Comments on: Microsoft fights back, but does it have enough ammo?

Microsoft is fighting back and this time, it wants you to know that it's in for a fight. But can all this good Vista PR really solve its problems?

[blades94]

Why don't they invest 300 million toward OS improvements. It's an expensive resource hog. I'd like to buy a new computer but IMHO Vista is not an option. I guess I should really consider a Mac.
It's funny 12 years ago I would make fun of Mac users and I'm about to be one...

[trd1282]

The answer to the question is no, Vista users will continue to be ridiculed. It adds little/no innovations to the everyday user to make it appealing. The UI is such a schizophrenic mess of derivations from XP that I often get headaches just looking at the thing. Oh yea, and why the hell should an operating system require maintenance?

[hsweet]

Not too long ago Coke faced a similar disaster when it introduced the "New Coke". They ended up giving the customers what they wanted and dubbed it "Coke Classic". Microsoft should take note and stop fighting its customers.

[tanweb]

I think Microsoft's mistake was not limiting Vista strictly to 64 bit machines. Most newer PCs are 64 bit compatable - and for the ones that aren't, it'd an extra incintive to buy a new machine.

[Spartan_458]

I don't know about all the crap that "Windows XP is secure with SP2." Our SP2 machine has had so many problems that no one even wants to use it anymore. It has slowed down dramatically in the time we've had it. It really has never run that well and has had many problems with viruses and spyware and God knows what.

However, the Vista machine I've had for a year and a half now has had no problems and I really like it. It runs nearly as fast as the day I bought it. It's not even a very high-end machine. Pentium D 2.8 GHz dual-core, 1 GB RAM, Intel graphics (yes, I know, horrible, but it still runs aero fine), 80 GB HDD. So really, I think that most of what people are saying about Vista is just hating on it without actually having used it. I love the built-in search function, I love the small little changes to Windows Explorer, like when dragging and dropping a file, it will tell you what folder you're copying it to (most helpful thing ever if you've used XP!), I love the inclusion of Windows Media Center, which works great, and I love the Sidebar, even if it is a bit of a memory hog. I look forward to Windows 7, and hope it is even better than the already great Vista.

[roxtar40]

Six months after a clunky upgrade of my XP desktop to Vista, I had to bite the bullet, reformat, and start with a clean slate on a fresh XP install. I'm once again a semi-happy camper. In the past year (after being a Windows and other Microsoft product supporter for 15+ years), I've began going as open-source as possible. When I need my next machine, which is likely 2-3 years out, I'll seriously consider Macs or going with Linux unless Microsoft undergoes a paradigm shift in their development of bloated, dumbed-down software.

[Lemon5]

While i do dislike Vista quite a bit, it isn't going to stop me from using it. There are some problems, but XP was the same way. And those Apple commercials make me laugh because you really can't do much with a Mac unless you Boot Camp it so it runs a XP/Vista. I love the Apple hardware, it looks really freaking cool, but i am not into the whole proprietary thing. Also, PC game don't usually work on Mac OS anyway. Hey MS, you still got a customer in me.

[anonymous345]

I'm using windows vista home premium 32 bit to type this right now....
and i can say biased articles like this just **** me off
slower than XP???
how come my programs load faster, in computers tha have almost the same specs????
(superfetch)
bugs? crashes? not one experienced so far....
Now let me ask you, Mr. certified colloge educated computer expert, have you even used this OS before?

[aman_2]

if you guys haven't noticed, vista doesn't suck though it lacks the ability for driver support as much as XP, you guys think it slow on your computer, if you were a computer specialist/engineer you might understand why, its because your components in your pc SUCKS there outdated, they were made when xp used to exist in the market but now vista has taken control and manufactures are making "Vista Compatible" components. Update to the latest components and you'll figure whats the big difference and why microsoft says its there best OS so far.
But as much as i support it i shall also say what i dont like it about it...too much security windows should be figuring out what it should do or at least give us an option (but still i perfer more security overall since today's spyware/viruses/hackers)
you guys outta get used to the technology world, when Windows 7 releases in 2010 (estimated date), get ready to update your ccomputer components again microsoft is advancing us into another era and there only gonna be the ones (include ibm and othe rmajor computers *screw apple they barely do ****, they got the worst support for anything*) to take us into what the 21st century is being dreamed off.

[VistaL1234]

This author didn't have any clue of programing or product development, you just can not keep patching one system for ever. There was limitation with XP, that is the reason vista come in to the picture, if Microsoft still patches windows 3.1 till today from 1995, may be you know, that I am talking about... I have only one question to ask this author, how much money you bribe from apple??

[Frost7331]

You guys are dumbasses,they made fixes,go update,not just out of the box.Let's compare XP,no service packs,with Vista,service pack 1.Vista wins,you lose,you suck,you gullible fanboy.

[Zero7159]

I have used XP since 2001 for business and personal use. I still use it at work, but I now have Vista at home and I must admit, it rocks. It is real pretty. The file system works well. The picture viewer is much better than XP's. As long as you have a beefy system that can run it well, then you should upgrade.

[ALMASSNE]

Its really not the best move for microsoft. They should just give up so everyone can see the light and switch to mac.

[G-hero47]

Long live XP!

[brotha11]

I'm pretty new to computers I only used XP for just over a year.Then my laptop broke and I switch to vista in March of 07 and at first I was amazed at how nice Vista looked.However the support was not there for my games and apps.Then I got disappointed and was very unhappy I made the switch.However now I'm glad I made the switch vista is much better IMO than xp much easier to use I have not made a mistake that cost me days of troubleshooting like I did in XP.As far as people saying that XP is as pretty as Vista don't know what there talking about.When I see an XP machine I laugh at how ugly and lame it looks it's like looking at sega compared to xbox360.Vista is only going to get better and better until they make a new OS for windows

[truth_serum]

Microsoft and all of the oem's saw HUGE dollar signs in their future with the release of Vista. They just forgot one thing. Eighty to ninety percent of the worlds computer users have absolutely no compelling reason to upgrade, other that the fact that Microsoft wants them to.

I have been looking and looking for A REAL COMPELLING REASON TO UPGRADE and I still can't find one.

[aerosky1229]

I do not hate Microsoft, but I hate the Vista operating system -- a lot.
Sure, I had so much expectation about the Vista operating system, that I went as far as reading the magazines and the articles posted everywhere before it released, so my disappoint may presents a biased view point. When I bought this tested out this new operating system for weeks, though, I could not help but feel that the new operating system was far worse than the current XP. Okay, the Vista is definitely more secure and less buggy compared to the XP's predecessors, but is new system better than the XP? Heck, no.

First, the speed. When I log in to the computer installed in both XP and Vista, I find that using the XP is less frustrating. I expected the blazing log in speed from the new operating system. Why could not they make the log-in time more efficient?

Second, is it beautiful? Beautiful is on the eye of beholder, but I agree that the Vista looks somewhat better than the Vista. And with the Aero theme, the widgets, and the new glassy look, it looks updated and classy. But if the XP is compared to the like of Ubuntu Beryl or Mac's OS, I cannot say the Vista looks awesome. Besides, one can always download the 3rd party tool to make the XP to look like Vista, Mac, or Ubuntu. The new look is an improvement, but the graphic designers at the Microsoft could do a better job, so why didn't they?

Third, regarding the game performance, I cannot complain about it. The Microsoft creates the graphic engine Direct X series, and a gamer needs to buy a newer computer and operating system to play the latest game. It is a fate designed by Microsoft, though I should give the credit to hard working graphic team for the Direct X. Only problem is that, as every time a newer operating system comes out, the old games are usually not compatible. Well, I still agree to the Microsoft about the better gaming performance even though I did not voluntarily test the game performances on two operating systems yet.

Fourth, a problem lies in the way Internet Explore and the operating system is designed. If the internet explorer gets a virus or inflicted with malwares, the entire operating system gets infected because the desktop, the windows, the directories, and everything in the Windows depends on the internet explorer. In the XP, if the internet explorer got infected with the malwares, one experienced a sluggish performance but still try to fix by figuring out what went wrong on the desktop. However, in the Vista, because of the new recovery system, the computer restarts whenever the internet explorer goes down. So, basically, there is no way to fix the problem unless you reinstall entire operating system for the Vista.

Fifth, is it successful? According to the number of reports and statistics I saw and read, it was clear that the selling performance of Vista was far worse than the XP. The only reason why the Vista still sells is because it sells through the contract with universities, some business, and the newly come out computer. The Microsoft corporation clearly does not let the customers to choose -- it just forces the customers to purchase the Vista or to die. Right now, the most computers at the my university are installed with the new Vista operating system. But every time I ask to my friends or listen to professors, no one likes the new operating system -- they all hate it. Doesn't that tell something?

Do not get me wrong, though. I am not a Microsoft hater at all, and I admire the founder Bill Gates, in fact. And as a computer science students, I understand how difficult it is to build an operating system. However, as a customer, I still expect more from the Microsoft. This is first time I begin to think about switching to Apple's operating system, and, yes, I still keep the XP on my computer. Several of my friends are working in the Microsoft as the intern and the full time employees, and I know the Microsoft are kind to the university students. Yet the business is business, and I just hope that the Microsoft would come up with better operating system in next year or two. Otherwise, I will really turn to Apple.

[noelian13]

XP is always the best you can just install fixes from update install SP3 then your secure what Vista is looking good? eh so just use windowblinds 6 and look for skins and it has transparency i use it i already tried vist then upgrade it to sp1 and it still have a lot of bugs my printer doesn't work properly also my games

[drhesqiq]

Hell, what's the big deal? If Microsft really wants to sell Vista, it ought to stop thumping its chest and open its wallet, yeah, substantially, I mean like 25%. I know I will give "Hope" Premium a try at $75, but $100, nah. DRH