Advice

[forceten32]

Per PC Magazine, they don't recommend anyone upgrading to Vista at this time
if they have a functioning XP system. However, they do recommend using it
on a new system.

I am currently using a Dell Laptop with XP Pack 2. I just bought a fully
loaded Dell due tomorrow which has XP but with a optional upgrade to Vista
prior to 3/31. I use my laptop to run a small online business.

I am going to use CA DNA Migration to move my data from one to the other so
my question is threefold:

First, should I upgrade to Vista before migrating many gigs over?

Second, should I migrate, use the system and then move over to Vista when
comfortable with new machine?

Third, forget Vista altogether - the free upgrade isn't worth the trouble.

Thanks,

Fred

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Don't believe everything you've read about upgrading
to Windows Vista. I've upgraded several Windows XP
installations to Windows Vista and have yet to have
any problems other than making sure the antivirus program
is Vista compatible.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Per PC Magazine, they don't recommend anyone upgrading to Vista at this time
if they have a functioning XP system. However, they do recommend using it
on a new system.

I am currently using a Dell Laptop with XP Pack 2. I just bought a fully
loaded Dell due tomorrow which has XP but with a optional upgrade to Vista
prior to 3/31. I use my laptop to run a small online business.

I am going to use CA DNA Migration to move my data from one to the other so
my question is threefold:

First, should I upgrade to Vista before migrating many gigs over?

Second, should I migrate, use the system and then move over to Vista when
comfortable with new machine?

Third, forget Vista altogether - the free upgrade isn't worth the trouble.

Thanks,

Fred

 

[Poprivet]

Per PC Magazine, they don't recommend anyone upgrading to Vista at
this time if they have a functioning XP system. However, they do
recommend using it on a new system.

Personally I agree with that. Basically, IF there are no known advantages
to going to Vista which have a direct effect on me, then I'm not inclined to
upgrade to it. I've read quite a bit about Vista, and I see a lot of things
in it that I would like to have, but ... I'm holding off on getting too
excited about it until it's been out for awhile and more is known about it.

I am currently using a Dell Laptop with XP Pack 2. I just bought a
fully loaded Dell due tomorrow which has XP but with a optional
upgrade to Vista prior to 3/31. I use my laptop to run a small
online business.
I am going to use CA DNA Migration to move my data from one to the
other so my question is threefold:

First, should I upgrade to Vista before migrating many gigs over?

Second, should I migrate, use the system and then move over to Vista
when comfortable with new machine?

I guess 1 or 2 would be a personal preference. If I switched right away and
was in your situation, it might make sense to do it now on the new machine,
because if I do it later I'm going to have to repartition and format, etc.,
meaning having to reload everything either from CDs or hopefully an image of
my data.
The only drawback to 2 I feel right now is that later I'd have to go and
restore everything a second time. Where if I do it now, I only have to do
that the one time.

Third, forget Vista altogether - the free upgrade isn't worth the
trouble.

IFF you can't find anything in Vista that seems like it would help you, I'd
agree with that, but ... I think, if a lot of the hype about it is true, it
would be a worthwhile upgrade; just not right now, in my case anyway.

I'd probably go for a complete, Full Backup so I could restore everything
back easily, and then go ahead and install Vista if I were in your shoes.

HTH
Pop`

 

[Rock]

Per PC Magazine, they don't recommend anyone upgrading to Vista at this
time if they have a functioning XP system. However, they do recommend
using it on a new system.

I am currently using a Dell Laptop with XP Pack 2. I just bought a fully
loaded Dell due tomorrow which has XP but with a optional upgrade to Vista
prior to 3/31. I use my laptop to run a small online business.

I am going to use CA DNA Migration to move my data from one to the other
so my question is threefold:

First, should I upgrade to Vista before migrating many gigs over?

Second, should I migrate, use the system and then move over to Vista when
comfortable with new machine?

Third, forget Vista altogether - the free upgrade isn't worth the trouble.

I like vista, and am typing this message in Windows Mail in Vista Ultimate
set up as a dual boot with XP Pro on a system that is 5 years old. I
haven't read the PC magazine article but I wouldn't put much faith in an
article that states flatly not to upgrade. Only you can decide if you want
the features of Vista.

There is a Vista newsgroup where you should post Vista questions.
microsoft.public.vista.general.

 

[HEMI-Powered]

Today, Poprivet made these interesting comments ...

Personally I agree with that. Basically, IF there are no
known advantages to going to Vista which have a direct effect
on me, then I'm not inclined to upgrade to it. I've read
quite a bit about Vista, and I see a lot of things in it that
I would like to have, but ... I'm holding off on getting too
excited about it until it's been out for awhile and more is
known about it.

I'm not sure if Vista does or does not have specific advantages
over my working XP SP2 system, but two thoughts pop into my mind
during this feeding frenzy: 1) if it ain't broke, why try to fix
it? and 2) why beta test on your Visa card, let someone else do
it for you?

Yeah, that's pretty cynical but for the life of me I just cannot
fathom people wanting to risk a fully functional system on the if
come that some new killer app will be theirs when they upgrade or
their OS has suddently ceased working. I used to be in the camp
where I upgraded all my hardware and all my software whenever
there were new versions of everything. Then, one day circa 1995,
I had a sort of awakening: hey, I said to myself, I'm spending
more time getting the bugs out of my machine so it can do useful
work for me instead of just letting it do useful work. So, like
quitting smoking cold-turkey, I just stopped the upgrade frenzy
and for the past 11+ years have viewed my PCs as tools to do
useful work for ME and not tools for generating revenue for
developers.

To each their own, however. If some feel comfortable with the
latest of everything, far be it from me to stop them. That said,
though, for the newbies out there, I wonder where they'll be now
or in a week or two when buying a new PC with Vista on it and
wondering how to get it to do what they want ...

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Per PC Magazine, they don't recommend anyone upgrading to Vista at
this time if they have a functioning XP system. However, they do
recommend using it on a new system.

I have very close to zero confidence in PC Magazine or anything they
recommend.

I am running Windows Vista Ultimate on this machine at the moment, and I
upgraded from XP Professional just over two months ago. It's been completely
stable and trouble-free.

I am currently using a Dell Laptop with XP Pack 2. I just bought a
fully loaded Dell due tomorrow which has XP but with a optional
upgrade to Vista prior to 3/31. I use my laptop to run a small
online business.
I am going to use CA DNA Migration to move my data from one to the
other so my question is threefold:

First, should I upgrade to Vista before migrating many gigs over?

Second, should I migrate, use the system and then move over to Vista
when comfortable with new machine?

Third, forget Vista altogether - the free upgrade isn't worth the
trouble.

Leaving aside what *I* did (we are not in the same circumstance), why do you
want to go to Vista? Here's my standard advice on upgrading to a new
operating system, regardless of what it is:

My view is that you're going about this backward. A change of operating
system should be driven by need, not just because there is a new version
available. Are you having a problem with Windows XP that you expect Vista to
solve? Do you have or expect to get new hardware or software that is
supported in Vista, but not in XP? Is there some new feature in Vista that
you need or yearn for? Does your job require you have skills in Vista? Are
you a computer hobbyist who enjoys playing with whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes (and your hardware is
adequate for Vista), then you should get Vista. Otherwise most people should
stick with what they have. There is *always* a learning curve and a
potential for problems when you take a step as big as this one, regardless
of how wonderful whatever you're contemplating moving to is. Sooner or later
you'll have to upgrade (to Vista or its successor) because you'll want
support for hardware or software that you can't get in XP, but don't rush
it.

All of that goes *double* in your case, since you rely on your computer to
run a business. And I say all of that despite my liking Vista very much so
far.