Fed up with Vista

[gunslinger]

I guess thats the biggest problem I have with Vista: Most of my software wont work with it. As is the case with most people I do work for we have lots of expensive software that suddenly wont work. We should not have to go out and re-buy it all.

 

[dipper]

I guess thats the biggest problem I have with Vista: Most of my software wont work with it. As is the case with most people I do work for we have lots of expensive software that suddenly wont work. We should not have to go out and re-buy it all.

Thats why you should test the software 1st and if it doesn't work go back to XP. Which is what I've said all along!

I'm not forcing you to use Vista but you seemed to bag people who are using Vista and are happy with it.

 

[gunslinger]

Thats why you should test the software 1st and if it doesn't work go back to XP. Which is what I've said all along!

I'm not forcing you to use Vista but you seemed to bag people who are using Vista and are happy with it.

Most new systems don't come with XP, so there is no way to tell until you get the new computer if your software will work. Most of the software that says Vista comp. on the box is not. Not everyone has a "downgrade" option. I'm not "bagging" anyone that uses Vista and likes it. If it works for you, great. But for most people it does not. Oh, and I did test a lot of software on Vista and most of my software would not work with it, thats why I no longer run it or recommend anyone else do.

 

[gunslinger]

Oh and as far as being forced into Vista, its just a matter of time. When Microsoft no longer supports XP, your choices will be Vista, linux, or OS X. And right now OS X is looking pretty good.

 

[JohnR]

Microsoft stops supporting desktop OSen after *two* full desktop releases.

Meaning, XP will be supported as long as Vista is current, and as long as the one past Vista is current. When two full new desktop operating systems after Vista have come out, Microsoft will stop supporting XP.

And yes, this means that they finally stopped supporting ME when Vista was released, because They only keep 3 Desktop OSen in support at any one time - Vista, XP, 2000. When Vista's successor comes out, they'll drop 2000.

And as long as you can buy Vista Business or Ultimate, you can use XP Pro on the same license. That won't change, either.

 

[Blues]

John I would have to dig it up but I think MS changed thier support duration XP support will end before they even annouce a successor to Vista from what I recall. Thats an exageration but the point is XP support I think is going to end sooner then you expect. I could be wrong this is from memory and I saw this months back and since I think I heard reports of them extending it.

 

[JohnR]

John I would have to dig it up but I think MS changed thier support duration XP support will end before they even annouce a successor to Vista from what I recall. Thats an exageration but the point is XP support I think is going to end sooner then you expect. I could be wrong this is from memory and I saw this months back and since I think I heard reports of them extending it.

You're thinking XP's OEM sales. That's a tad different from their support.

It's been hard to buy Windows 2000 for years. However, you don't have to buy 2000. You could just buy XP Pro and install 2000, and 2000 was (and still is) fully supported by MS.

And yes, they had scheduled to stop selling OEM XP licenses, and they extended that deadline due to massive consumer (specifically, corporate consumer) demand. But that doesn't mean they're going to stop support of XP.

 

[gunslinger]

I know I'll be sticking with XP for a good long time. Vista has nothing to offer me. Having used it for the past year I can honestly say there are no pros in making the switch but there are a lot of cons. (Except for aero glass and improved search)
Speaking of Vista cons. My wife's uncle and I were discussing his new Dell over Thanksgiving turkey Thursday. His old system had gone out for the last time so he "upgraded" to a new Vista machine. Take in mind the only reason he even has a computer is so he can connect to work and work from home. After setup he found that he could not connect to his work. He called the IT dep. only to be told that the program they use to link him will not work on Vista ( guess they didn't get the memo about how great Vista is ).

 

[dipper]

Most new systems don't come with XP, so there is no way to tell until you get the new computer if your software will work.

Before they upgrade you install the programs they want on a Vista machine and test it! Its easy! You do have a Vista machine to test things on don't you? You can also speak with others who use the software and or the manufacturers (especially their support forums). While this is not perfect it will provide a good basis on whether the software will work or not.

Some of our customers went and bought Vista machines rather then coming through us. They then became the guinea pigs as well with us testing the company's internal software.

For us it has been very easy to test. If the software doesn't work with Vista don't you have options for XP?

 

[Bryce W]

As far as installing 3rd party apps and drivers being the only reason Vista is buggy: maybe you are right, maybe if I just installed Vista and MS office all would be great. How many people are going to do that? So I can't install my photoshop, foxit reader, 7-zip, Ashampoo burning studio, Firefox, AVG, VLC player or my printer software. If I do Vista gets buggy? Thats all 3rd party apps and drivers and they all work perfectly on XP.

I can verify that all of these 3rd party apps work great and stable on Vista (except Ashampoo cos I dont use it, therefor cant verify).

I guess thats the biggest problem I have with Vista: Most of my software wont work with it. As is the case with most people I do work for we have lots of expensive software that suddenly wont work. We should not have to go out and re-buy it all.

As I said in my post in this thread a while ago. All this isnt Vistas fault, its the software creators.

End users are definitely stuck in a crappy place. What will happen is that due to the new systems being built, all Windows software will be created/tested with Vista in mind. Vista will become more stable and most applications will work on it.

 

[gunslinger]

" I can verify that all of these 3rd party apps work great and stable on Vista (except Ashampoo cos I dont use it, therefor cant verify)."

Actually I had real problems with Vista 64 bit and firefox, AVG, and VLC. Maybe all thats been fixed with newer versions.

" End users are definitely stuck in a crappy place. What will happen is that due to the new systems being built, all Windows software will be created/tested with Vista in mind. Vista will become more stable and most applications will work on it."

Exactly, but its going to take time. As I said before in another six months to a year I might not have a problem recommending Vista as soon as service pack one comes out and fixes most of its issues.
Also I think any software maker thats slaps " Vista compatible " on the box should be testing the software on Vista machines first, some don't. I have seen maybe 12-15 customers go out and buy software that said it would work with Vista only to have them put in the disk and get an error that reads " this software has known compatibility issues with Vista " this has happend on different systems in the same house. There is no way the people who made this software tested it on a real system.
Another though is one of perspective. I try to see things from the customers point of view. If all their software, and printers scanners ect. worked, then Vista was tossed into the mix and suddenly most of it does not work or is buggy when it does, the problem is Vista not the rest of the world.
I work out with weights and take lots of supplements, sometimes taking as many as 20-30 pills a day, if I add a new one in and I get sick or feel bad I don't blame the other things that have worked for me for years, I blame the new stuff and stop taking it. Maybe later this product is fixed but I'll always have a bad taste in my mouth from it.

 

[NWPhotog]

I agree with most of your points Dipper. I haven't found any huge issues concerning Vista although I have't found compelling reasons to move to it either. I see a lot of anti-Vista talk that doesn't have a lot of substance. OTH, MS has failed to get good acceptance for Vista and it appears Vista's replacement will be available before XP will be 100% retired. All in all I think MS has screwed the pooch from a marketing and PR point of view.

 

[JohnR]

it appears Vista's replacement will be available before XP will be 100% retired.

Take a look at MS' software support policies. That was ALWAYS part of the plan, regardless of whether or not Vista took off and was the new killer app or not.

*2000* is not 100% retired, and MS won't consider it so until Vista's replacement is out.

 

[gunslinger]

I agree with most of your points Dipper. I haven't found any huge issues concerning Vista although I have't found compelling reasons to move to it either. I see a lot of anti-Vista talk that doesn't have a lot of substance. OTH, MS has failed to get good acceptance for Vista and it appears Vista's replacement will be available before XP will be 100% retired. All in all I think MS has screwed the pooch from a marketing and PR point of view.

Don't have a lot of substance huh? So all the dissatisfied Vista users that myself and many other techs have encountered is beside the point? I offer numbers, facts, figures and specific problems that both myself and many others have had. The pro Vista people say "well, um.....Vista works ok for me so it must be good" Guess I can't argue with all that substance.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNWyqs2Tlkw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50CKZQ10cM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pbRS9TXtVk&feature=related

 

[gunslinger]

Bottom line is Vista made it to market without being finished, maybe SP1 will complete this beta software.

 

[dipper]

I offer numbers, facts, figures and specific problems that both myself and many others have had. The pro Vista people say "well, um.....Vista works ok for me so it must be good" Guess I can't argue with all that substance.

But most of your issues are with third party applications and drivers. You cannot hold MS or Vista 100% responsible for that.

 

[gunslinger]

Like I said before if everything else worked fine until Vista came along, now it does not you can't blame everything else. You have to blame the last thing added. Regardless if you think its the 3 party apps fault or not there are still lots of issues with Vista not getting along well. I still think your argument for Vista is like one schizophrenic person calling everyone else crazy. Thing is if there was any other one piece of software out as buggy as Vista most people would say don't buy it.
I'm not an Apple fanboy or a Microsoft fanboy I just want software that works without a lot of fuss. As i'm sure most people do.

 

[NWPhotog]

Like I said before if everything else worked fine until Vista came along, now it does not you can't blame everything else.

As an experienced computer tech do you realize how wrong that is?

 

[NWPhotog]

Don't have a lot of substance huh? So all the dissatisfied Vista users that myself and many other techs have encountered is beside the point? I offer numbers, facts, figures and specific problems that both myself and many others have had. The pro Vista people say "well, um.....Vista works ok for me so it must be good" Guess I can't argue with all that substance.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNWyqs2Tlkw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50CKZQ10cM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pbRS9TXtVk&feature=related

Sorry, after listening to your evidence it seems totally anecdotal. Many people love to hate MS and that seems the real basis for most of the complaints. I worked for HP at the time and a year after XPs release we didn't have drivers for many HP products? Was that MS's fault? Not in my opinion.

 

[JohnR]

As an experienced computer tech do you realize how wrong that is?

What's so wrong about "everything worked before Vista. Vista adds no desirable features. Everything went to **** with Vista. Removing Vista fixed all the problems" being the train of logic you use to reach the conclusion "installing Vista is bad"?

It's a slow OS with compatibility problems, and no new features that justify the overhead and make it worth dealing with the compatibility. Forget if it's MS' fault or not - regardless of whose fault it is that Vista is bloated, slow, and has compatibility issues with everything, the fact remains that it is these things, and so there's still no compelling reason to upgrade, at all.