Has Vista Improved??

I bought Vista when it came out and was immediately (like many others) peed off with how it ran. After a period of time I gave up and went back to XP, until I got hold of the RC of Windows 7. Then when Windows 7 came out I bought that and have been reasonably pleased with it. Over a period of time mind, I kept going back to Vista to see if things had got better with all the patches etc, up to SP1. Each time I went back to Windows 7. Now, after a good period of time I have just installed a dual boot of Windows 7 and Windows Vista (both ultimate x64 versions), and updated Vista to SP2 and beyond.

My first impressions of THIS install is, oh my, have things got better?
At the moment things seem to run very fast indeed. There is still a lot of drive activity mind, and I haven't installed everything I use on it yet. So I still have some more testing to do. But has everyone on here that still uses Vista found it has improved much?

alienandy said:

I bought Vista when it came out and was immediately (like many others) peed off with how it ran. After a period of time I gave up and went back to XP, until I got hold of the RC of Windows 7. Then when Windows 7 came out I bought that and have been reasonably pleased with it. Over a period of time mind, I kept going back to Vista to see if things had got better with all the patches etc, up to SP1. Each time I went back to Windows 7. Now, after a good period of time I have just installed a dual boot of Windows 7 and Windows Vista (both ultimate x64 versions), and updated Vista to SP2 and beyond.

My first impressions of THIS install is, oh my, have things got better?
At the moment things seem to run very fast indeed. There is still a lot of drive activity mind, and I haven't installed everything I use on it yet. So I still have some more testing to do. But has everyone on here that still uses Vista found it has improved much?

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I use Vista as my primary operating system. I have used it right from beta to release, to beta SP1, to SP1, to beta SP2, and beyond! I have found bugs in it, a few small quirks, but these have been fixed now, and I am really happy with it. I think that you need a computer powerful enough to run it on, but I do, and it has never given me grief!

Richard

I think the improvement is dramatic from when it was first released to now - perhaps more signicant than any prior release in terms of change from beginning to about a year after a newer release. It only tells me they really rushed the gun releasing Vista much, much too early when it probably was an alpha product let alone a beta product. I have no problems with it whatsoever (and haven't in over a year or maybe even two) - and to be honest, I personally had no real problems even from the start though I encountered many who did - especially prior to SP1.

Since my laptop can't be upgraded to W7 (I'd need to replace the motherboard, processor and graphics card - which is almost the cost of a new PC), I'm going to be staying with it for at least another year or so I expect and I'm perfectly content with that as I don't see where W7 is all that much better (though I admittedly haven't used it very much - only with clients or at friend's houses). I may even wait for Windows 8 - LOL!

I totally agree with Lorien. I have Vista on all of my family's computers, they all work perfectly, and why should I change? I really see no big differences. My father's computer is quite old as well, and the 7 beta broke many of his proiferals, which Vista doesn't. By the time we get two releases down the line (Windows 8) then I do see a reason to upgrade, but by that time we will have replaced some of the hardware anyway.

Wow!
Thanks for all your replies. Much appreciated.

Good to hear that it has improved over time. Even though I have a dual boot with Windows 7, I am going to use this Vista for a time as my main OS to see how things go. There are some odd things that I don't like about Windows 7, including the new taskbar. I liked it to start with but now it just irritates me! lol.

Glad that you all have good experiences with Vista. Especially when we have all spent our hard earned money on it.

:D

Just changed my System Specs that I had listed on here. That was my old PC.
(I always forget to update things like that! lol.)
Thought I'd best sort it so that any questions that I may have, your answers can at least be judged better when you can see what I'm running things on!

I'm old and very reluctant to change. My XP box finally died and bought an HP desktop with Vista Home Premium SP2 OEM about a year ago. I read all the negative (downright hateful) remarks about Vista and considered a format and install of XP. I didn't do it and have been a "closet" Vista lover. I absolutely love Vista and still can't figure why all the hate. To the point, I purchased a laptop three weeks ago that came OEM with Window 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Now that I've had an opportunity to get used to it I can honestly say that I prefer my Vista 32-bit OS to Win 7. Vista has never failed, is lightening fast, and will allow all my favorite apps from over the years to be installed. Win 7 is a bit of a disappointment because I can't use some of those 32-bit apps and some programs won't work because all drivers must now have a digital signature. If not digitally signed, no-go. While I appreciate Microsoft taking such good care of me and looking out for my safety, I'm a risk-taker and would like to decide my own fate.
At the end of the day I think your assessment of Vista is spot on because every day that I use it as my primary home OS I am amazed in its performance and think it outperforms Win 7. Please....no-one attack me, its just an opinion.

-Mark

markaz said:

At the end of the day I think your assessment of Vista is spot on because every day that I use it as my primary home OS I am amazed in its performance and think it outperforms Win 7. Please....no-one attack me, its just an opinion.

-Mark

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This is of course an opinion, but I agree! I also hate the new Windows 7 taskbar. And having tabs show up as a new window

My thoughts are, Vista should never have been sold as an upgrade. The systems that ran XP great couldn't handle Vista great, so everyone got pissed.

Now you have a great system, Vista runs great.

Patonb said:

My thoughts are, Vista should never have been sold as an upgrade. The systems that ran XP great couldn't handle Vista great, so everyone got pissed.

Now you have a great system, Vista runs great.

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+1

I had 7 and switched back to Vista I think it is better at doing what I want. Only moans I have is in Details View you are not able to seperate pictures and video details, set it for one and it applies to both (fixed in 7). The UAC was a pain so I turn it off and change the registry key to not notify me when using an administrator account.

ilikefree said:

I had 7 and switched back to Vista I think it is better at doing what I want. Only moans I have is in Details View you are not able to seperate pictures and video details, set it for one and it applies to both (fixed in 7). The UAC was a pain so I turn it off and change the registry key to not notify me when using an administrator account.

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Well, currently on dual boot for now to see how things work out. If after a few weeks I find that Vista works perfect for me, I will re-format removing Windows 7 and just have Vista. Windows 7 will keep. ;-)
(Can't believe I'm even suggesting this! lol)

alienandy said:

ilikefree said:

I had 7 and switched back to Vista I think it is better at doing what I want. Only moans I have is in Details View you are not able to seperate pictures and video details, set it for one and it applies to both (fixed in 7). The UAC was a pain so I turn it off and change the registry key to not notify me when using an administrator account.

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Well, currently on dual boot for now to see how things work out. If after a few weeks I find that Vista works perfect for me, I will re-format removing Windows 7 and just have Vista. Windows 7 will keep. ;-)
(Can't believe I'm even suggesting this! lol)

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You're not alone. I'm considering doing the same on my new laptop. It's got enough RAM to handle Vista and I will be able to run every program that I am now currently missing. How big is your HD that you would consider a format?

markaz said:

You're not alone. I'm considering doing the same on my new laptop. It's got enough RAM to handle Vista and I will be able to run every program that I am now currently missing. How big is your HD that you would consider a format?

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I've stuck in a 500gb sata for the moment split into 3 partitions. (2 x 200gb and 1 x 100gb.) Windows 7 on the first 200gb and Windows Vista on the second 200Gb. My other larger drives are purely for media storage for my media centre.

I use a drive caddy for the main drive, so I can easily change the OS hard drive.

vista 32 problems For many,many months with sp1/sp2 i installed win 7 pro.I have 2 seperate hard drives.Reinstalled vista again,and it has ran flawlessly.I am very suprised at the problem free system now running...Win 7 is newer,but vista that is running is also at this time is extremely GOOD.Was able to install sp1/sp2 without trouble !For 6/7 months of pulling hair out my hair may grow back...There maybe HOPE afterall.