Vista at one year: Progress and painWindows upgrade fuels revenue and frustrations

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 1-30-2008 | Todd Bishop

[XR7]

Microsoft released Windows Vista to the world one year ago with ads likening the new PC operating system to such awe-inspiring moments as the first American spaceflight and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Charles Walling just wants it to work with his printer.

The retired Seattle warehouseman has spent hours on the Dell tech support line, installed all the drivers and, yes, double-checked all the cords and plugs. No luck. The cause of the problem isn't clear, but Walling knows one thing: The same printer worked with Windows Vista's predecessor, Windows XP.

"You can see the frustration," Walling said this week, sitting at his desk after Windows Vista displayed an error message in response to an attempt to print.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates recently called Windows Vista the "best new product of the year." The company says more than 100 million copies of the operating system have been licensed since it became available. Outside experts say Windows Vista is a major advance in security, and some users say their experience has been smooth.

But a year after its glitzy retail launch, Windows Vista has developed a reputation as a source of frustration for others.

The effects of that reputation are apparent in the habits of PC buyers. At the computer store Quidnunc in West Seattle, for example, owner Bill Hibler estimates that 40 percent of people ordering computers through his shop still ask for Windows XP.

"I'm still stocking almost as much XP as...Vista," Hibler said. Based on his experience, the only other time people have been so reluctant to choose a new Microsoft operating system was when the company released the widely panned Windows ME.

One of Vista's challenges is the explosion of hardware, software, devices and networks that the operating system has to work with...

[FourtySeven]

I switched to a Mac late last year. (iMac, 2.4 GHz dual processor, 2 GB SDRAM, 20” screen), she’s a beaut I tell ya!

Other than issues I’ve had with trying to play Windows games on it (using Parallels Desktop), I haven’t had a lick of trouble.

It’s worth the cost. It really, really is.

[50sDad]

I'm running one of my five computers at home under XP. The only hard part I had was convincing the Windows firewall and my McAffee firewall to work together, and thus allow safe but complete infotransfer in my LAN, but that was mostly my inexperience and not Bill Gate's fault.

This upgrade was driven only by my interest in "keeping up", as the many people I help with their computer problems had moved on, and I needed to understand how to work on their problems. For myself, I am happy as a clam with Win88SE as a rock solid, hardly ever crashing system that is easy to use (in my environement anyway.)

I am often given used parts or boxes which I gig up for students, the elderly, or as MAME arcade machines, and 98 is far enough behind the curve that it is fine for a new/used system. XP is so rabid about "tinkering" that if you change too much of your system, it demands your original software Key (which I have), but even the idea of Bill's people keeping THAT much of an eye on my personal computer just makes me uneasy and annoyed. I'm supposed to buy seperate copies of XP for every machine in my house after I have legitimately paid for XP? I can carry a paperback book I bought from room-to-room of my home and don't need to buy five copies of it. Pthpppppppt!

Vista? Just a chance to sell me the same car I already own, but slap tail fins and fuzzy dice on it and tell me it's a new car. I've heard nothing but trouble about it, and at the moment, any machine I am likely to build, either from scraps or from new parts for speed, seems to still run 98 just fine. Vista? Don't make me laugh.

[Cold Heat]

Some initial problems with non-microsoft apps, but all have been fixed in my case.

I love it! I am used to it now and make it work for me like no other op system that I have used. And........it is very secure.

[Izzy Dunne]

So, use the control key on their machine - CTRL-click is the same as right click, and has been for 10 years or more.

[ShadowAce]

[reagan_fanatic]

No thanks, Mr. Gates. You can keep it.

[AFreeBird]

Windows 2000 works fine for me. Well it did the last time I booted it. That was about three years ago. Been happily running SuSE in dual boot configuration since then.

I guess I should really go in and delete the Windows partition and give the space to SuSE.

[50sDad]

I use Kensington trackballs and a handfull of other, full-size pointers like it to rebuild arcade machines, because a full size arcade ball can run you $140 or so. Good solid feel.

My Tron Arcade

[ctdonath2]

Digital Rights Managment integration into Vista

Microsoft has thus lost sight of who their customer is.

This is the death knell for any company.

[bmwcyle]

I have been a Window person until this year. My next one will be a MAC.

[TruthWillWin]

I now have 3 computers with Vista, 2 at my business and the other is a laptop.

So far I have not had problems with Vista.

[TomGuy]

XP

I avoided VISTA after reading so much about its problems and DMA controls.

I checked some of the Linux stuff that runs from disk, but haven’t found any I really like. I’m not sure (for me) it is worth spending the time to learn a new system.

I ‘grew up’ on PC because the Mac ran behind as ‘office’ computers. Macs were good for graphic type uses, but PCs were better for office uses. PC graphics software sort of caught up.

Heck, some of the old DOS program and the GUI DOS programs work well. Microsoft sold the public/business community on Windows. Windows is basically just a fancy menu system with allot of extras added.

[Prince Caspian]

Vista works fine for me. No complaints whatsoever. Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot.

[rednek]

you are one of the lucky ones. I have 2 computers for my business. One with XP and a new laptop with Vista. I wish my damn printer would work on Vista. It will not read the HP drivers and tells to me reinstall every time I boot the laptop with the printer connected. Ideas anyone?? HP is no help.

regards - red

[swain_forkbeard]

XP had been so stable for me that when I got a new computer about a year ago (Vista was available), I chose another XP machine. I didn’t want to bleed on the edge. And I knew what sort of performance I could expect from a specified config.

[Niteranger68]

I'm running one of my five computers at home under XP. The only hard part I had was convincing the Windows firewall and my McAffee firewall to work together, and thus allow safe but complete infotransfer in my LAN, but that was mostly my inexperience and not Bill Gate's fault.

For a great freeware firewall that works with 2000/XP, try Comodo Personal Firewall. Windows firewall really stinks and shouldn't be used simultaneously with another firewall.

[ShadowAce]

Get rid of Vista. I bet Linux would support your printer, and XP is still available.

[mware]

I bought my Vista in September. Since that time it has been repaired twice. The last time cost me over $300.

[Biblebelter]

XP is the most stable and satisfying Microsoft product that I have ever used. Up until I got XP, my Mac experiences were so much better than my Microsoft ones.

[Liberty Valance]