Comments on: Microsoft: Windows 7 on track

Windows business head Bill Veghte says the new operating system, "tracking very, very well," is still scheduled to ship within three years of Vista's January 2008 debut.

[Lemon5]

If it gets much worse, then i may go buy a mac and use boot camp if i need to use a Windows program (games probably). I mean even IE crashes a ton of Vista (switched to Firefox and havn't looked back). LET WINDOWS 7 BE XP 2.0!

[Ron Geiken]

Vista works fine for me, but it is a new computer and not an upgrade. The horsepower required to use Vista may make updates from XP with a single core processor less than desirable. I have an Intel quad core Q6600 and 4 gig of ram, and that allows Vista to be very usable. All my older computers with XP have been put out to pasture, and don't intend to ever use them again.
We will soon be starting the year 2009, and it is time to look to the future and remember the past with fondness. Vista is the Future, and XP is the Past!!!!! Since it will probably take a year for Windows 7 to mature, we are probably talking about 2011 as the right time to buy that. I will look at the requirements, and may upgrade or may buy a new computer depending on what I read on Windows 7 at that time.

[Lambert John]

I'm always amazed at all the Vista-bashing that goes on here. I've used it for a year and never had a problem. I've run it on three different computers and it's rock solid. As a matter of fact, I just upgraded my Thinkpad R61i to Vista (from XP pro) and I'm much happier. Yes, you read that right...upgraded. I even paid for Vista. Bought an OEM full version on eBay for $99. Works like a champ!
These people who say it's unstable are die-hard XP fans who get set in their ways and refuse to look forward. And you know, most times they don't even own Vista. They heard from a friend of a friend of a friend, who complained that it sucked. So naturally, it sucks. I heard those same gripes. But after trying it myself, I realized it's just hearsay. I like XP; it's a good operating system. But in my humble opinion, Vista is much better. I'll never go back to XP. Anyone want my copy??

[patrick_i]

Hearsay? Vista is not a problem if you are working with your own machines especially when they are fresh but to do many things in Vista takes 2 or 3 more steps than it did in XP (try doing some network configurations). It does take a little time to learn some of the new things but i seems many of the changes were for the sake of change and don't do anything for efficiency or productivity. My stand is still the same: If you like to "work" on your computer Vista or XP is the way to go, but if you like to get things done, get a Mac.

[smokified]

Hearsay was the correct word to use.

Doing things in Vista does not take 2 or 3 more steps. As a matter of fact it is EXACTLY the same as XP in regards to installing or changing settings. Just because you failed to take the time to realize that you can change the user access control security settings, does not mean that the setting does not exist. Once again somebody with no knowledge trying to make a valid opinion.

I get plenty done on my Vista computer. I get plenty done on my XP computer and I have gotten plenty done on a Mac. The problem with your argument is that you fail to realize a simple fact. A PC can do anything a Mac can do, but a Mac cannot do everything a PC can do when you look at the WHOLE PICTURE. This is mostly because of how you can customize a PC and how much software is available for a PC vs a Mac.

[jinx101a]

I'm using Vista in a single core processor (granted, it's a 3.4Ghz Hyper threaded processor) with 3 gig of ram and it runs great. I only had one problem with a old piece of hardware and I even found a fix for it so it's working now. I've had no crashing problems what so ever. The feature I like the most is the voice recognition and remote desktop. I use both of those at work and love them both.

I wonder about the posts from people who seem to be so angry towards Microsoft, especially when they breath Mac or Linux in the same post. They seem to be the first down everyone's throat when anything Microsoft is mentioned. The only problems with Vista that were serious deals were the driver issues in the beginning and most of that has been resolved now. Of course, I'm also not trying to run it on a PIII from 1994 and I also know not to blame any operating system on hardware when it fails.

[smokified]

Find a Mac from 1994 that would run the latest version of OSX. Mac users fail to realize that they are being told what hardware they can use where PC users get to choose what they want to use.

PC is a more cost effective investment in the long run. Try to upgrade your Mac.

[DakkonA1]

Ina Fried, has it escaped your notice that for it to ship in January 2010, it would have to be ready by the end of 2009?

For those griping about "tricking" the focus groups, it doesn't mean anything, and you're a moron to think otherwise. You can't accurately determine if someone likes something if they have a bias against it. The fact that they liked Vista without the connotation they've associated with Vista means that most of the dislike of Vista is entirely psychological FUD.

Ms. Healthcare IT person: You don't know what you're talking about. Why would you ever have to reactivate Windows? IT departments with volume licenses don't need to. The DRM stuff is only active when the hi-def player says it needs to be, so it wouldn't affect your MRIs. And the network file-copy problem was fixed in SP1.

I've installed Vista on my 3.8GHz Pentium 4, 3GB RAM machine from 2004 and it runs surprisingly fast. I also have a Dell laptop that came with Vista on it, and have had very few problems with it. It's far more stable than XP was at launch, and has many features that make using the computer easier.

Windows 7 will be much closer to Vista than Vista was to XP, and the only reason XP was out so long was because MS screwed up so badly with XP's security, since they had to break to do XP SP2.

[Sumatra-Bosch]

Oh, joy! More barphware on the way! I am sure the Boy Fuhrer from Duncan Hines is pleased!

[jmmejzz]

For all you Vista kool aiders and "all you need is some kick ass hardware to run it", I run Apple's Leopard 10.5.4 on a 5 year old Powerbook 1ghz G4 processor and 1gig of ram. I have used xp and vista, on a Mac you don't know the OS is there - with windows the OS follows you into the bathroom.

[JWilliams06]

While I agree with your statement. And as a current Vista user -- what you don't understand is that some people don't exactly have a choice.

Let me explain ... PC users have Vista/XP or Linux. Linux is fast and efficient, but its applications are subpar when compared to the Windows/Macintosh community. Just look at Open Office, which is good - not great, when compared to Office 2007.

My prediciment is I have a PERFECTLY good computer that's just under a year old, so what do I do? Toss the computer out the window (haha window haha) just to utilize Apple's OS? Vs. buying a new stick of RAM, which is cheap and running Vista without much of a hitch. (1GB is not enough for Vista - 2GB is plenty, although more certainly doesn't hurt)

So the switching costs -- are a little bit more expensive than just buying a lamp or something. Next computer purchase a year or so down the road -- will more than likely be a Mac. And I was sooo close to getting one....

[smokified]

If you buy a Mac you are going to regret it down the road when you need to upgrade to run that latest software.

Mac users just haven't gotten that far yet.

[whatsat]

I have been using Vista for six months now and have had no problems. My wife had been running it for several months before me on her new Sony laptop and loved it. So I figured I would ignore all the naysayers and give it a try on the new computer I had built. I'm glad I tried it for myself. All of my programs still work great, I really like the Aero interface and Sidebar, I have never seen a blue screen of death and drivers are available for all my hardware. There has never been a time that I have missed XP.

My advice to anyone thinking of switching to Vista is to give it a try for yourself and dismiss all the message board hatred of all things Vista/MS. You may be suprised at what you find.

[kelmon]

I wish Microsoft the best of luck on this one. Vista was a messed up software project but it sounds as though they have learnt from experience and are driving towards the expected delivery date. As long as the product released lives up to expectations, and everyone is ready for it, then it should do well.

[iPhotographer]

Vista looks like the old battleships of the second worlds war while Mac OS and Linux look like lighter but better performing guided missile frigates of the present.
Windows feels old, claustrophobic and uninspired. It feels like you have to push the operating system all the time. An OS should operate in the background and support ones activities, not be something you have to worry about all the time. That's why I swapped to Mac OS after years of being a devoted Windows user.

[smokified]

You should elaborate. Vista uses a bit more resources on startup, but the sole reason for that is it entirely supports all of your activities. A good way for you to test this theory would be to take an XP pc with the same specs as a Mac and the same specs as a Vista machine, and open 100 web browser windows on each.

You will find that the Vista computer by far handles the resources better and will remain stable far longer than OSX or XP.

I am glad for you that you have your Mac. in 3 years when the hardware market has left your new boat anchor behind, have fun shelling out $1000 on a new computer when I am spending $45 on a set of faster RAM.

[maverick_nick]

Vista Rocks! I've been using Vista for about a year now and it works beautifully. I seriously don't get what people are complaining about, because I play games and test various types of software on my machine and I haven't had a single problem. Certain legacy applications won't work the first time round, so you just set it to run in XP compatibility mode and everything works fine. So what the heck are people complaining about. I honestly believe that Vista is the best OS that Microsoft has developed thus far, and if you think otherwise then you just close minded, or flapping your lips without any real experience to backup your pitiful outburst.

[Trethlyn]

I love Vista and I will never go back to XP unless I get a hold of older machines and even then I'll probably put a Linux distro onto those. Vista is great, is more secure and reliable than what people give credit for. I am guessing that a lot of people don't remember the original XP was like. I had a chance to use an original XP install CD on an old laptop. Let's just say thank god for service packs. I believe that Microsoft's problem is the attempt to create a catch-all OS. Can't really do that when there is a plethora of systems and with different designs. For the Mac users, I love the look of Macs and I love their software. Here's a problem though........Apple gets to design both their hardware and software.

P.S. This "trick" that Microsoft played on people to show them the awesomeness of Vista shows nothing more than that people are blind consumers that rely on nothing more than the blind bias of a few people on the internet. They have done no worse than Apple and their marketing campaigns.

[celticbrewer]

You have no idea what you're talking about, Hammerhand. I've used XP since it came out and switched to Vista months ago. I love Vista a lot more and have had far less problems than XP. Vista is a lot more stable. It's morons like you who keep perpetuating the false notion that Vista is inferior.

[Motyoj]

I use OS X and recently had a friend of mine get a cheap $400 laptop from Wally World. I used his new computer for a little bit and was surprised that this cheap-ass thing worked as quickly and as smoothly as it did. I used Vista on an Emachine when it first came out and it was awful. I guess if you get enough horsepower to run it and get a machine with it pre-installed, it's not too bad. Of course there are the usual Windows headaches to worry about but that's been true with all their OS. I wonder when Microsoft will finally ditch that awful registry and get something a little easier to edit configuration files. I say use what you like and don't worry if Johnny on the Internet says your choice of an OS sucks because Johnny isn't the one using it, you are.

[rahoman1]

Psst, Microsoft. Come over here for a sec. Did you, did you know you already have a product in the market? It's not doing too well, maybe, maybe you should do something. Just sayin'....

[ekisom]

this is nothing short of admitting Vista was a mistake and needs to be replaced immediately by Windows7, whatever that is.

people buying laptops for the next year or so will lose out because they do not have a choice with regards to what operating system runs their notebooks. they might as well be obsolete when the new OS debuts which is literally less than 2 years away.

for a gazillion dollar company Microsoft makes a lot of "costly for the consumers" mistakes and acts very professionally when they apologize - frankly all these apologies i'v seen throughout this year makes me sick. Just imagine all the people with bricked xbox360s, sure some people in earth got their console's "repaired", how about those who are outside of the US? "why we wont warranty those people! what will they do? cuss at us through their television sets?"

down to the point... "Vista" is Microsoft's Grendel who no one loves except its mommy.

[Dango517]

No "dog and pony shows" from Microsoft. please ( Multitouch user interface.)
but do add more advanced hardware requirements to the OS so the web will move forward. SSD support would be great. Built in RAID support. Manual Fan control system and heat monitoring. Etc.,etc... Big improvements are needed in Vista "problems reports and solutions". let's hope these are achieved before the release of 7. Also, Onecare should be included within the 7. What I'll like to see from 7 is that it is 99% reliable and fast,fast, fast.

[ferretboy88]

I have not had one single problem with Vista at all. I build my own computers and have install Vista home premium on them without any issues at all. No driver problems at all. All my printers work fine and playing games are a blast. I also have linux and Apple computers and I use the Vista computers more. Xp is crash happy and Vista doesn't crash at all. I never get those messages about having to close a program like in XP.

[ronch79]

I guess some of the biggest reasons why people are reluctant to switch to Vista are 1) the strict DRM mechanism built into Vista and 2) the large memory and hardware requirement that makes Vista look like a big bucket of code bloat. If the machines MS used were loaded with 8GB of RAM and the DRM features were made irrelevant to the "demo" (like, they didn't have to download protected content or install software or other things that would otherwise make Vista bug the user about all that tight DRM stuff), then Vista would obviously seem pleasant. All that Aero and shiny menus would make any user happy.

As for me, I'm sticking with XP. I could just put on new themes and XP would be nearly as nice as Vista, require far less RAM, etc. etc. etc. XP is a very mature, very well-supported and stable OS.

[Philstera]

My vista machine is more stable than my ibook. Actually I prefer to use my vista than my mac for one main reason it has never crashed whereas my mac has all sorts of issues.