Vista....

[Thor06]

Some of you may have noticed that I have been a ghost for the last few days. I have been in an out a bit, but largely unable to mod. I found out last week that because I am in a math class with a lab (yes, a math lab) I can get oodles of very expensive software for free and 100% legally. Well, one of the things I can get for free is Windows Vista Business. So I started downloading it last Thursday night, it finished by Friday morning. I backed up my computer Friday during the afternoon/night onto my new 160 gig external hard drive, and started installing Vista Saturday at like 7 am.

Then the problems started.

With Vista Business you have the option to do a clean install of Vista or sort of upgrade XP to Vista. DO NOT just do the "upgrade" if you get Vista. I did and all day Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday were a complete nightmare. First off, the schools antivirus didnt work, so I was getting a prompt continuously saying that I needed to fix it. There were several other compatibility issues, but the other main one was the driver for my "pointing device" on my lap top was incompatible so the cursor would jump around like fucking crazy, click, and right click randomly. This is why I wasnt around much, just clicking on a link took a few minutes and a ton of patience. I updated the pics on my Facebook and it literally took me 45 minutes to load 25 pictures. Oh man, I wanted to do something aweful to a small chilld or a helpless old person after that.

Anyway, last night I was sick of fuckin around with it so I just did the clean install. I am sooo glad I did that, no issues at all. Whew its so nice. I had no idea how fast my compy could be, theres a considerable difference in speed now that I dont have anything anything installed. I still need to get iTunes, AIM, Windows Messenger, Photoshop, and all my other shit, but its so nice to have a clean computer again. As soon as I get my shit in a pile, I will get some screen shots.

I guess all in all, I love it.... all except the 3 days of fuckin around and I would defiantely recommend it. I think it is much better layed out that XP (I luvz to grammer on teh internets ) and its much more graphically appeasing. Anyway, screen shots probably tonight.

[Bodack]

I heard installing the OS was not only a pain, but sometimes half the battle and that other problems arise when you try and add new software. I haven't used it personally, so I cannot speak from experience, but after reading the PC Mag reviews I don't think I'd even want to try installing it. But congratulations for actually getting it to install.

[l_eclipse_l]

Vista is a plague on your system resources. Unless you have OVER (and I stress over, because 1 GB is pretty much the bare minimum in my exerience) 1 GB of memory and a heavy duty graphics card, it runs really slow compared to XP. I tried out the RC1 version that was released months ago on my laptop, and it was such a pain. I was dual booting XP and Vista Ultimate, so I had no problems installing Vista or anything like that. But it had very little program support for anything, over half of the programs on my computer would either not function or not work correctly. Drivers were an issue, but I hear that is coming along better now that it has officially released. Random crashes were a daily occurance. I finally said fuck it and went back to good 'ole XP.

Conclusion = Wait until atleast SP1 comes out for it because many of the big bug fixed will be taken care of, and then maybe think about "upgrading". This is assuming you have a computer built the handle it in all it's glory.

And my laptop is more than Vista ready and beats out all the the "recommended" hardware requirements, so take that into account.

AMD Athlon 64 4000+
1 GB DDR400 memory
128 MB Dedicated ATI Radeon Xpress 200m graphics
7200 rpm Hitachi HD (yes, speed matters in a laptop)

[EDMUND65]

will vista be ok on mine?

4600 Intel processor duo core junk
200 gig hard drive
2gig ram
256mb graphics x1300 pro something or other
??

[david-b]

Originally Posted by EDMUND65

will vista be ok on mine?

4600 Intel processor duo core junk
200 gig hard drive
2gig ram
256mb graphics x1300 pro something or other
??

Yeah, you should be fine.

I never get the new OS's when they first come out. No one should. They're going to be buggy and full of problems. First thing you learn in an Operating Systems class is that there is no such thing as a perfect OS. They will ALWAYS have bugs, but brand new ones are the worse (most of the times)

My school is the only school in the nation to have every single Microsoft product (except Office) for FREE with licenses. Any student that goes here can pick up a copy of whatever, even multiple copies. I think I'll pick up Vista before I graduate this semester. Just to have a legit license and copy.

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by david-b

My school is the only school in the nation to have every single Microsoft product (except Office) for FREE with licenses. Any student that goes here can pick up a copy of whatever, even multiple copies. I think I'll pick up Vista before I graduate this semester. Just to have a legit license and copy.

I work in OIT and can snag a copy of Vista off the server that hosts all the stuff like Vista and Office 2007, but I'm in the 3% of students that actually have access to that server. I don't even want it right now.

We get discounts on software, but they don't give us anything for free. Like I could get a copy of XP Pro for $75 that comes with 32 bit and 64 bit versions if I needed it. It's decently cheap anyway.

[gthompson97]

I thought about getting Vista, but I think I'll wait for awhile until they get most of the big bugs out of it. I've heard some good stories about it, and some horror stories. I did get Office 2007 though, and at first I didn't really like it because it's soooo much different that '03, but after a few weeks I'm really starting to enjoy it.

Screenshots:

Office 07


Powerpoint 07


Excel 07

[Killa]

Im using it right now on my low system.

[Thor06]

See, my computer is much faster now that I am on Vista, and in watching my processor and memory usage dealies, Vista is actually dragging my system down a lot less than XP did. Before I was cruising at around 20-30% processor usage all the time, now it is typically 15% or below. Also, I was running about 70% of my physical memory minimum before, now I am running about 50%. Since I did the clean install, I am much more happy with my computer as a whole. I didnt even have to download the new drivers for the mouse or anything and it works as good as it did on XP.

I dont have access to Office 07, I wish I did. Anyone want to help a brotha out?

[Killa]

Few month ago, microsoft give away vista and office 2007 for free, im one of them .

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by Killa

Few month ago, microsoft give away vista and office 2007 for free, im one of them .

Those were trials for the beta versions killa. The serial will expire I think April 1st or somewhere around there. Atleast that was the case for Vista RC1, I'd assume they did the same for Office '07.

I'm running a Vista skin on my XP Pro laptop right now, and it looks pretty damn good. I get a lot of the flashy graphics without the bugs and hassle.

Check it out.

[Killa]

I can download a new one by then lol.

[gthompson97]

Killer you could download one right now, but it'll be full of bugs.

Chris, where'd you get that from? I've been looking for something like that lately and haven't found one I really like.

[Killa]

I dont think my is trial version, I can register and download latest driver using window update, it dint say trial version any where. Im gonna call microsoft and ask tomorrow.

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by gthompson97

Chris, where'd you get that from? I've been looking for something like that lately and haven't found one I really like.

I did a lot of research on it awhile back and sifted through dozens of skins that people made and came across this one. I forget where I found it, but I have it backed up on my external and could send it to you if you wanted. There are a few things you need to do to run it, because it is running native in the Windows XP environment (no extra software) and I had to use a hacked .dll file so I could use a non-Microshaft certified skin. Let me know if you want directions and the skin, its a small file...no more than a few kb bigger than the regular XP skin.