Vista me Up!
Friday, March 02, 2007
As most people in the world should know by now, Microsoft has finally released their latest operating system, Vista. So is it worth the hype, has anything really changed and is there any point in upgrading?
Vista definitely needs higher spec hardware. When you install Vista, it gives your PC a Windows Experience rating out of 5.9. Scores are given to Processor speed, Memory (RAM), Graphics card (A rating for Aero and a rating for gaming), and Hard disk. Your PC is awarded the lowest score of each of these. My PC gets a 2.
The culprit contributing to my PC's low score is the graphics card and how it displays the Aero effect. This is the fancy transparency or mac (as some are quick to point out!) effect. I have just noticed that Vista has turned Aero off on my PC. I’m not sure when as I’ve only just noticed. I did notice that when Aero was active it was a lot slower to switch between windows.
So is it any different to use? Well yes and no, a lot of the things you are used to doing in XP are there and look very similar, however it can be a bit tiresome to find their new locations.
Some of the features I do like are:
All in all, I like Vista and the overall experience has been positive. If you’re a techno geek and love new toys, then upgrade. If you are okay with the status quo, then there is no compelling reason to spend the money, just wait till you have to buy a new PC.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to go back.
Mark Moynihan, Systems Administrator
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Vista definitely needs higher spec hardware. When you install Vista, it gives your PC a Windows Experience rating out of 5.9. Scores are given to Processor speed, Memory (RAM), Graphics card (A rating for Aero and a rating for gaming), and Hard disk. Your PC is awarded the lowest score of each of these. My PC gets a 2.
The culprit contributing to my PC's low score is the graphics card and how it displays the Aero effect. This is the fancy transparency or mac (as some are quick to point out!) effect. I have just noticed that Vista has turned Aero off on my PC. I’m not sure when as I’ve only just noticed. I did notice that when Aero was active it was a lot slower to switch between windows.
So is it any different to use? Well yes and no, a lot of the things you are used to doing in XP are there and look very similar, however it can be a bit tiresome to find their new locations.
Some of the features I do like are:
- The breadcrumbs in windows explorer which enable you to jump back a directory easily.
- Vista seems a bit more proactive in detecting and fixing problems.
- You can have multiple clocks set up in different time zones.
- The ‘All Programs’ menu in the start menu now only opens in one vertical list which you can navigate with a vertical scroll bar.
- A whole array of new and equally meaningless error messages!
- I also have Office 2007 installed. The new ‘ribbon’ tool bars which change to suit what you are doing are really handy.
- There is no need for Google desktop anymore, when you click on the start menu there is a search box at bottom. When you type into the search box, the start menu is then replaced with the search results... from files you’ve opened, from your emails... you name it, just like Google desktop search.
All in all, I like Vista and the overall experience has been positive. If you’re a techno geek and love new toys, then upgrade. If you are okay with the status quo, then there is no compelling reason to spend the money, just wait till you have to buy a new PC.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to go back.
Mark Moynihan, Systems Administrator
Labels: Technology
8 Comments:
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Post a Commentwhen you say 'a score out of 5.9', i think you mean a score out of 10 and your computer got a score of 5.9??
“The base scores currently range from 1 to 5.9. The Windows Experience Index is designed to accommodate advances in computer technology. As hardware speed and performance improves, higher base scores will be introduced. However, the standards for each level of the index stay the same. For example, a computer scored as a 2.8 will remain a 2.8 unless you decide to upgrade the computer's hardware.”
I just watched the apple ad today about vista, and i have to say, its bloody well true!
I completely agree with you, I turned off the UAC (User Access Control), cos it grated on my nerves so much.
Then it took me days to realise that Vista won't let you add a network printer if the UAC is inactive!
omg u blogs is awesum
So it’s been a couple of months now since I took the plunge and installed Vista... I finally gave in and reactivated the UAC (User Access Control), now I’m quite used to being asked whether I want to load this or open that. In fact it’s been helpful stopping pesky plugins from installing and I quite like it!
Over the weekend I upgraded my personal Laptop, it has more grunt than my desktop at work and I really notice the difference in performance.
One thing that has surprised me is Office 2007, I couldn’t live without it and the thought of going back to Office 2003 sends shivers down my spine. Once you get used to the ribbon bars (new name for a tool bar with big icons) and the orbs (new name for start menu) it’s so easy to use and quicker to find those functions that you use all the time.
My favourite application in the new Suite is OneNote, I’m giving it a double thumbs up. It’s great for Tablet PCs with its handwriting recognition prowess, but it’s not just restricted to tablets. You use it like a virtual note book with pages you can sort and search for text or even voice. Again, once you have used it for a while and have gotten the hang of it, it’s a really useful tool.
You know Office 2007 works in XP with the ribbon also :)
Verizon is about the only place you can get the authentic RIM product and matching door. Most other sites are out of stock and even when they are in stock they have the black battery door which looks like crap. laptop battery
I tested this camera for a client. I didn’t have the light running for more than 15 minutes. The battery lasted approximately 6 hours before recharging. The LCD, however, had a few dead pixels - never saw this before. Tried returning for exchange and had to put up quite a fight. Anyone else seen this? new battery
:)