I have an old machine that I had to re-install XP on. What a shock it was to do so. After using Vista almost exclusively for the last year, I could see quite clearly how much better is Vista is over XP. It’s not just the looks. It’s the management of the network. It’s the Search field in the Start menu. And on and on. I didn’t mean this to be a test of Vista and XP, but after doing this little exercise I’m more convinced than ever of the incremental improvements in Vista.
I think this also illustrates to me how easy it is to get used to one version of the OS or another and then begin to feel so comfortable in it that all other versions feel klunky.
Of course, all this being said, I’m not a fan of the current implementation of UAC and I don’t care for how the OEMs have handled drivers. In both respects, I think these are areas that Microsoft is going to have to address. Yes, Microsoft. Microsoft is going to have to step up to the plate and commit to drivers particularly for notebooks where swapping out components isn’t a choice for most. The drivers either work or they don’t–which means Windows either works or it doesn’t. Microsoft can’t pass the work onto others. It has to convince me and I think the rest of the market that it is doing all it can to make Windows work right. The market isn’t what it used to be, you can’t just rely on the manufacturers to spot support the OS.
Anyway, enough of that rant. Again, I really do prefer Vista over XP and except for the driver issue and the UAC I’d recommend it to more people I know. Given these two issues I’m cautious recommending Vista unless I have time to help them set thing up and to introduce them to what the UAC is and the like.
I’m really looking forward to Windows 7. I hope that it all comes together.