Thinking of upgrading to Vista? Think not!

[Stone]

For a long time people have been asking will Linux ever take over the desktop... Looks like it could sooner than people think!

http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.html

Read it all!

This is my favourite bit!
Windows' anti-piracy component, WGA (or in Vista's case its successor Software Protection Platform, SPP), is tied to system hardware components. Windows allows you to make a small number of system hardware changes after which you need to renew your Windows license

[odin_dax]

For a long time people have been asking will Linux ever take over the desktop... Looks like it could sooner than people think!

http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.html

Read it all!

This is my favourite bit!

When I updated my WinXP machine one day it stopped working after the required "restart". I tried everything, including a system restore. Nothing. I got fed up and installed Linux on my laptop. Loved it. I put the same distro on my WinXP machine and it worked perfectly. I love Linux because most of the software is free, it's open-source, safer and more secure, and regularly updated. Moreso, I hear Vista requires a lot of resources, while studies on some Linux distros have been shown to work on Windows 3.0 machines. I'm never going back to Microsuck.

[Stone]

I also think that Linux is a superior OS, as I think about OSX, but I need Windows to run certain programs.

[odin_dax]

I also think that Linux is a superior OS, as I think about OSX, but I need Windows to run certain programs.

Yeah, the main issue with Linux is game and plugin compatibility.

[Seol]

If only some big compan would make some of their big game titles for Linux it would encourage people to change because they could use a better OS and play their favourite games - the only issue which is holding me back is being unable to play games and run some applications.

I've never had many problems with microsoft, if something goes wrong I can fix it so I'm good :D

[odin_dax]

If only some big compan would make some of their big game titles for Linux it would encourage people to change because they could use a better OS and play their favourite games - the only issue which is holding me back is being unable to play games and run some applications.

I've never had many problems with microsoft, if something goes wrong I can fix it so I'm good :D

Some games are native to Linux. I know Wolfenstein was one of them, and Quake. Until there's better compatibility, I'll have to use a dual-boot system.

I hear some good things about VistaLite, though.

[Stone]

The problem with porting games is because games are designed for DirectX. That's why there isn't many ported to mac either. You'll notice that the games that are released on all three are OpenGL games such as Doom3, the Quakes, etc.

[Stone]

http://slashdot.org/~twitter/journal/177855

[Esophagus]

Vista has to be the worst OS to date.

Not only is it the most inefficient OS, crippling OpenGL, and being an all-around resource nazi (hog isn't adequate), it's buggy as all-hell.

Case in point: Install Yahoo toolbar, uninstall it. Now live with the fact that you can no longer uninstall anything else!

Sure, Yahoo is coded just as shit-poorly as Vista, if not worse... we can all probably agree on.

Plus the prompts for every-little-god-damned-thing. You can't delete a file without half a dozen prompts!

I want to kick Bill Gates in the fucking nuts (a few boots to his skull would be fun too), because I'm an on-site tech, and I have to work with this piece of shit!
:hitwithroI just bought a new computer after a monthish without one. Of course, it came with Vista installed on it. CRAP. God I hated that. Went out and found an XP disc to get rid of it. When you are willing to pay for a downgrade theres a screwup somewhere.

[Th0r]

My brother recently bought a 200 gb computer with Vista already installed on the machine. Recently I had to use it and I thought it was great...
Its user friendly, works well and has loads of good features...
I have never really seen a Linux system in action, sadly... and to anyone who dual boots Windows and Linux is it any good?

[odin_dax]

My brother recently bought a 200 gb computer with Vista already installed on the machine. Recently I had to use it and I thought it was great...
Its user friendly, works well and has loads of good features...
I have never really seen a Linux system in action, sadly... and to anyone who dual boots Windows and Linux is it any good?

Dual-booting is okay. It's better to have some virtual machine setup.

[Th0r]

My only main problem with Vista is not being able to play several games because of DirectX10

[Esophagus]

My brother recently bought a 200 gb computer with Vista already installed on the machine. Recently I had to use it and I thought it was great...
Its user friendly, works well and has loads of good features...
I have never really seen a Linux system in action, sadly... and to anyone who dual boots Windows and Linux is it any good?I thought it was great at first, and then I realized they had made it for someone who has never used a computer before. Almost everyhing is hidden from you, or impossible to get to. Things that I might want, but someone just starting out might need. And it always assumes you aren't going ot be using any virus protection, or protection period, and asks you 100 times to get into any program or website, or use any add-on. And on top of that, it's not very backwards compatible. My printer won't work anymore because it's telling me to "Upgrade to XP". I agree with it.

[Th0r]

My printer won't work anymore because it's telling me to "Upgrade to XP". I agree with it.

Yea, I agree that Vista downgraded itself from XP lol

[headcase]

Has there been any update in the "XP vs. Vista" debate? (Linux isn't an option. Duel boot? There are two words in that phrase that confuse me). At the moment the XP Media Center Edition 2005 costs the same as Vista Home Premium, which makes XP the obvious choice? What about all this DirectX 10 shit. Works on XP, right? As does everything else?

[Th0r]

I believe that it is only out on Vista so far.

[Stone]

DirectX 10 is Vista only, so if you want to play DX10 games, Vista is the only way to go. Other than for that, just stick with XP.

[Eulux]

until some kind individual decides to recode it for xp...which I suspect will happen...most of us XPers will just have to hope, or get off of our lazy asses. as I've reached a semi-dead end with my OS, I might give it a shot.

[headcase]

Yeah, I read about a 3rd party doing an XP version, but I'm going to end up needing Vista in the near future anyway so screw it. I'd rather get Vista than play around with dual boots and 3rd party makeshifts.

[DoctaD]

When using Vista on a friends computer I despised it, but after having used it for a month or so myself I find it fine. No easier or harder to use than XP, apart from an extra click here and there, and I dont find it runs especially faster or slower.

I'm not gaming though.

[acester]

i must say that i have been through vista xp and linux OS's
Vista i find to be very fast, but only lasts for three months then it is back to the snail life
Windows xp is almost the same thing except that you get a better run for your money but beware of the automatic updates... not all updates you need nor is all good for your system.
the one thing that i really hate about Microsoft's OS's are that wen you apply updates sometimes they asks you to re activate, also wen you buy your brand new cd go home to install windows with no net, you only have 60 days b4 your back to square one.

Linux now.....hmm what can i say, more than it is a beauty of a system, the more you use it the faster it gets, it utalizes the options of multi tasking, stabiliy and most definately reliability.

[odin_dax]

They both have their pluses and minuses, but I think Linux is the best. A dual-boot with XP Pro should be more than fine, unless you're a gamer, like Seol said.

I would use Windows for:
Uploading files to my Zune
Playing some of my old games
Streaming TV programs

That's all I really need Windows for at the moment, but I would probably use it for movie editing as well.

[Stone]

Beware with Vista, that for many new DX9 games you still need a higher spec machine to get the same performance than that of XP.

Yeah sure some third party will recode DX10 for XP, but what about DX10.1 that is to be released sometime about now?

[Th0r]

Yeah sure some third party will recode DX10 for XP, but what about DX10.1 that is to be released sometime about now?
Microsoft said it is a minor change to the DirectX 10 interface.
You will need Vista Service Pack 1 to run 10.1
Service pack 1 is released in early 2008. And Im saure they'll stick to 10.0 and not bother coding 10.1 unless its essential