Is Vista really worth it?

[Grandor]

Hey, everyone, it's been a while since I've been here. Well, time to explain. I've been gone because my old computer got ruined when I had it plugged in during a thunder storm. Therefore it caused a surge and now everytime I put a new hard drive into my computer it shocks the hard drive. I contacted the manfacturer and they told me they could repair it for $150. The manafacturer is not located in the US nor does it have US branches so it would be very expensive to send it through the mail so I just decided to get a new computer. Nowadays it's becoming harder to get a computer without Vista. Now I've been reading several articles on Vista and one thing that keeps biting at me is the amount of RAM it consumes in order for the performance to be running at optimum and allowing me to multitask. At least 2GB of RAM is needed to multitask with high RAM consuming programs (like Photoshop) which I use frequently.

However, I've noticed some places still have XP, and I've noticed the look of Vista looks much better than XP. (Everything is 3D) I like 3D and I like the new Windows Aero with the animation feature. What I'm basically asking is I'd like the opinion of someone who has tried or has Vista currently on their computer on what they think of the OS and if it's worth getting a computer with it. I can still find systems with XP and at much lower cost at what I was going for. However, it seems a little impractical to still be using XP when a newer version is out there. Any help? Thanks in advance.

If some of you haven't seen it here is a screenshot of Windows Vista:

Spoiler: Vista Desktop Screenshot

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/Windows_Vista_Desktop.png[/img]

 

[Rain]

Vista is horrible. I got a PC just before Vista came out and I was promised a copy of it at a discount because I bought a PC so close to it's launch.

I paid for it and it finally arrived some 3 months later. To be honest it's junk, I ran it for just over an hour in which time it crashed 8 times! it told me I didn't have enough memory to run the damn screen saver. (I have 150gb of Harddrive space and 1.5gb of ram) not exactly taxing is it?

After the last time it just stopped working all together, I would reboot it and it would show me a fancy vista logo and turn off again, seriously it's a waste of space in my opinion and I'm much happier to be back on good old XP (which lets me run photoshop CS2, Itunes, A firefox with usually around 8 tabs open, skpe, msn and word all at once without any trouble.)

If you really like the look of vista couldn't you just get an XP theme that is styled like vista?

 

[Yeyinde]

One of the rules of Windows operating systems: Do not get the latest one until Microsoft releases the first service pack for it.

 

[Grandor]

I believe your right, however you forget that to make my computer look entirely like Vista would be impossible. And I like the full look of it, and I do like XP, but it lacks some features. I believe the reason Vista crashed on you is because the time you bought Vista was very new and therefore was very buggy. It's became more stable but I don't know. 2GB of memory raises the price of a computer up 100 to 200 dollars. And that's quite a leap I'd say.

 

[Fafnir]

Get XP, then wait until atleast the first service-pack.

 

[Mudpuddle]

Ask yourself: "Am I willing to spend $150 on a gaudy GUI?"
"Do I want this thing to block all my MMOs until I go through a complicated process to allow them through the super-protective firewall?"
"Is it really that much better than Windows XP?"
"Am I willing to sacrifice one or two of my programs as they may not work?"

Whatever you answer to these questions should be the answer to your question. Personally, I give it a no.

 

[Tdata]

I us Vista on my Laptop. The only thing i like about it is the DirectX 10. ShadowRun is great... But i haven't bothered to 'upgrade' my desktop to it due to the fact that unless your running Dual Core 2.0+ ghz with 2+gb of RAM, you really can't use Vista like you can WinXP... Also, the User-Control function is very annoying... How many times must i say that i approve WinRAR to open... :|

 

[madmax_vii]

I've got vista on my rig, and it works just fine, so far I've had no problems with it, and everything on mine works perfectly (but then again, i got quad-core and 8GB of ram so...), I mean it's mainly the x64 builds of vista that has bugged to hell, so if I were you I'd go with the x86 build (32-bit edition e.g. home premium)

Ask yourself: "Am I willing to spend $150 on a gaudy GUI?" - the gui is fine
"Do I want this thing to block all my MMOs until I go through a complicated process to allow them through the super-protective firewall?" - run the program as an admin, or don't you have admin priveliges?
"Is it really that much better than Windows XP?" - the x86 version is, learn to use it!
"Am I willing to sacrifice one or two of my programs as they may not work?" - don't need to, they all run just fine.

 

[Rhazdel]

I haven't had a whole lot of experience with Vista, but I just got a laptop last night with Vista on it (which I have to leave on it, or else it will void my warrenty *rolls eyes*). The laptop is a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of RAM (so I shouldn't have many problems), but I installed a game last night (5 install discs) and it prompted me, after I inserted each disc, whether or not I would like to run it. I've had the laptop for all of an hour and I'm already slightly annoyed at the OS - not a good omen.

I have XP on my PC and I love it. I rarely gives me any problems and catches everything it needs to. Vista looks great, but it is really more than you will need. XP can look just as/close to as nice as Vista for a fraction of the resources. But, the problem comes in is this: Do you really want to spend the money to buy XP, then upgrade to Vista when the service pack launches?

It's up to you, but unless you have a couple hundred dollars to spend, I would pick an OS and stick with it (for a while, anyway). XP is nice, reliable and user friendly, while Vista is shinier, requires more resources, but also has the option to be much more powerful as soon as Microsoft releases that service pack. Overall, I would recommend XP and later on, when you have the extra cash, buy Vista.

*Goes back to waiting for the Vista service pack*

 

[madmax_vii]

well rhazdel, the best way to sort out the prompts crap is to set the setup.exe to run as an administrator, you can do it easily in the app's properties and then you'll have no problems at all

 

[Untra]

This may be off topic, but did you know that the Vista version of Windows Media Player works perfectly on a XP?

Spoiler: Warning: Desktop screenshot!

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/Untravaersil/wmpvista.jpg[/IMG]

Thats the vista version of WMP and its running like clockwork on my XP laptop.

The truth is, many vista programs are compatible on XP. If your concerned about cool-looking programs, just get the XP version of the program and update it. I'm even using the updated version of windows live messanger. The only vista programs that wont work on XP are the ones made specifically for the vista, used as a ploy to get people to buy the system (*coughhalo2vistacough*).

Who doesnt like Daft Punk?

 

[Rhazdel]

well rhazdel, the best way to sort out the prompts crap is to set the setup.exe to run as an administrator, you can do it easily in the app's properties and then you'll have no problems at all

I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet, but I will have to try that as soon as I get off work. Thanks!

 

[madmax_vii]

I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet, but I will have to try that as soon as I get off work. Thanks!

no probs, i've been working with this since beta RC1 so if anyone's stuck I'll try and help

 

[Raziel]

This may be off topic, but did you know that the Vista version of Windows Media Player works perfectly on a XP?

Spoiler: Warning: Desktop screenshot!

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/Untravaersil/wmpvista.jpg[/IMG]

Thats the vista version of WMP and its running like clockwork on my XP laptop.

The truth is, many vista programs are compatible on XP. If your concerned about cool-looking programs, just get the XP version of the program and update it. I'm even using the updated version of windows live messanger. The only vista programs that wont work on XP are the ones made specifically for the vista, used as a ploy to get people to buy the system (*coughhalo2vistacough*).

Who doesnt like Daft Punk?

Actually this is Windows Media Player 11 and isn't designed for Vista or to work only with Vista.
I'm using Windows Vista for a few months now and didn't have any problems with programs slowing down or any crashes at all.
You also can disable the security so you don't have to confirm before opening a program. If you still have problems with Vista, you don't have to wait for a service pack, just download the newest updates and it should work fine. By the way, if you think your program may not work with Vista, do you remember the compability mode in XP, where you could make your file Windows 98 compatible, you can do the same in Vista for XP(if really needed).

 

[madmax_vii]

Actually this is Windows Media Player 11 and isn't designed for Vista or to work only with Vista.
I'm using Windows Vista for a few months now and didn't have any problems with programs slowing down or any crashes at all.
You also can disable the security so you don't have to confirm before opening a program. If you still have problems with Vista, you don't have to wait for a service pack, just download the newest updates and it should work fine. By the way, if you think your program may not work with Vista, do you remember the compability mode in XP, where you could make your file Windows 98 compatible, you can do the same in Vista for XP(if really needed).

Also, there's the virtual PC mode which makes running apps designed for previous OSes simple.

 

[Xilef]

I've been using vista, and it has no compatibility. RMXP works, and other games and tools, but hardware connectivity tools don't work, and the ammount of times vista has start up problems is ridiculous.
Get xp. If you want the vista gui then look for the transformation pack. The xp gui is ugly, though media centre looks decent with it's royale theme.
EDIT: Compatibility mode doesn't work some of the time, so far the updates haven't solved any of the major issues, it just updates some microsoft licence file somewhere, like the xp updates that have been recently released.
Wait for Vista SP1

 

[madmax_vii]

lemme guess, problems with the nintendo usb wifi connector? just install your old copy of xp to virtual pc and its resolved.

 

[Grandor]

I see. Thanks for all the help everyone! After reading through much of this I've seen conflicting ideas of XP and Vista. The problem with upgrading XP to Vista is that XP usually only carries 512MB of RAM, and it would cost extra to upgrade the RAM and buy the disc for Vista. I think I'm leaning towards getting Vista. Home premium version though. Also I may need this information in the future but I've never had to upgrade my RAM before, how exactly would I do it without physically bringing my computer to a computer store?

 

[Bruth]

Upgrading RAM is very easy to do, but you have to make sure you have the same type of RAM as you currently have in your computer. For example I think my computer uses PC2100 DDR. Bow it also depends on whether you have a laptop or desktop.

Laptops: Sometimes they have a slot on the underside that you can open up that reveals a spare ram slot. If it's occupied then you may have to have a professional upgrade it. Unless you want to risk opening it up, I don't recommend it. Laptops are very sensitive and fragile inside. Also sometimes the spare ram slot is under the keyboard of the laptop, another situation where you may be better off with a professional unless you can find instructions for your exact computer online.

Desktop: Desktops are easy, the only thing that can make it difficult is if you have a brand name PC such as Compaq. They like to design their cases so that they are complicated to open but most desktops just have 4 screws or so on the back holding the case cover on. Then on the inside it's pretty easy to locate some small slots, usually about 4 of them, with 1 or more ram chips already installed. Generally all you have to do is make sure the small switches on the side are open then push the new ram into place until the buttons snap closed. Of course you also have to put the ram into the slots in the correct order. You can't have ram in slots 1 and 3. The ram slots will have small numbers next to them.

I think thats the basics of what you need to know. I have a question though, have you already purchased your computer? You were mentioning the high price of getting more RAM and although RAM doesn't really change in price from place to place many other parts do. One of the best places I have found to buy pre-built computers is http://www.cyberpowerpc.com and they still offer XP. Just thought I would mention it just in case, they really do have great prices, I bought my laptop from them and it's very nice.

 

[Grandor]

No, I have not purchased the computer yet. Thanks for telling me how to install RAM and a special thanks for that site!