Gideon MacLeish

Vista Hating Shows Strength of XP

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Vista Hating Shows Strength of XP

from JoeUser Forums

As I watch the back and forth between people who like Windows Vista and those who, umm, don't, a thought occurred to me.

More than underscoring a weakness in Windows Vista, the opposition proves a point that unfortunately Microsoft's PR department is slow to pick up on:

People LIKE XP.

I saw the same thing after Windows 98 came out. A lot of users were reluctant to change, not so much because 98 was bad, but because they were content from what they were getting out of their Windows 95 machines and had a hard time understanding how the experience could be improved upon.

In the case of XP, it delivered everything the unsophisticated end user could ask for: stability, security, and an intuitive, user friendly interface. Those who had lived through the BSOD era brought about in the 98 days (and continued through the ME days, when the blue screen seemed more common than a clean boot), were ecstatic to see what XP brought about, and the system brought about the long awaited merging of personal computers with multimedia.

I can't argue about the advantages of Vista, especially as it is built for advanced systems and optimizes 64 bit architecture. But the fact is, to many end users, XP is adequate for their needs.

Microsoft built a great product in XP, one that a lot of people are sorry to see go. And there's a lot of public relations potential in that fact. It's just too bad Microsoft does not seem to realize it.

55,221 views 159 replies
Reply #126 from WinCustomize Forums Top
All you have to do is think of how sidebar gadgets work - the outside ones that is - like weather - essentially they are mini-browsers...all kinds of things can be done with that connection once you are in.
Reply #127 from Stardock Forums Top
I actually bought Xp at launch and the same whining (From probably the same damn whiners) existed.

Xp is just a pretty makeover! Windows 98 does everything we need to!

People are stupid. And annoying.
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #128 from WinCustomize Forums Top
People are stupid. And annoying.


Some people are not always the wisest...and some can be a pain in the arse at times, but I don't think I'd be so bold as to throw a blanket over everyone and call them annoydiots. ;)

I do agree with you, though, there were many who were afraid to let go of their security blankets and try something new with XP. In fact, I know someone who still refuses to let go of 98 and will actually reformat a brand-new XP machine to install 98 on it. Thank goodness progress does not hinge upon people like him, otherwise we'd still be trying to get the wheel adopted/put to good use. ;p

Thankfully, there are some more adventurous folk around who are willing to move with the times, embrace progress, and it's these who Microsoft, Apple and IBM, etc, target with their newer technologies. Eventually, word of mouth spreads from satisfied customers and others figure 'oh what the heck' and give it a go.

It's likely that MS considered the initial reluctance to upgrade to XP when Vista was released, and, while preparing Vista's first service pack, is riding out the initial slow period because it wasn't until SP1/SP2 for XP were released that sales picked up.

Having tested Vista through the various public beta stages, I was quite happy to buy the Ultimate version when released in January 07, and I can honestly say that I have no complaints about stability or reliability, drivers or compatibility, all but my sound card worked immediately, and even that has now been resolved so I'm very happy with Vista. In fact, at least a dozen people I know have upgraded to Vista based on my happy experience with it, and to date all are happy campers with their decision. ;)
Reply #129 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally, I will take Vista over XP any day as long as you have a speedy enough system.
I reinstalled XP Pro with SP2 on a friends PC the other day and when I ran the updates on it I had 98 of them on the first run, 9 more to update the updates and then 2 more after that.
On my Vista Ultimate system I've had to do a total of 13. I wonder which one is more secure?    :)  
By far Vista is quicker to get up and running than XP
Reply #130 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am simply spending too much time trying to keep Vista stable while dual booting XP.
One of them has to go.
Reply #131 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am simply spending too much time trying to keep Vista stable while dual booting XP


Don't know why that is, I've been dual booting the two since the public betas and have never found one causing issues for the other.

Do you have them both on the same physical drive? The reason I ask is that I read once that MS does not recommend dual booting this way... that it if preferable to install different OSes on separate drives. My dual boot system is configured this way and I've not experienced any instability issues.

If I were you, NT, if it is necessary to separate the two, I'd be keeping Vista on your newest/most powerful rig, and installing XP on the older on as a second/backup rig... well that's my plan after Xmas, not that I'm having issues, but because I want to turn the XP box a dedicated gaming rig.... just got to get a mobo for it (build it) and I'm up and running. :)
Reply #132 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I reinstalled XP Pro with SP2 on a friends PC the other day and when I ran the updates on it I had 98 of them on the first run, 9 more to update the updates and then 2 more after that.


That is how MS is pushing people to upgrade. Just a year ago, the issue was XP and 2k. But the same situation. A 100 for 2k, and a handful for XP. Sneaky, and in the end, it will work.
Reply #133 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That is how MS is pushing people to upgrade. Just a year ago, the issue was XP and 2k. But the same situation. A 100 for 2k, and a handful for XP. Sneaky, and in the end, it will work.


No.. it is not a conspiracy to get people to upgrade their OS. It is due to the fact that many updates have been rolled out since the installation CD was published. A very logical scenario.
There are methods which will allow you to build a custom installation CD from your existing one and incorporate service packs and other hot fixes thereby eliminating the time needed to run windows updates. A very good tool for this is Nlite. Available here WWW Link
Reply #134 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No.. it is not a conspiracy to get people to upgrade their OS. It is due to the fact that many updates have been rolled out since the installation CD was published. A very logical scenario.


I did not say conspiracy, and the updates have nothing to do with it, as they are always coming out. But they stop issuing Service packs, and those were nice roll ups of all those patches. Nt with 6, 2k with 4, XP with 2......they get fewer and fewer. But the number of bugs does not get less and less.
Reply #135 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There still has to come a time when you cut the ties with the old and concentrate on your new products. That isn't just MS either. Every piece of software (and hardware) out there that is revised and updated has a product life cycle where the vendor will ultimately reach a point where they will no longer support the old version. It just isn't economical. There is nothing sneaky about it.
We will at least have a 3rd service pack for XP before long and that will alleviate some strain with windows updates.
Reply #136 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We will at least have a 3rd service pack for XP before long and that will alleviate some strain with windows updates


Testers are reporting XP performace is improved by 10% with SP3 while Vista SP1...not so much.
Reply #137 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Night Train, you do know that you just stirred the pot once again! ;) 
Reply #138 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Testers are reporting XP performace is improved by 10% with SP3 while Vista SP1...not so much.


I had read that as well.
I would expect XP to improve. It's not the same as Vista.
There's no doubt on my end that XP performs better, in SOME instances. At home it improves with Vista. At work, Vista crawls up the intestines of my workstation and causes it to take repeated bowel movements on the floor.
Reply #139 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Testers are reporting XP performace is improved by 10% with SP3 while Vista SP1...not so much.


Yeah, Service Pack 3, its not like they haven't had 7/8 years to work on the OS? :LOL: 
Reply #140 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, Service Pack 3, its not like they haven't had 7/8 years to work on the OS?


Better late than never really doesn't cut it in this case.  :D 
Reply #141 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Better late than never really doesn't cut it in this case.


Actually for many people it is.
Reply #142 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I saw this article also, and one of the questions seem to be what type of system they tested the SP's on, hardware, memory and such. Then apparently Vista has a learning function built in that with more the computer is used it becomes faster. Anyone know about this function or feature?  :NOTSURE: 
Reply #143 from WinCustomize Forums Top
now i'm not going to sit here and bash vista, i like it i really do except for the fact that it hard freezez alot on me...my machine is 3 months old and has an AMD64 dual core 4400+ processor(s) a very crappy graphics card (nVidia geForce 6150) and 2 gigs of ram...why does this OS constantly freeze to where i have to hard reboot everytime it happens...i just wish a few things were better...i like vista and don't plan on changing it out but these things micrsoft needs to address as well as a list of others...is Vista home premium suppossed to use 750 to 1 gig of RAM? can someone tell me please?
Reply #144 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh yeah and that RAM usage fluxuates drasticly at times...i cranked up the machine once and it ran smooth as a babies bottom using 600mb of RAM...but eventually it froze again and then was back up to the usual RAM hogging ways...XP pro i have runs at like 400 mb..........is Vista home premium suppossed to use 750 to 1 gig of RAM? can someone tell me please?
Reply #145 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh yeah and that RAM usage fluxuates drasticly at times...i cranked up the machine once and it ran smooth as a babies bottom using 600mb of RAM...but eventually it froze again and then was back up to the usual RAM hogging ways...XP pro i have runs at like 400 mb..........is Vista home premium suppossed to use 750 to 1 gig of RAM? can someone tell me please?


Your system really isnt using that much ram, its called Superfetch and it makes programs you use mostly load and work faster. As for your freezing problem, do you have the most recent drivers? Im sure that nVidia card only has basic display drivers provided by Microsoft, I dont think its a Vista supported card which may be your problem. Not only that but I would strongly recommend agaisnt using any nVidia card under the 8 series in Vista.
Then apparently Vista has a learning function built in that with more the computer is used it becomes faster. Anyone know about this function or feature?

Yeah, its called Superfetch. One of the main changes to memory management which is a really nice feature.
More info: WWW Link
Reply #146 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would strongly recommend agaisnt using any nVidia card under the 8 series in Vista.


Yeah, I would have to agree with that. I've seen a few instances where people with series 6 and 7 cards had issues under Vista. I had a 7600GS and found it to be a bit below par.... yeah it worked, but occasionally I would get screen lock-up if I was doing a few graphics intensive things at once. I now have a 8600GT and it runs very well no matter what I'm doing, especially with the latest nVidia drivers loaded.

So, jojo25, you'd most certainly get improved performance from Vista if you upgraded your graphics card, but in the mean time I would pay a visit to the nVidia support page... WWW Link ...to check if there are any updated drivers for your card.
Reply #147 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The 7900 GT Extreme with latest drivers is a little buggy. It's really my main problem. I'm looking into replacing it. It runs Aero fully and smoothly when it isn't barfing.
Reply #148 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I now have a 8600GT and it runs very well no matter what I'm doing, especially with the latest nVidia drivers loaded.


There ya go Craig. That's the card I have and it runs great. Not that expensive either.
Reply #149 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i got vista about six months ago at first i loved it the new look the excitement of getting a new os but after a while it started to go sour software not working wifi adapter have to be physically unplugged from the usb port every time i would lose my signal because vista had no way of fixing my connection drivers not working the way they are supposed to slow computer performance it just became a headache having to deal with it all having to allow ever single process that took place i finally got tired and rolled back to xp downloaded window blinds and have to same look of vista and the stability of xp i know i will have to go back to vista eventually but as long as xp is as widespread as it is now with all the support it still has i'm sticking with what works and that is xp
Reply #150 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Everybody has a different experience but over the last two days I have thrown stuff at Vista that I expected to cause it to just roll over and die but guess what...it handled it all flawlessly.

Just two examples...

Loaded a game that was from 2001 - never even hesitated to install and run.

Setup a wireless all-in-one printer and got it connected to a TS via RDP with a USB connection in the middle...for those techies out there this should be an OMG moment.

So as I have said - so far - so good.

Just my experience. ;)