Why Aren't You Upgrading to Vista?
Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:13PM EST
See Comments (2374)
Daily Techno-Babble offers a breathless "three reasons why Windows Vista is sinking like a rock," and while the story has a point, I don't really think that "limits on how Vista can be used under virtualization" is really the thing about Vista that is scaring away that many would-be users, nor are Microsoft's DRM provisions on high-definition video much of a big deal yet, as few users care about high-def on their PC right now. Don't get me wrong: I think all of these are factors that make Vista a poor OS, but they aren't the primary reason that it's "sinking like a rock."
Given that Vista sales seem lackluster at best, what's the hang-up? I think it's something far more simple than the reasons that DTB offers up.
So what's turning people off of Vista? Here's my take, in order of importance:
1) Price. There's no way around this one. Upgrading to Vista doesn't just mean spending up to $400 on software, but also cash on RAM and video card upgrades, or buying a new PC altogether. If Vista was a $100 upgrade that anyone could use, it'd be a top seller, I'm sure.
2) Nothing new to see here. Love the visual style, but does photo tagging and 3-D window flipping really merit an upgrade?
3) It's annoying. I don't know any Vista user who hasn't turned off User Account Control, which nags you with an "Are you sure????" prompt every time you try to do anything beyond run the calculator. Yet UAC is the linchpin of Vista's vaunted new security system. Without it, it's really no different than XP.
4) Tons of stuff is incompatible with Vista. An acquaintance of mine got a new PC with Vista preinstalled. Neither her scanner nor her printer had Vista drivers ready. Both peripherals cost several hundred bucks, and now they're essentially paperweights (though the printer, at some unforseeable time in the future, may work again). Lots of software won't run on Vista, either, but it's the hardware incompatibilities that are daunting. (Update: Looks like the scanner driver's finally ready.)
5) It's confusing. Everything that XP could do, Vista can do... only it's buried under a different menu and it has a new name. While average users probably never use many of these settings, power users have found themselves starting from scratch to relearn Windows.
6) It's busted. Try connecting to a printer on your network that's hooked up to an XP machine. Or try downloading a file with a third-party application and then accessing it via another PC on the network. I won't go into a list of the endless bugs and flaws with the design of Vista, because I don't really have to: Vista needs a Service Pack already.
That's my take, but I'd love to hear your reasons for being hesitant: Why aren't you jumping whole hog into the Vistaverse?
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2367 Posted by bilengland on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:07PM EDT Report Abuse
Who remembers the 9 month or so run of ME? I also suffered through that tragic software. Seems that I am replacing computers as MS is rolling out not-yet ready software loaded on all non-Mac machines.
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2368 Posted by tsa414 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:23PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm upgrading to new processors and PCIe graphic cards, but not Vista because it doesn't work with too many things. I might upgrade my XP to media center, but Vista is soemthing that will wait until I NEED to upgrade to it. I bought my inlaws a new PC for Xmas that has Vista pre-installed. It looks flashy and pointless like a Mac OS, as well as annoyingly trying to dumb down every function of your computer to do everything for you (like Macs). I personally love XP and until things work as well in Vista as they do with XP I'll be downgrading on my new system. What I really am annoyed with is the fact that they are trying to force it on to everyone. Dell has several Gamer quality computers, but they all come with Vista except the highest end one. Dell explains this by saying "while we continue to validate th compatibility of Vista with popular gaming software and accessories we will continue to offer XP". How do they get away with doing that to all of their other customers? I mean isn't that saying "this OS has problems, but its the only choice you got", when they are offering another choice (to an older OS)for $700. I'm mad at the hardware manufacturers that are forcing this onto us when there is room to provide consumers a choice...
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2369 Posted by jtfochtxp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse
This comment is directed to reason 1. You will NEVER see MS offer an OS for just a $100 andh ave it work on any system. Microsft is just too complicated to do that. They like to harrass and confuse people, that is just what they do best. Admit it, you know, we all know the veracity of this whole scarade.
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2370 Posted by bezu87 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse
I bought a computer and it came preinstalled with Vista. I am having many problems trying to run professional 2000 on it. I am not happy because I did not have the choice of having the laptop with XP
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2371 Posted by tyrusaf on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:26PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm a life long hard core PC user from the DOS and have lived through a lot. Vista in its core is a better operating system than XP, in theory. Be it hardware, its drivers, unfinished platforms in windows media center that is affecting graphics and sound quality and lag. Or stability, bloated and in general hogging/stealing RAM and processor power I purchased to run everyday apps and that just cannot run on Vista and I have no idea if they ever will. Hardware manufactures are telling me, they have not started development of their drivers until MS completes development of software at their end. Manufacturers do no believe they can make stable drivers until MS makes specific OS improvements. I'm aware about 50% of the people who use Vista have no problems at all. Unfortunately many of my friends among those groups are using Vista in a way that avoids using a fully functional Vista because their needs are different and have far fewer applications and drivers. I thought the new UAC would drive me insane, but over time, that seemed to be an issue I could get use to. When my 4-1/2 Dell Lap motherboard died on me, I purchased a new one with top of the line processor and video and sound chip and none of it worked the way I wanted it and paid for. Sound was like I was underwater, video was crap. My previous laptop ran everything better and faster. The money I shelled out for an overall worse computer than didn't answer the mail. Will someone tell me what's the purpose of even having Windows Media player? I have returned 2 powerful Vista laptops and in a week or two will return a third. When an operating system affects my lifestyle to the point were I can no loner perform things I need and I spend too much time looking for work arounds, making registry changes and still getting poorer performance, I need to make serious changes to continue & move on. I will not give a company that forced me to buy a non-usable OS and will not provide me service or discs more money to buy an additional older OS they would not let me buy up front. I now have a Macbook Pro. Soon it will have XP pro with SP3 and Office 2007 Enterprise loaded onto it. I don't know what has happened to the MS I loved. Someone will have to tell me why a company who had dominated the 32 bit OS forever and had par none the best OS for Business and home use would put out a worse OS and try to force people to buy and use it instead. They have go so many versions of the OS, nobody, including MS know what is the difference. Linux and Leopard support 6 bit systems. Logic dictates, MS develops on OS that upgrades XP and it's applications to work on 64 Bit and the add a variety of useful features that take advantage of 64 bit. One system and converging technology that plugs and play and enhances features to make their other products fully integrated. The go out to develop specific industry applications and sell them separately with links to industry references and advertisers.
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2372 Posted by jamesfh1950 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse
I have been using windows XP from the beginning that I have had a computer. My wife bought her a new computer with vista. I use hers in the mornings because it is in the living room and I will not disturb her. Even after using vista for several months now I still prefer my XP. It is so much easier. It took me a year to learn enough about XP to take advantage of all it has to offer. I do not think I will will go through another year of learning. I have 2 legal copies of xp to format both of my computers when needed. I will stay that way thank you very much
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2373 Posted by doncolleen138 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse
I've been using Vista for sometime now with out any problems to take of. I think it's great just like Microsoft in a great corporation. If you nave a problem, ask mighty Mirosoft to please fix it. They will! Don't run off yelling "Vista" is bad, it's not true. Don
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2374 Posted by robertsoutherling on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse
its 2009 now; so what do people think of vista now? Best I say.
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2366 Posted by alramirezinbz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse
i was so happy with windows XP, now with Vista is a nightmare like most of you already know, i kept my old computer with XP. my friend tried to connect to a wireless network for internet we just could not do it!! there are 3 more computers with XP on the network and they just work great!! I am glad to know that DELL will give you the option to pick between VIsta or XP I agreed with you, Vista is the worst!!!