I want to know what you think of vista. Please post what you like or don't like.
My votes:
1: Tried RC1 Beta.
2: Neutral opinion of it right now. Looks pretty and I like Vista's visual theme (I didn't like winXP's theme at all). However, it sucks too many system resources for my liking (12Gb on HD and 500+ Mb of RAM in Aero) when WindowBlinds or Aston or such can give a nice-looking UI for very little system resources. Media Player 11 also suffers from horrid load times.
3: I might upgrade in a year or two, but right now I'm happy with Win2K, WinXP, and Fedora Core Linux.

I'm positive that my next laptop will have windows vista preloaded, but other than that winxp is as far as microsoft will go for me.

I tried every build so far (including MSDN releases only) excluding RC 1 and like it somwhat. The builds I had had some annoying bugs or features and was looking forward to seing some changes. Unfortunately, I cannot install Vista on an external HDD to see how RC 1 looks like and I am tired of repartitioning my HDD.

Also, I will probably get it after the first SP was released.

The whole 'needs your permission' thing is annoying. If I click on Device Manager as Aministrator, it should just go into Device Manager, not give me a stupid yes/no dialog box every time I want to do somthing. Does any one know if it can be turned off?

Have any of you tried the audio effects in the audio control panel? Things like the room correction, loudness EQ...

eww. gross.

I want to try out the beta, but with all this trusted computing shit, I'm not upgrading after if I can help it. Too satisfied with my current setup to muck around with my system right now.

Trusted computing is just some fancy word for DRM and its not like we currently dont have it on our computers.
Besides I look forward to the new windows architecture and DirectX10 (some applications and games will be vista only so upgrading to it is almost inevitable for some people).
I dont really like its resource hogging UI but Ill just flip on the windows classic and install blackbox.

1: Tried.
2: I didn't like.
3: Will never install or upgrade on my home PC, but I may be forced to use at work (hope not).

There are better choices than Vista around

Like?

Compiz and gnome

Ah sure Linux but IMO in a world dominated by windows and the gates an alternative OS isnt an option for some people

When I first installed it it seemed like it had virtually no advantage over XP. But there are a number of things that it does nicely - wireless networking and audio being the biggest plusses. Yes, the whole screen darkening ominously every time you try and do anything is hideously annoying, but presumably that's going to be improved on by release. If not, it'll be hideously insecure because everyone will switch it off completely. The whole signing of drivers is a bit off since it'll make a lot of hardware incompatible. Still I'm sure I'll get a machine running it at some point, but since I only have one cheap laptop and it's treble booting as it is I doubt it'll be any time soon.

Hm, looks like I'm in the same boat as over half the other responders. I'd switch to Ubuntu or OS X before switching to Vista. Vista looks like Microsoft's next Win ME: slow, buggy, insecure. This time though, Microsoft is aiming for security. In real-world language, after you get past the marketroids, it will end up instead as: more restrictions piled on the user. XP's level of restrictiveness bugs me already; I only use it because it's the defacto standard. The next switch I do should be to some other architecture that breaks some compatibility, like from 98 to XP to avoid ME. It will probably be to Ubuntu, with Windows in VMWare for legacy apps.

I'm continually astounded at the state of wireless drivers on Windows XP/2K today. Why does every board maker have to include a super-bloated suite of applications related to their wireless chip? Linksys, D-link, SMC, hawking, killme...

And don't get me started on the one on my Thinkpads either. It's even worse on my X40, where the IBM app to reconnect to a WPA wireless access point has to be running in a user context continuously...which plays havok on lost wireless connections when you are using multiple console accounts (e.g. my girlfriend is working on a project).

I suppose that's the secure way of doing things, but it's still super killing me that I have to switch to my user account, quit the app, switch back to hers and start it again.

I guess it's "good" that Microsoft got that right with Vista, but how it ever got this unright in the first place is a mystery.

/rant off

-brendan

Its not that unright, find the drivers and .ini file on a cd or in temp folders and avoid the dreaded setup.exe, then use windows SP2's own untility for searching for AP's.

Trusted Computing is something to watch out for, but it is mostly a hardware thing.
Link


Another thing I haven't liked since XP. I have a Promise TX2 IDE controller and when I installed XP, I could see the drives in my computer, but there were no folders in them. I stuck the floppy in that I got with the card and it whined that it had an unsigned driver and I said to use it anyway and the drives worked fine after that. IMO: the driver signing thing is just a way to get hardware companies to pay for the 'designed for Windows' logo.

Also IMO: Windows 98SE and 2Kpro were the most stable and user-friendly versions of Windows ever, depending on what you use your computer for.

I too have an IDE controller that only works with unsigned drivers. There are signed ones available, but they cause audio interruptions and general glitchiness.

Go Microsoft!

Mac OS X. Even Windows 2000 or XP.

Since you both have made statements that imply you have made a full, responsible comparison, may I ask exactly what build of Vista each of you has downloaded and tried? Surely that would be an easy thing for you to tell me.

I'm going to have to agree here. It is easy to say that X is better or worse than Y based on stereotyped or hear-say opinions without actually doing the research for yourself, and Microsoft has a lot of stereotyped opinions floating around about it's products. If you havent tried Vista, the download is free from Microsoft or bittorrent, and you will improve your credibility having actually tried it. If you have tried Vista, more power to you to bomb or promote it.

I've tried numerous builds from pre-beta1 to RC2 now, And I'm pretty impressed with Microsoft. Vista is a solid Operation Sytem and a worth-awhile upgrade to any older windows.

1. I don't care about Windows Vista.
2. I have not tried Vista.
3. I don't use Windows and I will not get Vista.

Personally if I ever move OS it will be to either Windows 2000 Pro or Windows 2003 Server-converted-to-workstation, as their stability and security appeals to me. If I manage to get a decent modem that works with non-windows OSes, I'll get FreeBSD on here.

I work at a very big company. We have access to all Vista Releases. We have many testing machines. We test our products against it. I don't install it myself, and i don't care about the build number, but i assure you its the latest version.

And the polls say that you are not alone, at least on 1 and 2.


Doubt ended.

latest version i have is build 5744.

That's either RC1 rel. 2 or RC2

And your issues, then?

bloated, ugly, still windows.

Goodness, you can do better than that, can't you?

What do you want, a console with bourne shell running on it?

Seriously, if it's a question of taste, there's no arguing personal taste.

But if you don't like how something works, tell me about it.

have you seen, for example, Mac OS X now, and Mac OS 9 then? After more than 5 years, this rehash of XP is the only thing that MS can came with? An MS has like what, 20 times more developers working on Vista?

For all you MS-bashers out there:
Microsuck Windoze Beasta
(covers self from impending rain of vegatables)

You say rehash. I say the most advanced Windows operating system to date, With numerous changes to the core of how things work. Who's right here?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_windows_vista
*whistles*

Let's see. I came into the (computer) world with GE Timesharing Mark 1, using Algol. I used research Unix from V2 DMERT to V11, IRIX, VMS, VM32, BSD, Redhat, using C, Basic, Focal, Fortran, Pascal, PL1, LISP, MATLAB, hm, I've left a few out, I'm sure...

Now, yes, I've seen lots of things.

How many of them can my mom use?

you are talking about the same OS that would be released, without (canceled):

Palladium,
WinFS,
Monad,
UEFI Support,
SecurID Support,
PC-to-PC Sync,

and probably many others? What is so advanced about Vista, that deserves a 5 years, with more budget thatn the space program?

http://www.techweb.com/article/printableAr..._section=700027

Quoting articles is nice.

Why would you want Palladium? I don't see TCPA as a good thing.
Monad will still be available as a seperate install due to all kinds of nice EU tactics and some security paranoia by other people.

WinFS' demise didn't hurt Vista all that much - You still have instant desktop integrated search system-wide. It could have been better, But it's certainly not bad.

UEFI - I'm not familiar with this, I suppose you mean EFI booting capabilities - Again, Not sure. What benefits are there?

Same goes to SecurID support. I haven't seen much backing up to this.

PC-to-PC Sync.. How many users would actually need this? Normal, Average users, Which are the majority of Windows' user base.

Don't get me wrong - Vista isn't perfect - But the complaints from some people are just unnerving. It's not the best thing since sliced bread. So what? It is a solid improvement that out-does every other windows OS out there with numerous improvements. Now, Since i dislike quoting other sources, You can go and read the gist of that in the mentioned wikipedia article.

i will never upgrade to Vista. For a while, i will stay with my current version. In the future, i will either switch to ReactOS or a non-windows OS.

ok, can you explain to me, what real advantages does it has over lets say, Windows 2003 or XP?

Lyx: Lovely argument, I guess.

kwanbis: To me? Locking down the kernel, The User mode audio and video drivers, Networking Improvements, Audio improvements including per-application volume, Integrated search, The start menu redesign, The breadcrumb bar and other similar changes prove a solid improvement to the overall experience. The fact Vista caches all the memory for quick transition between OS and user application tasks. There also all sorts of better secured features like system services no longer running in the same session as the user logons ('Session 0 Isolation') or ASLR ('Address Space Layout Randomization').
Like it or not, UAC is helpful in a way to prevent certain things, And in a way, XP spoiled us with default admin control - It shouldn't be the case in any modern OS.
For gaming, DirectX 10 is a god-sent gift, No more cap-bits. Vista's hardware detection is also better, and all my hardware gets installed and updated the moment i install vista. If we're on about installing, Vista's installer and the whole image-based solution to it are a good addition aswell. NTFS now has transactional operations, Which could be useful when you do things like deleting directories by mistake - and cancel in the middle (i haven't verified if the shell works like that yet). It also has symbolic links like in unix\linux, Also useful in certain situations.

Other things i enjoy are the 3D accelerated desktop. Even though WinFS isn't here, I find the search, grouping and stacking ablities of the shell quite enough, as well as the inline metadata tagging of content. The snipping tool is useful. Windows update not being a webservice anymore is also helpful. The task manager's services and procceses seperation helps around.

All in all, I don't see anything bad or worse in vista as of now (RC2 running as my main OS). I only see all-around improvements. It is not a life-changing revolution like we were promised in PDC2003, But its a damn good OS from my point of view (Developer).

Just my 2 cents on the whole "OMG VISTA SUCKS" issue.

Looks like I'm with the majority on this...

I want to avoid vista simply because I want to get away from proprietary stuff. I also suspect it will be even more bloated than XP.

But you haven't tried it, nor have you looked into the Vista audio chain, this being an audio board and all that.

Oh well.

yeah ... i can't wait to use vista with my cryogenic gold plated, same size, woofer cabels

Agreed. The original idea (user controlled) was a great idea, but what lurks now (content controlled) should go away for ever.


Every other 'windows OS' - that's the clincher. It will be better depending on what you like in an OS, but no-one's preferences are the same.


DX10 will be available for earlier versions of Windows, too- correct me if I'm wrong. It's a shame that not all of those Microsoft-provided drivers work as well as I'd hoped. The best bet is to use the drivers that came with the hardware, or downloaded from the manufacturer's site. Who cares if they're digitally signed .


Unfortunately. About 4X more on HD and RAM and obviosly the CPU and GPU take harder hits, especially in aero.

DirectX cannot be available to older OS', As it builds upon technologies used in Vista, As far as i know.

4x the resources? In which versions, really? My RC2 uses under 400MB ram sitting idle with my usual programs - mIRC, Miranda, uTorrent (downloading and seeding of course), Foobar playing, etc. Also remember that Vista caches almost all free RAM for quicker switching between OS tasks and Applications - After all, If you have the RAM, why should it sit idle?

CPU doesn't seem to get used much more either - Because the GPU is actually doing something now in the desktop environment.

P.S. I noticed that Aero does get shut-down when running full-screen games.

Another reason not to "upgrade" to Vista: it will only install onto a "new" system twice. Upgrade too many times? Time for a new OS again...

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=156

Under 400mb? That's nice, I have 256mb, XP runs fine with my programs too at about 100mb. Try again

Prepare for a lot of 2-5 year old systems that ran XP fine to be alienated from Vista. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those 256mb, integraded-graphics, Celeron/Duron budget-PC owners if Vista becomes the next super-standard. Vista is almost a forced hardware upgrade for most people.

One thing I honestly don't get is the piles of eye candy. An average user will be more confused about moving, gliding and fading windows than they will by clearly marked titles, buttons, and text. Why bump up the system requirements for confusion?

So, you say that? Please show your evidence that such is offered by Microsoft, or rather address what IS supplied by Microsoft for Audio processing.

Please do so from the POV of someone who has used it, not someone who refuses to use it, but who makes a whole variety of confused assertions.

Let's see.

No more Kmixer.

Exclusive mode (low latency, direct-to-sound-card, no gain, no thing)

Room Correction that's on a par with anything else.

Loudness EQ (not RMS, loudness)

Bass Management

Speaker fill (for the "my back speakers don't work" issue, not for the 'phile)

High-quality resampling (as good as anything else out there)

Consolidation of gain controls

Lower latency throughout

Floating point pipeline (no clipping in the WAVE streams) with limiters and bad-data protection

Acoustic Echo Cancellation for 128 foot paths.

Array Microphone support for com use

Now, you were saying? Would you care to actually TRY these and then address the points? I would suggest that mere guessing, like you are obviously doing, is quite inappropriate as well as rude.

Now, I'm only addressing the audio signal processing and pipeline. There are also a host of new features in WMP (your one-stop shop for A/V playback) but that's for a different person and a different thread, I think.

Please, now that you've engaged others in this thread and made some solid-seeming claims, show that you have some data to back up your assertions. Show us the speaker cable you speak of. Show us your test results on the various signal processing engines. Talk about the class-driver strategy.



This is a change how?




100mb? Really? What doyou use, sendmail? (n.b. sarcasm warning for those with slow sarcasm detectors)