Robert Robinson

We make a point of trying to keep up with new technology and have
installed and tested all of the MSDN available beta releases of Vista
including #5744. Vista currently runs reliably, but I have yet to see
that it has any advantages over XP/Windows 2003 Server.
There are many obvious disadvantages:
1. It is a large and inefficient operating system that requires high
performance computer hardware.
2. The "security features" are a major blunder. Their only purpose
appears to be the creation of a maximum amount of user annoyance.
3. Microsoft has made still another change in driver software
specifications. It may be a long time, if ever, that compatible drivers
are available for many devices. This is especially true for some of the
more exotic, professional level devices; for example, high quality sound
converters.
4. Vista contains a significant amount of what qualifies as spyware. I
strongly object to any software that "calls home". Regardless of the
claims of Microsoft and other software vendors that their eavesdropping
is harmless, this process always has the potential for considerable abuse.
5. Automated updating, especially if it is forced on a consumer, is not
wise because of the well known problem that "software fixes" frequently
cause unintended problems.
6. Microsoft appears to have gone overboard in meeting the desires of
the MPAA and RIAA as opposed to supporting flexible, state of the art,
user friendly technology.
7. The End User License Agreement places burdensome and unnecessary
restrictions on the consumer.