From this Vista, it looks like same old Microsoft

October 15, 2008 By Lou Dolinar

Just when you thought it was safe to convert to Windows Vista, Microsoft changes its mind, again. This soap opera is getting to be a little old.



Content from McClatchy-Tribune Information Services expires 90 days after original publication date. For more information about McClatchy-Tribune Information Services, please visit www.mctdirect.com .

Similar stories from PHYSorg:


Microsoft: Windows 7 on track for holiday sales

created May 11, 2009 | popularity 1 / 5 (6) | comments 0

Windows 7 confirmed for holiday season PCs

created Jun 02, 2009 | popularity 1.4 / 5 (10) | comments 0

Emails show Microsoft's Vista problems

created Feb 29, 2008 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (8) | comments 3

Windows 7 to make public debut May 5

created May 01, 2009 | popularity 1.8 / 5 (22) | comments 5

Microsoft says Windows 7 is ready for PC companies

created Jul 22, 2009 | popularity 2.5 / 5 (8) | comments 0


print this article email this article download pdf blog this article bookmark this article     Stumble it Digg this share on Facebook retweet share on Reddit add to delicious
Rate this story - 3.6 /5 (39 votes)

Rank Filter

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

  • Bob_Kob - Oct 15, 2008
    • Rank: 4.2 / 5 (5)
    Well done sir.
  • dirk_bruere - Oct 15, 2008
    • Rank: 5 / 5 (3)
    Just got a new quad core machine. Ported my old copy of XP onto it, from 2003. I'll consider updating to Windows 7 SP1 in around 3 years
  • out7x - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: 3 / 5 (3)
    The only value of microsoft is its integration of operating system with applications. I'm still waiting on the Linux world.
  • gmurphy - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: 3.5 / 5 (2)
    Linux clarity 2.6.22 #4 SMP Thu May 1 13:41:38 IST 2008 i686 GNU/Linux. The Linux world has arrived ;->
  • CreepyD - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: 3.8 / 5 (4)
    The only benefit for gamers was directX 10 - that turned out to be pointless too as no games properly use it. Other than that, it runs games around 40% slower than XP from my experience.
    We aren't allowed it at work either as it doesn't work with our software. Well done MS.
  • NotParker - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: 3.3 / 5 (6)
    Vista is faster than XP on modern PC's. It even runs fine on small netbook's.

    Most of Vistas problems were bad drivers. SP1 fixed most problems.



  • axemaster - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    I have Vista on a very fast gaming computer. I got it for DX10, and it can run Crysis at High with fps=30 so it does very well. But get this - the OS doesn't run the GPU correctly, even with SP1. I have a 8800 GTX Nvidia card, and I love it.

    The problem is that it crashes all the time, and I mean full computer death, with nothing working. The problem seems to extend to the OS, because the sound starts an infinite loop every time. I have to reboot.

    When it crashes, the screen freezes and jagged white vertical lines cover the screen. Before SP1 it also had diagonal colored lines and crashed more frequently. But the problem still exists. I have diligently updated everything time and again.

    Any suggestions?
  • xen_uno - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    I have both XP x64 and Ubuntu 8.04 x64 in a dual boot. XP x64 is what Vista should have been, maybe with a bit more massaging (ie Vista's apparently improved security and better default audio subsystem). They should have left DRM out of the OS and let the content providers worry about it.

    I frankly don't care what MS does now though, as having Google involved as a contributor to Ubuntu (Linux) development is nothing but good news. Latest Ubuntu (the easiest to use and maintain Linux) still requires a bit too much computer knowledge to appeal to the masses, but that could change relatively soon after another release or 2.

    FYI: Both Earth and Picasa (x64) do run better under Ubuntu tho to be perfectly fair, XP x64 is running the 32 bit versions of each.
  • Flakk - Oct 16, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    I have an HP with an Athlon 64x Triple Core and a middle of the road Nvidia card. Never had a single problem with Vista or XP. I can play all my games, and run all my software with no trouble. I guess I just lucked out.
  • Velanarris - Oct 17, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
    The more features you take advantage of in Vista the more problems you'll encounter.

    The majority of MS's business is the corporate and business markets. No one wants to embrace Vista as it's too fidgety for end users. The additional security would have been great but the constant prompting it employs prevents the OS from being easily platformed by itself.
  • Doug_Huffman - Oct 19, 2008
    • Rank: not rated yet
  • visual - Oct 20, 2008
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (2)
    ... Vista is slower and less compatible...

    As is the author's brain.
    Seriously... why so many retards keep bashing Vista without even having tried it? Some bright light above claimed it's 40% slower... lol.

    Vista is better than XP in every way except price. Even on older computers, non-aero Vista works better than XP.
  • aussiecarter - Oct 20, 2008
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
    Vista often freezes up when using IE or office 2007. This occurs when performing the most basic tasks. This did not happen with XP. I sit and think during these freeze ups, "This one of the leading companies in the world, how can they get it wrong?". I wish for Google to create an OS. I am happy with Google Chrome.
  • Velanarris - Oct 20, 2008
    • Rank: 3 / 5 (2)

    As is the author's brain.
    Seriously... why so many retards keep bashing Vista without even having tried it? Some bright light above claimed it's 40% slower... lol.

    Vista is better than XP in every way except price. Even on older computers, non-aero Vista works better than XP.
    That's just not true. If vista was better in every way it wouldn't have received as many hotfixes in the fist month as XP received in the first fiscal quarter. That's an apples to apples comparison in terms of stability.
    Vista often freezes up when using IE or office 2007. This occurs when performing the most basic tasks. This did not happen with XP. I sit and think during these freeze ups, "This one of the leading companies in the world, how can they get it wrong?". I wish for Google to create an OS. I am happy with Google Chrome.


    I like Google Chrome however, there are a lot of things about it, like scalability, that are rather lacking. As for the Vista freeze ups, that's more an issue with office as the same freeze ups occur in XP. There's just less overhead in XP creating less context switching, which is where you'll typically see the long pauses in action from programs.

October 15, 2008 all stories

Comments: 14

3.6 /5 (39 votes)
  • Stumble this up

  • Digg this

  • share this

  • hide
  • Related Stories

  • Microsoft CEO: Windows 7 Japan sales 'fantastic'
    created Nov 05, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • With Windows 7 and new designs, PCs looking better
    created Oct 21, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Windows 7 to salvage Vista 'train wreck'
    created Oct 18, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Review: Windows 7 strong, but don't pay to upgrade
    created Oct 14, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Free PC widgets save energy
    created Sep 23, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0



  • hide
  • Relevant PhysicsForums posts

Other News

Google Go

Google Go gets going (w/ Video)

Technology / Software

created 3 hours ago | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Google has introduced its new experimental programming language Go, which aims to combine speedy application development through simplified coding with high-speed program execution.


New 'finFETS' promising for smaller transistors, more powerful chips

New 'finFETs' promising for smaller transistors, more powerful chips

Technology / Semiconductors

created 19 hours ago | popularity 4.8 / 5 (12) | comments 3

(PhysOrg.com) -- Purdue University researchers are making progress in developing a new type of transistor that uses a finlike structure instead of the conventional flat design, possibly enabling engineers ...


Software for solving life-threatening medical puzzles

Software for solving life-threatening medical puzzles

Technology / Software

created 1hour ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- New software is under development that doctors hope will help them identify brain tumours in children that will grow aggressively.


The New York Times headquarters in New York City

New York Times publishes 'crowd-funded' article

Technology / Internet

created 5 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

The science section of The New York Times contained an unusual article on Tuesday. The story about a huge floating garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean was not written by a Times reporter but by a freelance ...


New search technique for images and videos has broad applications

New search technique for images and videos has broad applications

Technology / Computer Sciences

created 17 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Engineers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed a powerful new approach to a fundamental problem in computer vision: how to program a computer to recognize or categorize ...