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Windows Vista: Will you upgrade?


Microsoft releases its latest version of Windows with new graphics and improved security. Will it persuade you to buy a new computer?
It comes in six versions. Microsoft believes most people will want "Windows Vista Premium" which includes the new translucent and 3-D graphics. But to make that work, you'll need a processor at least 1 Ghz, a fairly new graphics card with 128 mB, and at least 1 gigabyte of RAM. If you bought your computer more than a year ago, that may mean some upgrading--or if you have an older computer, you may be prompted to buy a new one.

Here's the question: From what you've seen, is there enough to persuade you to upgrade? Would you buy a new computer? How does Vista compare to Apple's OS X?

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Comments


You're editorial begins with the logic something like "80 to 90 percent of computers run Windows, so Vista is coming, like it or not".

Wow. Well why don't we all give up and go home? As a Linux user, I believe that I have been running Vista for 4 years now -- only I call it the Suse Desktop from Novell. It has every feature that Vista has and more. Plus, I can freely download and install quality applications such as OpenOffice.

As far as Vista, look how long it took to wean people from Windows 98 -- and there are still tons of users of that OS.

I will not upgrade as I do not have any computers that will support the total Vista package.

I'll definitely upgrade, even if I have to upgrade.

Sincerely, Pat Walker

I personally won't be "upgrading" to Vista. It has no real benefits and the only major changes are graphical. It wastes resources which will slow down programs and honestly has nothing new.

You will have to upgrade to vista regardless soon because of the end of XP's life cycle. I have beta tested Vista and I think it should be a good product upon release. At least until patch Tuesday :)

Although looks nicer, not sure there is much benefit is using it over XP. We will have to pay for an upgrade and possibly buy or upgrade a new machine, but for what benefit? A lot of the new features already exist as current software, and if your machine cannot support new graphics, then you just have paid for something to take up extra memory!

Nonetheless, I believe it will inevitably take-off in the next 2-3 years, once the "new PC" cycle has gone through.

Nope. If I build a new machine it'll be because I want to, not because I have to to run an OS. Made the switch to Linux two years ago. I keep a Win2K machine around for some games.

In 2005, I mothballed my Windows 98 SE PC for one running Windows XP.

At that rate, I'll likely upgrade to Vista in 4+ years.

By then, who knows what google, Apple, and Linux providers will offer.

P.S. I run Office 2000 on my Windows XP PC.

I did upgrade and will use Vista.

I seriously doubt I will upgrade my new PC at work. There are still too many bugs with many of the new Microsoft products. I updgraded to Explorer 7 and had to have it taken off by my IT dept due to all the problems it was causing on my new laptop.

My home computer is a Mac and already has many of these new bells and whistles and the Microsoft "new" interface is almost identical to what I already have on my Mac. When Microsoft catches up with Mac I may consider it but that is many years away. Whe have had "widgets" for 2 years now and Microsoft is just now adding them in..hmmm. A bit behind in my opinion.

I will upgrade based on testing earlier this year with Vista beta. I purchased a new computer this summer with the features need to upgrade. I also ran the Vista upgrade adviser which was very heplful. I have never been a fan of apple.

no. i just switched to Mac, and I love it. If I have to pay and pay and pay to upgrade, I'd might as well just switch to Mac. OSX is great and is fully compatible with Windows anyway. Everything is included, and not at varying price levels.

I won't be upgrading. OSX already has most (if not all) of Vista's new features and Apple will be releasing an even newer version this spring. In response to your question "should Microsoft keep an eye on Apple and Linux?" : of course! That's where they get their 'new' features from!!!! I'm disappointed that you didn't compare Vista's 'new' features with what Apple is already doing. Your investigative reporting wasn't much more than an ad for Microsoft.

like everything else microsoft does, they jack up the price, give you less control and themselves more control over your media. i wont upgrade untill i`m forced to. in my opinion what i have works fine - (xp)

We will buy a new computer with Vista Premium. If we bought anything less we would surely want to upgrade eventualy anyway. Some of our friends have Mac. and we have never felt that it compared to XP but that may be because we have always used Microsoft products and are used to the interface. It's been so long since there has been an overall upgrade that we are very excited about getting a new laptop with all the bells and whistles.
Thank you.

My OS X iMac (running Tiger) already does all of these things.

Already using Vista Ultimate. I love it and Windows Vista media center being bundled with it is fantastic! I have been running the released build for 3 weeks now. My install was an upgrade from XP SP2 that had been my primary system for several months. Everything works just as Microsoft's upgrade advisor said it would. In fact several apps they said were incompatable work just fine! I am running on a Dell 1705 laptop with 2GB of RAM and Vista is 35% faster at most every task than XP was. I will never use XP again.

I just bought a new computer to get the upgrade. It sounds like it will be so much easier to use. Thanks for the in-depth look.

I personally will not upgrade to Vista, mainly because I built my computer myself. Instead of buying a new computer when it becomes out dated I replace that piece of hardware. Now I'm not sure if its true or not but I have heard that you can only install Vista 2 or 3 times before you have to buy a new version, since I upgrade my computer piece by piece instead of just buying a new one, Vista is a waste of money to me.

I won't upgrade. There's no point. Most of the bells and whistles Vista touts already exist in Mac OS X. I run Linux, OS X and every version of Windows because I provide technical support for computers. OS X is the clear winner - it's on my home machines - and Linux offers everything the vast majority of users ever need with a broad array of free application software and true Unix security. Only people who will benefit from Vista's release are the PC manufacturers.

Eventually. But not until I buy my next computer. I cant imagine the challenges you would face trying to upgrade on your existing equipment let alone the cost.

Robert, I'm one ofthe many people that society wqoiuld rather forget about when it comes to our ability to use, own or afford to own computers. Businesses would rather us be forgotten as well, because the Low Income, and disabled people,like myself, want to be able to have all the fancy new gadgets, but due to our lack of money to buy them, we are stuck with the oler out-of-date equipment, and software. $339.00 per month or even $603.00 per month does not allow the person who has that low of an income the purchase power of say a person who is earning $1,500 to $2,000 per month. I just wish those companies who want us to own and use their products, woiuld think about us once in a while, and make a decent product that we could manage to afford.
Thanks for taking the time to read what os on my mind.

I see no real reason to upgrade to Vista. I already have spywear, firewall, and virus protection.
The pop up of programs being installed is like a Norton program I tried, it was a pain in the ACE with all it's pop ups and I got rid of it. Most people don't know what they are reading when asked if they want to install a program that pops up, so they install it anyway.
I've seen and tried explore 7. I went back to explore 6. Seven looks cheap and was harder to use.
The new sounds? Big deal, I turn them off now and have since, windows 95.
I'll wait till I'm forced to upgrade and the 250% profit drops. Maybe in 2 or 3 years the public will have the bugs worked out for MS.
I've been building my own systems since the 8088's were out.
They are going to have to give me more then Window Dressing this time.

I have been waiting for the release of Vista,since I first heard about it.I will upgrade ,by buying a new computer,with Vista Premimun already installed.Only problem is getting my wife to agree. I need to have someone send me a virus to my current computer on or about January 30th, capeech?

I was planning to upgrade my computer with the Christmass sales, but this has changed my to wait till Feb. 07, I was never a fan of XP, so I think it will be worth the wait for all the new bells and whisles.

Thank you,

Allen Headley

I would not up grade to vista yet because I dont see the value in doing so. If I used a computer for work every day the change might be refreshing but as it stands I dont and I am comfortable with xp.

I run XP Professional now. I find it funny that XP boasted about a cleaner start page and Vista is boasting about being able to put a clock, I already got one. Stock watch, don't own any. Weather, I can look outside and get a better forcast.
I run a lot of Photo and video production now. I've heard they're going from analog to digital. The output is still going to be whatever you have unless you upgrade your output device to a digital device. I for one have never heard of a digital printer for home use.
I don't see a reason to help Bill and his overseas hands out when there are people in this country that could use the help, so I won't be upgrading anytime soon.

I will not upgrade to Vista for a while. The applications I use are not compatiable with Vista. Till these applications are widely available on Vista, I will wait.

Sure, I have already upgraded and it is cool !

Vista has a great security kernel. It's about time they lock everyone except admin out.

Let's get serious here. I did not see you explore anything or any part of Vista that is not already on a year-old Apple. They keep trying, but they will never catch up!

For me, Vista scores low on the "So what?" scale. I'm not likely, to upgrade till I need a new computer. Two to three years.

I Just bought a laptop. I don't need a new operation system now. I'm sure I will be "forced" into Vista when I buy my next laptop in about 3 or so years. Like a new car, I would just as soon let someone else work out the problems. Besides what programs (that I now have) will Vista NOT allow me to keep? I run Office 2000 which does all I want. Will Vista allow me to run it? or any of my old programs?

As my present computer cannot make full use of the Vists OS, I'll wait for a year or so - when the most annoying bugs are worked out - and upgrade to a new system running the 'patched' OS.

No. I can do everything I need on Windows XP. I don't want the headache of making sure everything works right.

I've worked in the IT field long enough that bells and whistles are not worth the problems the supposed "Latest and greatest" brings. Anyone else remember having to fight the early version of XP and making it work with all your peripherals? No print drivers, game controllers not work right, video card issues?

Want to save yourself some headaches? Get it in 2 years when the bugs are found and fixed. Most importantly all the other manufacturers of the products you use (printers, productivity software, and games) catch up to Microsoft's cutting edge and patched their software to support your new operating system.

I held off buying a new computer because of Vista. I would tend to think there are people like myself, and our purchasing decisions will give both Microsoft (and PC makers) a boost in earning.

If you take a look at Microsoft's stock history, you'll notice its stock price benefited from software releases. The only unfortunate thing is Vista, following the very successful XP, will ony yield a modest boost for Microsoft.

Windows XP is the right program for me. I just bought a new laptop a month ago and it has a sticker saying "Windows Vista Capable" but I am probably going to wait for 4-5 years before I upgrade to Windows Vista. As far as user friendlyness, I know computers enough to find what I`m looking for. So why spend $399.00 on an operating system and make upgrades when you can keep Windows XP and still have the same productivity the Vista has to offer. As far as The Office Suite. I have Office 2003 and It is great. I don`t need an upgrade. Security? I`m pretty secured, Firewall, Anti Virus, Anti Spyware progams are always updated and always enabled ready to destroy any spyware and virus that my computer will encounter.

I don't need to upgrade to Vista since I have been using Microsoft's so call next generation operating system for a few years now. It's called Mac OS X!

No upgrade for me.

What I can do with my current PC (Why I do not need to upgrade/spend my own money):
1. I can find every file I need on my Hard Drives
2. Videos play great
3. I have a Clock in the lower right of my screen
4. I can switch between programs quick with Alt/Tab or clicking on the program at the bottom of the screen
5. My XP (With all security updates and extras) is running great and is VERY secure with my FIREWALL ROUTER.
6. I do not have an issue with Spy Ware
7. Never had a virus
8. I have trained my kids not download files from the internet
9. I do not run Outlook, so virus do not attack my pc
10. I have a fast system already, but I do not want any surprise cost in the hardware upgrade

All reasons I would like to upgrade:
1. Virus/system security
2. To see how IE 7 would work with Vista
3. Comes with the new pc I will buy in about 4 years
4. To know how to work on others PC that do have Vista

I am unimpressed with Vista. I don't think it offers that much improvement for the money.

No, I will not be upgrading. I am in the process of learning Linux, so I can help others make the transition to Linux. I can not afford the professional edition, who wants a less then, operating system. In two years when XP is not supported any longer, Ubuntu will be primed and ready for the masses. Why through out equipment that works, just change the operating system.

The price is too high for the product. I think microsoft needs to support ALL of its operating systems from windows 3.1 on up as well as come up with new operating systems that people can afford.

I will not upgrade, Too expensive, not just the OS but the software and hardware upgrade. And I definitely don't need a bunch of popups asking "Are You Sure"? I am a programmer and I don't like all the bloat that has been going into the OS.

Not likely - It looks like a pretty close imitation of OS X (Apple's operating system) which is due for it's own new release soon.

I use a PC for work as I must but the Mac suits my personal tastes. Our company will most likely not upgrade until they're forced to Vista.

I'm sure Vista is really great...but, as an average consumer, I haven't seen anything that would make me want to spend any money to get it. I assume it will be on the next computer I buy in a couple years, but I'm not going to spend anything to get it any earlier than that.

I have been beta testing vista for about 6 months. I have a good computer AMD64 3000+ with 1gig of ram and nvidia6800. Afer beta testing it i decided it was time to switch to a mac. Most of the features they added are features that have been on mac's since OS X 10.4. The features they do are are slow, sluggish and take up WAY to much ram for what they do. When my computer was idling it woudl take up around 70% of my ram just to sit on the desktop. I have been so dissapoined in windws recently. I really don't reccoment anyone upgrade. Unless you like feeling like your computer is as slow as computers were back in the windows 95 days.

NO, I won't upgrade to Vista.
Great time to migrate to Linux or Mac.
Both are superior to Windows, are stable, and with Linux offers tons of excellent free software. (And with Linux, even free OS).

A great software example: Open Office suite offers everything I need (and then some!).
It's robust, mulitplatform, multi-lingual, open-source and offers features that MS doesn't (like saving to PDF in every application), and is FREE at OpenOffice.org (Oh yeah, it runs on all Windows products too.)

It can't be said enough, year-old apples can do everything that Vista's new release can do. And BTW, "gadgets" were first called Widgets....by Apple!

I love the graphics Vista offers. Having the state of the art is a must for me and yes I will be updating. What can I say,,,,I'm a techno junkie.

Robert,
John Schoonover here...the old Creative Services guy.
OK...loved the show about Vista...but what the heck? No discussion of Apple? I was shocked. Sit down and use OS 10 and you'll see most everything that Microsoft is JUST NOW introducing!
So what happened?

Miss me???

Microsoft cannot re-invent the wheel with graphics. I think people are hungry for something new, Apple and Linux are not it.

If Google ever created an operating system geared towards the myspace generation, Microsoft would have a lot to worry about.

Google is the 1st example of Microsoft losing the internet battle, and the OS War is one they can't win forever.

I desperately need to completely replace my well-used six-year-old computer system. Though I don’t normally jump on the ‘early adopter’ bandwagon whenever Microsoft operating systems are released, (I usually wait until the release of the first service pack,) I will be purchasing the retail version of Windows Vista Ultimate edition or Business edition sometime shortly after they are released on 30 January 2007. For me the selling points are slightly increased security features, improved network administration, enhanced advanced business backup features, the new Windows Aero hardware-based graphical user interface, enhanced Windows Explorer column headers and last but not least Microsoft’s new WDDM through DirectX 10.

I won't be upgrading to Vista and I won't be going to a mac either. I don't like Box systems and haven't since the 8088's. I went once and looked at a mac. They wanted $2400.00 for the monitor. I've alway perfered a system I don't have to send to some tech to swap parts till they find the problem. I started in computers in 1968 and have been working on them ever since.
I know apple,aka;mac and pong have been around a long time. So what???? Nothing last forever and no ones going to keep replaceing part for free forever either, so keep your little macs. Computers don't make mistakes, people do. A computer is only as good as the person hitting the key or moving the mouse.

My next upgrade will be to Linux and the Gnome desktop which is pretty cool on my older computer so it should be really cool on my new laptop.

The windows have some cool effects such as wiggling like jello every time I move one or the transparency effects when I move my mouse to the right spot on the screen, Open Office for Word and Excel, Thunderbird for email and Firefox has had tabbed browsing for some time now. And all at the low price of FREE!

I just came back to see what the other feed back is and noticed my post was created to someone else.
Posted by: Bob Swanson at December 10, 2006 06:47 PM
My name is credited to words that I did not post. I am not a programmer.
Is this an example of Microsoft Servers, in action?

Oh wait a minute the dotted line under the comment is who wrote the artical. The formating of this blog is troubling, needs to be clearer.

i just got a new laptop with vist capability so i will definely buy one but i need to know how much it is

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