Who's got Vista?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:47 pm

I just had to buy a new computer tonight. It has Vista. I've heard loads of negs about this OS but I'm trying to stay openminded. It's got bells and whistles I wasn't expecting. Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, or pointers on how this XP girl can make friends with Vista?? Thank you.

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:31 pm

GHet rid of it. Maybe in three or four years it'll be a half decent OS. This is a pretty new system as well, it came with Vista - I struggled with it for a couple of days before giving up and switching to Linux.

If you still have your XP installation discs it should be straightforward.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:38 pm

I have Vista on my new laptop, and I don't really care for it. I wish they would have given the buyer an option what system they wanted, but almost all new computers come with it. Needless to say, I stick to my old school laptop as much as possible.

I am just not adventorous enough to try out some of the gadgets, I will never use them. There might be some things on there you might like alot. Tell us what you discover.

suzy_creamcheese · Post by **suzy_creamcheese** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:32 pm

spider solitaire is harder on vista than it was on XP

If thats not a reason to ban it i dont know what is

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:53 pm

Haha... Suzy.

Thanks Chookie, Chonsi. So far it keeps signing me out of Yahoo Messenger of its own accord! Grr!

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:50 pm

Well if its the "Vista Home edition" its not as bad as the premium edition. You will have to live with it as removing a preinstalled version of VISTA is a living nightmare don't try it. You can't just install Window XP over VISTA doesn't work that way with VISTA PREINSTALLED. You may just have to go to LINUX or spend a huge amount of time reformatting and reloading your PC.

It will nag you to no end with security questions as it is over the top with security that you don't need or what. You won't be able to install certain software if you don't have a compatible version that runs on VISTA. Drives for your printer, scanner etc may not work on VISTA you may have to go to the site and download compatible version if VISTA will let you download and install them.

DELL still sells many of their systems with Windows XP you just have to know which ones they are are VOSTOS, OPTIPLEX, and some of there INSPIRON LAPTOP still come with XP.

It should never have been released a nightmare for most to use. :-5:-5

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:06 pm

That does it!

My next pooter's gonna be a Mac.

Post by **spot** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:06 pm

That's a lot of negativity to overcome.

If I had a Microsoft machine and it was this year's model computer I'd far rather run Vista pro on it than any of the previous systems. All the security questions are needful and they only get asked once for each unique event, after that it follows your previous decision until you ask it to do something different or you put the machine in the same worried quandary.

I'd undoubtedly turn off a lot of the glitz, I don't do glitz.

Vista pro, for one thing, is the only one of the Microsoft workstation operating systems I'd consider secure against several threats I'd want to be secure against. I'd be happy to use it if I owned it, but I'd have bought it for a reason. I don't, as it happens, have a reason, so I've never seen Vista pro, but I know quite a bit about it.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:12 pm

I have Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate edition that we purchased at work it has 5 disc to load and so far I'm the only one that understand it enough to operate it. Just not an operating system that everyday users understand or can navigate easily.

Post by **spot** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:17 pm

That's why there's help systems built-in. Computing's never fully intuitive, it never can be intuitive at all other than very superficially. Good design isn't automatically intuitive to users if it's introducing concepts they've not met before. Microsoft operating systems have always hidden as much out of reach as was feasible, that's a good thing not a bad thing. It's never out of reach of people who have a reason to get to it and who follow the book.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:30 pm

ACC they are worth every dime you spend and are compatible with all Window applications now so they are very, very sweet indeed. :-4

[QUOTE]That does it! My next pooter's gonna be a Mac.[/QUOTE]

Post by **spot** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:42 pm

What does "all Window applications" mean? The reason so many people are clinging onto their Microsoft licences is that they're trapped there by tailored programs which only work under Microsoft operating systems and there's a lot of those still out there. Most legal-industry software in the UK, to begin with. The firms who publish it can't afford to write it for lots of alternative systems with low potential uptake.

If you mean all Microsoft Office 2008 applications there's a couple of huge holes, the Mac can't run Access and the Mac Office Excel effectively has no macro support, all the VBA functionality has been stripped out. Just about all the spreadsheets in the department are macro-reliant and can't run on macs in consequence.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:46 pm

OK you got me on this Spot. But who cares about the holes if you are rich enough to own MAC there software works just fine. Mind you I can't afford a MAC but I do admire them when I see one in action. I'm just a hopeless Windows PC user till the end of time. :wah:

[QUOTE]If you mean all Microsoft Office 2008 applications there's a couple of huge holes, the Mac can't run Access and the Mac Office Excel effectively has no macro support, all the VBA functionality has been stripped out. Just about all the spreadsheets in the department are macro-reliant and can't run on macs in consequence.[/QUOTE]

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:03 am

Thanks Carla and Spot for your input. Don't wory, I would never try to strip Vista and put in XP myself. I'm just an average user and know just enough to mess things up.

So far I've only come across a few annoyances...asking me if I want to install stuff when I've already told it to do so....shutting down Yahoo Messenger on its own for some reason....the annoyingly small font that gets stretched out of proportion when I try to adjust it....that would be the system default font, it's small and appears to be Tahoma.

I do like the appearance of it pretty much but that's not a big issue.

I haven't done much with as I'm afraid of doing something wrong. I did refuse to install prepackaged Norton AV and I put in Avir instead; also use Firefox Beta as my browser of choice, boy that Beta 3 version is super quick, btw!

I'll keep checking this thread. Thanks for replying!

The Rob · Post by **The Rob** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:12 am

RedGlitter;840508 wrote: I just had to buy a new computer tonight. It has Vista. I've heard loads of negs about this OS but I'm trying to stay openminded. It's got bells and whistles I wasn't expecting. Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, or pointers on how this XP girl can make friends with Vista?? Thank you.

There are two things you can do to help ease the learning curve.

Number One: Change the navigation from the default settings to "classic". You can always change it back.

Number Two: Prune the "Aero" interface, shut off the "features" that really only serve to suck RAM (if you have the Home Basic version, this is a moot point).

Speaking of RAM, I recommend at least two GB. I went for three.

Patience, and a little research, is required but Vista performs very well for me. Use the website below to learn how to make Vista behave as you'd prefer.

Dig it.

http://www.vista4beginners.com/

Please let us know of your progress! :-6

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:31 am

Oh, I'm reading all of your comments too, maybe this summer I will learn to use the laptop with the Vista-after I pry it out of my daughter's hands!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:47 am

Well I went price-comparing and ended up grabbing a Toshiba notebook on clearance. At $500 it was the same price as the slightly slower desktop without monitor, and the Mac mini wasn't available, so I grabbed it.

2 GHz AMD with 2GB RAM, but it has Vista.

I don't see any issues yet, but the faster I can get this baby to run the better.

Any suggestions?

Post by **spot** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:51 am

Accountable;847566 wrote: I don't see any issues yet, but the faster I can get this baby to run the better.

Any suggestions?http://www.extremetech.com/print_articl ... 510,00.asp

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:24 am

spot;847570 wrote: http://www.extremetech.com/print_articl ... 510,00.asp
Wow! Talk about detailed. I'm expecting to find out how to adjust the fuel-to-air ratio if I read far enough.

Thanks!

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:11 am

Wow, how did I miss Rob's reply for so long!? I hate when I miss new posts!

Thanks Rob, I bookmarked it and will check it out today.

I am having far less problems than what I've heard others are having w/Vista. It even has some things I like about it.

It does annoy me when it asks if I want to download something after I have already told it to.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:22 pm

There should be a box to check that say remember this so it won't ask you over and over again.

[QUOTE]It does annoy me when it asks if I want to download something after I have already told it to.[/QUOTE]

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:04 pm

We have 3 laptops running Vista with no problems at all...I like it...Its megga easy:-6

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:08 pm

Chezzie;847777 wrote: We have 3 laptops running Vista with no problems at all...I like it...Its megga easy:-6Im thinking of getting a new lap top and have seem the one I want ....but not sure now what to do:-3:-5

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:18 pm

Carolly;847782 wrote: Im thinking of getting a new lap top and have seem the one I want ....but not sure now what to do:-3:-5

as in whether to go ahead and purchase it or choosing which os to have?

The Rob · Post by **The Rob** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:25 pm

RedGlitter;847710 wrote: ...It does annoy me when it asks if I want to download something after I have already told it to.

That's UAC (User Account Control). You can disable it. You'll be prompted to reconsider, whereupon you may remember that your prior operating system didn't feature such a thing as UAC and got along fine without it, and choose to shut it off anyway.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:14 pm

The Rob knows what he is talking about.

[QUOTE]That's UAC (User Account Control). You can disable it. You'll be prompted to reconsider, whereupon you may remember that your prior operating system didn't feature such a thing as UAC and got along fine without it, and choose to shut it off anyway. [/QUOTE]