Windows Vista

[El_Spec]

I'll would have gotten a new system this Thanksgiving, but apparently, my mother doesn't want me to buy a $400 system that runs on Windows XP.  She states that'll be out of date within several months and that every new system on the market is still Vista.

I tell her, Vista is a complicated system and people are still adapting to it.  Like the incident with Windows 98 and 2000.  When it was released, it made a lot of programs malfunction and incompatible because of the operating system and the running bit, 16 and 32.  No one really updated to it for several months until after several years, people finally tend to actually use it.  I tell her Vista is the same story, but will require a much longer time to adapt because it is completely different from Windows XP because of what it requires and how it runs.

The bottom line is, I need to convince her or need advice on Windows Vista.  I need to know the Pros and Cons about it.  Try not to be so Anti-Microsoft and provide a good example instead of saying it is crap and everything about it sucks.  And also if it worth the price and an estimate on how long it'll actually take for people to start using it.

[a-4-year-old]

The only reason you would want/need vista would be parental controls and games. and even with games it will be a long time before a win XP PC will be out of date. Tell your mom that Vista sales are underwhelming and that nobody really wants it at least until the first service pack comes out.

Buy your computer. everyone with half a brain is waiting for SP1 to come out to even consider vista.

[blackdevil0742]

I have vista ultimate x64 but the price is far from worth it. At first like with xp I was very confused but after two weeks or so I've gotten pretty familiar with it. Yes it requires 4x the same amount of power but xp did almost the same(x3) compared with win98. The only irritating thing is the pop ups but you can disable those so. The next major thing is that it looks different and the menus are diffrent and takes time to find stuff at first.

I like how it start up faster than xp. Yes the system uses more of everything. But why would you care about the processor usage if you have a dual-core(quad-core) that never is used anyway if you do not use the computer for tasks such as rendering. GPU usage is not affected really as it switches between aero and games. The only bummer is the RAM as you do need 1GB minimum to actually run it normally. But then again 4GB is becoming a standard anyway. If you have 2GB then you'll be fine too. The memory might seem to be used up but that's because vista uses superfetch and stores information on applications/games that you use often so you can start them faster(which is great for applications such as Photoshop). That information is discarded once that allocated memory is needed so you do not have to worry about the RAM.

The biggest issue is that some applications/games might not work. I've had two things that haven't worked and it got me kinda mad. Hopefully service pack 1 will solve this issue.

Getting vista is not a high priority if you do not want DX10 features which basicly are only eyecandy that you can live without. But if you're getting a dx10 GPU then I would advice to get it if you're a gamer.

[BondJamesBond]

Pretty much ReadyBoost is the only good thing I've found.

[Laser Guy]

Windows Vista is still said to be not the best choice for game players...

[Shadow G-Unit]

Stay with XP, Vista is too goshdang slow for Soldat and the Internet

[El_Spec]

Well, based on what I've seen and read from this thread, I conclude to not purchase a Vista based system for a while.  I'll be getting my Windows XP system.  Here is what it is actually if any of you is curious. 

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0265391

It may not be the best, but it does the job right.  Pretty modern and can run most games.

[a-4-year-old]

Eww. No it won't.

It's dell. Its got an integrated graphics shit.

Do not get that as a gaming rig. Unless you are going to buy yourself a graphics card.

[El_Spec]

It has the nVidia GeForce series.  I carefully looked for a system that doesn't have an Intel graphics card.  RAM amount is good, enough hard-drive space, and a fast processor.

[xtishereb]

Yes it requires 4x the same amount of power but xp did almost the same(x3) compared with win98.

It should be noted that there were several Windows versions between 98 and XP, NT and 2000 (ME doesn't count), whereas there was only one between XP and Vista.

In any case, here are two blog entries which form the entirety of my opinions on Vista.
30 Days with Windows Vista (Conclusion: It's a Lemon)
Vista isn't Me2, it's Win95 + 12 years (that is, it had a bunch of the same problems as Windows 95 had when it was first released)
In short: Get XP now, wait for Vista to improve. Or go with an open-source system; with even less hype and maybe more bugs!

[FliesLikeABrick]

You need another option "Never use Vista"

[blackdevil0742]

It has the nVidia GeForce series.  I carefully looked for a system that doesn't have an Intel graphics card.  RAM amount is good, enough hard-drive space, and a fast processor.

You're screwed if you've ordered that for gameing.
Video Card Memory: Up to 128MB of Shared Memory and NVIDIA GeForce Video Chipset indicates that it's a integrated card. It should state a model name and the memory is not to be shared with the rest of the system.

You need another option "Never use Vista"

Never listen to bricks, he's to much of a fanboy.

[FliesLikeABrick]

If I was posting that due to fanboyism, I would have said "You need the option Never use windows!" or "You need the option Use Ubuntu!"

Even if I didn't use Ubuntu and used Windows XP all this time, I'd still never use Vista.  Up until last year, my family's machines were still running 2000 because it was less bloated than XP (now they're on Ubuntu)

[SDFilm]

I'd stick with XP for now untill the bugs/other complications are ironed out.

You need another option "Never use Vista"

I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Linux fanboy! Go back to the shadow. You.. shall not.. pass!!! *thusts staff into the ground*

[7th_account]

If you get vista for the same price as XP, and SP1 is just a month or so away, wouldn't it be stupid to pay 100 euros or whatnot just for a new OS?

[Eagles_Arrows]

I bought a desktop computer with Vista (I had no other choice) several days ago.  Everything was fine and all, had no major problems or anything... until I realized that Polyworks doesn't run on Vista!  Now I can't map for Soldat.  ;_;

Despite that, I can run UT2004 and a bunch of other games just fine.  But I'm still thinking about buying a computer online with XP and I have less than two weeks to return the one with Vista on it.

[El_Spec]

You're screwed if you've ordered that for gameing.
Video Card Memory: Up to 128MB of Shared Memory and NVIDIA GeForce Video Chipset indicates that it's a integrated card. It should state a model name and the memory is not to be shared with the rest of the system.

Not mainly for gaming, but for everyday life purposes. 

The Video Card has 128 MB of separate RAM.  Most likely, the series of that card is the nVidia GeForce 5000 or early 6000.  But I'm not entirely sure.  If it can't run Gears of War, then it'll at least run Doom 3.

If you get vista for the same price as XP, and SP1 is just a month or so away, wouldn't it be stupid to pay 100 euros or whatnot just for a new OS?

My system is a Pentium II and it can barely run any modern programs.  I'm just getting this for everyday use and have it last until the time when everyone uses Vista and XP is obsolete.

[Hello There]

Xfire doest work, soldat doesn't work...nothing works on vista unless you do a whole bunch of unneeded shit that is already done on XP. And Polyworks doesn't work either...and you can't get it to work on vista(my experience)-vista sucks. Never get it.

[blackdevil0742]

El_Spec there is need for that system of yours to use vista so go with XP.

@Hello There: Please do not post incorrect information. Xfire, soldat and other programs work just fine. Though polyworks is probably incompatible with vista. You're just to dumb to know how fix stuff. Seeing as most users of windows are so dumb. The security options are there to protect them but you can turn them off if you know how.

[Clawbug]

My system is a Pentium II and it can barely run any modern programs.  I'm just getting this for everyday use and have it last until the time when everyone uses Vista and XP is obsolete.

So 3 years? Windows 7 is coming out in about 3½ years (It will be delayed), so what about sticking with XP and waiting for it? Or even better, go Linux!