windows

slink · Post by **slink** » Monday Feb 02, 2009

Is anybody using windows Vista? How long you've had it and any problems you've had with it.

I'm looking at buying a computer, I got windows ME on my first computer YES ME, its a Dell and it still works but its about 8 years old and outdated. Certain things just won't work with it. I don't think they intended for it to last this long.

I know they had problems with Vista, I just wondered if they have the bugs worked out yet!

Cause the Dell website is having a sale.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Monday Feb 02, 2009

nope. use xp or download the beta of windows 7 , which blows vista away as far as i know.

CrossfireRadio · Post by **CrossfireRadio** » Monday Feb 02, 2009

If you get a new computer - tell them you want XP installed - Vista is terrible and annoying, and and and!!!..

Dark Soul · Post by **Dark Soul** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I wouldn't use Vista unless forced at gunpoint. My fiancee' has it on her laptop and it's a pain in the ass. Go with XP, preferably XP Professional. Very stable and easy to use.

And speaking of Winblows 7...has anyone tried the beta yet? If so, what's it like?

KyleMayket · Post by **KyleMayket** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I'm going to be honest, I have Vista installed on my new desktop, and I love it, and couldn't be happier. Please don't listen to everyone when they say it's "bad". It's not like XP, and we've been taught to fear what is different. If you're not a computer nerd that can run everything from DOS, the go with Vista, it's more user friendly, more secure (damn XP hacks are a dime a dozen), and it's the way that Microsoft is moving.
I've had it for 9 months or so, and it's everything I've wanted in an OS and more, I couldn't have been happier. Not a single problem, and much more convenient to set up all of your systems with Vista as opposed to XP due to Vista's logical set-up and menus. (sorry computer nerds, to a normal persons mind, Vista is more logical in it's set up)

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

LINUX.

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

i would just stick with vista - i personally dont have many problems with it. and just like everything else, eventually xp is going to be "old". vista is a lil more difficult to navigate - but i dont mind it. and if you wanted, you could always get an xp downgrade on the new computer you are buying and they will include a vista disk (im pretty sure) in case you'd change your mind and want vista. good luck. - ps i hate dell.

- kayla

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

Got one with XP and one with Vista. Either or is fine with me. Never had any sort of problem with Vista.

Feelgood · Post by **Feelgood** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

AwakenedDrummer wrote:nope. use xp or download the beta of windows 7 , which blows vista away as far as i know.

The new Windows should be pretty awesome.

Vista isn't terrible, it just isn't good.

Eldorado · Post by **Eldorado** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I have my laptop set up to "Duel Boot." Which means I can choose what OS to use from the start up. (XP, Vista) The reason I did this was because Vista was an absolute resource hog when it came time to record using Pro Tools.

Vista is however more secure, and kinda neat to play with. Make sure the computer you buy has enough memory, and a big enough processor to handle Vista, or you be annoyed in weeks.

I would compare Vista to my fat Aunt Mary. She takes up a lot of space on the couch, can't move really fast, and my uncle has been waiting for another alternative to come along since he got her.

PanzerFaust · Post by **PanzerFaust** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

Used them all since BASIC
10=run
20=go to 10

haha... Remember that?

Anyway have had VISTA on my laptop for about 1 1/2 years and it works great.... of course first thing I did was trim all the "fat" see above post... and basically took it back to a basic windows look.. Which really made it run faster

Only little glitch I ever had was a few months after useing it a little red X appeared over the network icon in the lower right hand corner... quick search found it was a conflict between windows firewall and the McAfee firewall preinstalled and fixed it easily....

Good luck

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I've been running Vista Home Premium since April. I haven't noticed anything buggy about it, but I haven't installed SP1 either. Its just another mediocre Windows with a different look. I don't think its ever blown up and rebooted on me. The email, contacts & calendar additions to Vista are usable enough that I didn't bother to reinstall Outlook. I have had some problems with IE7, but problems with IE are nothing new. They get reported and in many cases, get fixed with an update. I haven't had any problems with software compatabilty.

As a network administrator at PSU (main campus-engineering) and later with a local manufacturer, I spent 15 years dealing with every version of Windows with hundreds of users. Vista is not nearly as bad as ME. XP was their best ever and I think Vista gets a bad rap for not quite living up to XP.

The way I look at it is that if you are going to get Windows, you may as well get the latest available, because it is going to look more like the next version than the last version did. Also, the upgrade will last longer and probably cost less.

Hopefully the next version will be better. Good luck with that.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I've been using Windows 7 for a month or so. There's some cool stuff going on, and it simultaneously looks less flashy, and better than vista.

That said, the hype on vista is rediculous. I've been using vista at work for a year, and on my new laptop for 2 months, and there's nothing wrong with it. I don't understand what everyone hates about it. Its a resource hog, but every new version of windows has been a resource hog. I've got a laptop here at work running windows 95 on 16 MB of RAM, and it runs fine.

If you can hold out for it, I'd wait to buy a P.C. with Windows 7 (are they going to change that name?) If you can't wait, get one with vista, and MINIMUM 2 GB of ram.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I really liked XP... until I got SP3. Suddenly drivers didn't work anymore, like the mouse driver in Photoshop went all squirrelly, and Photoshop will just seize, which never happened before. It seemed like the Internet slowed down very quickly, too. I wish I could get rid of SP3.
I'm thinking Mac for my next computer. Everybody says recording software works better, and the platform is more secure. Is that true?--->JMS

DrumAndDestroy · Post by **DrumAndDestroy** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

vista on my desktop and laptop. no complaints.

fahy34 · Post by **fahy34** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

I work for the Somerset County Government IT Department and we manage about 350+ computer and about 1/3 of them are Vista.

We spend a lot of time setting up new computers for users, from that stand point I don't care much for Vista. Everything that was so easy in XP seems to have an extra step or two in Vista. It isn't terrible just takes slightly longer.

Most users here don't mind it. Although, you have to be willing to adjust to the differences from ME, 2000, or XP. The over look and feel are slightly different so you may have to spend some time hunting for things. If you don't mind a slight learning curve then you won't have any problems.

It's been mentioned before but 2 gigs of memory and a good processor are a must.

Good luck

~Mike

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

songsmith wrote:I'm thinking Mac for my next computer. Everybody says recording software works better, and the platform is more secure. Is that true?--->JMS

It is 100% not true.

I don't know the name of it, but there's some kind of hacking competition and apple always fails miserably. Security is a joke. that said, you will almost surely get less viruses, simply because people don't write viruses for mac, because the install base is so low.

If mac ever does become mainstream, it will fail miserably. Counter culture is the only thing apple has going for it.

They are retardedly expensive too.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

Vista is a great os. I have not had any issues with it at all. Then I know how to "tweak" it

Most of the people you find bashing it are people who didin't use it yet, or listen to others who have no idea what they are talking about.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

ok...the mac vs pc debate for recording...AT ONE POINT...macs were better. very true. That isnt the case any more at ALLLLLLLL. I belong to a producer forum, and more people use PC's over macs. Some of the guys on there are actual REAL producers and have made records that im sure some of you have heard.
Both platforms are great for music production. If you have $2500 and dont mind some software not working for you, get a mac. If you want the same stability and wanna be able to use almost every piece of software for music production, build a music production pc.
Theres really no difference other than the cost.
Mac users usually feel like Elitists...which fuels the mac is better argument. Common sense will tell you different. Do some research on it, youll see.

Oh and vista and music production...dont even think about it!
alot of software doesnt work in vista. even companies that build high end pc's for music production install windows xp for compatibility.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

Thanks for the advice. I've seen PC's lately that come with XP... they're much cheaper, too, which is a plus. If I knew they didn't have SP3, I'd probably jump on that, now that I'm straight on the whole Mac vs. PC debate. I always wondered why Macs were better at production stuff, now I see it's Mopar-man mentality, and I fully understand that.--->JMS

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

They were "better" because thats what Audio Engineers primarily used. Which makes it a "you must use this too" kinda thing. Kind of like using Pro Tools to record music. "If you wanna make good sounding recordings...you use THIS". its a buncha hype. Youre exactly right though, its like people and cars. Same thing!

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

To be honest, Vista has only had problems with old, crusty hardware that wasn't supported very well. That and video cards. I saw a pie chart somewhere that showed the causes of crashes...

yeah.. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/28 ... a_drivers/

On new hardware, I have yet to have a Vista related issue after setting up 6 new computers in 2008.... in fact after just checking our repair log, not one of those computers has cost me any time since setup.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

The only thing worse than a preachy former smoker is a Mac elitist.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

XP vs. Vista

The bugs will be out of it just in tim for a new version to come out. Just go with what your comfortable with....Windows 98 is still pretty good on older computers, but then your limited. I like XP, my opinion. SnOOge!!

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Tuesday Feb 03, 2009

ToonaRockGuy wrote:LINUX.

Debian Etch!

Oh yeah... Vista is the devil.