Three reasons why I won’t upgrade to Windows Vista
By James Cornelius
UPDATE: UK-based TECH.BLORGE contributor James Cornelius explains why he won’t be upgrading to Windows Vista.
Vista has launched (at least for business), and Microsoft predicts that it will have more than 200 million users by the end of next year. I for one, will not be upgrading to Vista. Here are three reasons why:
1. I really don’t want to have to upgrade my PC yet again
A “premium ready” PC requires 1GB of RAM to run Vista - give me a break, all Vista has to do is run a computer, not find a cure for cancer. And let’s face it, if 1GB is recommended, to actually get some work done you’ll need 2GB. And then you’ll start wondering whether a 1 GHz CPU is enough, which will mean that a new computer will start looking attractive. It’s just never ending game where forever Microsoft drives us to buy bigger and faster PCs.
2. If it aint broke don’t fix it
I quite like the fact that my computer works. Invariably when I upgrade the operating system, something doesn’t quite work properly, like a web cam or a network connection, or even a graphics card. I then have to spend hours of my time trying to adjust settings, or hunting for new drivers that don’t exist yet. I’ve got better things to do. Every time a new version of Windows comes out I also find that I need to upgrade some of my applications, usually system utilities, to get them to work properly, and a lot of the time I get to pay for the privilege. I don’t need to pay Microsoft $399 for Vista so that I then have to lay out hundreds more.
3. Vista has no compelling features
Windows Vista offers no compelling features for consumers– sure there are lots of things that look nice (like sidebars and gadgets), but the reality is that Windows XP does what most people need an operating system to do perfectly well. I object to buying something where there’s no clear benefit, just a lot of trouble. According to Microsoft, Vista is a “break through computing experience”. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Time travel? Mind control? We all know the truth – Windows XP is perfectly fine, and Microsoft’s PR machine is just inventing reasons for us to buy something we don’t need.
I do realize that a new operating system launch is a big sales opportunity for hardware manufactures and software publishers. And while I do understand the need for businesses to make money, I also long for a day when computers do what they have to do and us ordinary computer users can just get on with it.
Microsoft, how about some real innovation before you start wanting us to hand over our hard-earned money for something we don’t really want, but will eventually feel obliged to buy because everyone else is buying it.
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December 1st, 2006
I totally agree. It’s ashame that people are eventually forced to spend money on software that isn’t all too different from older software. I too will be using XP for a long time to come.
December 1st, 2006
Perfectly said.My xp system is brilliant, and even I can use it with the help of this wonderful program.If it ain’t broke-don’t fix it!! Hail xp!!
December 1st, 2006
Yeah lets keep everything just the way it is now…. never change anything. Hey if they had said that in the 60s where would we be now.
Do we stop building better hardware too, would that satisfy you?
Why not just use Windows 95 or NT 4, they worked well. Try getting them to run on a current computer, with support for all you favourite toys of today like your digital camera.
Change is way of life! Get used to it…..
December 1st, 2006
Change is fine and inevitable, but as Mr. Cornelius said, Vista has NO compelling features.
XP does everything I need to do.
No upgrade for me either…
December 1st, 2006
I agree not to upgrade to Vista. Less than a year ago I purchased an HP Pavilion dv8000 and a Dell B130, and now find I need to upgrade them just to run Vista. HP advised the cost to upgrade the dv8000 will cost more than I paid for the entire system! Besides the HP I still would need to upgrade the Dell & another desktop to run Vista. Give me a brake Microsoft! What compatibility issues will I run into with the software I run that will cost hundreds more in upgrade costs. NO way. As a small business owner I’ll retire before I put out the thousands to upgrade the PC’s and software again! XP works just fine for most programs, but I still need to run 98SE on older Compaqs for favorate programs that XP won’t run. I sick and tired of this constant upgrading every few years.
December 1st, 2006
vista is a good step, but it came too late, i already bought a pc, heres the thing buying all these vista ready pc, theyll be still be slow, youll have to wait another 3-4 years before you can have a system that will be really fast and make the most of vista, i dont know microsoft should release software more often instead of these long awaited releases i was waiting for vista but the long wait has made me break down and buy a new system, i wont be upgrading to vista this pc cost me too much to risk installing a new os that could mess up my pc, with its hardware issues and all, and i here its really buggy
December 2nd, 2006
Right now my four year old PC probably won’t run Vista well so I won’t upgrade.
However one can buy a brand new PC that runs Vista fine for under $700, and build/upgrade one for cheaper than that. I suspect the standard for RAM on the lower end PCs will finally make the jump from 512m to 1g, and since the CPUs are already there and relatively cheap video cards support DX9 wps Vista will make much of it’s headway in new PC purchases.
December 2nd, 2006
If you dont want it dont get it – simple, M/soft are not forcing you (yet). If its not going to work on your machine you have answered your own debate!!
Its the same when a new PC game is released. You get a new PC and 2 months later a new version of Quake is out only to find your PC is not up to it.
December 2nd, 2006
What is with microsoft continuing to eat up all the clock cycles with the GUI? It was once said “Andy giveth and Bill taketh away.” I put W2K on a recent box (3.2 GHz P4) and she’s a screamer. Windows 2000 works just fine too. In many ways 2000 is better than XP. So if Vista is just a prettier face than XP I’m staying with my current lover (Win 2000). She may not be as pretty but she sure know how to please! -Network Engineer
December 2nd, 2006
Sooner or later, we, especially PC gamers, are forced to upgrade to Vista since DirectX 10 only supports Vista OS and Vista-capable hardware systems. It’s a total blackmail from Microsoft for just the sake of PC games.
December 2nd, 2006
Vista is really just a way for them to have an OS more like Apple’s. The fact is that Windows is lagging behind in features (Although it’s relatively functional), and they’re rushing to catch up to keep the market. I’m sticking with XP as long as I have to– then switching over to a Mac.
I’m not even going to touch Vista.
December 2nd, 2006
For me, it all comes down to what happens when I am editing a file and I drag on the right hand scroll bar. If I move the scrolling control, and nothing happens ’till I stop, that’s a cop-out. If the screen scrolls as fast as I move the control, I haven’t experienced that since NT2. PCs now run 1000 times faster, have 1000 times as much hard disk, and 1000 times as much memory, and they are still sluggish. We must be paying for gross sins in the software, piled atop gross sins in the software, piled… I want a workstation, how much do I have to pay?
December 3rd, 2006
Truth is, most people will probably wait a year to upgraded. Microsoft is pushing the future, and even though it isn’t looking like Vista is special, I see three major things it is doing.
1. Standardizing Technology Introduced with Earlier Versions of Windows (Media Center, Voice, indexing, ect.)
2. Keeping Microsoft Alive as a Profit Making Company
3. Pushing More Advanced Technology (making it necessary to upgrade your computer)
As I said, most people won’t upgrade until SP1 or later, when the cost of a viable Vista computer is lower (then a grand, hopefully). I hope for two things to come from Vista. 64 bit procs (and with them more ram, and cores) and of course, more security (XP is pretty dam strong as long as you keep anti-virus and are not a total idiot, but more is better).
December 3rd, 2006
I have been watching the reports of Vista for the past year at least, and there are only a few little things that have me even luke-warm over Vista. I have been thinking more and more about jumping over to OSX. Sure it has a much smaller market share, a fraction of the games, and OSX too suffers from required hardware upgrades. But at least they are the innovator when it comes to OS technology and they do not suffer from the same virus issues Windows does.
On top of all this, now that the MacIntel is out and Boot Camp is there, I can get one machine that will allow me to do work (OSX) and play games (WinXP).
There needs to be a large movement away from the companies that don’t give us what we want (Microsoft) to companies that do (not saying that Apple is THE answer). How to get that movement started? Not sure but it needs to happen!
December 3rd, 2006
Heck, I still use Windows 2000. It’s the best OS Micro$oft offers. Indeed, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
December 3rd, 2006
i don’t understand, why nobody is thinks of Linux?!!
it’s FREE, people! it’s the most functional and, if you chose the right distro, has the best GUI you’d ever see! FACT
i personally use openSUSE linux, and it has everything that a pc user will ever need, and more eye candy than any vista programmer can ever think of!
just give yourself the time to try and learn linux, it worth it
December 3rd, 2006
“i don’t understand, why nobody is thinks of Linux?!!” to be perfectly blunt, windows and mac are more talked about because it requires less effort to learn. [explains why AOL hasn't been wiped off the face of the Earth, you know] a second problem is that most people are not really familiar with it, especially considering that it isn’t loaded onto new PCs/macs out of the box.
personally, I don’t plan to get vista, it’s a waste of perfectly good hard drive space. more likely, ill keep xp and linux on seperate drives [duel boot PC]
December 3rd, 2006
I think everyone misses the point here. No one is forcing anyone to go out and buy an upgrade to Vista for their existing PC!! It’s the same thing with televisions, a new model comes out nearly every week but does everyone get all heat up about having to upgrade no…
There is new technology being invented all the time. At some stage XP won’t support it. Linux is great operating system; I run it at home on one of my machines; but it isn’t easy enough for the average user to get everything working. Mac is great from what I have seen but until they allow other PC manufacturers to sell OSX, it will never be big. And Mac doesn’t have the breadth of applications available especially in business
So that leaves Vista. In 18 mths – 2 years it won’t be worth considering XP for a new machine. It will be that old thing that still works great on the hardware that you bought it with, but do any of you seriously think it is going to be the best thing for the new machine you have just spent your hard earned on?
December 3rd, 2006
well with this rational u should be using win2000, since xp is really minor upgrades to 2k..
in fact vista is a larger upgrade of windows than xp was from 2k.
your point about not wanting to upgrade ur pc is valid…
as for clear features???
what clear feature made 2k better than NT 4? or NT3.51 for that matter?
what clear feature makes cds better than cassets…
u can build cases for all of those … as i could for vista..
incrimental progress is still progress.
vista is a welcome upgrade to windows that is a significant improvement.
an example of the many little improvements in vista:
> out-of-the-box dvd movie playback
December 3rd, 2006
I’m not even upgrading to XP!
December 3rd, 2006
>> what clear feature made 2k better than NT 4?
Plug and play for one.
December 4th, 2006
What will tend to force eventual upgrade to Vista is, first, Microsoft will quit supporting XP/SP2 in 3 years. Second, the latest upgrades to various media players, Active X controls and utilities will quit supporting XP, and the content available from the Net will require the latest app. updates or it won’t play. So we will have calculated/controlled obsolescence, requiring much technically unnecessary investment in new hardware and software.
In answer to James, personal computing really did make spectacular breakthroughs from the seventies through the nineties. But most people who use computers now have more capability than they know what to do with (though a really long-playing laptop battery is still needed). Basically, the technology has now entered into the “mature” phase as far as really useful capabilities are concerned. Until home theaters become holodecks, with a few tweaks, the present level of hardware speed and software versatility is adequate for most purposes.
December 4th, 2006
I’m a developer and found that Vistas (User Account Control) is a pain. I can see why they added it for security but trying to implement it into my software for January 2007 is a complete pain.
I like vista but I wont purchase it for atleast 2 years as it will be very buggy. I have a licenced RC2 copy from M$ and I must say that it only took 35 minutes to install on my test laptop. M$ have basicaly copied Apples OSX and added somw bells and whistles. OK, it llooks nice and pritty but uses up too much system resources even with 1gb of ram. Because I’m a self employed software developer I had to upgrade my test laptop memory to 2gb just to see if it made any diference, it did.
I’ll keep developing my applications in XP pro because vista updates the look my software to match th vista look. Datagrids, forms, buttons, text boxes, everything is updated to look live vista and it works well except for one calendar and the security issue which I have now fixed.
December 4th, 2006
Someone should point MS [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system]Here[/url]
Clearly they have forgotten what an Operating System is suppose to do.
It’s a platform to run ‘Application Programs’ on.
For a single user desktop Pc to require 512mb of memory just to run is a joke. Only one PC in our office came close to the min reqs for Vista, and I’ve got Vista Beta2 running on it. ( without the flash gui because none of our desktops have DX9 cards, why should they it’s an office!)
What do we get for giving the OS all that memory and processor?
A slower and more clumbersome OS!
And transparent window requiring DX9 hardware and 128mb memory – KDE 3.5 can do that on an S3 class video card, In fact I have Suse 10.1 running inside a MS virtualPC with transparent windows turned on!
Vista is a joke, but I doubt many users will be laughing.
Bottom line is if you’re a windows user stick with XP, unless you’re running a top of the line PC and don’t mind the OS using more resources than any sane Desktop OS has a right to use.
December 20th, 2006
I stay with XP, after trying Vista I only see a hunger resources OS that doesn’t add anything new to my computer. On my company we don’t even think to update a single computer to Vista. None of them are even vista capable, less say Vista Premium. It’s a office , not a gamers attraction. We work, we don’t need that “thing” so I suppose that in the future, in a couple of years we are migrating to linux. So Microsoft lost their business with us ( 200 computers and 3 servers).
December 24th, 2006
I will probably upgrade to Vista next time I buy new hardware. Until then I will probably be perfectly happy with Win2K.
June 6th, 2007
DOS 3.3 was stable and worked well too!
July 7th, 2007
When Microsoft is ready, they will just “pull the support plug” on XP, just as they do for their other products.
Their goal right now is to get business to adopt their OS. Only thing Microsoft has to do is have VISTA talk in some way that XP won’t understand, then everyone will be faced with either ceasing to do business with the VISTA adopters, or join in and pay yet again just to be able to communicate with the Microsoft Technology Partners.
I can’t tell you how many Microsoft web sites I can’t see. And still Microsoft bandies around their “Linux is Violating our Patents” crap for just trying to talk to a Microsoft box.
Personally, ripping up my computing infrastructure to replace so-called “obsolete” technology is just about as much fun as repiping my house because the hardware store won’t sell me any more washers that fit my existing faucets, and have law passed to keep anyone else from making any.
This “embrace, extend, Patent” crap is for the highly paid business executive who has risen over the need to be accessible to his customers. When one has the income of these businesses, why the hell do they need customers anyway?
I have only found ONE stock broker that honors standard web protocols!
And I have had a helluva time researching healthcare insurance, resulting in hours of phone time when what I wanted was a simple HTML page.
“Plays for Sure” my eye!
July 28th, 2007
I just upgraded to Vista. I am very disapointed. The User Interface is slick and kind of MAC like, but it is oh soooo slow.
I have 2 PC’s sitting side by side, one XP with an older slower processor and a Vista PC with a newer processor. The XP PC is faster in all areas that really matter.
I am dumping Vista.
August 7th, 2007
After spending all my life on Windows, the release of Vista prompted me to try a Mac. At the very least, Macs are a hell of a lot more fun to use than Windows.