Posted on 03/02/2007 8:38:09 PM PST by Swordmaker
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?
Vista?
Because I switched to Mac.
As with XP, I will let all the true faithful shake it down and find all of the errors for me over the next 12-18 months. SP2 is always about the right time.
1)An exaggeration, Most computers out there right now are Vista capable. Most computer users only need Vista Basic which runs perfectly fine on the majority of PC's.
2) Can't tell you how many times I hear "but teh Vista is nothing but a visual upgrade", wrong Vista is much more than Aero and Flip 3d there is better multi-tasking, superfetch, ready-boost and numerous other benefits.
3) What a total and complete exaggeration, UAC only comes up when installing a new program, changing a program or accessing control programs in the control panel.99% of the time the user hardly has to deal with it.
4) This is an issue that will pass over time, just like any new OS offering.
5) I wouldnt say confusing, the search function actually makes finding stuff easier, however manually digging for the stuff is not the same.
6) I actually found these tasks to be even easier than XP and have had zero problems.
I think this author is either stuck on an old Beta or is reading Mac or Linux users opinions.
Office 2003 works on Vista, Vista Basic is only a 99 dollar upgrade(and no its not crippled the only major difference between that and Ultimate and Premium is the lack of Media Center and AeroGlass), so unless you have 10 computers you wont be spending that much to upgrade your PC's.
Apple upgrades OSX every 12 to 18 months and they cost $130 and nobody complain about that.
No Cheers, unfortunately.
Price is too high for an OS I don't actually need right now.
Just started using XP about 2 months ago... Still dont really like it compared to Windows 2000!
Just started using Windows 2000 about 2 months ago... Still dont really like it compared to Windows 95!
I actually preferred Windows 98 and Word 97.
Every time I buy a new computer I have been forced into an upgrade. Every new version is just a bit more “user friendly” - which can be a pain in the butt. I am currently using XP. Every time I insert a disk the system pops up with a box that asks if I want to view a slide show, etc. I have to click to remove the popup. Other popups inform me that I am connected to the internet or that connections are available.
As much as I dislike popups on web sites, why would I want them on my OS?
You must have a boat load of Microsoft stock or be Gate's brother in law....saw an earlier thread where you were defending Vista. Tell you what.....I would give 99 bucks to get Vista uninstalled and XP installed on the machine I bought a couple of weeks ago. Vista, IMHO, as the kids say "sucks"!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
That's hilarious! Nice job, Microsoft!
Am I confused or hasn't essentially the same been said about each new version of Windows?
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