Vista: Why Most of Us Should (and Will) Wait

Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:33PM EST

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There is nothing I have read about Vista yet that makes me want to run out and upgrade our current computers with Microsoft's long-awaited new operating system. And I'm sure I'm not alone.

Why? Because like many consumers, I'm not in the immediate market for a new computer, and even though my Dell Inspiron laptop is just about a year old, all signs point to waiting. Chris Null advises against installing Vista on current, even new computers, no matter how appealing the upgrade coupons and deals. And if your computer is more than a year old, he says it's strongly recommended you wait and buy a new computer with Vista preinstalled.

If you're still sure you want to upgrade your existing computer, even if it has all the Vista requirements, wait. You know there will be kinks and flaws that Microsoft will need to work through. It's no fun being a guinea pig, especially one that ends up spending hours installing a huge operating system onto a computer, which is not something many of us do, ever.

Even if you've got the recommended up-to-date processor (minimum: 800MHz 32-bit [x86] or 64-bit [x64] CPU), 1GB of RAM, and 15GB of free space on your hard drive, the common wisdom seems to be upgrading to Vista from Windows XP will not be smooth going. Stephen Wildstrom writes in BusinessWeek, "Based on the troubles I've had in tests, I'd warn against upgrading if you have old accessories, such as printers, or if you run any custom or obscure business software."

Just as many businesses won't upgrade to Vista until they buy new hardware, home computer users probably should do the same. Wait. For the kinks to be worked out, then, when you're in the market, buy a computer with Vista preloaded.

The New York Times' David Pogue points to a SoftChoice survey that says only 6 percent of existing corporate PCs have enough power to run Vista. At home, you'll also need a powerful graphics card in addition to the other requirements. "Moving to Vista means hunting for updated drivers for your printer, audio card and so on, not to mention troubleshooting incompatible programs," Pogue writes.

I don't have time for that.

Walt Mossberg at the Wall Street Journal also says the full benefits of Vista, including its new look and interface (called "Aero) can be experienced only on "a hefty, new computer." He writes in his review, "The vast majority of existing Windows PCs won't be able to use all of Vista's features without major hardware upgrades. They will be able to run only a stripped-down version, and even then may run very slowly."

That's plenty of expert advice for me. I'm waiting until we upgrade to a new computer. What about you?

Related links: 

Vista: Buy a PC Preinstalled or Upgrade Yourself? 
Vista: To Upgrade or Hold? 

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  • 6 Posted by natenovielli on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    um...i bought a new oem gateway a little while back. i installed vista business in about 30 minutes, with out a problem. the operating system is solid. if youve got the hardware, theres no reason to wait...

  • 7 Posted by kruzboy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why buy an imitation Mac OS that doesn't work properly when you could get a real Mac OS that does work properly?

  • 8 Posted by eddiejs2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I won't be upgrading to Vista. Let them get the inevitable kinks and bugs out of it first. When it's time to buy a new computer, I'll get it pre-installed. Happy with XP which serves all my needs right now.

  • 9 Posted by pnut93212 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes, I would agree. Most people should wait until a service pack is avaliable, just look at XP(service pack 1, then 2). This way most drivers and security patches are avaliable to download using custom Windows Update to fix any flaws that always comes with a new OS launch. So, if you have XP.... KEEP IT! I'll bet you will be downloading updates every week. Users just don't learn.

  • 10 Posted by andyrakaczky on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think I'll take goobie89014 and get a Mac. I'm just about fed up with Windows.

  • 11 Posted by dalew_pitt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Down load one of the Linux live dristos and you'll be happy. I did and I am.

  • 12 Posted by seshap@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm not a techno geek or need to rush out for 'the next new thing', I like to live simply. I resent deeply the idea I need a better thing! If I plunked down the $ for a computer last year it needs to last. This is stupid!

  • 13 Posted by darrellkern on Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:44PM EST Report Abuse

    Its all a gimmick to make MS more money. I switched to a mac three years ago and couldn't be happier. I haven't had one crash yet. When I had a PC, I was pulling my hair out and spending a small fortune upgrading all the time just to run a program I wasn't using in the first place!

  • 14 Posted by k5tws on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    My PC is up to par with Vista as well. I too agree that most people should wait. Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new OS, then run into a series of crashes because of drivers that will not work properly with Vista. Even if you have all the requirements to run the software, I would advise a wait and see attitude first. It is not just the PC that will be affected, but your printer, scanner, Webcams, etc. as well.

  • 15 Posted by gjgjobs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    great to have the info. XP works fine for us. It was actually an upgrade over the 2000. That system was inferior, in many ways, to the 1986 version. I'll let the market dictate if Vista is an upgrade and worth the cost, time, and effort. Meanwhile, I will plug along as my backward computer-self daily uses the XP.

  • 16 Posted by jerry6665 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    Every one of the Microsoft 'upgrades' was nothing but headaches. They've caused more ulcers than c. bactor. Remember Bill Gates' look when on the worldwide feed for the last rollout, it wouldn't work! I'll wait for Vista to shake out and then I'll wait till I need to waste more money on yet another unnecessary computer that will only be current as long as it takes to get out of the store.

  • 17 Posted by mekeo21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just cause you have the hardware doesn't mean all your software is Vista compatible. I have tested with the RTM version and found many mainstream apps and devices are not compatible yet with Vista. Give it time for manufactures to get all the bugs out and apps updated first.

  • 18 Posted by jjlee520 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Got compatible drivers for all existing HW? How about your anti-virus software? If you are in doubt and don't want to spend $$$ right away, just wait until the time to get a new preinstalld computer has come.

  • 19 Posted by docbliny on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have to disagree. I'm running Vista on a 2004 HP with Aero just fine. If your machine is up to it, there is no need to wait. The big hardware items to check are: Enough hard drive space, enough memory, video adapter and peripherals. The first two are about the same for reasonable use with XP. Microsoft provides an excellent tool to check if your machine is up to it. I'm sure the adoption rate of Vista will be a lot faster than this article predicts.

  • 20 Posted by clangermusic on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I find it interesting that everytime Microsoft upgrades their operating system, all you hear about is the non-sense you have to go through to get it to work right and/or the major investment you'll have to make in HOPES that it will operate right!!! In a current society that is so intolerant about everything, I can't believe the public continues to pay for frustation. Ahh... the pleasures of owning a MAC!!

  • 21 Posted by exitseventyfive on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    if you have the hardware, you should install asap - because that's what MS wants you to do

  • 22 Posted by matthewreiswig on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm with you. It's definitely not worth the trouble to dive into hours of installs and support calls. I'll wait at least a year.

  • 23 Posted by ladyboy4girlsonly on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Even If you have a vista ready computer, It's very advisable to wait a little bit more and not rush to upgrade your computer, and that's for the simple reason that at the begining is very rationale that Microsoft It's expecting a lot of feedback from It's users. It's not "officialy" a Betta version, but believe me, It's close to be like that. If you think that Windows Xp was fantastic, as I do (obviously better than W 98), you are not to be veryk dessapointed if you wait until start hearing about the new Vista users experiences. I can't assure that It is gong to be better than Windows Xp, but It's very advisable to let the time tell It's tale...Remember Windows MIllenium, I rush to buy It and I was one of the worldwide @#$%s, even that I'm sure MIcrosoft learned something about that Hughe mistake.

  • 25 Posted by leigh_sippel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sounds just like the Mac adds on TV. Thank God for my trusty year old Intel Core Duo Mac.

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