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Vista at one year: Progress and painWindows upgrade fuels revenue and frustrations
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 1-30-2008 | Todd Bishop

Posted on 01/30/2008 10:17:19 AM PST by 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...

(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: apple; computers; mac; microshaft; microsoft; pc; vista; windows; xp
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To: XR7

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.


21 posted on 01/30/2008 10:39:25 AM PST by FourtySeven (47)
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To: XR7
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.

22 posted on 01/30/2008 10:39:31 AM PST by 50sDad (Liberals: Never Happy, Never Grateful, Never Right.)
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To: XR7
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.

23 posted on 01/30/2008 10:39:35 AM PST by Cold Heat (Mitt....2008)
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To: Maceman

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


24 posted on 01/30/2008 10:41:17 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

25 posted on 01/30/2008 10:42:06 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: XR7

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


26 posted on 01/30/2008 10:42:56 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (If McCain wins, we lose)
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To: XR7
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.

27 posted on 01/30/2008 10:42:58 AM PST by AFreeBird (No Romney, No Rudy, No McLame, No Huck, No Paul! Toss the GOP into the ashcan of History.)
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To: rlmorel
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

28 posted on 01/30/2008 10:43:10 AM PST by 50sDad (Liberals: Never Happy, Never Grateful, Never Right.)
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To: Justa
Digital Rights Managment integration into Vista

Microsoft has thus lost sight of who their customer is.

This is the death knell for any company.

29 posted on 01/30/2008 10:44:48 AM PST by ctdonath2 (GWB wept for those who suffer. HRC wept for herself.)
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To: XR7

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


30 posted on 01/30/2008 10:45:06 AM PST by bmwcyle (What is the American voter thinking?)
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To: philsfan24

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.


31 posted on 01/30/2008 10:45:13 AM PST by TruthWillWin
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To: XR7

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.


32 posted on 01/30/2008 10:46:28 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: XR7

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


33 posted on 01/30/2008 10:48:31 AM PST by Prince Caspian (Don't ask if it's risky... Ask if the reward is worth the risk)
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To: TruthWillWin
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

34 posted on 01/30/2008 10:50:11 AM PST by rednek (if it isn't large caliber, it isn't worth carrying)
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To: XR7

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.


35 posted on 01/30/2008 10:54:20 AM PST by swain_forkbeard (Rationality may not be sufficient, but it is necessary.)
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To: 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.

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.

36 posted on 01/30/2008 10:56:16 AM PST by Niteranger68 (Either order from the menu or go open your own restaurant.)
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To: rednek

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


37 posted on 01/30/2008 10:56:19 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: XR7

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


38 posted on 01/30/2008 10:56:58 AM PST by mware (Americans in arm chairs doing the work of the media.)
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To: XR7

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.


39 posted on 01/30/2008 10:57:04 AM PST by Biblebelter
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To: XR7

40 posted on 01/30/2008 10:57:40 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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