Software, Computers, Video Games and D&D UtilitiesGeneral discussion on computer software and hardware, PC and console games, and RPG utilities such as eTools, PC GEN, etc.
Assuming I meet the suggested system specs for Windows Vista, which is the better operating system? Which OS should I install on my laptop and desktop?
Otherwise, it depends on your hardware. If you have a lower grade Notebook or a Netbook, you should definitely pick Windows XP, Vista doesn't work well (fast) on such machines.
I personally use Windows Vista everywhere, and I am pretty content with it.
But at work, I am now using the Windows 7 RC, and aside from a nVidea video driver issue, it seems to run father and more smoothly than Vista.
If you want to run the latest games, you should probably pick Vista, since it also comes wth the newest version of DirectX (whichever that is, I can never remember this stuff), which might provide some games advantages and be even a prerequisites for others.
Vista has some optical improvements above XP (neater design, basically), and a few improvements "under the hood" that can be significant for aspects like reliability or security, but you won't notice many of them. The only thing that you will notice will be more or less annoying at first, unfortunately - the User Account Control, that warns you whenever a program requires elevated privileges, since such programs are potential security risks (Virus, Trojans, Worms, Rootkits, they all neight elevated privileges to screw your PC up or spy it out.). Under XP (with an adminstrator account), such applications would just have the privileges and could do whatever they want.
But there have been a few usability improvements in that regard.
Thoughts of the Arch Chancellor - My weblog on EN World - containing game related material, like: house rules, design theories, reviews, play reports, adventure ideas
Secret Member of <Think we would just hide our secret with a spoiler tag, eh?>
I have Vista on me and my girlfriend's laptops (been using it for a few years) and XP on my girlfriend's desktop. I'm going to be formatting her desktop and the question of what OS to install came up. I've heard some people prefer XP over Vista, but I never knew why.
I have Vista on me and my girlfriend's laptops (been using it for a few years) and XP on my girlfriend's desktop. I'm going to be formatting her desktop and the question of what OS to install came up. I've heard some people prefer XP over Vista, but I never knew why.
If you're a somewhat typical user and seldom have to venture into the guts of the OS to get something done, and you already have some experience with Vista then Vista should be okay. However, I have desperately despised the transition from XP to Vista on laptops I have to use for work.
Vista has fought me at almost every turn, has had standard capabilities that I've used for years TURNED OFF by default (ping return) and the ability to turn them back on again buried so deep it was as if they never even wanted you to use them again. Options and abilities were moved everywhere and often not easy to find again. Old software, especially games, would not work or at best was interfered with. Everything except playing solitaire seems to be considered a security threat. To top it all off old versions of Microsoft Office were deliberately made inoperable under Windows Vista to force users to abandon perfectly good software and replace it. That last prompted me two foreswear MSOffice forevermore in favor of Openoffice.org.
I hear good things about Windows 7, but very much unlike the release of Vista I'm quite interested to see how it in action. Vista I delayed as long as possible moving to, but eventually I needed a new computer and Vista was the ONLY OS available. I even went as far as to obtain an old version of XP and tried to load that on the new laptop but drivers had not been written for much of the hardware under XP and so was forced to go with Vista anyway. I despised and distrusted it so much I went back to an older laptop running xp until just recently IT died. Even then I found a new Acer netbook running xp and have been using that for work instead of the now 2-year old laptop that has virtually been a doorstop since I bought it.
But that's just me. My hat of dVista knows no limit.
__________________ Old School: It ain't what you play - it's how you play it.
"Other than the matter of me doing a good deal of extemperaneous creation in play sessions, I am not a paricularly notable Game Master " E.G.G.
My experience with Vista hasn't been awful, but on every system I've tested it on it's been a total resource hog (something reportedly not as bad in W7). If games are your thing, DirectX can be installed on XP, and many publishers seem to be still designing with DX9 and XP compatibility in mind (though that may change).
However, I'd agree with everyone who says to wait for W7, if possible. I've heard excellent things about it, though I haven't tried it as of yet.
DM Magic,
The specs required for Windows 7 are drastically less than Windows Vista -- this means that Windows 7 will run on more systems than Windows Vista but will perform best on those that are pre-configured to run Windows Vista. Most would recommend Windows 7 and I would have to agree. Windows 7, over all, offers so much more to each user. To learn more, Microsoft does have a site with whitepapers, tutorials, walkthroughs and screen casts on all the “under the hood” features in Win 7. Check out the Springboard site for Windows 7 on TechNet here Windows 7 RC | Support, Deployment, Resources
Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team
Vista is, indeed, a resource hog. With that said, resource hogging is only an issue if you're running on limited memory. Look at the system specs and determine it that way. Most importantly, while Vista needs 1GB of RAM (and this is exactly how much some manufacturers will install), as a tech I believe you should have 2GB minimum, more if your system will take it. The main reason to move on from XP is simply the inevitable lack of support around the corner. With Windows 7 coming out soon, XP will be two generations back. If you already have a copy of Vista, and you have enough system memory that its RAM-hunger can be sated with some to spare, then go with that. Then the step to Windows 7 (should your girlfriend want to take that step down the road) won't be all that steep. Windows 7 is much closer to Vista than XP in functionality, although its memory requirements are less. My two cents.
DM Magic,
The specs required for Windows 7 are drastically less than Windows Vista -- this means that Windows 7 will run on more systems than Windows Vista but will perform best on those that are pre-configured to run Windows Vista. Most would recommend Windows 7 and I would have to agree. Windows 7, over all, offers so much more to each user. To learn more, Microsoft does have a site with whitepapers, tutorials, walkthroughs and screen casts on all the “under the hood” features in Win 7. Check out the Springboard site for Windows 7 on TechNet here Windows 7 RC | Support, Deployment, Resources
Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team
Why tinyurl? If you are actually from the "Microsoft Windows Client Team" there should be no need to obfuscate the link, or not (Note: I havn't followed it)?
Anyways, post reported. Shall the mods decide what to do with this.
Bye
Thanee
__________________
“In our world, immortality is not for the living. The legend lives on!”
In Memoriam Dave Arneson († April 7th, 2009) & Gary Gygax († March 4th, 2008).
Wondering what the Dungeon Tiles are like? Take a look here (up to DU5 Sinister Woods).
If your system came with Vista, or you're buying or building a new one before Windows 7 comes out this fall, you should be running Vista (and 64-bit Vista at that -- RAM is too cheap not to have 4GB+, if you have 4GB+ you need 64-bit to see all of it in desktop Windows, and Vista x64 drivers are much more readily available than XP x64 drivers) unless you have hardware or software that absolutely won't run there. Running eight year old operating systems is a Bad Thing for all sorts of reasons.
On the other hand, OS upgrades are a pain, and generally not worth the effort. If you replace computers every 3-4 years anyway, just stick with what you've got until you buy/build a new box.
Why tinyurl? If you are actually from the "Microsoft Windows Client Team" there should be no need to obfuscate the link, or not (Note: I havn't followed it)?
Anyways, post reported. Shall the mods decide what to do with this.
Bye
Thanee
It's legit and goes to Microsoft. No worries.
__________________ - Piratecat, EN World Admin
Currently editing the 4e War of the Burning Sky adventure path. Support EN Publishing, get excellent modules!
I am a system administrator. I have avoided Vista because it is a resource hog. I couldn't justify the cost of the OS and the needed upgrades. Vista doesn't offer our organization anything new.
I have Windows 7 RC installed on my laptop. I like it and does appear to run much faster than Vista.
__________________ Livin' in a lonely world
"That's so freakin' dorky it's cool!!!" - krunchyfrogg
I am a system administrator. I have avoided Vista because it is a resource hog. I couldn't justify the cost of the OS and the needed upgrades. Vista doesn't offer our organization anything new.
I have Windows 7 RC installed on my laptop. I like it and does appear to run much faster than Vista.
Ditto. That said, I installed it personally so that I would get up to speed on it for when we would have to switch, and I'm glad I did. It is actually better than XP at some things. Of course, Win7 is better than Vista at everything, so I'm changing to it as soon as I can find some time.
Win7 will be released in October, I believe, so if you can wait until then I'd recommend it. Otherwise, go with Vista. Now that it has a few patches under it's belt and there is good documentation and tools for making it less annoying, it's really pretty OK. XP is fine, but it's on it's way out and Microsoft is going to find a way to pull the plug on it.
__________________ Your sig should never be longer than your post.
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
