windows vista- a report card
DESCRIPTION
An appraisal of where Windows Vista stands two years after its first release and a look at its relation to Windows XP and Windows 7TRANSCRIPT
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