Windows Vista

[Malceski09]

I don't know if this topic has been brought up yet, I'm sorry if it it has, but can somebody tell me what's it like please? I'm getting a new computer in the next couple of days and I also might be getting Windows Vista along with it. I don't know much about it but any advice about it, would be helpful. How different is it from Windows XP? And can you have the Windows Media Player, the latest version in classic view?

Cheers for any advice you can give.

 

[Mancey]

Its ok, can take a bit of getting used to, as they've changed the way you navigate around your PC a bit.

However, its not too hard to revert it back to work pretty much like XP in terms of menu's etc.

My 2 main beefs,

My printer and scanner are now completely useless for use on vista machines, as there are no vista drivers for them. So be careful about updating to vista if you have some old peripherals you wish to use on it. Do a search to see if drivers are available first.

The other beef, is that there are endless security checks "do you trust this program" etc etc before you can install anything on it. I think you can turn them off, haven't bothered to check yet.

Really i haven't found any advantages of upgrading from xp yet, so i haven't on my home PC.

 

[ben_cats_fan]

So be careful about updating to vista if you have some old peripherals you wish to use on it. Do a search to see if drivers are available first.

Very very important, especially in things you wouldn't think about, including your modem. I had used the Telstra software to connect to my internet and it buggered up my drivers. Tried to install XP drivers and Vista wouldn't let it. Had to re-install vista!

Also, make sure you have a decent computer. If you have a slow CPU with very little RAM, it is nearly impossible for you to run vista "healthily". By this i mean without you having to punch in a monitor or chuck your computer around the room. So bloody frustrating!


Question: Is it possible to run XP & Vista at the same time? I.e. have both installed, but choose which to start up in once the computer is loading up???

 

[Mancey]

Question: Is it possible to run XP & Vista at the same time? I.e. have both installed, but choose which to start up in once the computer is loading up???

Yes you can, haven't done it myself, but yeah, with some drive partitioning its not too difficult to do, apparently.

I think you can even run xp as a virtual machine within a vista system. My mate does that at his work, he opens vista, and can have xp running simultaneously in a minimisable window. Stuff knows how he did it tho.

 

[ben_cats_fan]

Yes you can, haven't done it myself, but yeah, with some drive partitioning its not too difficult to do, apparently.

I think you can even run xp as a virtual machine within a vista system. My mate does that at his work, he opens vista, and can have xp running simultaneously in a minimisable window. Stuff knows how he did it tho.

The virtual system would be perfect, and the partitioning not such a bad idea either. That way, it solves compatability issues! Looks like some research is ahead of me now

 

[beaumont911]

The virtual system would be perfect, and the partitioning not such a bad idea either. That way, it solves compatability issues! Looks like some research is ahead of me now

It requires some decent processing power and RAM to run two OS's at once though.

 

[ben_cats_fan]

It requires some decent processing power and RAM to run two OS's at once though.

When we say decent, what are we talking about?

 

[Lance Uppercut]

it's way shit, stick with XP

 

[beaumont911]

When we say decent, what are we talking about?

I wouldn't know, my PC choked why trying to emulate Ubuntu. I am only on a single core processor though, I think VMWare can allocate one OS one core, and the other OS another core. And you'd want a gig dedicated to Vista when running it as a virtual machine.

 

[Malceski09]

Thanks for the advice guys, I just hope it turns out ok. I would have preferred to stick with XP but willing to give Vista a go, so I can give a comment on it myself. I hope I can use my printers and shit on it though.

 

[ben_cats_fan]

I wouldn't know, my PC choked why trying to emulate Ubuntu. I am only on a single core processor though, I think VMWare can allocate one OS one core, and the other OS another core. And you'd want a gig dedicated to Vista when running it as a virtual machine.

Damn. I have got a dual core processor, but only 512mb ram I think

 

[Mancey]

Damn. I have got a dual core processor, but only 512mb ram I think

Vista would be a bit annoying on a 512 machine on its own, emulating xp as well would be asking a bit too much

 

[ben_cats_fan]

Vista would be a bit annoying on a 512 machine on its own, emulating xp as well would be asking a bit too much

Yeah, it does get annoying, but what's more annoying is compatability issues with Xp->Vista. I worry about switching back to XP completely in case MS "phase out" XP and opt onto only Vista.

 

[Mancey]

Yeah, it does get annoying, but what's more annoying is compatability issues with Xp->Vista. I worry about switching back to XP completely in case MS "phase out" XP and opt onto only Vista.

MS still support 2000 don't they, or if they don't they only phased it out recently.

I wouldn't worry about support for XP being withdrawn any time soon. They usually keep at least the previous generation of OS's supported.

When vista is superseded maybe

 

[beaumont911]

The only compatibility issue I have is that my old scanner doens't work... well didn't, I downgraded back to XP for the extra performance.

XP will be supported for a while, SP3 is coming out soon.

 

[Cleavy]

As a new computer owner with Vista, stick with XP!

 

[larkis]

The problem I am finiding with Vista is trying to negotiate around files and not having permission to do so. Only get Vista if you know what your doing on your PC.

 

[Bamphomet]

I got no complaints.

Only issue I found was trouble with an XP machine on my network talking to the new Vista pc for file sharing and printing but got around that, was the XP firewall.

I run Vista Premium and its quite alright.

Unless you are running old printers/scanners or they are not well supported you should be able to find Vista drivers for most things now...

 

[mighty mick]

had vista home premium since release, had no issues and with all your permission problems better it asks than a trojan getting through.

as for drivers vista has found most of mine for me, bought a tv tuner card which did not have vista support, vista went in search of an appropriate driver and found it plus the pvr program.

for printers and scanners always check manufacfurer websites.

finally for all the people expecting to run everything on a par 1000 dollar laptop please wake up and realize its a word processor at best.
CELERON SWHOULD BE BANNED

 

[Malceski09]

So far, I love it, I have no complaints to it whatsoever. However, I'm still getting around this new computer which will take me some time. lol

 

[FIGJAM]

I use XP at work and have bought a puter for work purposes about 3 months ago. Would prefer a Mac, but need to use IE7 for business.

I have Vista Business is thus far an excellent OS. No problems of any kind. The supposed security check problem comes up when opening an .exe file, so I personally think that's a good thing! It's not exactly onerous to click an accept button from time to time.

I have a fairly basic HP with 1.66GHz processor and 2G of ram and it works fast, multi tasks well, and the sealer for me is programs have hardly ever choked (which is the reason why I always preferred OSX).

I'd rate it on par with pre-Leopard OSX (haven't used Leopard at all).

 

[Refried Noodle]

Ok I'm not sure what exactly the 'benefits' are with having Vista over XP, but frankly it blows. I've used it at work and this is what I've determined from it:

Firstly the graphics look way overdone. It has that flashy look to make consumers feel like their current OS is outdated. I know you can chose the standard windows layout, but frankly it's irratating and feels like it's done to cover the fact for the whole part Vista is pointless.

What is wrong with XP anyway? It does everything you need and isn't as hardware hungry as Vista is. Vista uses up alot of extra resources.

Probably the most annoying part for me is the fact that Office 2007 has been completely overhauled. The layout is totally different - there is no menu bar. Everything has been changed into a row of tabs which it frustrating and wastes alot of time. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[P.A.F.C]

I'm sure having Vista has many benefits for the people that did switch over, but until I actually need Vista, I won't be swapping from XP. Hell, it took me a while to switch to XP from 98.

 

[DamianBis]

Vista is ok for a internet browsing and/or business computer/word processor.

XP is much better for a gamer or video editors and other things that require alot of power in your computer... As with vista it's wasting that power on the OS.

It's too slow. it doesn't run as fast as XP.

 

[beaumont911]

Vista is ok for a internet browsing and/or business computer/word processor.

XP is much better for a gamer or video editors and other things that require alot of power in your computer... As with vista it's wasting that power on the OS.

It's too slow. it doesn't run as fast as XP.

Gamer, yes choose XP. Although with the patches and SP1, Vista only drops a few FPS now on my mates computer.

Any video editor should use a mac.

Vista is hardly too slow now, especially if you buy a new computer.