Okay, it's not perfect. But Windows Vista on a new PC is perfectly serviceable for many users. In some ways, in fact, Vista is a better operating system than Windows XP. Unfortunately, XP's heir apparent is also the most derided and discounted Microsoft operating system since Windows Me.
With all of the negative press about slower than expected adoption rates and the push for vendors to continue offering an XP option on new PCs, users may be left with the impression that anything is better than opting for Vista, including paying a premium to downgrade to Windows XP when buying a new PC.
That's a bit extreme. Granted, the operating system has its share of glitches and issues. Higher-end versions are pricey, and Vista requires state-of-the-art hardware for optimum performance. But more than a year after its release, Vista with SP1 is reasonably stable and probably more secure than XP. It's also technically more advanced than its seven-year-old predecessor.
As developers bring products to market that exploit unique Vista capabilities, such as the Presentation Graphics subsystem and support for Sidebar gadgets, users will want them. But those who buy XP with that new PC won't have access to those applications because they will be working through an operating system designed in the late'90s to run on millennium-era hardware. What's more, general support for that 'new' XP operating system will end next April, even though many consumers will keep those machines for five years.
If users buying new PCs are going to stick with Windows, they should get machines with Vista preloaded. Sure, the incessant barking of security warnings is annoying, but those can be muzzled. Windows is the platform on which users run the applications that do the real work. Those applications will increasingly exploit and rely on Vista's capabilities.
In a market that watches shipments as if they were movie box-office grosses, Vista has fallen short of very public expectations. But although Vista hasn't been a blockbuster on par with Windows 95, general penetration rates for the operating system are following the same slow, steady trajectory as those for Windows XP, according to a June report by Bernstein Research.
For business, the Vista adoption calculation has many more variables. And there's no need to rush. Enterprises can continue to install their own XP system images onto new hardware, and the security updates that businesses need will be available until 2014. By then, Vista's successor should be established.
But there is also something to be said for staying current with your users. Vista is shipping on most new Windows PCs in the retail channel. Microsoft claims to have shipped 140 million copies as of March 2008, and it's a sure bet that most of those licenses aren't being downgraded to XP. That means users will increasingly be running Vista at home.
At least one wavering CIO sees this as a political issue. He worries that if users accept Vista at home and businesses wait for Windows 7, IT may look lethargic in its efforts to deploy the latest technology to meet business needs. By the time Windows 7 is ready for enterprise use, XP will be at least 10 years old. At that point, being on the trailing edge with XP could hurt IT's credibility and make kicking off more-ambitious projects difficult, he says.
In the end, the Vista decision involves striking a delicate balance between political, technical and business issues. Wait or migrate? Both choices involve some risks.
Comments
Gazamataz said: WTF Why does everybody hate Vista Ive used it for over a year and I comppletely agree that it uses more resources but its more stable- the annoying admin pop ups can be disabled and ive never had a problem AT ALL More than i could say for XP - constanly having to reboot the OS as there has been problemsI think people just dont like change and one persons opinion slowly becomes the general concencus - its crazy People need to get over it and realise that one day you will have to get with the times Every one thought XP is pants at the start and Microsoft soon fixed the various bugs and now everyone loves it - the same will go for Vista Idiots
Too late for respect said: The problem dazzlingdazz is that many belatedly found out that Vista is in fact a Ladyboy
dazzlingdazz said: i have used all os right from dos to windows oss they all had the little nags about something i use a pc all the time as been disabled and not been able to go out without someone for support so computers are like woman treat them with respected and you get that respected back with thing going right
Dragon said: You just dont get it do you I worked with 95 amp 98 which were Ok then on to XP Apart from the fact Microsht released XP before it was ready amp it leaked like a sieve I loved it It would have been perfectly easy for Microsht to release XP mark 2 with all the problems they discovered in the programming fixed Thats what I wanted XP minuse the patches on patches What I got was Vista Home Basic I have fixed the nag screen I have switched off Defender because it stopped my didnt recognise my Start Up programmes and blocked them Why cant I uninstal it as I dont use it I used to switch on my PC make cofee and it was ready to run Now I come back and I have a pretty button which says my account is locked How do I disable that Vista does what Microsht wants Its my PC It should do what I want My next PC will be a Mac
Vista User said: Vista 64-bit SP1 is a very stable and responsive OS I am using it on all of my desktops and laptops without any issue I would never go back to XP which is antique although I am looking forward to Windows 7 which appears to be shaping up as a great release for Microsoft
Great Nouse said: Take a look at most of the budget computer mouse on sale They work with every operating system including the Mac except oneYes the one and only corrupt pathetic and immoral Vista As developers bring products to market that exploit unique Vista capabilities such as the Presentation Graphics subsystem and support for Sidebar gadgets users will want them says RobertBollocks says the guys in the real fight ringRecently MS announced that they were intending to spend billions on creating a better image Well they could have saved themselves all this trouble heartache and money if someone had simply told them to make sure all existing mouse and standard pieces of existing hardware work with that smelly pile of VistaIt would be cheaper for MS to silence users like me Russ above and PCAs Paul and Matt However some have higher moral standards than others who are continually seen sniffing around the MS goody-bags
Russ said: Vista is a better operating system HOW windows Vista is horrible on every possible level You have to turn off the nagging security Window just to have a chance to deal with Vista Even if Vista was better in some way it is overall so horrible that it should never have been released I think Microsoft released it just because they had a death wish They wanted to push loyal customers to buy Macs which is now the case I would rather own a Mac then to own Vista I will NEVER switch back to Vista I used the OS for 3 months then went right back to XP where I will stay