Wait! Don't buy Windows Vista! Microsoft's new OS is the best Windows ever. But don't buy it!

Computer World ^ | January 25, 2007 | Mike Elgan

[CedarDave]

Unless you've recently emerged from a coma, you know the consumer versions of Microsoft's new Vista operating system ship Tuesday. This column is not a review of Windows Vista. ... This article is for those of you who are about to download or purchase Windows Vista and install it on a PC. I'm here to talk you out of it. ...Here's why.

1. Vista is incomplete

Microsoft is already planning its first service pack .... Vista probably won't be truly ready for prime time until that first service pack version, possibly later this year.

The hardware and software companies that make compatible products for Vista aren't all ready for the new OS. ... Most importantly, not all video and sound card companies are ready.

~~ snip ~~

2. Vista is expensive

Microsoft offers three versions of Vista to home users in the U.S. ...

~~ snip ~~

3. Vista wants a new PC

To get full value from Vista, you're probably going to want to buy a new, Vista-optimized PC. Many of the benefits of Vista require hardware your current PC doesn't have.

~~ snip ~~

4. Vista is time-consuming

Installing any new operating system is time-consuming. You have to configure everything, load your data, install your applications and get your peripherals working. Then, in the case of Vista, you have to figure out where Microsoft buried all the options, menus and features ....

~~ snip ~~

5. Windows XP isn't obsolete

Vista ... doesn't really "solve" any existing problem. Windows XP ... is a solid, well-understood and highly functional operating system. ... Microsoft itself has committed to at least seven more years of XP support, and even plans a Service Pack 3 next year.

~~ snip ~~

6. Vista may be the best reason yet to buy a Mac

[chaos_5]

If no one buys it then it doesn't stand much of a chance to get driver support. Look, XP64 was the same way. I got it when if first came out and to this day I still don't have 100% driver support for all of my hardware. Besides, no operating system is ever complete, thats why you have updates. I admit, an OS will get abandon in enough time. Just like how 95,98,ME etc are no longer supported.

Go ahead, buy it. Just don't expect it to work the way you want right away. I would advise installing it alongside you current OS, and start bugging the manufactures of all the unsupported hardware you have for drivers.

Thats how an OS becomes viable. You buy it, you bug them, and updates arrive. =P

[reg45]

Tossed out the Windows?

defenestration

[vox_freedom]

I hope, and trust, that Apple has geared up for sufficient production to meet a huge growing demand. Apple's upcoming and new operating system might just blow the doors off the retail market.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Apple will start selling the next version of OS X, code-named Leopard, this spring.

The link is to a 6-month-old article, but it sounds very nice!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1774497/posts?page=44#44 I hope, and trust, that Apple has geared up for sufficient production to meet a huge growing demand. Apple's upcoming and new operating system might just blow the doors off the retail market.

If Apple sold a version of Tiger - never mind Leapard - for PCs, and priced it aggressively to run on hardware that won't support Vista . . .

[TheBattman]

Yep - the large installed base of users who do some internet browsing, email, and maybe a bit of letter writing are REALLY in need of new hardware just to appease a bloated new OS that they are brainwashed into thinking they need it.

I know many people with older hardware who could care less about the "latest and greatest"... OH - but they have Macs and haven't experienced the sometimes nightmare life ow a Windows user....

[Terpfen]

If all they need to do is read email and browse some sites, then they don't need Vista in the first place. Which is entirely my point: if older versions of Windows get those particular low-intensity tasks done, why then should Vista be intentionally hobbled in order to appease that particular crowd? It makes no sense.

Vista requiring some people to upgrade is not a bad thing.

[Revel]

"There reasons not to buy Vista that are not even in the article."

"Such as??"

Start with these:

Webroot: Vista’s Defender stops only 16% of spyware
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1774303/posts

Vista: Worthy, Largely Unexciting
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1769794/posts

Government spooks helped Microsoft build Vista
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1766122/posts

Security experts find flaws in Microsoft Windows Vista
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1758836/posts

Vista security spec 'longest suicide note in history
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1758236/posts

Vista Licenses Limit OS Transfers, Ban VM Use
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1718465/posts

Vista spyware may give filip to Linux and OS X
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1716142/posts

Cisco exec: Windows Vista is scary
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1704002/posts

Will Vista stall Net traffic?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1696776/posts

[protest1]

Same here, that's what I am still running on my near 7 year old PC (I upgrade it myself as need be). I will buy a good second hand PC running XP in the near future.

[Repeal The 17th]

Oh, no, it's certainly not because I think it is any better,
it's just because I "want" to keep it operational.

My basement is an elephant's graveyard of old electronics.
That is the category the 5 1/4" floppy drive is in.
In a few more years, the 3 1/2" drives will face the same fate.

I also have a fully functioning "record changer"; a fully functioning 8-track player; and a hand-cranked Victrola.

Once I had to explain to some of my kids teen aged friends what a "record" was and a what "needle" did. They said, "Oh, so it works like a CD player then?" I said. "Well, yeah, kinda like that."

My favorite is probably my fully-functioning old candlestick-style rotary-dial telephone ... the real thing, not one of the modern reproductions with the touch tone buttons on it. It takes two hands to use it. You have to hold the ear piece in one hand while you dial the number (yes, I said "dial", it still works) with the other hand, and then you have to lean over and talk into the mouthpiece.

Oh, well.
"See you on the flip side."

[CedarDave]

So, Dave. Again, What's your agenda?

Agenda? Why must I have an agenda? How about when I need a new computer, I can upgrade it with a faster proscessor, more RAM, a bigger hard drive for those digital photos of family and friends, a nice video monitor and NOT have to worry about learning a new OS, finding drivers for hardware that I have had since Windows 95 (my HP LJ-6 printer is one example), and wondering if my current applications, including some that unique to my profession, will work with the new OS. It would be nice to install XP and the service packs and go from there.

For me its about options. I want the option to continue to use, at least for a few more years, what I'm comfortable with. I don't need, nor want something with all the new bells and whistles. If others have lots of media apps and games that need the horsepower, so be it. I just want something that is fast, secure, reliable and doesn't require me to start at the bottom of the learning curve once again. And I venture to say there are millions of us, non-IT types, out there who feel the same way.

[CedarDave]

Go ahead, buy it. Just don't expect it to work the way you want right away.

Why should I pay good money for something that is NOT going to work right away? I remember that old saw about MS compared to your new car. If you bought a new model and the electric windows didn't work, the seats didn't adjust, the transmission shifted poorly, it overheated, etc., you didn't say "I'll not complain; I'll wait until they fix these things and then take it to the dealer to have it repaired." No, you called it a lemon and demanded the dealer give you a new car or refunded your money. We the consumers shouldn't have to pay good money for a product and expect anything else other than for it to work. We shouldn't be MS's beta testers.

[TheBattman]

The average person (and some 70%+ of computer users) doesn't need the "latest and greatest" hardware or OS. Yet the marketing will convince lots of folks they need Vista - and then the new hardware it takes to run it. MS will actually fix it's sales numbers by the many retail copies they will sell, then when those folks cannot use Vista on their old hardware, will then get to count the additional license that will be OEM with their new hardware... kind of a way to double dip the sales figures/installed figures. It's a fraud.

And as an off the trail fact...many of the people who buy a new machine (but in reality have no need for the latest hardware) are convinced that it was a good purchase because they do notice an increase in performance, when in reality - it is because their old machine had grown so slow because of spyware/virii/bloat/full HD/etc. Regular maintenance and security isn't followed by a scary percentage of users.

[Terpfen]

Yet the marketing will convince lots of folks they need Vista - and then the new hardware it takes to run it.

Which they will acquire via the purchase of a new computer with Vista loaded on, thus solving the upgrade dilemma.

Regular maintenance and security isn't followed by a scary percentage of users.

Microsoft really should require OEMs to ship their Windows installations with the Task Scheduler set to run the preloaded anti-virus software and Windows Defender once a week (with updates downloaded and installed before those programs begin scanning, of course), and the built-in defragger once a month. But of course, they don't, which leads to zombie PCs and unhappy users. It's amazing how this company can screw up so badly and yet still make billions of dollars.

[Doohickey]

Microsoft really should require OEMs to ship their Windows installations with the Task Scheduler set to run the preloaded anti-virus software and Windows Defender once a week (with updates downloaded and installed before those programs begin scanning, of course), and the built-in defragger once a month. But of course, they don't, which leads to zombie PCs and unhappy users. It's amazing how this company can screw up so badly and yet still make billions of dollars.

That would get them sued again. OEM PCs do come with anti-virus, but McAfee and Symantec are crap. You'll be glad to know that Vista does run scheduled defrags, though.

[Doohickey]

So you post negative articles and pile on to every anti-Vista thread because you're some sort of computer luddite who wants to keep his 12-year-old hardware and software? What are you looking for, validation? You may as well not even shop for new hardware - new stuff doesn't come with floppy drives, LPT or serial ports anymore.

[Terpfen]

That would get them sued again.

I don't see how, unless you're referring to Windows Defender, in which case they can remedy that by simply having the OEM substitute a similar program.

You'll be glad to know that Vista does run scheduled defrags, though.

Indeed it does. That's an improvement, but I eagerly await the day when Microsoft uses a file system that doesn't fragment itself so horrendously in the first place. (ZFS, anyone?)

[FreedomGuru]

Why should I pay good money for something that is NOT going to work right away?

I feel left out, never has Bill Gates forced me by gunpoint to buy a Microsoft product, or to upgrade.
Let's make a few comparisons. We will use Windows and Mac, Linux is a DIY system not going to be used by too many (at this time).
Windows tries to work on hundreds and hundreds of different configurations. Today I can purchase over 180 different mother boards, 500 video cards, 90 cd rw/dvd drives. For Mac desktops, I've got 1 mobo for Mac Pro and 3 different video cards. Imac basically 1 Mobo and a couple of video options. Its no wonder that Macs work relatively well, and they do break down also. It would be nice if every PC hardware maker, made updated drivers everyday but it won't happen. Technology changes too fast. Show me where MS is making you upgrade, even if they drop support for XP today, you DO NOT have to upgrade your OS.

[FreedomGuru]

The average person (and some 70%+ of computer users) doesn't need the "latest and greatest" hardware or OS. Yet the marketing will convince lots of folks they need Vista - and then the new hardware it takes to run it.

I must've picked up some Malware and I have been hijacked to DU or someother Socialist site.:-)
Who determines what 70% of computer users want or need? You, the government, who? I'm sorry that you are so susceptible to advertising. We still have some freedoms here, to buy something we don't need. :-)

[TheBattman]

I don't see anywhere where I am dictating anything...just posting an observation....goodness.