Is it Time to Downgrade from Windows Vista?

Tarantoga · **Posted:** October 25th, 2007, 7:55 am

Belonging the Vista topic:

Vista deactivation after driver update:

http://apcmag.com/vista_activation

T.

demofred · **Posted:** October 29th, 2007, 7:23 pm

The November 2007 issue of Entrepeneur magazine (p30) had 5 Easy-to-use tips and tricks for Windows VISTA. The first and fifth ones were:

Quote:

1) Disable Aero Interface: Right-click on the desktop, select "Personalize." Click on "Window Color and Appearance" then "Open classic appearance properties for more color options" and choose a different theme for your desktop.

5) Run Older Software Applications: Right-click on the application's .exe file, select "Properties" then click on the "Compatibility" tab. Select your previous OS.

demofred · **Posted:** November 28th, 2007, 1:25 pm

Last night, for the first time, I saw a TV commercial from Appple using their now famous two "guys" representing the Mac and the PC. The PC guy is behind a podium with a sign on it that says "Don't give up on VISTA."

The PC guy says many people are having problems getting their software to work after switching to VISTA. He goes on and on about all the problems. Finally, at the end of the commercial, the PC guy says a lot of people are switching back to XP, then he whispers to the Mac guy that he just switched back himself and things are a whole lot better.

Apple is obviously trying to exploit a major issue/problem with VISTA. They want to sell you a Mac. By the fact that Apple's reseach shows VISTA to be a major problem area with many many dissatisfied customers indicates to me the severity of problem.

Knowing this, I find it hard to believe people are still installing VISTA on their computers. If you know there's a major problem, why would you do this? Do they think THEY won't have problems (when everyone else is)? When the OS is causing the problem, how/why do they expect software suppliers are going to "fix" the problem?

Lar_123 · **Posted:** December 3rd, 2007, 8:01 am

Quote:

find it hard to believe people are still installing VISTA on their computers.

I went to Fry's... of the 40 or more laptops displayed, only 1 could be bought with Win XP. That was an IBM w/14" display. And there was only 1 stock unit of that left. Desktops may have given buyers a few more choices.

The only option the salesguy gave was to buy WinXP extra at Retail box prices, etc etc.

Writing's on the wall, and the wall has a broken window. :cry:

Paul Harris · **Posted:** December 3rd, 2007, 9:31 am

Dell have reinstated the XP option on most of their laptops. Indeed they were running promotional offers on Vista systems and XP was more expensive! Perhaps Fry's have been caught with the wrong stock and will redress the balance in due course.

Personally, I'm hoping Vista is another ME and we get an alternative new "XP" sooner rather than later. Too much underlying Vista seems flawed to make me trust any improvements made upon that foundation - but of course Microsoft may prove me wrong and everything may be vastly improved in the New Year.

Paul

demofred · **Posted:** February 9th, 2008, 2:11 pm

Here's an analysis of Vista's new Service Pack release. It's from an online magazine called "APC." Read the Comments from readers also:

http://www.apcmag.com/6929/vista_sp1_in_depth

demofred · **Posted:** April 28th, 2008, 12:31 pm

From BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7370821.stm

Quote:

Loopholes keep Windows XP alive

Ballmer: Hinted that XP could live beyond the scheduled cut off date

PC makers are finding ways to keep selling Windows XP despite Microsoft efforts to remove it from sale. Dell, HP and Lenovo are exploiting loopholes in Microsoft's licensing terms to extend the operating system beyond a 30 June end of life date. XP is being phased out in favour of Windows Vista which has, so far, got a lukewarm welcome from many firms.

The news comes as Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer hints that XP could live longer if enough customers demand it.

Long life

Dell is using a clause in the conditions for Windows Vista which lets it provide XP under the terms of a "downgrade license" for the Business and Ultimate versions of the new operating system.

This means that Dell can install Windows XP Professional for free on some machines in its Latitude, OptiPlex, and Precision machines. In the main these deals are meant for business customers.

For consumers and small firms Dell will, for a fee it will, install XP Pro on Vostro and XPS gaming machines.

HP is also using the "downgrade" option to keep selling XP with some models until 30 July 2009.

In all these cases a PC is logged as a Vista sale and, in effect, is being sold with an unused option to upgrade to the newer operating system.

With some machines Lenovo is installing Vista but including a XP recovery disk so owners can roll back to the older software.

The news comes only days after Microsoft reported its third quarter results down 11% largely due to a fall in sales in its Windows software division.

Despite this Microsoft said its sales of Vista licenses stood at 140m - a figure that was in line with its predictions.

At the same time Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer said that XP could get a longer life if enough customers demanded it.

During a Q&A session at a press conference in Belgium Mr Ballmer said: "If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments."

Microsoft has extended the life of Windows XP Home until 2010 on low-powered PCs, such as the Asus Eee, that might struggle to cope with Vista's power demands.

Digital Workshop

Is it Time to Downgrade from Windows Vista?

Who is online