Windows 7: What Vista really should have been
Having looked at what is coming out of PDC 2008 regarding Windows 7, I cannot help but think this is what Vista should have been like.
To me, Vista always has seemed ‘betaish,’ never quite right. It has always lacked that certain polish. That fact that Windows 98 like icons still are present in Vista is bad. Every time I use Vista, I just cannot help but think that Microsoft haven’t really bothered to get the OS right before releasing it. However now, looking at Windows 7, I do believe they are heading in the right direction. I’m not going to go into detail here but I can already tell that it is going to tonnes better that what we can see today in Vista.
Looking at Vista, I think that it has done Microsoft more harm than good. The reputation of Windows has I think being put into jeopardy; all thanks to Vista. Apple has played on the weakness of the reputation of Vista among consumers and business users to get people thinking about OS X and its viability as an alternative to troubled Vista.
I know many of you in the tech community will disagree with me, in my opinion that Vista has been a failure but I think that it would have been better if Microsoft had just kept XP going and worked on getting its successor absolutely right before shipping it. If they had done this, they would not have faced the embarrassment that Vista has caused them. People, even today are still wanting XP over Vista. I really think Microsoft should allow people to have a choice between the two operating systems as XP is most defiantly the lesser of the two ‘evils’ (in Microsoft’s eyes) or alternatives to Vista, with the other one being Mac OS X.
Me personally, have switched to Mac OS X recently and I can honestly say I am loving every second of it. As a Windows user since 1999 (and previously used Vista full time), OS X is like a breath of fresh air. I am a living example I guess of the iPod halo effect as it was my first iPod in 2005 which introduced me to Apple and the rest of its products.
Having said that, I am looking forward to what Windows 7 has to offer upon its release. I’m sure Microsoft will get it right this time as they cannot afford another Vista. I know it’s early days yet… we’ll just have to see what happens.
10 Comments
Gary Brammer
October 31st, 2008
at 11:03am
I have completely given upon MS and have switched over to Ubuntu Linux. What a wonderful choice. I cannot say enough good things about Ubuntu’s release of Debian Linux. Apple was wise in using FreeBSD as it’s base and concentrating on the GUI. MS had better smell the flowers and give into the force. MS has consumed all the advances in memory and mulit-core CPU’s with Vista. What does an op sys do at idle and consuming 700MB of ram? It’s preemptive kernel is one of the worst examples of multi-tasking and time slicing that I have ever seen.
James Olson
October 31st, 2008
at 1:10pm
I am currently running vista ultimate and in my opinion I really don’t see the heartburn that everyone is giving visa it has never crashed on me and has ran smoothly.
AC
October 31st, 2008
at 2:50pm
Another Ubuntu Linux vote (actually three – one for each user on my home network).
As an old hand (& age) retired sys admin / engineer I’ve experienced MS Windows right from the beginning – like Windows 386.
Vista is about the worst of their products since the kludge of Win386 although WinME runs a close second.
Thankfully Apple have finally woken up to the facts about OS building and have stopped using their own disgraceful efforts in favor of a sound core in FreeBSD.
Now we just need MS to do something equally sane.
Joselito Fron De Bronx
October 31st, 2008
at 3:06pm
Vista has ran smoothly for me as well i havent faced a single problem with vista since i got it back in december. It Definitely not what i expected.It could have been better polished little things here and there bothered me certain things that were just common sence to do and other things i wished they would have changed. but besides that it running apps and pages it works fine
frank
October 31st, 2008
at 3:17pm
win 2000, fully updated, is all that is needed. remember, we are talking about an operating system… not something that does a bunch of stuff that is not required to operate a computer. if you want the stuff then install a seperate program that does the stuff. compared to 2000, xp is bloated and vista is just palin stupid. an operating system should be just that… and nothing more.
Harold Dean
October 31st, 2008
at 8:11pm
I got Vista because it came on my new computer. EVERY DAY I WISH FOR MY OLD COMPUTER AND XP. Vista takes more and does less. I am seriously thinking of putting XP on and trashing Vista.
Roelof
October 31st, 2008
at 11:04pm
@frank: you wrote palin stupid Is that a typo or does it refer to a certain candidate for vice presidency?
Ontopic, I couldn’t agree more. An OS should be just that. My biggest wish (in this department) is that an independent company that people and computer manufacturers are willing to trust, releases a compact, stable and reasonably priced OS that can run all Windows-based freeware that is out there.
Linux is just too geeky and Windows is just too erm… Windows.
Jeff Rowland
November 1st, 2008
at 4:21am
I have run computers since they first started been through the lot from first windows to vista ultimate Im 72 years old but vista ultimate is a little bit more stable that about all as far as faster its slowwer than XP because I run both I honesly think Microsoft should refund some of our money because when I bought vista it was very expenise. regards. Jeff Rowland PS you have pemission to use my Name
rob-osx
November 1st, 2008
at 6:58pm
i hope windows 7 will rock
widde
November 1st, 2008
at 11:53pm
I have to thank Microsoft for Vista! Realy! For gaming i use my “good old” Windows XP PC. Ubuntu Linux is runing on my Server and for *everything* else, which is a lot, i use my two new Macs. I had my time with Vista on my PC at work and i got frustrated over it. So i decided to give Apple a try and i love it! Thank you Microsoft!
I realy hope they learn from it and make it right with Windows 7, because that will be out next OS at work… We will skip Vista.