Vista or XP?

Cianos

I'm getting a new laptop soon and I have the option to go with Vista or XP. Which would you recommend?

I have heard that Vista kinda sucks, but is it better than XP?

Cheers

Overheal

Its different to XP. There are a few interface tweaks, and such. At the moment though Vista is working quite well and at the moment I dont see any reason to go back to XP for my own uses anyway.

Capt'n Midnight

Vista Business is the same price as XP PRO and it's license allows you to use XP PRO.

XP was released in 2001 and Microsoft are trying to ditch it despite it being a nice familiar interface.

If you think there is a reasonable chande you will be using Vista during the life of the computer then buy a vista license. Upgrading later on is a complete waste of money as the OEM license on the laptop will poison an upgrade license rendering it bound to the motherboard forever.

Overheal

thats a good call. Buy a full licence for Vista Business and use XP Pro until you are really ready to make the switch.

Rambo

Cianos wrote: »

I'm getting a new laptop soon and I have the option to go with Vista or XP. Which would you recommend?

I have heard that Vista kinda sucks, but is it better than XP?

Cheers

Go for Vista its the laster, and make sure Vista SP1 is installed.
Windows Vista it will grow on you.

Stephen

I Vista. Couldn't go back now.

Creamy Goodness

unless you have software that is critical to your business (if your running it from your laptop) then there's really no reasons why not to go with vista.

Naikon

Stick with XP if you are a gamer.
Frames are still better under XP.

Overheal

or, go to vista if youre a gamer vista has DX10.

owned, bitches

yoyo

Naikon wrote: »

Stick with XP if you are a gamer.
Frames are still better under XP.

TBH m8 I have no issiues gaming under Vista, Nvidia drivers have improved so much, I'd say performance to be simular than XP, maybe one or two frames in difference which isnt all that much...

Nick

ScumLord

I'm wondering about upgrading to Vista, I'm currently running XP pro.

When I bought the PC I bought everything with Vista in mind and it's very much a Vista ready PC. I even had the beta of Vista on the machine, I mistakenly installed the 64bit version not realising it wouldn't run 32bit software but it ran beautifully, really smooth and I'd even think quicker than XP.

I'm looking at getting the full version (cheaper than the upgrade on komplett??) of the premium home edition.

So ye reckon it's time?

Stephen

Huh? 64-bit will run 32-bit software just fine.

ScumLord

Really, I'm sure I had problems and the only game I could get running on it was company of heroes.

So should I get the 64bit version?

spannerotoole

Try Linux, It's more stable and a lot more software for it. Fun Software too.

ScumLord

Fun me hole, I've given Linux a few goes. It's a nightmare rapped in a migraine.

ethernet

ScumLord wrote: »

Really, I'm sure I had problems and the only game I could get running on it was company of heroes.

So should I get the 64bit version?

Have to disagree with your Linux comment (;)) but yes, do use the 64-bit version if you can get the signed drivers for your hardware. And then you can exploit more RAM. Who knows how many more Windows releases will support 32-bit?

Capt'n Midnight

spannerotoole wrote: »

Try Linux, It's more stable and a lot more software for it. Fun Software too.

Please read the charter

No Off-Topic Advocacy: When someone asks a question in relation to their current OS/browser/mailer/etc, either answer the question or don't post. If they want an alternative, they'll ask for it. Off-topic advocacy will be sent to the Recycle Bin and repeat offenders may be banned.

Overheal

I dont like how they sell 32 and 64 seperately... surely if you buy 64 you can install 32.

64-bit will affect lots of programs, but this number will shrink over time obviously. When Im looking for a performance boost in a few years Ill jump up to 64 on this machine.

_Kaiser_

I've tried full clean versions of Vista Home Premium and Ultimate several times now (good ole MVLS ), and I've tried to stick with it, but I've always gone back to XP

- XP runs better/faster on the same hardware
- Vista (aside from a pretty desktop) doesn't really offer anything over XP
- Vista (even post SP1 - I only have it on this laptop because DELL have stopped offering XP drivers for their newer models :mad:) still occasionally stalls doing even the most basic tasks - eg: moving the cursor across the screen.
- Activation (now even on MVLS copies) is a pain in a Ghosting/Imaging enviornment
- To get anything approaching a decent experience, you need at least 2GB RAM and a decent video card. That's before you even run an application.

From what I've read/heard from colleagues, most businesses aren't planning to move to Vista anytime soon - despite what MS would like (you to believe).

In your case though OP, I'd suggest getting the Vista Business license and install XP until you feel the need to "upgrade"

ntlbell

rule of thumb...

if you need to ask, then xp is your man.

ScumLord

Overheal wrote: »

I dont like how they sell 32 and 64 seperately... surely if you buy 64 you can install 32.

64-bit will affect lots of programs, but this number will shrink over time obviously. When Im looking for a performance boost in a few years Ill jump up to 64 on this machine.

If I bought the 64 bit version (I don't see it on Komplett or ebuyer) would all my software run? I'd like to take full advantage of my 64bit computer but not if it won't run any software.

Stephen

Depends what your software is. I can't think of anything off hand that won't work. Also, if you buy a copy of Vista, that licence will work with 32 and 64-bit versions. They only give you both in the box if you buy ultimate. If you have home premium they will post you the 64bit DVD for about a tenner.

ScumLord

Stephen wrote: »

Depends what your software is. I can't think of anything off hand that won't work. Also, if you buy a copy of Vista, that licence will work with 32 and 64-bit versions. They only give you both in the box if you buy ultimate. If you have home premium they will post you the 64bit DVD for about a tenner.

That's sound enough of them I suppose. If that's the case I don't really need to worry.

Stephen

I know that applies to home premium anyway. I'd have my doubts about home basic!

ScumLord

Stephen wrote: »

I know that applies to home premium anyway. I'd have my doubts about home basic!

I was looking at premium anyways. Might get some use out of media centre seeing as I'm using the internet for tv (offcial site like 4od). Might get me the MC remote and throw in the logitech g25 steering wheel too.

DenMan

For Windows users, Vista is the way forward. I was skeptical at first when I was getting a new PC for work (previously with XP). I don't have any problems with it now and have now been using it for a year.

The only drawback to it is from a film editing point of view. So far the havn't sorted out supporting Avid (one of the main industry standards). They will get there in the end and I can use the Vista supports for running 3-D Studio Max and Daz 2-D. Takes a while I know. :rolleyes:

donaghs

To put it simply, unless you get a good spec machine (e.g. 2GB+ RAM, 2Ghz dual core CPU), Vista will run slower than XP and this will annoy you.

That said, if I was buying a new machine, and wasn't too worried about playing old games (and other legacy isssues), I'd definitely go with Vista.

I can't really think of a selling point. Except that Vista is the future, it means you won't have to upgrade your OS sooner. MS will soon cut back on support for XP, eventually they won't provide security patches and so on for it. Plus hardware and software manufacturers will be designing with Vista in mind, with XP support waning.

Flashy bits like Aero and sidebars can be added to XP by installing the necessary software, if you're into that sort of trickery.

Apart from XP being made rendundant, can any give me some good (and clearly defined) reasons for switching to Vista. e.g. saying "Vista is faster" is nonsense - I've seen both of them running on the same hardware with my own eyes.

ScumLord

If you want to buy XP your time is running out. They're going to stop selling it this month.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsxp/future.mspx

Rebel021

Dual boot is the way to go or triple boot for linux which is gaining groung by the day

Overheal

donaghs wrote: »

Apart from XP being made rendundant, can any give me some good (and clearly defined) reasons for switching to Vista. e.g. saying "Vista is faster" is nonsense - I've seen both of them running on the same hardware with my own eyes.

well for starters I cant reccomend it on any machine older than early 2007. Theres just no point in it, unless youre trying to run a home network where you want to run them all the same: For some reason in our home network our Vista and XP machines cant see eachother: the Vista machines see themselves and the same with XP thats it. Anyone knowing the answer to that leave a message on my profile).

Vista does bring a few new features to the table, the first I found was the Administrative Tools have been given a facelift, and they are a lot easier to use now. The Management Console for instance now lets you repartition the hard drive on the fly, without even the need to reboot the PC. I found that pretty neat considering what an extra hassle that is to do in XP. Several other tools have been added as well, such as Memory Diagnostics a new task scheduler and the Reliability and Performance monitor which can show you the track record of your machine from day one to present, which does help a load when trying to figure out when your PC's health went so south at times (I tried installing iTunes..)

theres a few other good improvements all to be found in the CP, and thats where you expect to find most of the OS I suppose. Networking is a lot easier to perform these days; I've tried it both ways many times and I can quickly tell you which I prefer. Wireless LAN is so incredibly painless now.

In terms of Laptop Focus its win too. Home Premium includes built in Tablet Support for touchscreens, the added Plug and Play-like functionality of wireless, all sorts of presentation options for using projectors and external screens, etc. For these features alone its worth getting vista on the lappy over XP.

Then of course you have the new search bar which is also pretty nice. just type it in and its there. No more dredging through the start menu folders looking for crap.

Then theres the automatic linkup with your 360: my housemate had a 360 on the network from time to time and windows media player would always ask to link up to it so it could share music with it. never did give that a lash but if you have a 360 I assume its good for use as your home theatre using your music collection on the PC.

One thing I dont like is in the Home Edition the Disk Defragger tool doesnt give you any progress bar, which is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Not sure if its the same in Business. Thats probably the one thing that really irks me about the OS.

All in all, I like it. Its gotten a lot smarter since XP; its doubtless easier to approach as an untrained user, etc.

Sherifu

Rebel021 wrote: »

Dual boot is the way to go or triple boot for linux which is gaining groung by the day

The only way to fly.

Overheal

Sherifu wrote: »

The only way to fly.

that is the only way to fly, sir.

DenMan

Hey OP

Have you reached a decision regarding your new computer, XP or Vista. Are you leaning towards Vista as others have recommended? It is the way forward though. Just wish they could work on supporting Avid for me.

Capt'n Midnight

Overheal wrote: »

: For some reason in our home network our Vista and XP machines cant see eachother: the Vista machines see themselves and the same with XP thats it. Anyone knowing the answer to that leave a message on my profile).

and then you'll post the fix, maybe ?

Have you checked or asked on the networking forum

A lot of the other "new" features in Vista have been around for ages in other OS's.
Defrag is a hangover from DOS/FAT other OS's just don't bother with it since they don't fragment the file as much as when saving it, the only OS I know of that's worse was the BBC Micro where it could only save a file to a contiguous space on a floppy and so on occasion you couldn't save a file even if the cumulative free space was big enough.

tech

for me its still has to be XP all the way, Vista is just so heavy on memory ..

Overheal

tech wrote: »

for me its still has to be XP all the way, Vista is just so heavy on memory ..

http://members.rushmore.com/~jsky/id37.html

charlesD

I would go for XP Professional, but on a powerful laptop (dual core + 4Gigs of ram) Vista will run fairly well if you turn off Aero and some of the other processes that are not essential.

Most software developers have yet to embrace Vista as well and so you will not loose out if you decide to stick with the reliable and dependable XP.

I switched to Ubuntu Linux a few years ago though and it is much better...

itisyeah

Cianos wrote: »

I'm getting a new laptop soon and I have the option to go with Vista or XP. Which would you recommend?

I have heard that Vista kinda sucks, but is it better than XP?

Cheers

It does not matter what OS you get, you can partition your hard drive and run multiple OS off of it.
For instance, I have installed Vista Home Premium, XP Pro and Ubuntu and choose which one to load up at the bootloader menu.
There are plenty of guides online about how to do this.

Personally, I prefer XP as it is the fastest and most stable.
I find Vista crashes quite a bit.

yoyo

Remember the end of this month XP will be no longer produced and distributed by Microsoft, as I've said before a Core 2 system with 2 gigs of RAM will run Vista grand, I have XP Pro on the laptop but hate it now I'm used to Vista on the desktop, Also my laptop with xp runs much slower with xp than my desktop with vista (Laptop spec is Dual Core CPU & A Gig RAM)... Also I've yet to have a blue screen fault in Vista, and it runs very stable here. Ran nice for me on 2 gig ram aswell

Nick

ScumLord

itisyeah wrote: »

It does not matter what OS you get, you can partition your hard drive and run multiple OS off of it.
For instance, I have installed Vista Home Premium, XP Pro and Ubuntu and choose which one to load up at the bootloader menu.
There are plenty of guides online about how to do this.

But xp is on it's way out so he'll probably be forced to upgrade at some point meaning he'll be paying double. Since it's not costing him anything I reckon he should take the plunge and go with vista.

charlesD

ScumLord wrote: »

But xp is on it's way out so he'll probably be forced to upgrade at some point meaning he'll be paying double. Since it's not costing him anything I reckon he should take the plunge and go with vista.

This is not completely true. Microsoft recently extended their support for XP. I will have to look for the article, but I believe it will be supported until 2012 now.

When you consider that 92% of developers are still coding for XP, it is a safe bet that you will be able to use it for some time without being forced to switch.

papu

vista is the only proper choice if your building a pc , anything you dont like about it can be changed in a couple of click s, it handles Multiple processors better than Xp the only O's that can properly distribute quad+core is Xp Pro , xp home and mediacenter only do Dual core . get Sp1 and all the networking problems will be fixed , the sidebar gadgets have become second nature now and i wonder how people get on without them. Dx10 is a bit of a cop out but new cards seem to be able to run it pretty much ok , Fps in Vista SP1 and Xp Sp3 are almost the exact same barring 1 or 2 fps the performance has been brought back up to scratch , so all the people saying Xp is for gamers are kidding themselves , vista uses aloot of memory just using programs and being on the desktop but once you launch a game or somthing it moves some of the programs in ram to page file and does it more efficently than XP.
sorry for the long post it just sums up everything need to be said.

Simplicity

Vista. It is the current future. Might as well join in

mathias

The date for XP's removal from all OEM channels is still june 30th , it hasnt moved , so support will continue to 2012 , but after june nobody can get a new license , and if I'm reading this correctly , ...

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/25/26NF-xp-plea_1.html

...A petition to keep XP alive that has been active since January has only gathered 300 000 or so signatures , so its either a none too popular website , or people really dont want XP to stick around that much !!

From June 30th royalty OEMs (ie the big names) won't be able to sell XP however small system builders will still be able to get copies of it until January 31st next year. Source

brow_601

the fact that it took microsoft so long to get xp right and then they go and release vista a few months later is beyond me. If it takes them that long to get vista working the way it should it'll be probably time for another pc upgrade. and knowing microsoft it won't be long after that untill they have a new os which won't work.its a vicious circle.

Overheal

brow_601 wrote: »

the fact that it took microsoft so long to get xp right and then they go and release vista a few months later is beyond me. If it takes them that long to get vista working the way it should it'll be probably time for another pc upgrade. and knowing microsoft it won't be long after that untill they have a new os which won't work.its a vicious circle.

right, but i guess you have to pick between a done and dusted OS thats reaching the end of the line, or one that will be gradually improving over the next few years and the lifespan of your PC, just as every other OS did before it.

Capt'n Midnight

brow_601 wrote: »

the fact that it took microsoft so long to get xp right and then they go and release vista a few months later is beyond me. If it takes them that long to get vista working the way it should it'll be probably time for another pc upgrade. and knowing microsoft it won't be long after that untill they have a new os which won't work.its a vicious circle.

the same can be said of most OS's. Ubuntu pulled the plug (removed all update files) on 6.10 after 18 months. But the older version 6.06 will be supported for another few years. Of course with free software cost is not part of the decision to upgrade or not

The point here is that the life spans are public knowledge, except microsoft has extended lifes in the past to appease corporate customers / cover for late shipments of replacements
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx - existing OS life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7 - this is what's next
Windows 7 is expected to be released near January 2010.

Red Alert

I've tried Vista but it's dreadful. I even ran it on a decent machine, but it's pretty much because Vista is so awful that I bought a Mac. I've a nice XP image I use to install any older machines I have, it's XP slipstreamed with loads of stuff disabled with nLite.

maclad

Red Alert wrote: »

I've tried Vista but it's dreadful. I even ran it on a decent machine, but it's pretty much because Vista is so awful that I bought a Mac. I've a nice XP image I use to install any older machines I have, it's XP slipstreamed with loads of stuff disabled with nLite.

I was in the same boat, vista caused me to buy an imac and a macbook:D
Had vista on a new laptop with 2gigs of ram and 2.2 core 2 duo and f**k it was slow and it must have crashed twice a week:mad: now i've been using leopard since december with only one crash between my two macs:)

papu

Thanks guys for going completely off topic , this is XP or Vista , not MAC vs PC
you had a bad experience fine , ive had horrible experiences with apple machines which have convinced me never ever to buy one...

back ontopic the facts

When choosing a new operating system, the first thing many people ask is, "What will it help me do?" In answer, much of this site shows you the great experiences Windows Vista helps you have. The second thing many people say is, "Prove that it's better." In particular, many of you have asked about performance and safety improvements. The following information provides specific proof that Windows Vista is faster and safer.

* The majority of Windows Vista-based PCs boot in less than a minute, which can be an improvement over Windows XP boot times. And the new Windows Vista sleep and resume features can bring your PC to life in a snap—in fact, the vast majority of all Windows Vista-based PCs resume from sleep in less than 6 seconds.
* PCs running Windows Vista that are equipped with 512 MB memory experience a performance boost of up to 40 percent with Windows ReadyBoost. Just plug a USB flash drive into your computer, and Windows Vista will automatically start using it to speed up memory access to important data.
* Out of the box, Windows Vista performs as well, or better, than Windows XP on common home and business tasks.
* Windows Vista users generally experience 20 percent fewer application "hangs" than those running Windows XP
* Superfetch helps your computer adjust to your schedule, so your apps are ready to go before you even launch them. Use Microsoft Outlook every morning? Superfetch will serve it up just in time for breakfast. Play the same game every night? Superfetch gets your computer ready for the next big win. Waiting less means you can do more
* Based on their first 180 days of availability, Windows Vista has been shown to have fewer vulnerabilities than Windows XP or MacOS X 10.4. PCs running it are 60 percent less likely to be infected with viruses, worms, and rootkits than PCs running Windows XP SP2. Windows Vista-based PCs are over 90 percent less likely to be infected than systems running Windows XP without a Service Pack. And the experts agree: "Windows Vista is arguably the most secure closed-source OS available on the market."
* The more people use Windows Vista, the more they like it. So dig in and learn even more about the new features in Windows Vista. Once you've tried it, you'll see

http://neowin.net/news/main/08/01/20/windows-vista-the-facts