Windows Vista- a Report Windows Vista- a Report CardCard

Vic LaurieVic Lauriehttp://tips.vlaurie.com

Vista Comes of Age

Released for home use Jan. 30, 2007 Service Pack 1 now out

Service Pack 2 on the way Windows XP no longer generally

available System builders, “netbooks”, downgrades

Hardware drivers now more or less available (but not for older equipment)

New PCs pretty much Vista capable

Vista’s Reception

General consensus has been lukewarm at best

People expected more after 5 years of development

PC World chose it as the biggest tech disappointment of 2007

SP1 not seen as a big enough change

Is Vista Bad?

Vista is not a bad system but it is definitely disappointing

Microsoft made many promises that were not kept and it over-hyped Vista

Vista was late but was still released too soon The system is too complicated and slow The hardware requirements are very heavy Drivers weren’t ready Security measures heavy-handed No compelling new feature, except possibly security It costs too much

Recommended System Requirements

Vista Annoyances

User Account Control (UAC)

More Annoyances Many operations are slower

File copying really slow- better in SP1

More Annoyances

Boots are slow Hard drive churns a lot

Operations in background such as indexing, defragging, Windows Defender

Menus gone from Windows Explorer Other things rearranged IE7 security can be heavy-handed Some older software doesn’t work

On Vista but Also Available for On Vista but Also Available for XPXP

Internet Explorer 7Internet Explorer 7 Windows DefenderWindows Defender Windows Media Player 11Windows Media Player 11 .NET 3.0 Framework.NET 3.0 Framework Sidebar- equivalent in a number of Sidebar- equivalent in a number of

free programsfree programs Desktop searchDesktop search

Anything Good About Vista?

Better security A lot of increased defenses underneath Internet Explorer runs with restricted system access Parental controls

Fancy graphics- a matter of taste Many new tools for system administrators (but

of little interest for home users) Wireless networking easier (maybe) Searching and file management easier

(possibly) Better backup (but not in home edition)

Why the Lukewarm Reception?

Too many broken promises Released before it was really ready Drivers weren’t ready Requires too many resources Nothing really compelling For many, XP is good enough If released today, Vista would probably get

better reception

FWIW, My AdviceFWIW, My Advice

Don’t rush to upgrade an existing Don’t rush to upgrade an existing Windows XP systemWindows XP system If more performance is needed, add RAMIf more performance is needed, add RAM Add some of the new features that work on Add some of the new features that work on

both systems both systems Wait to buy a new PC until Windows 7Wait to buy a new PC until Windows 7 If you need a new PC now, present models If you need a new PC now, present models

work fine with Vistawork fine with Vista Consider a Mac if you do not use a lot of Consider a Mac if you do not use a lot of

specialized software or hardwarespecialized software or hardware

What’s Ahead

Service pack 2 for Vista Sometime in early 2009? Roll up patches since SP1 Burn Blu-ray natively

Windows 7 Mid 2009? Pre-beta just released to developers

What is Windows 7?

Based on pre-beta release, will be built on Vista, a kind of grand Service Pack One new feature is multi-touch May be a lighter OS- some features removed

Windows Mail, Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker removed

Faster than Vista Somewhat different interface

THE END