View Full Version : Windows Vista
I'm using XP now. Is it a free "upgrade?" Is it better? I'm happy(I guess) with XP. Any feedback?
KL1ZB
10-31-2007, 08:07 AM
I say No, unless you have something directly to gain from it.
P.S. QRZ has a computer forum for questions like this.
W4MAJ
10-31-2007, 11:27 AM
No, don't!
W3MIV
10-31-2007, 11:58 AM
I am using Vista, and I love it. Best Windows OS yet. Unlike the folks over at the "bitten fruit" stand, Vista manages WiFi superbly. The integrated search functions never hog resources while indexing, defrag is accomplished regularly in the background without a hassle or disruption, problems that bring an XP machine to a crash are mostly handled by Vista closing the program without crashing all. It really is good. But it really demands upscale hardware to function well.
I have a 3.06 Pentium 4 laptop with 120GB drive and 1MB of RAM that does not handle Vista as well as it handles XP. The graphics card in the laptop is the biggest problem: Too little dedicated graphics memory. It will run Vista, but only in the Home edition, which is to be avoided: XP is a far better system than Home edition.
I am using Vista on a desktop with a dual-core e6600 Pentium, dual 250GB drives (RAID), 4GB RAM and a nVidia 8500 graphics card with 512MB dedicated memory and Vista sings. I love it.
Unless your current system is really capable of managing Vista, I would recommend that you wait until you next buy a new computer before moving to Vista. It is also a better deal when you buy it as an OEM install. Over the counter, Vista is extremely overpriced, IMO. Also, the upgrade can take a few hours to carry out. There are some articles on ZD Net and elsewhere you might search out and read before making your decision. Alas, the worst part about Vista is the cost when bought over the counter.
Good luck.
Wait til the release of SP1 then install.
If you're running Vista on a laptop (or on a desktop and don't plan to make any hardware changes), Microsoft's Vista activation scheme probably won't be troublesome for you. On the other hand...if you're constantly changing peripherals (I/O adapters and so forth) in your workstation, best keep their activation line number handy.
W3MIV
10-31-2007, 02:39 PM
Another influence here is that Microsoft recently announced that they have extended the time limit for new systems with XP installed (as OEM) until June or July of next year. Theoretically, that should mean that MS will continue to support XP for a longer period, as well.
Bottom line to me is, if you are happy with XP and have no plans on buying a new computer system, I would stand pat.
KD6NIG
10-31-2007, 02:49 PM
Its not a free upgrade unless you purchased a computer that came with XP and advertised a free upgrade (there were a few).
Otherwise, its a new OS, with that shiny new OS pricetag to match!
kc8uzl
10-31-2007, 03:28 PM
At some point everyone will have to switch from XP. Its your choice when you do it though. The only other thing that you can do is a dual boot and have both XP and Vista. It is the best of both worlds.
Quote[/b] (kc8uzl @ Oct. 31 2007,08:28)]At some point everyone will have to switch from XP. Its your choice when you do it though. The only other thing that you can do is a dual boot and have both XP and Vista. It is the best of both worlds.
Or install some version of Linux and have the best of ALL worlds...
KD6NIG
10-31-2007, 03:45 PM
Quote[/b] (kc8uzl @ Oct. 31 2007,08:28)]At some point everyone will have to switch from XP. Its your choice when you do it though. The only other thing that you can do is a dual boot and have both XP and Vista. It is the best of both worlds.
Maybe. They could force it on everyone. But I'm sure if most businesses kept it, they would continue to support it for that reason.
They have already pushed out the planned support window 6 months, and some companies who had stopped offering it on new systems are now offering it again.
I suppose MS could draw the line, but it remains to be seen if people will honor it. The main reason for resistance right now is the fact it doesn't support legacy (spelled "older") hardware, and there is more resistance this time to once again going out and replacing every computer to go along with the OS. It happened with XP, but many businesses seem hesitant to blow that kind of money this time around again.
WA3KYY
10-31-2007, 03:50 PM
Quote[/b] (n8yx @ Oct. 31 2007,11:34)]Quote[/b] (kc8uzl @ Oct. 31 2007,08:28)]At some point everyone will have to switch from XP. Its your choice when you do it though. The only other thing that you can do is a dual boot and have both XP and Vista. It is the best of both worlds.
Or install some version of Linux and have the best of ALL worlds...
Unless there is no equivalent application available for linux. I have quite a few of those.
AB1FV
10-31-2007, 03:52 PM
If this is an upgrade from XP, I would recommend downloading and running the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.
You can download it free from Microsoft.
After you run it, it tells you of any future hardware or software incompatibility issues that you may have if you upgrade to Vista, and recommends what to do to take care of those issues before the upgrade.
My 2c
73
AB1FV
WA3KYY
10-31-2007, 03:56 PM
Quote[/b] (KD6NIG @ Oct. 31 2007,11:45)]Quote[/b] (kc8uzl @ Oct. 31 2007,08:28)]At some point everyone will have to switch from XP. Its your choice when you do it though. The only other thing that you can do is a dual boot and have both XP and Vista. It is the best of both worlds.
Maybe. #They could force it on everyone. #But I'm sure if most businesses kept it, they would continue to support it for that reason.
They didn't for Win2K unless you paid the big $$ for Hotfix support.
The other problem facing MS with Vista is the huge installed base of hardware that Vista will flat out not work on for any reasonable defintion of work. The hardware still has plenty of useful life left in it, especially if you are a typical home user. Even many companies are not going to shell out the $$ for new hardware all at once. They also have to deal with software packages that are mission critical and do not work on Vista.
Unlike the transistion from Win98/NT 4.0 up through XP, the upgrade to Vista will almost certainly require a hardware upgrade to obtain the same level of performance you have now.
73,
Mike WA3KYY
Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ Oct. 31 2007,08:50)]Quote[/b] (n8yx @ Oct. 31 2007,11:34)]Quote[/b] (kc8uzl @ Oct. 31 2007,08:28)]At some point everyone will have to switch from XP. Its your choice when you do it though. The only other thing that you can do is a dual boot and have both XP and Vista. It is the best of both worlds.
Or install some version of Linux and have the best of ALL worlds...
Unless there is no equivalent application available for linux. I have quite a few of those.
WINE is your friend.
And there are plenty of open-source compilers available...free for the asking. Roll your own programs and give something back to the community at the same time...