Vista Advantages

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745 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161583 2-Sep-2008 15:52

Lets turn this around - what does XP give you that Vista doesn't?

Better software compatibility and a lower resource usage footprint.

zaptor

745 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161589 2-Sep-2008 16:02

Thanks for the replies.

Please be aware I'm not saying that I'd never recommend Vista (I don't think I said that). I'm saying that I won't recommend Vista at the moment. Unless of course there's a good rational reason to do so.

That's why I opened this thread.

DS248

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#161594 2-Sep-2008 16:13

zaptor: I appreciate the reply chiefie.

However, I don't think you've actually answered the real issue/question I'm trying to address.

I'll repeat it:
"If I can purchase the same box with the same hardware specs with either Vista or XP what exactly am I getting with Vista that XP doesn't give me?"

I think it's a legitimate question.

Sleep mode by default

EVR / dxva2

Some usability + & -

+ other features that would have to think about.

I have been using Vista for ~9 months & have had very few issues. Certainly would not buy a new PC with XP now, even if XP was an option.

timestyles

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Ultimate Geek

#161597 2-Sep-2008 16:18

New features of Vista: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_of_Windows_Vista

chiefie

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#161599 2-Sep-2008 16:23

Better future than XP.

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zaptor

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Ultimate Geek

#161602 2-Sep-2008 16:30

DS248:

Sleep mode by default

EVR / dxva2

Some usability + & -

+ other features that would have to think about.

I have been using Vista for ~9 months & have had very few issues. Certainly would not buy a new PC with XP now, even if XP was an option.

Sleep mode can be configured in XP - not default of course, but I get your point.

EVR / dxva2 - Is there certain media content that cannot be played under XP? (that would be interesting)

Thanks DS248.

zaptor

745 posts

Ultimate Geek

#161603 2-Sep-2008 16:34

chiefie: Better future than XP.

Yep, I agree.

Having said that, at the moment, it still doesn't change my current view.

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OmniouS

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#161604 2-Sep-2008 16:35

The only thing that annoyed me about vista is that they have removed the advanced file type options so you can't set icons or open a file type in a program using specific arguments. Can be changed in the registry though or with a couple of third party programs so it's not much of an issue. The little things are nice like when you press F2 when a file is selected, it highlights the file name and not the extension, it defrags automatically, the search built into the start menu is an excellent timesaver, integrated windows update, Network file transfer estimate is a lot more accurate than XP (Vista SP1)... etc etc

I also like Vista because I got it free through MSDNAA ;)

I wouldn't go back to XP after using Vista. I can't compare my install to a vanilla install though as I have used Vlite.net (nLite for Vista) to remove parts of the O/S that I don't use. Would be practically the same though

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zaptor

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#161615 2-Sep-2008 16:50

OmniouS: The only thing that annoyed me about vista is that they have removed the advanced file type options so you can't set icons or open a file type in a program using specific arguments. Can be changed in the registry though or with a couple of third party programs so it's not much of an issue. The little things are nice like when you press F2 when a file is selected, it highlights the file name and not the extension, it defrags automatically, the search built into the start menu is an excellent timesaver, integrated windows update, Network file transfer estimate is a lot more accurate than XP (Vista SP1)... etc etc

Fair enough.

Regarding the in-built defrag, would you know how that compares with something like Diskeeper?

I wouldn't go back to XP after using Vista. I can't compare my install to a vanilla install though as I have used Vlite.net (nLite for Vista) to remove parts of the O/S that I don't use. Would be practically the same though

Vlite.net is free! (well, it's donationware - but still). Nice.

Thanks OmniouS.

sbiddle

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#161621 2-Sep-2008 17:00

zaptor:
EVR / dxva2 - Is there certain media content that cannot be played under XP? (that would be interesting)

Thanks DS248.

No. But EVR is the best renderer option for video output. dxva2 hardware acceleration is only available under Vista and the EVR renderer delivers a far better picture than the XP VMR renderers which suffered from tearing issues. For PVR usage I'd argue that Vista is the only option.

As for your comment about XP offering better software compabability and lower resourse footprint while both may be true in some ways I'd argue that with the processing power of a modern PC that resource usage becomes a moot point. As for software compatability how many issues were Microsoft's fault vs programmers who tried to create by creating shortcuts? There were probably more programs that broke going from 95->98->XP than what broke going from XP to Vista.

I'm not saying Vista is the greatest OS of all times, I just really wonder why people bash Vista and have yet to really see any compelling selling point in this thread yet as to why somebody with a modern machine should choose XP over Vista.

Doctor

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#161622 2-Sep-2008 17:05

"If I can purchase the same box with the same hardware specs with either Vista or XP what exactly am I getting with Vista that XP doesn't give me?"

Greater security with UAC and IE7 protected mode.
Improved performance with networking with SMB2.0
Networking given a proper revamp with network center, sharing options etc all in the one place.
Index search/start menu integration. Brilliant really, yes it can take a couple of added clicks to change the IP address manually but if you enter ncpa.cpl in the bar the network control panel applet appears.
The ability to control the sound levels of different programs. More helpful than it sounds, if I've got the music up loud I don't really like to have messenger do a very loud DING. I can turn that component down
Parental controls (if you're a parent)
Better memory management with services such as superfetch. Yes Vista loves memory but really, what's the point of having multiple gigabytes of memory if the operating system doesn't make use of it

I've ignored things like two way firewall etc as numerous free firewalls are available for XP and Vista

chakkaradeep

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#161623 2-Sep-2008 17:05

@zaptor, not to say that there are lots of myths revolving around the Internet regarding Vista. Today here at Tech Ed we had a session called "Vista Take Two" which discussed where Vista was now with Vista SP1 and why one should consider deploying it. There are many things that we hear and come to a conclusion that XP is way better than Vista. Remember, Vista is not an improvement for XP, its a FULL UPGRADE. A Full Upgrade means, things are not just added to the existing code base, things are being re-written or developed from scratch and thats how Vista was done. For those reasons, you might find that it doesnt run on old hardware. The same is with Apple/Mac. You dont get to know those problems in Mac, because Apple provides the hardware (but its little expensive).

I would suggest, Go For Vista and this is the right time. There are plenty of applications and devices compatible with Vista now.

Intel Core 2 Duo + 2 GB RAM + Vista Home Premium = You can rock

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Chaks

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OmniouS

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#161624 2-Sep-2008 17:07

The inbuild defrag for all Windows versions since 2000, is actually a 'lite' version of Diskeeper. By default in Vista it defrags the system once per week.

I'm not sure how much of a performance increase the full version of diskeeper will give you - Unlike Vista it defrags in real time using idle CPU so I'm quite interested in how it will perform as well. We are actually trialling it on a couple of servers at work. All reviews I've read on it are extremely positive.

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BitSignal

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#161626 2-Sep-2008 17:10

I'm not saying Vista is the greatest OS of all times, I just really wonder why people bash Vista and have yet to really see any compelling selling point in this thread yet as to why somebody with a modern machine should choose XP over Vista.

I'm sorry, but I didn't see anyone bash Vista in this thread yet.

What I've seen is different reasons that apply to different people as to why choose one or the other.

We could go on this forever, but I think the point to zaptor has been made: if the machine can handle it, sure, go for it. If you have specific software that doesn't work on Vista yet, get XP.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

magu

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#161627 2-Sep-2008 17:13

OmniouS:
The inbuild defrag for all Windows versions since 2000, is actually a 'lite' version of Diskeeper. By default in Vista it defrags the system once per week.

I'm not sure how much of a performance increase the full version of diskeeper will give you - Unlike Vista it defrags in real time using idle CPU so I'm quite interested in how it will perform as well. We are actually trialling it on a couple of servers at work. All reviews I've read on it are extremely positive.

Diskeeper rocks. I have used it on several machines and it's just what the doctor ordered. Very worth the price for the full version.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

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