What Do You Like About Vista?

[Ed Forsythe]

Hi Troops,
For the first time in my storied career with computers ;-) I haven't jumped
on the latest OS. Probably because I have heard so much negativity. I'm
starting this thread so that all of the Vista first responders <G> may voice
their *positive* opinions. I'm curious - What do you like about Vista?

 

[just bob]

Hi Troops,
For the first time in my storied career with computers ;-) I haven't
jumped on the latest OS. Probably because I have heard so much
negativity. I'm starting this thread so that all of the Vista first
responders <G> may voice their *positive* opinions. I'm curious - What do
you like about Vista?

Off the top of my head I can only think of one thing I do like and it's one
that most users hate: UAC.

I like that programs have to ask my permission to do certain things. It's
already stopped a few of my apps from kicking off processes I didn't want
launched. That said, when you are trying to get work done it does get
annoying and I'd like to turn it off for some tasks (which I think is
possible).


-Bob

 

[Zim Babwe]

Nuttin' Honey

 

[Adam Leinss]

Hi Troops,
For the first time in my storied career with computers ;-) I haven't
jumped on the latest OS. Probably because I have heard so much
negativity. I'm starting this thread so that all of the Vista first
responders <G> may voice their *positive* opinions. I'm curious - What
do you like about Vista?

1. Aero Glass
2. Windows Recovery Environment
3. Refined Event Viewer/Logger
4. Relability/Performance Monitoring
5. Security improvements
6. Shadow copies
7. Restore previous versions of files
8. Internet Explorer 7

 

[S Wayne]

A question I have been asking myself for quite awhile. After using
Vista in the RC stage, and now for a few weeks in the release
version I can't say there is any compelling reason for new users
to try it. I am using Vista as my company does network security
software, and I'll be writing our new code for Vista. Aero looks
nice, and the new search feature is handy, but neither had to
have a completely new OS for implementation.

Unfortunately the cons balance the pros. The issues with early
drivers and application incompatibility with Vista make it hard
to recommend to new users. My BEST suggestion is that if you
upgrade, install Vista in a new partition and dual boot for awhile.
Find out how many issues you have, and whether or not you can
live with those issues.

If you don't have any applications or support reasons that make
you need to upgrade, I would definitely suggest waiting.

 

[CB]

Praises
1. Speech Recognition
2. Explorer Navigation Improvements
3. Simplified File Backup
4. Desktop Image Backup
5. Windows Meeting Space
6. New Remote Desktop Version
7. Offline Sync Improvements
8. Improved Event Viewer Utility
9. Some of the Sidebar gadgets
10. Aero Glass - Very Easy on the Eyes

Complaints (IMO)
1. It's going to take some time before the hardware is released that
can really make it sing (same thing happened with XP Gold).

2. Just like XP wasn't 'complete' until SP1...I'd say SP1 for Vista is
even more necessary.

 

[Richard Urban]

I can tell you what I dislike in one phrase: Windows Mail.

Everything else is fine by me.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[Richard Urban]

Maybe if you actually used it, instead of Windows
XP..........................................

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[cvp]

Remove limitation on > 2TB drives
Still run all the programs that I need

 

[Zim Babwe]

Actually I have Vista on a test box which I use about 3 times a week.

 

[Richard Stallmann]

the event viewer is a pain in the ass in Vista. it's buggy like hell, you can't even jump to subnodes using the favorites function,
unless you click on the respective main node

 

[Jeffrey S. Sparks]

1. Aero Glass
2. Dream Scene
3. The new search system
4. The new network stack
5. UAC
6. Offline file sharing (I know XP had it but the way Vista implements it is
much better)

I can think of a lot of others but these are the ones that jump to mind.

Jeff

 

[Guest]

Personally I like just about everything on Windows Vista. I have two pc's
with Vista and so far I am impressed. I have had a few very minor issues,
but hey what do you expect its brand new. Most of the issues are caused by
hardware vendors not releasing Vista compatible drivers. They have had
plenty of time to do this, so dont blame Microsoft. Everyone should remember
that when a new OS is released there will be issues. Especially when you
consider the PC platform and how many different hardware vendors there are.
It is amazing that thousands of pieces of hardware can work together in the
first place. So it will take some time to work the kinks out of the Vista
OS. I develope software and have moved over to Vista and I am developing on
a Vista system now. With great success. Remember that XP will be supported
for quite some time, this is important if you are using an older machine in
which the vendor may not release Vista drivers for certain hardware.
However, if you desire to upgrade to Vista check around to make sure there
are drivers for your hardware before you do upgrade. If not then wait,
because most hardware vendors will release drivers for Vista. A lot of
people complain about UAC, personally I dont have any issues with it. I dont
mind clicking a box to be certain it is something that I want to do. I find
it refreshing and beneficial to make sure that I actually want something to
run on my pc. It has even brought a few concerns up that made me think twice
about whether I really wanted to run a certain piece of software. Antivirus
software is going to do the same thing so most of us should already be
familiar with the concept. Like I said almost all issues I have had with
Vista have been driver issues and is really the fault of the hardware
vendor, I dont blame Microsoft for that. I do wish everyone luck with Vista
that is having some trouble with it. It really is a great OS.
G

 

[Dale White]

The Resource Monitor on Taskman.

And that's about it

 

[Kristan Kenney]

Some of my favorites:

- Windows Search
- Windows Aero interface and desktop composition engine/desktop window
manager (DWM)
- Enhanced Explorers
- Improved Security
- Per-application volume mixer
- WDDM Display Drivers are a lot more stable than Windows XP display
drivers.

Just to name a few. Windows Vista has really increased my productivity. I
also find myself installing less applications on a clean install because
Windows Vista has all the functionality I need built in now (native DVD
burning in Windows Explorer, encoding with Windows DVD Maker, etc).

 

[Guest]

I agree Wayne, to most users I would advise doing your research first, make
sure drivers exist, especially if you have an older pc. However, most users
can expect their hardware vendor to eventually release drivers for Vista,
thus facilitating the upgrade to Vista. Probably the best way to consider
upgrading to Vista is this: if you have a newer PC and the hardware drivers
exist, then upgrade to Vista. Vista has a number of new and great features.
G

 

[Guest]

One last thing: I would not recommend Vista Ultimate for the average user as
it contains no features which make it beneficial to the average user. I also
would not recommend Vista Business as it does not have some features that
most individuals need. Stick with Vista Home Premium, that is what I have
running on two of my computers.
G

 

[Adam Albright]

Hi Troops,
For the first time in my storied career with computers ;-) I haven't jumped
on the latest OS. Probably because I have heard so much negativity. I'm
starting this thread so that all of the Vista first responders <G> may voice
their *positive* opinions. I'm curious - What do you like about Vista?

I like most of what's new in Vista. In my opinion where Microsoft fell
down is with UAC which almost everyone agrees while needed in some
form has been poorly implemented. The second biggest dislike I'll bet
is the Vista Update Advisor. While not part of Vista itself, it too
has caused a lot of friction in that it isn't nearly accurate enough
in saying what can cause BSOD's or other install issues. Both of these
major problems should have been better anticipated by Microsoft, since
you know what they say about first impressions, you only get to make a
first impression once and since these two things are what most people
see first, Microsoft got off on the wrong foot and dropped the ball
resulting in a lot of unnecessary grumbling that could have been
avoided.

 

[Dustin Harper]

Some say XP wasn't done until SP2. I still have my XP Beta right here. And
some older pre-XP "Whistler" beta CD's. Of course, I liked those, too...
Never did run ME, though. I don't think it was over done (should have
stopped at 98SE).

I like: Aero Glass, Windows Mail, not running as admin all the time, IE7,
DX10, Sidebar, DreamScene, Bitlocker, New Search, Performance Monitor, Image
Backups, Snip Tool...

Don't like: UAC at times (especially when first installing devices!), 3rd
party drivers (too slow to come out), large icons (I already shrunk them
down, so not really too bad!), Windows Defender is too weak, Sleep mode
sucks on some computers... Most of my complaints are easily fixed, though...
Even the high system requirements (ok, that was an excuse to upgrade!).

 

[just bob]

A question I have been asking myself for quite awhile. After using
Vista in the RC stage, and now for a few weeks in the release
version I can't say there is any compelling reason for new users
to try it. I am using Vista as my company does network security
software, and I'll be writing our new code for Vista. Aero looks
nice, and the new search feature is handy, but neither had to
have a completely new OS for implementation.

Unfortunately the cons balance the pros. The issues with early
drivers and application incompatibility with Vista make it hard
to recommend to new users. My BEST suggestion is that if you
upgrade, install Vista in a new partition and dual boot for awhile.
Find out how many issues you have, and whether or not you can
live with those issues.

You and I can handle dual boot - most users cannot because if /when they
hose up the other partition, oh no. I suggest a separate machine.