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 Topic: Windows Vista: your thoughts so far?
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pentium4forever
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| Posted: 03 May 2007 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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Hello all,
I was thinking about Windows Vista and wanted to know if anyone out there has used it and if you've had more ups than downs with it and if you think it is better than XP. (maybe it's too soon to say since Vista service pack 1 hasn't arrived yet :) I have Vista Release Candidate 1 which ends May 31, 2007. I have it just to play with and it's alright. It's not worth upgrading in my opinion. If I buy a laptop which I'd like to do eventually, it'll probably come with Vista.
People at work all think Vista stinks. One person doesn't like the fact that one task you do in Vista requires involves additional steps than XP. The RC1 seems alright to me, it seems slower than XP. I am aware there's an overload of eye candy too. Some other resources I have read (PC World Magazine) did tests and same hardware on 2 machines-- XP ran applications faster than Vista.
I guess I would like to hear anyone's 2 cents on Vista? Two thumbs up or down?
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Nick
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c r d
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Joined: 17 December 2006
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Posts: 580
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| Posted: 04 May 2007 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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My thought is, why are you trying to compare an old beta to a release version? So is everyone at your work place using Vista betas and haven't upgraded like yourself? I take it the people you work with aren't technology savvy as there are features that very useful.
All my guys like it and I've continued to move on to the next released versions. There are a few minor complaints about features I don't think that's needed in Business or Enterprise versions of Vista. I see no need to play with Home versions as business customers is where I make my money. Already installed and using Longhorn Server Beta 3 as well. I have one business client who has already migrated to Vista clients. Small company of 20 users. Group policy had to be reworked a little but not a major chore.
The only drawback that I see in the migration process is the money spent for hardware upgrades, however that's negated by normal replacement cycles anyways, so only in the short term would this be a factor. Businesses I deal with away from my normal job use Dell machines so its standardized.
What exactly is this one task that requires more steps than XP? I'd bet it's becasue the normal way they performed the task has been relocated, but regardless, there are shortcuts to performing most any task.
You can turn off the eye candy too, that's not a problem.
Overall I give it a thumbs up.
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MCSE/MCSA:Security|Messaging, MCDST, MCTS:Vista/Office 2007, MCITP:Vista Enterprise Support, A+, Network+, CCNP, CWSP, GCWN, GCUX, CISSP
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BosonMichael
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| Posted: 04 May 2007 at 11:44am | IP Logged
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I like it, but from a business perspective, ensuring application compatibility overrides any desire to upgrade. At my previous job, we made the decision to continue to purchase PCs with XP for another year or two, then start introducing new PCs with Vista on them once the app vendors have had a chance to release new versions. They will not likely upgrade the XP computers to Vista (they still have some workstations with Win2K on them that are slowly being phased out).
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BosonMichael
MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
Served proudly, US Army, 98C Analyst, '89-'92
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pentium4forever
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| Posted: 04 May 2007 at 1:49pm | IP Logged
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I understand where your coming from crd. I suppose it's not fair to compare a beta with a final version. To be honest with you, I think Release Candidate 1 is pretty stable compared to beta 2 which I also tried when it came out. From my standpoint, there's no reason to upgrade in my opinion, if you buy a new computer and it comes with it--then so be it. XP does everything I need. There's a few little things I don't like, one of them sounds really silly. In XP and 2000, if you have your LAN icon showing up in system tray, I light to double click on it and see the status window or right click and left click status. In Vista, you have to double click on it and go through network sharing center and hit view status, or right click, left click networking and sharing center and hit view status. It's just an extra step. It's very minor, I know. They should add a view status right from there. Also, at least in RC1, the run menu on start menu isn't there by default to my knowledge. It's easy to add it though. I am not a big fan of the UAC, it's very naggy although I certainly understand it's purpose.
There's one co-worker of mine that has used Vista and it's a final version and (isn't genuine I'm afraid). He really hates it. Again, I'm using RC1 and it's genuine so I'm not the bad guy here. LOL.
I think I'm eventually gonna get Vista when I buy a laptop. From what I've read, the Ultimate version is the way to go even though it's the most $. A few of the versions don't have remote desktop which is a major no-no. I know the Home Basic and believe the Home Premium doesn't include Remote Desktop. There's some other goodies like Bitlocker Encryption that is only in ultimate. Most of the laptops I see in ads are Home Premium. I guess you wouldn't necessarily need all the Ultimate extras like multimedia capabilities.
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Nick
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pentium4forever
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| Posted: 04 May 2007 at 1:59pm | IP Logged
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TMichael wrote:
| (they still have some workstations with Win2K on them that are slowly being phased out). |
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Win2K rocks! The thing I love about W2K is it's stable as a rock and doesn't include Windows Product Activation which doesn't let you install it on multiple machines with different hardware. Windows 2000 baby, yeah!
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Nick
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BosonMichael
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| Posted: 04 May 2007 at 8:13pm | IP Logged
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pentium4forever wrote:
I understand where your coming from crd. I suppose it's not fair to compare a beta with a final version. To be honest with you, I think Release Candidate 1 is pretty stable compared to beta 2 which I also tried when it came out. From my standpoint, there's no reason to upgrade in my opinion, if you buy a new computer and it comes with it--then so be it. XP does everything I need. There's a few little things I don't like, one of them sounds really silly. In XP and 2000, if you have your LAN icon showing up in system tray, I light to double click on it and see the status window or right click and left click status. In Vista, you have to double click on it and go through network sharing center and hit view status, or right click, left click networking and sharing center and hit view status. It's just an extra step. It's very minor, I know. They should add a view status right from there. Also, at least in RC1, the run menu on start menu isn't there by default to my knowledge. It's easy to add it though. I am not a big fan of the UAC, it's very naggy although I certainly understand it's purpose.
There's one co-worker of mine that has used Vista and it's a final version and (isn't genuine I'm afraid). He really hates it. Again, I'm using RC1 and it's genuine so I'm not the bad guy here. LOL.
I think I'm eventually gonna get Vista when I buy a laptop. From what I've read, the Ultimate version is the way to go even though it's the most $. A few of the versions don't have remote desktop which is a major no-no. I know the Home Basic and believe the Home Premium doesn't include Remote Desktop. There's some other goodies like Bitlocker Encryption that is only in ultimate. Most of the laptops I see in ads are Home Premium. I guess you wouldn't necessarily need all the Ultimate extras like multimedia capabilities. |
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To be honest, the Local Area Connection status window is not very informative. There are many other more helpful tools out there to diagnose networking problems.
Most "normal users" don't need Remote Desktop, so I wouldn't call not getting it a "major no-no" for your average user. That said, I don't know any tech who would want to be without it.
BitLocker Drive Encryption is available in Vista Ultimate and Vista Enterprise.
Multimedia capabilities are available in Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate. The only thing that Ultimate has that Home Premium doesn't is built-in DVD ripping and podcast creation abilities... nothing a software app can't fix.
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BosonMichael
MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
Served proudly, US Army, 98C Analyst, '89-'92
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BosonMichael
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| Posted: 04 May 2007 at 8:21pm | IP Logged
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pentium4forever wrote:
TMichael wrote:
| (they still have some workstations with Win2K on them that are slowly being phased out). |
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Win2K rocks! The thing I love about W2K is it's stable as a rock and doesn't include Windows Product Activation which doesn't let you install it on multiple machines with different hardware. Windows 2000 baby, yeah! |
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When you get out in the business world, you'll find that there's this cool thing called Volume Licensing...
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BosonMichael
MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
Served proudly, US Army, 98C Analyst, '89-'92
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pentium4forever
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| Posted: 08 May 2007 at 7:30pm | IP Logged
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TMichael wrote:
| When you get out in the business world, you'll find that there's this cool thing called Volume Licensing... |
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Yeah, I've heard of Volume Licensing and surely I will get familiar with it in the near future in new job possibly.
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Nick
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c r d
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| Posted: 21 June 2007 at 1:50pm | IP Logged
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Ok, its been a long day. Charles, I know you'll be interested in this. Originally I was going to take 70-620 MCTS: Windows Vista, Configuration and 70-622 MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician. But fortunately I decided to check Microsoft's web once more this past Monday. I discovred I could take 70-621 MCDST to MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician in which it covers both 620 and 622 together, giving you both the MCTS and MCITP, so it was a no brainer and saving money at the same time. I decided then to go ahead and schedule the 70-624 MCTS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops on the same day (during lunch) as my 621. That exam is more indepth than the 622 but it was more aligned to my side business. I felt though I still haven't touched enough on the mobile computing environment but passed both exams sufficently.
TMichael, I didn't get your book until Tuesday but it did help I believe - don't ask me how, my gray matter needs reviving right now ;) plus I need a nap.
For anyone considering the exams, you MUST (in my opinion of course) print out the objectives of each exam and cover those objectives the best you can. Microsoft had some very good elearning materials that I think covered most of the objectives pretty well. I'm sure somebody can probably just read a book and the elearning resources and "might" pass the 620 or 622 exam, but I doubt it. Hands on, tear it up and do it again, over and over. I nailed the configuration I sure and it really helped that I've deployed Vista and Office 2007 in a couple of small enterprises.
I can't tell you anything more about the exams. Just do it if you have the lab time. I recommend this book, Windows Vista Inside/Out by MSPress and TMichael's book even though I didn't manage to read more than 100 or so pages of it. Those along with Microsoft Technet Elearning Vista materials and hands on experience got me through it.
Edited by c r d on 21 June 2007 at 1:50pm
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MCSE/MCSA:Security|Messaging, MCDST, MCTS:Vista/Office 2007, MCITP:Vista Enterprise Support, A+, Network+, CCNP, CWSP, GCWN, GCUX, CISSP
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Wildcat_Dude
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| Posted: 21 June 2007 at 2:23pm | IP Logged
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Oh man, Ron thanks so much for the heads up. Don't know if I'll do the 70-624 though as I just installed office 2007 last week. Just started the elearning materials, almost through with 1 of 4 modules. Think I've got the configuration routines down pretty good and where to look most everything. However, I still need to go over more on the media services since the objectives got a chunk of that and I don't have a Vista ready laptop to practice the mobile computing sections. I'll just have to wing it the best I can through the elearning.
I did have both 620 and 622 scheduled for next week, so I'll be cancelling those and resetting my schedule for 621 instead. I just checked my MCP site (Microsoft changed it around a lot) and finally found the certification planner. It showed the 621 exam there for upgrading the MCDST, wasn't that easy to find initially at the main certification site. Just got off the phone with VUE, that saved a chunk of change - thanks.
Edited by Wildcat_Dude on 28 June 2007 at 8:26pm
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