Anyone else take the Vista plunge yet?

[Byershome]

I had some stability issues do to my bleeding edge hardware and dual boot needs that slowed getting it up and running but it has been worth it. The eye candy is stunning to say the least, though without the bleeding edge hardware you may not be able to fully enjoy this part. I am running both the 32 and 64 bit Ultimate versions on seperate drives, mainly so I can take advantage of my Windows Home Server, and so far most of my software has run fine. The main exception being Nero which a update cured. I have not seen any performance loss, in fact after turning the Dreamscape desktop on I actually saw a slight boost in performance. I have been setting my server up and reorganizing my home network to use it so I have not had much time to test out the included apps but the included games are pretty nice. I still use my trusty Firefox though, I have just become to accustomed to some of it's features. All in all though I think the cost is prohibitive unless you are going to purchase a new computer anyways. I just like playing with the latest greatest even if it causes a few extra headaches.



My hardware is as follows:



Abit AN9 32X motherboard

Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Brisbane core cpu

4G Corsair DDR2800 Memory (memory voltage tweaked to 1. 85 for stability)

XFX Geforce 8800 GTX video card (Direct X 10 capable)

 

[RandyHamilton]

I have seen too many "features" in new MS Operating Systems to ever switch to a new OS before at least one service pack has been issued. Sounds like you are having better luck than some of my friends who "upgraded". Two of them had so many problems that they went back to XP,, and they are long time IT geeks who work in the field. I upgraded thehardware in my current box about a year ago so it will be a while before I will see any reason to build a 64bit box. I understand that the graphics are very nice but that isn't enough for me to make the move to Vista.

 

[mjendrejcak]

We tried install on VMware ESX 3. 0 and on a Dell Precision 690 at work. Both failed.

Vista install on ESX would not work with the Video card and the would see the SATA drives on the dell. All the hardware meets the hal.

 

[DPellegrin]

Check this out guys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVbf9tOGwno

 

[6BT-Dakota]

gotta love Anthony

 

[DrDiesel]

I have the 64 bit Ultra version and love it.

I built the PC just for Vista 64.

My last PC had some stability issue`s due to incompatibility with ram and other minor bugs. I started from scratch(again) instead of trying to update my old mother board and just keep XP.

I like Vista much better. It`s proven to be very stable. You`ll like it too.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

No, but I did install Linux on two Mac G3 blue and white desktops I picked up for $25 bucks this weekend. Total cost... . of OS and two boxes... . $25. :-laf

 

[HoleshotHolset]

A friend of mine burned me a Ubuntu 6. 10 'live' disc the other day.



I was completely overwhelmed with how much functionality that OS has and yet it remains so simple!!! It doesn't require any installation or setup of any kind - it ran completely off the CD after booting and did dang near everything I would ever need out of a computer... except for editing video.



Down with Microsoft - support your local Linux distro today!

Pick your flavor: http://distrowatch.com/



Matt

 

[Byershome]

I have been desperately trying to run Linux, but it boils down to no driver support and you have to be a Linux geek in order to update what you can find, add to that they are always a cycle or three behind the hardware and it only makes since if you just surf the web, write an occassional e-mail or word document. I have tried Ubuntu, Mandrake,Debian, redhat, Suse they all suffer from the same hardware problems. yes it will run but only in what Windows calls SAFE mode :-laf . It's has it's nich for sure but for the hardcore gamer, bleeding edge systems builder or even the casual gamer for that matter it just does not get it... ... ... ... ... . heck my pocket pc has better gaming.



That said I am not trying to bash Linux but if they ever want to be main stream they will have to become more software and hardware compatible.



To that end I saw an article somewhere on a free Windows clone that will run all windows software (not yet released 5 or 7 years in the making)... ... ... . Linux is doomed to the back allies if that happens but perhaps it will give windows a kick in the britches.

 

[3dracer]

I tried the VISTA. And thanks to Bill Gates, he sold me a Mac.



I hated it. And now I love my macBook.

 

[lil red cummins]

bought a new dell with vista to test with our equipment. we have one application where the computer runs a peel tester. our software ran generally OK with the only errors related to printing. not impressed at all.



it would not automatically integrate into our existing microsoft server2003 based network. i had to go searching for the manual settings so that it would find the "gateway" to our satellite.



i still run alot of win98 computers very successfully on our network. no connection issues at all.



total waste. buy mac or XP



jim

 

[rotohead]

I've been running W2K on my desktop for five years with fairly good success but thought it was time to start getting ready for an upgrade. Just purchased a HP Pavilion dv6000t laptop w/Vista pre-installed. Love the laptop... Vista is fairly good, stable, functional with only a few hangs, better networking functionality. Needs lots of memory (2g min) and fast graphics card. Can't say I'd pay for it over XP but I'm just going to jump over XP from W2K when I build another desktop/server. Only software that's balked at Vista was my Garmin Mapsource but just today found their patch and that seems to have solved all those problems.

 

[Byershome]

Something I find interesting is that I have been running Microsoft Operating systems since DOS and everytime they move on to the next version we here almost exactly the same complaints initially but by the end of the cycle the tune turns 180 and the next version is the villan. No doubt problems abound not the least of which is the need for a fairly powerful machine to truly enjoy the new experience but that comes with the territory. The only real problem I'm having is with the Dreamscape preview, it occassionaly stops working but leaves the system running, a whistle problem that might be related to fresh off the press 64 bit drivers.



"I hated it. And now I love my macBook. "



And you are farely free from viruses and malware... ... ... ... ... ... ... . not because the OS is any more secure than Windows but because hackers don't bother with it. Their lack of popularity and acceptance in the market overall gives them a, under the radar, protection. Mac's now have the advantage as well of be able to run Windows which will make more software available to their users.



The Apple of your father is not the Apple of today and the reasons for their systems being so much more stable have been tossed out the "Window" in order to become more hardware compatible and I think in the end the Apple will become just another version of Windows with all the same vise's and problems. Whether this helps or hurts them in the overall scheme of things is yet to be seen.

 

[rbattelle]

I guess I was hoping Vista would be a "giant leap forward" in terms of speed, efficiency, and stability. I had hoped for new technology that would make it smaller (in terms of size on disk), faster, and include some really cool new capabilities.

So far, what I've read is that it's FAR more bloated than XP is, it's not any faster (in fact, it's probably slower, which is why you need screaming hardware in order to run it), and I just don't see any new features that are "cool" enough to upgrade.

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed. I was hoping for something like the equivalent leap that Windows 95 made over 3. 1.

Ryan

 

[mopars1]

I purchased a new computer either a day before or the same day Vista came out. My new computer had XP Home preloaded on it. I received a certificate to upgrade to Vista at a reduced price because I purchased a new computer with Windows loaded within a certain time frame. I waited a while and then thought what the hell, I wanted to know what Vista was about.

I loaded the upgrade onto my computer and all was going ok until the system went through it's first reboot. For unknown reasons to me (I am not a computer guru) the reboot did not work and I got an error screen. The only thing I could do from there was to load the full operating system from the dvd as a fresh install. Since I had given the Vista key during the first part of the upgrade and then the system crashed I now have to buy a new key to get the full functionality of the operating system. I cannot receive any free help from Microsoft as they do not support THEIR OWN operating system when it is purchased preloaded on a new pc. I am not very happy at this time. If there is ANYONE out there that can give me advice then I am all eyes

 

[Bob Wagner]

Glad I jumped on a new dell box last friday loaded with xp pro. The stock is moving fast and the deals are now gone.



Thanks for making jump while the xp pro deals were still available :-laf



and it evens comes with ... Qualifies for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Business :-laf

 

[rotohead]

I purchased a new computer either a day before or the same day Vista came out. My new computer had XP Home preloaded on it. I received a certificate to upgrade to Vista at a reduced price because I purchased a new computer with Windows loaded within a certain time frame. I waited a while and then thought what the hell, I wanted to know what Vista was about.

I loaded the upgrade onto my computer and all was going ok until the system went through it's first reboot. For unknown reasons to me (I am not a computer guru) the reboot did not work and I got an error screen. The only thing I could do from there was to load the full operating system from the dvd as a fresh install. Since I had given the Vista key during the first part of the upgrade and then the system crashed I now have to buy a new key to get the full functionality of the operating system. I cannot receive any free help from Microsoft as they do not support THEIR OWN operating system when it is purchased preloaded on a new pc. I am not very happy at this time. If there is ANYONE out there that can give me advice then I am all eyes

Had a similar situation with my sisters laptop and I solved it by getting it to re-boot to XP then upgraded the graphics card driver in XP (it was a nvidia card) then installed Vista... went good after that. I think there is a feature on a MS site somewhere that runs a analysis to see if there is any hardware on your old system that won't work with Vista. Hope it works for you.
Chuck

 

[fest3er]

... Since I had given the Vista key during the first part of the upgrade and then the system crashed I now have to buy a new key to get the full functionality of the operating system. ...

Um, no. You bought an XP license with product key with the computer. You bought a Vista license with product key when you bought the upgrade. You do not need to purchase another license. A business that claims otherwise should be reported to your state's attorney general for engaging in fraudulent business practices. Of course, since you live in Ill. , you may encounter a lesser degree of success with your AG.



If you purchased a 'puter from any of the 'big names', there should be a tag on it with the original XP product key. With that key, you should be able to borrow just about any copy of XP and re-install XP. But the 'puter should have come with XP install disks or, at the least, system restore disks. If it didn't, bring it back to the store and tell them to fix it. If it was mail order, just about all of the major players will assist you in restoring the system without having to ship it anywhere.

 

[Byershome]

You have an upgrade key so you will have to "upgrade". You can do a clean install but it requires you install Vista twice... ... ... ..... do not activate the first time, put the DVD and run from the unactivated version (do not boot from the disk the second go around) and do a upgrade. When it is done your key should work. You can find more info on this and perhaps a better description on the web.

 

[mopars1]

I really appreciate the replies. I think the main problem I am having is I put the disc in and did enter the key and I was hooked up to the internet at the time. Evidently the key was sent and one of the error codes (after the os was finally installed) was that the key was already in use according to Microsoft. This must have happened before the first reboot. Do you think if I put the disc back in and ask for a new upgrade from the disc that my problem may be solved?

Again, thanks for the replies.