In a previous post I talked a bit about my experience with Vista. Since then, Vista has updated itself a couple of times (I guess I have automatic updates tuned on) and the result has been that a couple of my programs that I use every day have stopped working (one that even came as bloatware with the computer back in April - you would figure that would remain compatible!).

Today I tried doing manual updates offered by Sony - the laptop manufacturer - and one refused to install as it no longer recognized my operating system as being Vista. Microsoft obviously made some major changes to the code in the updates and not for the better either!

So, today I have put my newish laptop on the shelf and am back using my old one with XP.

What a crappy product - what a waste of time and money.

I sent my new computer back and spent $200.00 more for one with XP. I thought I could install XP on the vista hard drive but that wouldn't work.

I have too many programs that won't work with it to even bother trying to upgrade my software library.

Plus there is a rumor going around that one of the features of vista is ms's ability to track software ownership and deny use of software they consider to be pirated. Since I don't register anything this could be a problem.

The wonderful thing about linux is that there are tons of free programs available that do the same thing as their Microsoft counterparts - with no registration required. If it were not for one or two programs that I use regularly and have for years - I would dump Windows altogether.

Check out this short YouTube video comparing Vista's wow factor with Ubuntu Linux's WOW Factor...
Vista vs Ubuntu

It's more than a rumor- the Vista that came with my PC did just that: it was cued to believe that it was a pirated copy and shut itself down so that all I could access was Internet so that I could purchase the program that CAME WITH MY GATEWAY COMPUTER. Unbelievable! Someone circumvented the problem for now by installing a new code, but every now and then I get a pop-up telling me that my copy of Vista not be authentic.
It's Apple for me next time...

My friend at the office had the very same problem on her Gateway and nothing cured it, so she just returned it.

I am very glad both of my laptops have XP.

My husband's Vista sucks - it's on a brand new computer but runs so slow that we're ready to chuck it

My prediction is that people will hang on to XP alot longer than they hung onto Windows 98 (transitioning to XP) I also teach computer classes and many folks are buying new computers XP loaded.

Yeah, unfortunately while Vista has definitely amped up it's security, one of the most common things I hear is that it is so secure that it drives people crazy. I haven't had too much experience with Vista, but the constant permission-based questions to load an application can be pretty nerve-wrecking.

Try running a Mac.

I'm running all 3 operating systems at the same time on my Mac Book Pro. (Mac OSX 10.5.2 (Leopard), Windows XP, Windows Vista, Unbuntu Linux.) I run them all through Parallels. Easy as pie.

I have to say, I spend 90% of my time in OSX. But it's nice having the option to run any software or program available all through one computer.

When you buy a Mac, it's like getting 3 computers in one.

My 2cents.

My husband's computer has Vista. I do not really care for it...I find it cumbersome to try and figure out the things they changed...

The transition from Win98 to XP was fairly easy compared to this...I actually LOVED XP as it seemed to be a major improvement over Win98.

But Vista? I do not like it. I will stick with XP for as long as I can and try to learn hubby's Vista as time allows...I do not like it, I do not like it...I do not.

My onboard sound card stopped working when I switched to Vista; ASUS told me the motherboard doesn't support Vista and they had no intention of supporting it. So I had to go out and buy a sound card.

Vista also gives me a BSOD every time I shutdown the computer.

My wife has Vista on her PC and I hate it (and she does also). My laptop recently crashed (XP)and I ordered a new one---Dell offered it with Vista or XP at the same price so I took it with XP

I've got Vista on my Gateway laptop...not sure why no one likes it..I love it.. I could see there being problems with upgrading though...

I've got Vista on my Gateway laptop...not sure why no one likes it..I love it.. I could see there being problems with upgrading though...

My main reason for not liking it is that there are simple functions that I'm used to being able to do a certain way (such as "repair") an internet connection. I can not do it with Vista. When I click "repair" it does not do the same thing that it does in XP and never repairs the connection.

There are other things that I've become accustomed to doing in Xp that either are no longer options or they're so well hidden I can't find them.

I can see learning NEW things but it ticks me off to have to relearn something I already spent serious time learning previously!

So, I like new features, but don't like having to go on a treasure hunt trying to re-find the old!