. I am an equal opportunity
blaster there. If something is messed up, I let em have it...hehehe

Now there ARE a few minor annoyances. For me, a huge step back is having to
reboot after a lot of installs. I had thought THAT ended starting with Win
2k. But alas it was shipped on my system, and am I just dealing with the
situation. I have run DOS, all of the Wins thru Vista, many different
distros of Linux, Solaris, and even OS/2. Now THAT was a decent OS for it's
time. If only MS hadn't kept putting out so-called "patches" to break the
Win16 support. And yeah, I know I am dating myself here...

Bottom line is that out of ALL of those I have used and supported, not ONE
was without flaws. I am not one of MS's biggest fans, but all the bashing
and stuff gets really tedious at times, and wastes bandwidth. The bashers
just need to go back to XP or whatever they were using and run that. As I
always told my clients and everyone else. Runs what works best for you, and
makes you the most productive. It really IS that simple.

 

[Titus Pullo]

Now there ARE a few minor annoyances. For me, a huge step back is having

to
reboot after a lot of installs. I had thought THAT ended starting with Win
2k. But alas it was shipped on my system, and am I just dealing with the
situation. I have run DOS, all of the Wins thru Vista, many different
distros of Linux, Solaris, and even OS/2. Now THAT was a decent OS for
it's
time. If only MS hadn't kept putting out so-called "patches" to break the
Win16 support. And yeah, I know I am dating myself here...

My favorite OS of all time was BeOS R5. That was so cool, and so much fun. I
am still bitter about how Gassee ran his company into the ground just when
the BeOS was starting to get really good. Lots of stupid decisions there,
and they were all his fault.

Bottom line is that out of ALL of those I have used and supported, not ONE
was without flaws. I am not one of MS's biggest fans, but all the bashing
and stuff gets really tedious at times, and wastes bandwidth. The bashers
just need to go back to XP or whatever they were using and run that. As I
always told my clients and everyone else. Runs what works best for you,
and
makes you the most productive. It really IS that simple.

I switched from OS X to Vista x64. I really enjoy it, and I've had no
problems at all. Zero. I think a lot of the Vista bashing is perpetrated by
a very vocal minority that just loves to crap all over Microsoft, not matter
what. Vista has a bad reputation that is quite undeserved.

 

[DarkSentinel]

My favorite OS of all time was BeOS R5. That was so cool, and so much fun.
I am still bitter about how Gassee ran his company into the ground just
when the BeOS was starting to get really good. Lots of stupid decisions
there, and they were all his fault.

Unfortunately, all too often good things get killed by the lack of foresight
by those at the top.

I switched from OS X to Vista x64. I really enjoy it, and I've had no
problems at all. Zero. I think a lot of the Vista bashing is perpetrated
by a very vocal minority that just loves to crap all over Microsoft, not
matter what. Vista has a bad reputation that is quite undeserved.

Indeed. I've seen it too many times from the NT groups up until now. There
are always going to be people that have to stir up crap no matter what.