Michael Desmond has posted a list of reasons why you should invest in Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Vista operating system. As expected, most of the reasons are already present or better in the current version of Apple’s operating system. Other things like “peer-to-peer collaboration” are doomed similar to the remote help feature in Windows XP that is never used. Vista features a new, standalone program to update itself instead of utilizing the Windows Update within Internet Explorer. For some reason, this reminds me of the “Software Update” app in OS X.
However, I am more interested in the five reasons why to wait on Vista as Mr. Desmond lists. Things include the exorbitant cost of Windows Vista, the lack of an antivirus, system requirements and the steep learning curve. I would like to talk about that last one for a bit, having personally played with several of the Vista betas. Vista ushers in a very radical view of a futuristic operating system. Things like virtual folders and the relocation of everything in the start menu will boggle new users. Explorer is a new beast and will take most users a while to become familiar with. I am not sure if Vista will be shipping with Avalon, a component of Vista that said to bring 3D browsing to the desktop. Regardless, your computer will require a hefty video card to keep up with every aspect of Vista. Even things that appear 2D are rendered in 3D by your video card. Chances are that if you are running a computer with an integrated graphics processor, something like “Intel Extreme Graphics”, your computer won’t enjoy running Vista one bit.
Watch that hourglass: Vista is a power hog. Unless you have a top-end PC with high-end graphics hardware, for instance, you won’t see one of the coolest parts of the new OS–the Aero Glass interface. Microsoft did the smart thing by offering Aero Basic and Windows Classic looks as well, which will let older and slower PCs run Vista. It just won’t look as pretty.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d have to agree with your point on the learning curve. I remember XP’s radical crazy Start menu with two columns. That put me out of my comfort zone (for about 3 seconds when I turned it off) pretty quickly.
The same thing happened when I stepped into Vista (except it was ten-fold). I really had no idea how to get around my own computer. It starts to come to you but it’s, as you said, a bit boggling.
I think there’s a “not” missing in this post’s title…
looks like a G5 with twin 30″ displays from apple is looking more and more a good buy every day given the expected requirements for this beast… may aswell go for the original, not the catching up competitor.
I actually didn’t find Windows XP that hard to master. (The menus aren’t that hard.) I always thought that the auto update through IE was a bit ridiculous but at least they fixed that in service pack 2.
Networking in Windows has always been kind of a joke. But what about the current Mac OSX networking? I’m not a fan of buying Server OSX just to get good file sharing. (Sharing your home folder just seems wrong.) If there’s anything I liked about OS9 it was the ability to create a shared folder out of a regular folder.
And finally as graphics cards go, most of the current P.C.’s selling have the graphics cards to support Vista. (Even the inegrated solutions.)
Vista seems so far away. I laugh Apple releases 10.5 before then.
I’ve got only a taste of it at BlogoSquare ;-) Vista : seems to be another bin of Microsoft just full of graphics stuffs
Speaking of similar to Mac OS X, “Aero”? “Aqua”? hmmmm…and, oh, whats that? a shiny, “aqua” bar at hte bottom. somewhat like Apple’s tradmark design. but don’t worry. they didnt completely copy Apple. Look! see the download window? They still have the same graphics (paper flying from the earth to a folder. horible animation i might add.) as Windows 95 has! Phew, i was sorried that someone might call them on copying, but it looks like they are sticking to their roots after all. (emphasis on “sticking”)
Now, i do have to say that the new start menu looks great. no more endlesslly overlapping windows that fill the screen, it stays all nice and clean, in the start menu. it doesn’t looks that confusing to me.
and yea, all of the reasons to buy Vista listed on that page have already been done by Apple. Vista is really just a catch-up for Microsoft. Its not really putting in anyhting rradically new into Vista. Just maybe a few small organizational things. It’s just like going from Mac OS X 10.3 to 10.4. except you have to pay $300 (or $500, or $633, or $250, or $800, or $1,000. depending on which of the many versions you want) for Vista, rather than just $65.
I wonder will my Macbook runs Vista…
i used windows vista beta 2 , firstable ,a lot of software are not compatible….(even with 95/98/me/2000XP sp2 compatibility option ) . it`s only XP SP2 with 1000 problems and a new graphic interface ….after one month , i decided to go back to Win XP SP2 + Vista transformation pack 6.0 (u can download it for free) . so it`s beautifull like Vista but with a stable software XP SP2…..and finally for the same thing , u don`t need to invest in a Super power PC (Vista was slow with a AMD 64 3700+ ,2GB Corsair Dual DDR 400 , a 200 GB SATA2 , and a galaxy geforce 7900GS512MB ….!!!!!) . with my new System XP SP2 +Vista transf pack , it works great and fatser ….SAM
Hmm, well I’ll be damned if I haven’t heard all this before…
If you guys love Mac OS so much, why don’t you put your money where your mouths are and support it!
Or, you could simply stick with pouring money into the leading OS’s pockets as you inevitably do!
Maybe you should look into what Apple are doing WRONG instead – last time i looked, they were still second best…