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<font> Are You ACTIVELY AVOIDING WINDOWS VISTA? </font>

130 points posted to Operating Systems by reg 04/04/07

Are You ACTIVELY AVOIDING WINDOWS VISTA?


Dell Really wants to keep You as a hardware customer, and not lose your business!

<font>Let DELL know WHY:</font>

<font>
1. Your Employer Banned Windows Vista.
2. Your Government Banned Windows Vista.
3. (1 & 2 are the same, Employer = The Government).
4. Incompatible with Important Software or Valuable Hardware.
5. Too expensive to upgrade, plus upgrade software and hardware.
6. Can't get it to load on my Commodore 64.
7. Other, and please tell Dell why you don't want Vista:

reg
04/04/07		 7.
I tried Windows Vista on a new Dual Core Notebook at Best Buy,
and it was slower than my almost 2 year old single CPU laptop running Windows XP Pro SP2.
Why buy new hardware if Vista just slows it down to what I already have?
From here on out - I buy Linux or Apple only. No Windows.
jmxz
04/04/07		 of the ones you listed, 4,5

8. Our most important customer (who is #2 on your list) banned Vista; and we make our software work with what they want.
9. It has an oppressive License Agreement ( http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/65600 )
10. It has major security problems (http://news.com.com/Cursor+hole+puts+Windows+PCs+at+risk/2100-1002_3-6171727.... )
11. Linux knowledge is more in demand in jobs around here (silicon valley) than Vista knowledge.
12. Work servers use a lot of short-lived virtual computers (vmware) which don't work well with Vista's EULA nor it's Activation checks.
wallyhorse
04/04/07		 I say a lot (not all) of the above:

I'm now looking mainly at computers that use XP, including building a system myself and buying a full retail copy of XP.
phubert28
04/04/07		 And for Microsoft software in GENERAL:

Elsewhere from the article:



Let me quote Larry Seltzer, a friend of mine with one bad habit, he's a strong Windows supporter. Seltzer, a security expert, wrote, "The analysis of the bug and its history speak badly of Microsoft's efforts in many ways: The company's patching practices came up short, its security protection technologies came up short, and its code analysis was shoddy. There are many reasons why this should never have happened, and now we should all be upset about it."

This is from a strong Windows supporter.
phubert28
04/04/07		 Reg, I think this suggestion is spot on! It's just the sort of input Dell needs!
reg
04/04/07		 thank you!
It's not just Linux fan boys dissing Vista: purchasing departments, IT managers, CFOs -
the guys signing Dell's Check, They have issues that need to be heard.

I knew things were going to get bad when corporate hardware guys
were snapping up dozens of XP Pro laptops (at a discount) right before the Vista launch.

Copies of Windows XP PRO SP2 are still available,
if you need to UNvista your new machines.

Dell needs Feedback - please give it to them.
fing
04/04/07		 Mostly option 4.

Too many programs that either don't run at all on Vista, or don't run well.
captainsensible
04/04/07		 4. Vista will not work with the d600 audio drivers that are available :( It kills the headphone jack. Going back to Ubuntu (Satanic Edition haha) and XP fixes everything.
phubert28
04/04/07		 On a ?related note, a fellow at another site just mentioned _his_ workplace is moving to Lenovo! I don't know what they're moving FROM, but if it's Dell... one would wonder _why_... (Greenpeace sez Lenovo is the MOST green... (see note under that topic elsewhere))
captainsensible
04/04/07		 grumble grumble, Hippies!
reg
04/04/07		 'Order #4 is up -
captainsensible,
your endangered species platter and cafe' baby seal blood mocha is ready!'
captainsensible
04/04/07		 Ooh ooh, I love the clubbed baby seal and cranberry mint sauce.
phubert28
04/04/07		 I still wonder what Whale-huggers are doing with the 'Killer Whale' taste preference for OTHER whale families calves!!!

Reality strikes again! (let's just IGNORE it!!! TURN THE OTHER WAY!!!)
reg
04/04/07		 Extinction Sucks.
Humans tend to forget those rules apply to their own species too...
captainsensible
04/04/07		 One day some strange giant creature will be saying "wow, this whale tastes just like humans!"
phubert28
04/04/07		 then continue "Yuck!" and spit it out! (a little too late, of course...)
reg
04/04/07		 The Future Robot Species of Earth will wonder:"How could humans have been so stupid?"

mindless meatlings...
phubert28
04/04/07		 True... so true.
phubert28
04/04/07		 Ah... but have you checked-out Direct2Dell today? NOW they're offering WinXP on a range of systems for those who do NOT want Vista... WISE MOVE! I DO believe they're TRYING to LISTEN!
reg
04/04/07		 THANK YOU DELL!!!

Windows XP Pro is worlds better than Vista.

I still want to see more posts from people, company reps, and governments Why they wont buy Vista Systems:
phubert28
04/04/07		 Yes, reasons to stay away would be useful...
flooted
04/04/07		 I don't understand the value of Vista, except the cosmetic ones, which don't particularly interest me. Having see through windows isn't an especially engaging feature. I also played with Vista a little and on a new dual core HP computer it was the same speed as my four year old HP running XP and an AMD processor. So what can I do on Vista that I can't already do? What's the selling point? Security, well I run enough free firewalls and the like to protect the computer and routinely shut off anything Microsoft that connects to the web.... For me Microsoft is a platform that runs everything else... I want to change to Ubuntu, but don't feel confident to do it....
jmxz
04/04/07		 #13. Vista is unstable.
#14. Vista can lose your

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTMxOCw5LCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==
Now, I like Microsoft as a company. They've put together impressive products and they can do some amazing things. I believe that while they've done both good and ill, the karmic scales of the company weigh more towards the good. ...Windows XP Service Pack 2 is a very good operating system because it is stable, works with most hardware, and is easy to use.... I say this to impart that this is not a thoughtless slam or heedless rant against Microsoft, which can often be an inviting target.

Based on my personal experiences with Vista over a 30 day period, I found it to be a dangerously unstable operating system, which has caused me to lose data. The 64-bit version is slightly better (which, frankly, surprised the hell out of us and makes us wonder if Microsoft didn't make a mistake in choosing to only distribute Home Premium 32-bit in the retail channel), but it still has stability problems.


With reviews like that, someone should post an Ideastorm idea recommending that Vista's not ready for anything beyond beta use and that Dell hold off on shipping it.

Or would that be a dup?
phubert28
04/04/07		 I'm afraid you are providing little support for Microsoft putting together impressive products or doing amazing (well, there ARE amazingly DISMAL) things, especially considering how LONG it took them to get Vista OUT THE DOOR and how little of the originally announced vision made it into the 'dangerously unstable' result.
jmxz
04/04/07		 phubert28:

Microsoft amazing products:
* I like their keyboards.
* I like their mice.
That's 2 - so I guess it counts as products.
flooted
04/04/07		 I liked Windows 3.1. It was such a big change from DOS which always freaked me out.
jmxz
04/04/07		 flooted:

I was pretty disappointed with Windows 3.1

I was using a GUI with multiple/virtual desktops for a few years before Windows3.1 came out ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tvtwm ) and have been disappointed to see that Windows 3.1 didn't have it - nor did 95. nor did 98, nor did ME, nor did 2000, nor did NT, nor did XP. Does Vista do this?

Yeah, it was better than DOS - but who still used a command line at that time.
tleavit
04/04/07		 I running Vista right now on a new dell inspiron 820. Core 2 duo 2.2ghz with 2 gigs of ram. Vista is truly a hog, up to 1 gig in ram with only outlook open. PC's are not ready for it yet. In the same token, they weren’t ready for 95 and Windows 2000. We need the next generation of hardware for Vista.

However, it runs every business app I have put on it with no problems at all. I find it extremely stable and runs every IT tool I need to run as the Network admin of my company. It even runs World of warcraft with no problems except extremely slowness (6 FPS vs 40 on the same laptop with XP).
The only problem I have had with it is the Roxio software that came on it and barfs every time the laptop reboots (until Dell released the patch).
flooted
04/04/07		 I used GEM for a few years, but sometimes needed DOS command lines. I still shudder to think of it. I had a macintosh too, which I didn't like. I didn't like windows 95 at all, somewhat liked 98 and kept that until XP came out, which I think is just fine. I skipped Windows 2000/ME altogether. I plan to do the same with Vista, because the changes from XP are not remarkable enough - well not that I can see (but I am no expert). I saw Vista for sale in Cambodia for four dollars and thought that was a reasonable price, but still didn't consider buying it. I figure Vista has a life span of a year or two, which means by the time that big organisations are ready to adopt it, they will get the next version. I know my organisation, which deploys 20,000 computers, went from Windows 98 to XP, skipped 2000, and will do the same again, because there is no rational reason to get Vista except perhaps in a dedicated and inside effort to make Microsoft rich. But we call that corruption.
phubert28
04/05/07		 Survey: most people know about Vista but few intend to upgrade
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/04/04/survey-most-people-know-about...
While most online computers users are aware of Microsoft’s Windows Vista, few are intending to switch over to the new operating system anytime soon, according to a recent Harris Poll.

DELL: ARE YOU LISTENING?????
flooted
04/05/07		 Problem is, as I see it, is that if you buy a new computer you don't have much choice and you end up with a copy of Vista. I am actually avoiding buying a new computer until I understand Linux a little better and have the confidence to install and use it. Then I will have the pleasure of deleting Vista. I would never, ever buy Vista.
radarrat
04/05/07		 After much use I see nothing in Vista that would lead me to spend the money for the version of Vista that I would need to replace the XP Pro that I have installed on ONE machine. I'm also am not going to purchase new hardware (read Dell systems) until I can either order the machine without an OS or with Linux preinstalled. In the past Dell ahs offered machines without OSs but one actually had to pay more for the machine then if they purchased the twin with Windows...Dell pleasepass on the cost savings of either no OS or Preinstalled Linux. I'm a Dell fan but with the advent of Viista I will either go back to building my own systems or go to the suypplier that wises up and stops forcing us to purcahse the MicroCrash products.
jmxz
04/05/07		 flooted: to gain that confidence I'd recommend you check out any of the virtualization technologies (vmware, virtual pc, virtual box). All of them run on Windows and are free as in $0 - and virtual box is free as in GPL.

With these environment you can create a virtual hard disk which is just a normal file on your Windows computer (8GB is more than enough) and install whatever Linux options you're considering onto that virtual disk. I'd suggest Ubuntu for this since it was easiest for me to get all my hardware working with it. Note that if it acts a bit slow, it'll be faster when you do a "real" install because there's some overhead in the virtualization programs - especially for disk access.

If anything goes wrong, or it stops being fun, you just delete that virtual hard disk file and no harm was done. Much easier than repartitioning, adding a hard drive, etc - and more flexible than using a LiveCD.
flooted
04/05/07		 Thanks jmxz. I will give it a try. I do like the look and spirit of Ubuntu.
tricky
04/06/07
reg
05/30/07
jpe2000
05/30/07		 Why does everyone blam Vista for the DEVELOPERS being at fault. I used Vista, it wasn't unstable, it wasn't slow (it was faster than my XP system...AMD Athlon 2500+, 1 GB RAM, Nvidia Geforce 2 MX/MX 400). I installed Ultimate. Had no problems whatsoever. People should stop blaming Vista and blam the developers.
reg
06/07/07
wow-lol.
jdelidc
08/01/07		 CRASH......... BLUE SCREEN!!!!

i'd rather PAY for linux than to get a free copy of vista. linux actually works and does what i want it to without an arguement. and the graphics with beryl are sooooooooooo much better than anything microsoft could ever accomplish.

but at the same time, thankyou microsoft & bungie for making halo. i'm still a customer for one more OS.
notsofast
08/02/07		 Our small business would continue to use XP for at least another year or two if possible. We have 10 to 40 workers that just need to use in-house CAD-like tools that use a lot of RAM, disk storage, and graphics resources when available. Vista competes for some of those resources, plus provides an extra system administration burden (hours wasted trying to get machines to talk to each other on our LAN) and learning curve without providing any useful new capability. So, while I like new technology and flashy graphics as much as the next person, and while we will have to understand Vista so we can port our products to it for our clients who run Vista, for our in-house use Vista translates to lost productivity and lost revenue. We hope Dell machines will continue to ship with XP for some time to come.
jmxz
08/03/07		 Dell is actively avoiding Windows Vista for their internal use.

Was the Title of this Idea "Are You ACTIVELY_AVOIDING_WINDOWS_VISTA" directed at Dell? If so it seems the answer is "yes". http://news.com.com/Intel,+Dell+hold+off+on+internal+rollout+of+Vista/2100-10...
Intel, Dell hold off on internal rollout of Vista
...
Dell has also not yet rolled out Vista internally, ..."We are pretty much in the same position as Intel within Dell," he said Thursday. "We knew we would roll out Vista internally faster than any other OS (but) if we are at the SP1 level it is going to be safer."
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