Vista: The 'wow' starts ... later

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Ian Grayson03 October 2007, 4:41 AM

Despite Microsoft's best efforts to promote its Vista operating system, the company is bowing to customer pressure and offering free downgrades to XP (as well as extending XP's retail shelf life.)
Nine months after it launched Vista to consumers, Microsoft is begrudgingly admitting that not everyone is enamoured with the new operating system.

Vista has been dogged by reports of sluggish performance and a lack of drivers since launch. It seems that, after trying it for themselves, some customers want to revert to the tried and true Windows XP.

So, the Redmond giant has quietly extended availability of Windows XP for a further five months, to June 30 2008, and is also allowing some Vista users to downgrade their new systems.

Microsoft Australia declined an APC Magazine request for an interview on the subject, instead offering a written statement.

"OEM versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate provide the end user with downgrade rights, as outlined within the license terms," says the statement.

"Although neither the OEM nor Microsoft is obligated to supply earlier versions to end users under the end user licensing terms, we are enabling OEMs who manufacture OEM Activation-enabled Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate systems to order Windows XP media so they can include the disks in-box.

"Microsoft continually listens to feedback from our partners as well as customers, and our licensing options reflect that through new options we have historically rolled out."

Microsoft maintains that end users have always had the right to downgrade from Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to XP Professional, Windows Professional x64 Edition or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Several PC vendors have begun offering the Vista downgrade option to customers who have purchased either the Business or Ultimate versions of the OS.

Fujitsu has begun including an XP disk in boxes when shipping desktop and notebook PCs and Lenovo is offering a similar option. Lenovo has provided a step-by-step explanation on its website of the process users must take to remove Vista and replace it with XP.

Meanwhile Dell Australia, in another written statement, says it continues to offer both Vista and XP to consumer and business customers and so having a downgrade option is not needed.

 


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Vista:

To be honest, I am not at all surprised by this. An OS that was pushed out really fast, that is slower than the previous version AND requires a better system in order to run it.

Don't get me wrong. I have used Vista and it isn't too bad. There are some features that are really good but there is no way I would willingly move from XP to Vista at this moment. I probably will in the future but not until it's been fixed.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Wizard of OZ:

I agree with the previous poster. I have had Vista Ultimate since it was released. BIG MISTAKE! I won't do that again!

I still don't have drivers for my scanner. Bootup and shutdown take forever and XP was definitely faster and much better.

I have to say I like the Vista GUI and there are some other features that I prefer over XP, but I am not enamoured by the UAC, and the so called extras Ultimate purchasers were promised do not justify the higher price.

I am seriously thinking about purchasing a cheap second hand computer and taking up APC's challenge to install all free software (Linux, Open Office, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc.) and see if I can do everything I want with it, and then I will consider changing my main computer over and giving Windows the flick altogether.

Purchasing something as necessary as an operating system, (and an expensive one like Vista), you expect some bugs, nothing is going to operate perfectly, but you don't expect a slower, more bug-ridden system than previously. My experience with Vista has turned me off altogether. I've learned my lesson. The WOW definitely does start later, but WHEN...?

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Jackson Capper:

Vista is a fantastic product. I bought a new laptop with Vista and everything has run as smooth as anything. It looks great, feels great, and I've been more productive then ever.

So what is everyone complaining about? Is it because it's a Microsoft product? Everyone wanted them to do this, and make it secure, and make it look better, fix all the holes. Microsoft delivered exactly that and yet the complaining continues. I don't think they can win?

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Mario:

I have to agree and disagree at the same time with Jackson. I just built a new pc and put Vista Ultimate on it. It runs great and I haven't had any problems. But then I thought, let me try and install Vista onto my older Pentium 4 system with 1gb of RAM. Here is where my problem is. When XP came out I was able to put it on older systems and make them run better than with 2000. The same can not be said for Vista and I think this is where the big complaint is. A new operating system should run better and more effeciently than their previous version. This they did not acheive.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

ozgeek:

No matter how, every time a new Operating System gets released, there is bounds to be complaints and critisms. It is part of learning to adapt to the new OS. XP recieved the same thing when it was released back in 2001. Most people stayed with 98 until SP2 for XP was released.

I have Vista Ulitmate on my computer and have not formatted and reinstalled it for 9 months. Why? Because it ran perfect. Games was fanstinatic! And it is a great experience OS.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

ben pet:

i think vista would be more successful f vista was more compatible with xp, filesharing and other networking issues can mean that buisness or LAN groups have to all upgrade together which just isnt going to happen! the only thing pushing out vista atm is CRYSIS and most people that i know who are running vista for CRYSIS have XP duel; boot anyway

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Panicking_Kernel:

As it stands now, Vista can definitely use a hot mug of SP1. Apart from the networking file transfer issues while trying to copy files off my XP PC on the home LAN, the ultra-intrusive UAC and the generally sluggish behavior, the dumb defragmenter rounds off Vista's shortcomings. Atleast most of these are not un-fixable issues.

Although I can see that self-regulating background automatic defragmentation is far preferable to the outmoded way of defragging i.e. manually or via set schedules, MS should have tweaked Vista's defragger much more with display and control options. Atleast there are other excellent third party automatic defragmenters available on the market, if one decides to go the payware route.

Will Crysis and Unreal Tournament 3 spur Vista sales? Well, that remains to be seen how well these games perform on current hardware under Vista. I have some confidence about UT3 running smoothly if past history of the UT series is any indicator. Crysis is still an unknown..could be like FarCry when it launched...unplayable at the highest settings on current hardware, but aimed at hardware a few months down the line. Another wild card is the DX9 performance..if the eye candy is not that different from DX10, I doubt many XP gamers will jump ship since the games will most likely run smoother under XP anyway with the same hardware.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Peter Russell:

i upgraded from xp media center to vista premium. at the start everything seemed hunky dory well after the week or so of trawling around for drivers. the real hitch came about a month ago when trying to hook up a microsoft wireless entertainment keyboard and mouse to my computer. this was going to give me greater functionality to my pc. yay! only this did not happen. five hours of customer support and at least a hundred install and uninstall and reboots and a product exchange i realised that vista just plain sucked. while on a recent technology conference i shared the story of woe with a certain microsoft retail manager. he promised to sort something out for me if i just winged him an email. well two weeks and counting.. my wife and i are now saving up for a mac.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

SmarterThanU:

HAHA and you think a mac is going to solve your problems cause you can't get a keyboard combo to work. LMAO

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Reghart:

This should have been expected, businesses are always slower to adapt any new OS, or...well just about anything having to do with computers, than home users. But, yeah, it was a big mistake for Microsoft to assume that everyone would adopt Vista as quickly as they would have liked, so now they're having to cover their arses.

From my experience, most admins in big business are never keen to adopt any OS until at least one service pack comes out. In fact, many of the guys I know who've been in the business a long time didn't even adopt XP until SP1 was out, and some waited until SP2. Sometimes I think MS is living in their own little world, and not thinking about how businesses determine what software they're going to use. The trend seems to me, at least, that it's the home users who are always on the bleeding edge of OS technology, because the machines sold in stores are always sold with whatever Microsoft's latest OS is, regardless to public opinion, and it will probably always be so. But eh...this was a good story to read, because it's always nice to get a bit of a chuckle when a big corporation screws up.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Mark:

I upgraded from XP Professional to Vista Business in March. I built a new computer with dual core processor and 1GB Ram.
What a nightmare, new nero software not compatible, Norton software out of box not compatibleble (had to download vista version from net at dial up speeds!)etc. Had 1GB ram was way slower than XP upgraded to 3GB which helped a bit.
In my opinion the upgrade was actually a downgrade as I could no longer play DVD's ( have to pay extra for add on or get ultimate)no games, use to enjoy a game of solitare during lunch, etc! As I'm fed up with Microsofts lack of support I'm now setting my old box up with linux to get a feel for this software. Future PC's I build for family and friends make may incorporate this software.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Todd:

To Mark/everyone
You should have properly researched all your hardware and software before jumping into Vista, if you go the microsoft website it will tell you tha Vista Business doesnt include games, and with the DVD playing problem, install XP and without installing anything else can you play them? Didnt think so.... same goes for Linux. If games like solitare mean that much, just copy it across from an XP machine, works like a charm. Something I cannot stress enough to users is RESEARCH YOUR SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE before doing anything major. I've been using Vista since Beta 2 and it works quite well, sure there a few flaws and annoyances but if you look for reviews and problems with XP when it was released you notice something...... it had problems to.... oooooooooooooo SP1 will make a lot of difference and its no good saying Vista is a crap use Linux, cause chances are if you cant get Vista to work properly your wont get Linux to work properly either!

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

GeekGrrl:

Vista IS a BIG LEMON! I run a small business and walked into a large computer shop to buy a new laptop. I was given no choice about the OS and had to have Vista. I'd heard there were a few problems, but I figured they were just teething problems of a new OS. How wrong I was. My old scanner was not (and never will be) supported - had to get a new scanner. My one-year old Canon laser printer did not have Vista drivers and no-one at Canon Australia seemed to have any clue about when they would or even if they were working on it!, so I bought a Xerox. My fairly new mobile phone was not compatible with Vista (and never will be), a Palm Pilot I got from a friend has limited Vista support. I couldn't run the latest Works for Windows (which I'd had for only 6 months) as I needed one for Vista, so I had to buy Quicken to manage my money and the list still goes on as I try to use new software. I had a good look at Macs and nearly got one, except I could get "more" on a laptop for the same price, but after getting new hardware and software to run with this supposed wizz-bang Vista computer, its worked out to be MORE expensive and a pain-in-the-proverbial. MY NEXT COMPUTER IS GOING TO BE A MAC. Many computer users are not super-geeks and should not have to do any of this research. New hardware and software should be backwards compatible to a reasonable degree. I can't believe Microsoft won't even run recent versions of its own software on Vista! The joy I get out of this new computer gets diminished every time I hit the "no/limited support" brick wall. It isn't a few issues. Vista has major problems with other companies' support.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Mark:

I upgraded from XP Professional to Vista Business in March. I built a new computer with dual core processor and 1GB Ram.
What a nightmare, new nero software not compatible, Norton software out of box not compatibleble (had to download vista version from net at dial up speeds!)etc. Had 1GB ram was way slower than XP upgraded to 3GB which helped a bit.
In my opinion the upgrade was actually a downgrade as I could no longer play DVD's ( have to pay extra for add on or get ultimate)no games, use to enjoy a game of solitare during lunch, etc! As I'm fed up with Microsofts lack of support I'm now setting my old box up with linux to get a feel for this software. Future PC's I build for family and friends make may incorporate this software.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

gL:

I completely disagree with most of these comments. I too run Vista (x64) on the same PC that ran XP (Pentium D 3.4GHz). It runs just as fast, if not faster. Yes, I've upped the RAM from 2GB to 4GB, but that's only because I use RAM-heavy apps like Photoshop. My experience so far has been that Vista is more secure, more user-friendly, and more intuitive.

That said, I've also just bought a Mac for the kids, and I prefer it to my Vista machine in almost every way, so this might very well be my last Windows PC.

For all those that say a new OS should work faster on the same hardware, I say bollocks! Progress means every 18 months the same dollar will by you almost 100% more performance.

If you think you can buy a PC today and run the next generation OS for the next five years without upgrading, you're living in a dreamworld, and frankly, you're holding back progress.

I wish MS would dump a whole lot more advanced features into its OSs - why should we wait almost a year for features like EFI when the Mac's had it for years? If people want to hang onto their old PCs, let them hang onto XP, or 2000.

Ok, enough ranting. I'm gonna play some more on the Mac...

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Mintox:

There is a patch for Vista – its called Ubuntu 7.4.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

G OS:

Or an even newer patch to be released on 18 Oct - Ubuntu 7.10.

Honestly, there's a world of Linux alternatives out there, why put up with an irritating and expensive OS?

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tony:

Ubuntu is heading in the right direction but isn't there yet. Still too quirky and with hassles for the average folks.

Could also do with open source equivalents of:

AutoCAD
MS Project
MYOB etc

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

G OS:

Yes, I agree that if you need specific, Windows only, applications that have no Linux equivalents, then Linux (Ubuntu or otherwise) is not an option.

However its not too quirky or too much hassle for many average folk. I've set Ubuntu up for a few family and friends who are not tech minded and who just want an email application (Evolution), internet (Firefox), word processor etc (OpenOffice), simple games, photo organiser/editor (e.g. gThumb, F-Spot), music player (e.g. Amarok, Banshee) and so forth.

Once set up for them, they all report fewer 'quirks', surprises and problems than with windows (and no irritating security warnings and antivirus hassles).

It all depends on your needs and willingness to adapt I suppose.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Chris Nielsen:

i know everyon has an opinion but when i read through all of this negativety all i could see was not enough research into the operating system before adoption.

i have vista on a computer that is not by any means fast by todays standards (athlon 64 3000+, 1gb ram, 6600gt) and although i had a few problems with program compatibility. i found that vista was faster and way more stable than xp (i was reformatting every 6 mounths on xp), although this is probably because of the way i use a pc, very unforgiving.

all in all a next generation operating system can't work faster than xp on similar last generation hardware because that would just be going backwards. how can you expect new games to run faster than old ones, they'd look worse and it'd simply be going backwards. vista is the next generation of windows and hardware (new) that is availiable these days is more than capable of running it for example i just built a computer for my sister that cost $850, i did my research and the computer hapily runs vista.

vista is the best thing that happened to windows and if everyone just sees the negativity like they will if they read everything above this, then sure it will be more likely that less people will adopt it.

i rest my case



29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Richard Olsen:

I thought, I'd add my two cents in here. After buying a quad core super fast computer with vista ultimate oem, Ive had nothing but problems. Bad updates, poorly written drivers, operating system constantly crashing, Live OneCare having to be reinstalled several times, even a complete system failure requiring a format of the hard drives. My answer to this hell, I went out and bought an iMac. I've never used a Mac before, and have to admit, while I've had the occasional program freeze and still have to reboot when a major update is downloaded, no major major problems yet. In fact, I think it's an excellent system and am using it right now instead of the $10000 machine sitting next to me. I can say this for sure, it's a hell of alot faster. While I'm still getting used to the way the operating system works, and still have a long way to go until I can claim profficiency, I'm loving the stability. I can do everything I used to on the PC without the programs crashing or the operating system crashing. No more damn disk scans to put up with, no more updates that refuse to stick and itunes doesn't freeze up anymore. I'd like Microsoft to know, that they only have themselves to blame. Release crap, and what do you think will happen. Didn't they learn from ME?
Viva la Mac!

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Julzz :

Hello All Windows Vista works and loads faster than my Imac i brought last week and
i upgraded to vista on my old 2005 Powerhouse. Vista loads in 10 secounds (Mac 15 sec) plus i do enjoy the recovery system
and the areo experience!
But the sad thing was i havent been having virus' Vista has tough Code but vista should
get rid of the BSOD i had it once but no fuss Windows did not stuff up. but Microsoft should have a better driver system,Because i have one problem of this driver turning my screen blank and giving me a message. that all i get but vista is better than my mac i nearly had a heart attack when i found out vista works faster than my 1 week old imac with 2 gb But i do
think Apple helped windows a'lot by giving Safari and itunes etc. but microsoft should work on IE7.

i got to go to my mac it's having a grey screen of death (Not joking)

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

joel :

I have been running Vista for the last 2 months (home premium) on my newly-built core2 duo E4300 with 1gb ddr2.... It runs like a dream, though I do need to put more RAM in.

Though I must say that, before I patched it with *ALL* (and I do mean ALL) the latest patches, it was taking ages to load, but with all the latest patches I am actually very surprised at just how fast it does load and run!

I even had it running on an old P4 with a gig of ram which had previously been giving my hassles running win2k... and, surprise of surprises, it actually ran better than w2k!

so, I guess the motral of this story is, if you are going to run vista at the moment, it is *IMPERATIVE* that you install all the patches you can get your hands on (And then search all the nooks and crannies of microsoft.com for the not-so obvious ones).... If you don't, you WON'T have the best experience possible.


29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

gciochina:

yeah it will work like a dream after you installed all those patches, only AFTER you'll manage to get the drivers for everything you need.... let's face it people, this story is nothing new to the market, but MS just can't learn from it's past mistakes!

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

knightnprincess:

I think that your points on Vista have merit however I think you may have forgotten some very important aspects to the purchase of an operating system. If you by a new OS you expect to get more than you already have without the hassles. What is the sense to buying software that isnt complete. It would be like paying full price for a car without all the parts to make it work. To me that makes no sense. If you pay for something you expect it to work without flaw. If it is flawed, you wouldnt pay full price to start with.

29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Anonymous69:

Why is everyone saying Vista is bad and all? I can use Vista Ultimate on an IBM LAPTOP thats: Intel Pentium 1.7Ghz, ATi 256mb 1GB Dual Channel, wifi, bluetooth and it runs smoother than XP, I had XP installed for 1/2 a year before i decided on getting Vista.

Only a minor problem of a few games not working but time shall heal this problem.

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Martin Gifford:

Microsoft Blundering Corp

"Microsoft maintains that end users have always had the right to downgrade from Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to XP..."

Wow! Yes, you too can DOWNgrade to XP! Special limited time offer! LOL!

Microsoft has BLUNDERED appallingly...

Remember Windows ME? Then there was the 5 year wait for Vista. (Of course the whole industry and market became addicted and geared towards XP because of the 5 year wait.) And still no bulletproof security and 4 versions - Vista Basic (AKA Vista Wowless), Home Premium (AKA Vista minus important stuff), Business Premium (AKA Vista minus different important stuff) and Ultimate (AKA Vista - the whole operating system). And price? $749 at Officworks!

Now Microsoft want to make the next Windows look like Office 2007. Brilliant! Should we even bother with Vista? Should we bother learning a new operating system that is going to be TOTALLY different in 3 years?

Yeah, let's blunder about following Microsoft's bizarre vagueries for the rest of our lives - not!

29 February 2008, 8:32 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Jim Webb:

Class action Please! The news reported Microsoft is making a large profit on Vista, and it is doing great. The reason for this is they are holding the consumers down and forcing it down our throat. . They are saying you will like it, not that you might like it .
Dell is the only manufacture still selling XP (business) on its systems. Vista for most of us is just another ME version of Windows . Hardware doesn’t work with it , software doesn’t work with it. We the consumers are buying it because we have no choice not because we like it. I purchased a New HP laptop and it forced me to agree to using Vista and would not go any further until I agreed to the terms of HP and Microsoft that’s not fair I should have had a choice to not agree with the terms of the agreement , How do you spell CLASS ACTION ……. Maybe that will get them to either fix it or give you the option not to put vista on your machine . I encourage all the consumers to go and buy the machine then take it back if your hardware or software does not work . why should you have to go and buy a new Laser printer because Microsoft is forcing the manufactures to put Vista on machines , if they get enough machines back you will se a downgrade option for all users not just the Vista Business users .Every time you return a machine the manufacture has to sell it as refurbished and takes a hit on it. As a consumer this is the way you can speak out and say no to Vista.


29 February 2008, 8:48 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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