Top 5 Reasons one should NOT get Vista, just yet!

22Feb/0717

Top 5 Reasons one should NOT get Vista, just yet!

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I've been testing Windows Vista Ultimate for a week now, and now I think I've just had enough and I'm removing it from my PC, it has not made me switch from my OpenSUSE 10.2 Linux installation, and I use Windows XP for some limited work, related to a project. I believe in the next few months there is an opening for Linux to penetrate into mainstream computing, you can see the signs: Dell customers are demanding Linux, Mono Project maturing to the point where it is becoming increasingly possible to port native windows applications to Linux, say C#.NET, VB.NET. Virtualization becoming increasingly more efficient and powerful, allowing the transparent integration of operating systems and blurring the lines of what can and run and what not!

So back to Vista, what were my experiences from a week of testing: Excellent Graphics and UI, but weak everywhere else!

So these are my reasons why the World is not yet ready for Vista

1. You require new hardware and 2: No geniune innovation: This is a major sticking point for me. I don't want to get a new hardware for an OS that doesn't allow me to do anything which my current OS don't allow me to. In All the 4 days of Vista testing, I have not seen anything that is a geniune innovation and makes me crave for it! No, the post here, the blogger identifies some things which Vista can do and Windows XP can't:

"Can I change the volume on a per-application basis in Windows XP? Do I have integrated system-wide search in Windows XP? Can I set the language on a per-user basis in Windows XP? Does Windows XP have per-file emails and contacts?"

First of all the first thing he highlights, is a completely redundant feature: Why would I want to set multiple volume for specific applications, given that I'm listening to only one at any one time! The Integrated System Search in Windows Vista, is better than the pathetic search in Windows XP, however it still doesnt beat Google Desktop Search for me! Again, I assume that you speak only one language or your family members or co-workers do the same, so I can hardly think of a scenario where people speaking different languages share the same computer, or how often does that occur?

The hardware support in Windows Vista is pathetic! When Windows XP came out, it supported all major hardware of its time. However Windows Vista doesn't. I tested on a PC with the Intel D865GBF Motherboard, and it didn't detect any hardware in it, neither are audio drivers for the said platform available for Windows Vista.

3: Not enough applications, in a recent talk, Bill Gates said "The strength of the windows platform comes from the ecosystem around it". And that is the exact reason for Windows dominance in the Desktop. Microsoft has provided EXCELLENT development environment in terms of the Visual Studio, and APIs to facilitate development of all sorts of application. Millions of ISVs around the world are busy churning out Windows specific software. The title of this blog post is "Top 5 Reasons one should NOT get Vista, just yet!". "Just yet", because right now there are very few application which take advantage of the .NET 3.0 framework, or any of Vistas GUI features. Eventually they will, once we start seeing those applications then the adoption of Vista may rise, but we are not there yet! Also, there are very few games which take advantage of DirectX X, again once those games start appearing then Windows Vista may appeal to gamers.

The application which Windows Vista ships with it, are pathetic! For example look at MS Paint, couldn't they replace it with Paint.NET.

4: Security: Although security in Vista is considerably better, however I still don't want to rely on MS security tools, and tried installing third party security tools, and guess what: Vista won't let me install them. I really love, Sygate Professional, it is one of the best firewalls I've ever come across, however in Vista it seems to be blocked or something for "known compatibility issues".

5: DRM: Enough said about it in a lot of places elsewhere, I don't think I need to go over it again

So in conclusion: If you absolutely have to get Windows, don't get Windows Vista just yet, wait for the applications ie. The geniune innovation, if they are appealing enough then make the switch.

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http://worldinconflict.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/bad-boys-on-target/ Bad Boys on Target « World in Conflict

[...] another article which justifies the decision not to switch to Windows Vista, at the [...]
http://jafferhaider.wordpress.com/ Jaffer

Nice post. It’s been 2 weeks since I’ve replaced my 4 yr old Windows XP with Ubuntu Edgy Elf, and I’m LOVING IT! I’m slowly becoming a Ubuntu convert, and with the reasons that you’ve mentioned (Mono, virtualization ..) I’m more inclined to say with Ubuntu.
Although I haven’t tried Vista myself, I’m not overly impressed primarily because of the 2 facts you’ve mentioned above a) No innovation, b) Spend a bucket load of cash on the hardware and on Vista itself.
Whereas I can get Vista for free and installing Beryl gives me a much nicer (and customizable) UI than Aero.
Interestingly enough, I have an Intel 865GBF board as well, and I didn’t have any driver issues on Edgy Elf. I ‘thought’ I had sound card driver issues, but they turned out to be default setting issues. So I guess Ubuntu > Vista in that department (sweeping generalization … yes I know).
http://gracefulflavor.wordpress.com/ Jeff Ventura

Your experiences pretty much echo mine. I think Vista was rushed before the ecosystem surrounding it was truly ready, and that’s what’s giving birth to endless forum and blog posts about issues Vista is presenting when users try to do what they’ve always done with Windows XP.

Not a good launch for Microsoft. You can put lipstick all over it, try to hide the facts, but it didn’t go well. The “wow” did not start now, and people did not line up to get the OS. Sorry. Them’s the facts.

I run and edit Graceful Flavor, and I blog about Vista quite a bit over there, despite the fact that I’m essentially a Mac guy. Even with Vista’s issues and its slow start, I still think it will wind up dominating the market, with its strongest competition coming from XP and user upgrade resistance.

Sure, a few will bail to Macs, but it’s a Windows world and it will stay that way. Anyone predicting a new Mac or Linux world order is quite delusional.

So Vista will mellow out, and it will become the de facto OS for the mainstream user and businesses. Problem is, there’s no passion for it — it’s just something that will be forced on people the next time they buy a computer.

Now, watch when OSX Leopard comes out — there will be buzz, there will be hype, and there will be lines at the Apple stores waiting for it the day it’s released. Bunch of stupid Apple fanboys? Maybe — but Microsoft would kill for fanboys like that.

Anyway, good post.

Jeff Ventura
Graceful Flavor
http://sockrebel.wordpress.com/ sockrebel

@Jaffer
FYI – Ubuntu 6.10 is Edgy Eft
http://thesunnah.wordpress.com/ abu ameerah

i think i’ll just stick with XP….
http://ccjohannesburg.com ~stephenpaul~

I totally agree – My mom was going to buy Vista for her laptop which is fairly modern (she got it for Christmas of ‘05) but I reccommended against it with everything in me, knowing that she’d hate it (she’s not too keen on changes but was told that it had features she “just couldn’t miss out on”)
http://coryw.wordpress.com/ Lensflare

I agree–Microsoft did not generate enough hype for their new OS. I also think the OEM version will be dramatically less, considering Windows XP Media Center Edition is available for $60 at http://4softsite.info/ .

I have highly enjoyed the wide capabilities of Windows, but have recently been looking into Macs. I used an iMac for about 10 minutes one day, and fell in love with the graphics and computing power.

I have taken a peek at the Leopard preview page, and I am anticipating the release of this Operating System.

So, I think I might invest in a new Mac as soon as possible. One small thing Windows has against Mac, however, is price. You can get a Windows laptop or desktop for as little as $300, but–correct me if I’m wrong–a Mac starts at about $1100, unless you count the Mac mini, at $600.
http://tinhatchat.wordpress.com/ Jimmy McBean

I bought, installed, and removed VISTA! LOL! It looks good but my printer wouldn’t work as well as plenty of software I had. It would be too costly to buy a new printer and software in addition to the cost of the VISTA software. Too bad, it’s just sitting in it’s box at the bottom of my desk.
http://www.mysemut.com semutindo

I agree. Just stick with XP first.
http://roostersrail.wordpress.com/ The Rooster

I agree for the most part. But I would also suggest that among the alternatives users are considering buying a Mac. This is what I am considering in any case. However the users that want to stick with their hardware – sure they may well consider an open source solution.
http://nickcastilla.wordpress.com/ nickcastilla1610

I agree, i went to see Vista and i didn’t say “wow”. I like Ubuntu and to make it that extra bt sweeter i use Beryl. I would buy a Mac but they are a little to expensive.
http://anbesivam.wordpress.com/ anbesivam

hi,
I haven’t experience VISTA.From the overall I believe vista came with huge flaw . Moreover i ‘ll say about vista tomorrow because I’m going to attend Windows Vista Workshop (24/2/07).
Let see whether ” WOW ” or not
http://sneltrekker.wordpress.com/ sneltrekker

I got Vista for free from my employer thanks to good connections with MSDN.

Installed it on a spare PC, tested it, and uninstalled it.

Now, I’m not a Linux fanboy at all, I used to run Linux on an older PC. It took me one month to get my wireless internet running on Linux, and by then I was so frustrated with it that I reinstalled Windows XP.

But Vista … dang. For me the major reason though is the DRM. Ideologically I oppose DRM completely. The other reasons will fix themself over time, but the DRM is there to stay.

I’m thinking that even after getting Vista (well, after being forced to get it when I build a new PC), I’ll still keep a Windows XP box around for when I need it.
http://nicodemus.wordpress.com/ Nicodemus

I received Vista from my school’s MSDNAA before I graduated (technically after, it’s nice to have nerdy friends in charge of things like that ).

I have to say, so far I’ve been enjoying the experience, and disagree with a lot of the reasons people list. Many, many of these arguments are parallel to the arguments about switching from 95 to 98, 98 to 2000, 2000 to XP etc. Considering that every XP application I’ve tried so far has worked wonderfully on Vista, and that the UAC can easily be turned off, I’ve been enjoying ‘the small things’ in Vista a ton.

The hardware upgrade requirement is a myth as well, seeing as my 5 year old custom built machine that was midlevel back then can run Vista perfectly, with Aero and everything. A lot of the hardware rumors are perpetuated by overexcited hardware vendors. RAM is one thing that I could use more of, but it runs about as well as XP on the same hardware.

As for innovation, you’re right and wrong at the same time. You’re right in that there is nothing groundshakingly different like the jump from 3.11 to 95, but which Windows OS recently HAS had something major like that? Vista is all about the small things, the nice touches that really, really help out. There’s a lot of new nice little touches that make the OS worth it. (Example: Launch a quicklaunch application with Windows key + #)

I don’t really have much to say about DRM as it hasn’t affected me at all yet, so I’ll just say that while it is an important issue, I don’t think that everything will be as bad as everyone points out that it could be. In otherwords, estimations and examples are overemphasized to make a point rather than a real example.

Just my two cents on why it’s not a terrible thing to switch to Vista.
http://freeandflawed.wordpress.com/2007/02/23/to-vista-or-not-to-vista/ To Vista, Or Not to Vista « You are flawed if you are not free

[...] I found a few blogs this morning in which people share their opinion on Vista: Not to Vista [...]
http://optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com/ optinlistbuilder

Ok..so you’ve listed the 5 reasons why you shouldn’t get Vista just yet.

Well, how about 5 reasons why you should get vista.

Here’s what techblog.com had to say.

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/5-reasons-why-you-should-get-vista#more-7736
http://coops.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/my-very-short-vista-experience/ My Very Short Vista Experience « Coops was here

[...] Well, I got it home, and saw everything was quite fancy. I enjoyed the Aero feature: fancy live previews and all. The security thing was a little over-bearing. There were a thousand other little bells and whistles that makes noises and look cool, but I can’t remember them all. Unfortunately I wasn’t smart enough to weigh up all the pros and cons, because the cons were quite a few. [...]
http://pclinuxos.com linuxiac

Just go grab a GNU/Linux, or *BSD distro, there are 800+ of the things.

They include thousands of applications, suites, programs, that can read and write all files in existance since 1986. Like, Microsoft Office files, power point presentations, and Excel sheets.

No, Microsoft Office 2007 can’t do that. Limited to reading Office 2003 files. Some 2000 things come through, wavy…

310 liveCDroms are at http://livecdlist.com that you download for free, burn to CDrom, reboot. They run in RAMdisc. No trace left on the drives.

Upon install, they run upto 50X faster than did Microsoft’s OS.
That might be 500X faster, in the case of Vista!

Install needs about 6Gb of drive space. Yeah, huge. I know. The kernel is really small, and fast.

Many of the things you ‘need’ from Windows are done better in the native apps. or can run in VMware. Look at all the folks switching to GNU/Linux! http://Ubuntu.org is a GNU/Linux. They’ll mail you a disc!
http://technodigits.wordpress.com imani9009

See my post on windows vista. After viewing this post I think you will not such like articles

href=”http://technodigits.wordpress.com/2007/06/17/why-vista-is-better-than-xp/”>Windows Vista VS Windows XP
polly

wahh? reasons not to get vista contradicts the hole point of the reasons to get
it, Anyways in my case I dont care about drm i dont watch tv and movies i only listen to music@

just cant stand the fact that it supports no hardware at this point, and that it cancelled sound card acceleration.
what a joke, how can there be reasons to get vista if if refuses to detect your graphics card and tv card
and better yet why would you get vista if it bans soundblaster cards
from working! people in computing must realize that you cant apply caveman ideologics to computer software
nor hardware unless you dont want it to work at all..My say is, if your an anarchist get out of the pc buisness.