Why Aren't You Upgrading to Vista?

Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:13PM EST

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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?

Comments on Why Aren't You Upgrading to Vista?

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  • 6 Posted by howardrm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Because of all the reasons you said and because my next replacement computers will be Macs!

  • 7 Posted by dmg122884 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Since the main advantage Vista has over XP is its interface, Microsoft really should just create a patch that gives XP users the option of changing XP's appearance to look more like Vista. Of course they will never do this because they want us to have to buy Vista in order to get any of the improvements it offers.

  • 8 Posted by dehnger2u on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Waiting for stability in it. Remember when XP shipped everyone? 10,000+ Bugs? All the needs we are griping about now are things that XP brought to the table.....count on the same happening with VISTA as the kinks are ironed out....you have to figure that the way we are being FORCED to take the new OS, it will eventually become something we cannot do without...like XP is now! Thanks Chris

  • 9 Posted by robeko1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Because LINUX sounds so, so much better. No monopoly. No bullying big brother behind your back. No shoveling down your throat everything you need or not. Then lets protect the innovative companies out there from being sucked up by the mammoth. Almost everything MS has, is a result of others innovation, small little companies gobbled up then destroyed. MS is destroying our innovating technology, locking out everything but itself. That's why I no longer want anything coming from Microsoft.

  • 10 Posted by don+willmott on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    You know the old--and true--saying: Microsoft gets things right on the third try. So I'll be waiting a while and in the meantime will continue to speak softly and kindly to my computer and bakc up regularly and hope it holds out for quite a bit longer.

  • 11 Posted by shutrbug@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    BitLocker would we nice to have, but it's available only on Ultimate and the Enterprise SKUs. So I'm happy with XP for now and will likely move to Linux, running the necessary Windows programs like Photoshop in a virtual machine.

  • 12 Posted by jpneal_totalscope on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    The more I use Vista, the more I realise how poor it is, despite a favourable initial impression due to the fancy graphics. Everything is more difficult and confusing than Windows XP. It makes me realise how good an operating system Windows XP was.

  • 13 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    The way Vista tries to micro manage your video experience and downgrades ALL video performance was the number one issue for me. I deal in high def video all day long. I will stick with XP on the machines that have them, and the office is switching to Linux as we speak. The MACs will stay as they are. I think Microsoft painted themselves into a corner they will never recover from.

  • 14 Posted by ib4it on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    My Dad bought a Compaq with the bios on a partion of the Hard Drive and ME on the other partition. It has been heck for me answering his questions and he has rejected/denied my claim that he has the worst computer with the worst OS ever. I finally have him talked into buying a new computer and...........it looks like he is getting "stuck" again.

  • 15 Posted by weehummer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    I was urged (using the word loosely) to get XP. Less than a mo went by - it went kapoot! Week later, it returned supposedly fixed. However, It still does strange things and is hard to use and understand. Now why would I want to try that Vista thing. No way. JH

  • 16 Posted by dave_penn75647 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think many of us learned our lesson about upgrading too quick from the XP release

  • 17 Posted by kimathon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why pay more money for something that justs looks prettier? You never buy a first model year of any car; do you? Nuff said.

  • 18 Posted by zacharysite on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    If windows keeps this up, Im going to go to Mac or a better OS which is Linux or Unix. These two never crash but you need to know what your doing.

  • 19 Posted by norton0704 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    My experience is telling me not to buy the first edition of any software unless I want to be risky my data. Does MS pay for my lost data, or any fee caused if I have problem with Vista. Of course, every one know answer already. Hence, be patient, after 1 or 1 1/2 year, its not too late to try Vista if we really need. And now, still enjoy our XP. I think the most compatible MS's OS.

  • 20 Posted by norton0704 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    My experience is telling me not to buy the first edition of any software unless I want to be risky my data. Does MS pay for my lost data, or any fee caused if I have problem with Vista. Of course, every one know answer already. Hence, be patient, after 1 or 1 1/2 year, its not too late to try Vista if we really need. And now, still enjoy our XP. I think the most compatible MS's OS.

  • 21 Posted by miller6994 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is the reason for people to realize that if you are tired of XP then the next step would be Linux not Vista. Look at Freespire.

  • 22 Posted by osprey1892 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    A couple reasons: 1. I have a biological big brother sure do not need a corporate, governmental, or techno one named Billy Boy. 2. Dealing with Pirates and Technology thieves is strongly discouraged by Microstupid and Billy Boy. In view of the recent decision for $1.52 billion against the Uber Nazi's I would say this puts them right at the top as thieves and Techno Pirates. 3. I already have to sign and agree to more than enough junk all the time so they can make sure my OS is not pirated. My God isn't once enough???? I do not change my OS or my machine weekly and if I did I have the original discs that were paid for.(SO MICROSTUPID GET THE _ _ _ _ OUT OF MY FACE) once is enough. Dealing with Microstupid is almost like applying for anothe Social Security number. Just what we all need another number tatoo on our other arm. 4. I really do not feel like building another machine this one works fine and dandy. That interface is NOT all that impressive. So questions you should probably ask before rushing out to get this are: Do I really I mean REALLY need this? Is it worth the cost or total compounded costs? Do I need more aggravation and monitoring from Microstupid? Will I be buying genuine original not pirated or stolen technology? If later down the road it is found that Microstupid and Billy stold all or part of this how will it effect me and what will the cost of that be? Therefor if you go for it You have a new big brother and he is a THIEF and a spy. I think his middle name might be SONY or Rootkit.

  • 23 Posted by geraldshields2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well, the place that I'm working at is planning to do an upgrade . . . to WinXP. Let's face it: Microsoft didn't do a good job at getting the developers to get their programs, drivers and utilities to work well with Vista. The result to that is you have those folks convincing users to wait until there's a Vista version of their software or at some instances, a service pack before they upgrade.

  • 24 Posted by nabiljamal on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Dear Mr. Null Thank you for your "Why Aren't You Upgrading to Vista?" article. I needed your comments as I was about to go for Vista Home Ed. But now, I've decided to wait on my XP until - as you say - the Service Pack of Vista is out and it is clearly bug free. Again, Thank you Nabil Jamal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

  • 25 Posted by eneleh99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    im so glad i wasnt rushing into upgrading to vista. my null,ur such a great help. thank u.

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