At the risk of starting a flamewar

[MikeB]

Is there somewhere a rational analysis of the reasons people prefer
Windows XP over Vista?

I ordered a new computer and ordered Vistal Ultimate and also the XP
"downgrade."

I briefly worked with Vista on my sister's laptop and I recall that I
weren't too comfortable with it. On this laptop, I've disabled the
User Account warning and the red shield. Before I make the final
decision to overwrite Vista, I'd like to know other real issues that
cause people to prefer Vista. I guess drivers are an issue, so I can
research drivers for all my peripherals.

What else?

Oh yea, wireless networking, I feel as if Vista is insulating me a
little from actually working with Windows Zero configuration (which I
understand). What else?

Thanks.

Please don't start a flamewar, if you know of a site that made a list
of "issues" that is what I really need.

 

[philo]

Is there somewhere a rational analysis of the reasons people prefer
Windows XP over Vista?

I ordered a new computer and ordered Vistal Ultimate and also the XP
"downgrade."

I briefly worked with Vista on my sister's laptop and I recall that I
weren't too comfortable with it. On this laptop, I've disabled the
User Account warning and the red shield. Before I make the final
decision to overwrite Vista, I'd like to know other real issues that
cause people to prefer Vista. I guess drivers are an issue, so I can
research drivers for all my peripherals.

What else?

Oh yea, wireless networking, I feel as if Vista is insulating me a
little from actually working with Windows Zero configuration (which I
understand). What else?

Thanks.

Please don't start a flamewar, if you know of a site that made a list
of "issues" that is what I really need.

As one who likes to experiment with operating systems...
I've found that with the proper hardware, Vista performs just fine...
so with a new computer there should not be any problems.

However, to upgrade an older machine with XP to Vista in my opinion is not
worth it.
Truthfully, Vista has few (if any) features that I need, that do not exist
in XP.

Unless you have a pretty decent video card, a dual core cpu and at least 2
gigs of RAM...
XP makes more sense.

 

[Kayman]

Is there somewhere a rational analysis of the reasons people prefer
Windows XP over Vista?

I ordered a new computer and ordered Vistal Ultimate and also the XP
"downgrade."

I briefly worked with Vista on my sister's laptop and I recall that I
weren't too comfortable with it. On this laptop, I've disabled the
User Account warning and the red shield. Before I make the final
decision to overwrite Vista, I'd like to know other real issues that
cause people to prefer Vista. I guess drivers are an issue, so I can
research drivers for all my peripherals.

What else?

Oh yea, wireless networking, I feel as if Vista is insulating me a
little from actually working with Windows Zero configuration (which I
understand). What else?

Five Misunderstood Features in Windows Vista
¡E User Account Control
¡E Image management
¡E Display Driver Model
¡E Search
¡E 64 bit architecture
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...86-9661-49b1-87ce-6d4a39e83747&DisplayLang=en

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/

http://www.vista4beginners.com/

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
http://www.winsupersite.com/

ITsVISTA
http://itsvista.com/

Windows Secrets
http://www.windowssecrets.com/

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Is there somewhere a rational analysis of the reasons people prefer
Windows XP over Vista?

I ordered a new computer and ordered Vistal Ultimate and also the XP
"downgrade."

I briefly worked with Vista on my sister's laptop and I recall that
I weren't too comfortable with it. On this laptop, I've disabled the
User Account warning and the red shield. Before I make the final
decision to overwrite Vista, I'd like to know other real issues that
cause people to prefer Vista. I guess drivers are an issue, so I can
research drivers for all my peripherals.

What else?

Oh yea, wireless networking, I feel as if Vista is insulating me a
little from actually working with Windows Zero configuration (which
I understand). What else?

Thanks.

Please don't start a flamewar, if you know of a site that made a
list of "issues" that is what I really need.

People who approached Vista without attempting to make it into something it
isn't (Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98) generally have a better outcome
than those who approach Vista attempting to make it into one of the
previously listed OSes.

Also - going 32bit (for the normal home user) and ensuring you have 3+GB of
memory can help you get over most of the things people have complained about
when in your shoes (new computer, new OS.)

 

[MikeB]

As one who likes to experiment with operating systems...
I've found that with the proper hardware, Vista performs just fine...
so with a new computer there should not be any problems.

However, to upgrade an older machine with XP to Vista in my opinion is not
worth it.
Truthfully, Vista has few (if any) features that I need, that do not exist
in XP.

Unless you have a pretty decent video card, a dual core cpu and at least 2
gigs of RAM...
XP makes more sense.

Well thanks. I only ordered 2Gb of RAM, mostly because my previous XP
had 768M and I was planning to run XP again. If I decide to stick with
Vista, I guess forking out for 2GB more isn't a deal-breaker.

I't is a new laptop, so I guess it's pretty fast. It gets 5.2 (or 5.3)
on some Vista test that I stumbled across. It does have Intel Core 2
Duo Centrino and a discrete graphics card as well.

But I just read some of the stuff in the other response and I figure
that my answer will be to start restoring the XP recovery disk. I just
don't have it in me to mess around with Vista to the extent that seems
to be required. (Aside: Is that a function of getting older? I used to
love getting my hands dirty in installing operating systems and stuff,
nowadays I try not to do that so much?)

 

[MikeB]

Five Misunderstood Features in Windows Vista
¡E User Account Control
¡E Image management
¡E Display Driver Model
¡E Search
¡E 64 bit architecturehttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=34f40386-966...

Wow, that made it easy, thanks.

Right here on page 2 of the referenced document it says "A key goal of
UAC in Windows Vista is to help nudge Independent Software Vendors
towards designing applications that function in standard user mode."

Well fine, I don't want to be hassled just so ISVs can conform to
Microsoft standards. I used to work for a monopoly a long time ago,
and that is standard thinking in monopolies - use your users as
weapons in arguments with 3rd parties.

I guess I'll sit it out on XP until the issue gets resolved and the
ISVs get on board or MS realize that they should deliver what
customers (including ISVs) want or until I really, really cannot live
without the then-current OS.

Would have been nice to have had the Movie Maker, DVD burning software
and Photo Gallery of Ultimate, but I can get most of that in 3rd party
software that I already own.

And my daughter will miss some of the neat Ultimate games. Life sucks.

 

[olfart]

Five Misunderstood Features in Windows Vista
¡E User Account Control
¡E Image management
¡E Display Driver Model
¡E Search
¡E 64 bit
architecturehttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=34f40386-966...

Wow, that made it easy, thanks.

Right here on page 2 of the referenced document it says "A key goal of
UAC in Windows Vista is to help nudge Independent Software Vendors
towards designing applications that function in standard user mode."

Well fine, I don't want to be hassled just so ISVs can conform to
Microsoft standards. I used to work for a monopoly a long time ago,
and that is standard thinking in monopolies - use your users as
weapons in arguments with 3rd parties.

I guess I'll sit it out on XP until the issue gets resolved and the
ISVs get on board or MS realize that they should deliver what
customers (including ISVs) want or until I really, really cannot live
without the then-current OS.

Would have been nice to have had the Movie Maker, DVD burning software
and Photo Gallery of Ultimate, but I can get most of that in 3rd party
software that I already own.

And my daughter will miss some of the neat Ultimate games. Life sucks.

You can disable UAC in Vista... which I have done. It can be a real PIA. I
have Vista Ultimate on one box just to play around with and it does have
some good features like the ones you mentioned plis a pretty good Media
Center. My OS of choice on my other boxes os still WinXP and will remain
that way until I see what Windows 7 brings to the table.

 

[WhiteTea]

Is there somewhere a rational analysis of the reasons people prefer
Windows XP over Vista?

Many prefer XP because Vista:

1. Does not offer any major improvements over XP for most users
2. Requires greater expense in new hardware, with more mercury, etc
going into a landfill

Ex. When a newer computer went nite-nite and my funds were low, I
built a
386-730 Mhz system with 256 MB Ram and XP runs great.

3. Will not run all older programs

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

As one who likes to experiment with operating systems...
I've found that with the proper hardware, Vista performs just fine...
so with a new computer there should not be any problems.

However, to upgrade an older machine with XP to Vista in my opinion is not
worth it.
Truthfully, Vista has few (if any) features that I need, that do not exist
in XP.

Unless you have a pretty decent video card, a dual core cpu and at least 2
gigs of RAM...
XP makes more sense.

Well thanks. I only ordered 2Gb of RAM, mostly because my previous XP
had 768M and I was planning to run XP again. If I decide to stick with
Vista, I guess forking out for 2GB more isn't a deal-breaker.

I't is a new laptop, so I guess it's pretty fast. It gets 5.2 (or 5.3)
on some Vista test that I stumbled across. It does have Intel Core 2
Duo Centrino and a discrete graphics card as well.

But I just read some of the stuff in the other response and I figure
that my answer will be to start restoring the XP recovery disk. I just
don't have it in me to mess around with Vista to the extent that seems
to be required. (Aside: Is that a function of getting older? I used to
love getting my hands dirty in installing operating systems and stuff,
nowadays I try not to do that so much?)


People who have to mess around with Vista continually obviously don't know
what they are doing...


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[philo]

As one who likes to experiment with operating systems...
I've found that with the proper hardware, Vista performs just fine...
so with a new computer there should not be any problems.

However, to upgrade an older machine with XP to Vista in my opinion is not
worth it.
Truthfully, Vista has few (if any) features that I need, that do not exist
in XP.

Unless you have a pretty decent video card, a dual core cpu and at least 2
gigs of RAM...
XP makes more sense.

Well thanks. I only ordered 2Gb of RAM, mostly because my previous XP
had 768M and I was planning to run XP again. If I decide to stick with
Vista, I guess forking out for 2GB more isn't a deal-breaker.

I't is a new laptop, so I guess it's pretty fast. It gets 5.2 (or 5.3)
on some Vista test that I stumbled across. It does have Intel Core 2
Duo Centrino and a discrete graphics card as well.

But I just read some of the stuff in the other response and I figure
that my answer will be to start restoring the XP recovery disk. I just
don't have it in me to mess around with Vista to the extent that seems
to be required. (Aside: Is that a function of getting older? I used to
love getting my hands dirty in installing operating systems and stuff,
nowadays I try not to do that so much?)



If your new machine comes with Vista I'd just leave it.
In the time it would take you to format the drive and install XP,
you can simply familiarize yourself to Vista and perform your own custom
configurations.

I simply set my Vista machine for best performance and least amount of "eye
candy"...
it was not a major big deal

 

[MikeB]

People who have to mess around with Vista continually obviously don't know
what they are doing...

Wow, thanks. I guess I don't know what I'm doing, although I've only
gotten it on the 24th. I didn't recall claiming to be adept at either
XP or Vista.

If you have advice to offer for a simpleton who merely wants to use
his computer rather than becoming an expert at it, I'd appreciate
pointers.

 

[MikeB]

People who approached Vista without attempting to make it into something it
isn't (Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98) generally have a better outcome
than those who approach Vista attempting to make it into one of the
previously listed OSes.

Also - going 32bit (for the normal home user) and ensuring you have 3+GB of
memory can help you get over most of the things people have complained about
when in your shoes (new computer, new OS.)

Well, what *is* Vista? An operating system? That's what I'd like it to
be. Something that enalbles me to use the applications on my computer.

Unfortunately, it is hard to simply shed the accumulated baggage of
years of exposure to previous operating systems in a few days. I"m
trying to keep an open mind, but it is hard.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

People who have to mess around with Vista continually obviously don't know
what they are doing...

Wow, thanks. I guess I don't know what I'm doing, although I've only
gotten it on the 24th. I didn't recall claiming to be adept at either
XP or Vista.

If you have advice to offer for a simpleton who merely wants to use
his computer rather than becoming an expert at it, I'd appreciate
pointers.


You don't need pointers.. just use it..

It can be a little frustrating when some windows don't hold the settings,
but if you do not spend all day in them, who cares?

When you install programs, the icons appear in the start menu and on
desktop, so no real difference there..

Some of the icons in Control Panel have different labels but are essentially
the same. For some, there is more control than in XP..

If you don't like UAC, you can tame it with 'Tweak UAC'

System Restore is more reliable, and Vista can recover from errors better
than XP ever could..

Yes, it takes more resource than XP, but if you have the resources, it
doesn't matter

--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[WhiteTea]

Well thanks. I only ordered 2Gb of RAM, mostly because my previous XP
had 768M and I was planning to run XP again. If I decide to stick with
Vista, I guess forking out for 2GB more isn't a deal-breaker.

I't is a new laptop, so I guess it's pretty fast. It gets 5.2 (or 5.3)
on some Vista test that I stumbled across. It does have Intel Core 2
Duo Centrino and a discrete graphics card as well.

But I just read some of the stuff in the other response and I figure
that my answer will be to start restoring the XP recovery disk. I just
don't have it in me to mess around with Vista to the extent that seems
to be required. (Aside: Is that a function of getting older? I used to
love getting my hands dirty in installing operating systems and stuff,
nowadays I try not to do that so much?)

People who have to mess around with Vista continually obviously don't know
what they are doing...

You should not make such a blanket statement like that.

As a software writer, we have to "mess around" quite a bit to get
programs running right.

Hope you have a great New Year,

Andy

 

[Bob I]

Many prefer XP because Vista:

1. Does not offer any major improvements over XP for most users
2. Requires greater expense in new hardware, with more mercury, etc
going into a landfill

Do tell us about where the mercury is involved? There is no mercury
requirement nor difference with regards to XP vs Vista, much less going
to a landfill.