It has become a common phrase to be heard or said among computer users of any operating system: “Vista is terrible!” This is often repeated without justification. It would seem that overall, Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system has officially been labeled a failure, but this, in my opinion, is at least partly unjustified.
I am a user of full Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition, which is basically the most capable and powerful version of the Vista OS. This same fact would in theory, however, give me the most right to complain out of anyone, as I will explain below. My computer is made up of relatively powerhouse components, including 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a WD Raptor primary hard drive (specifically for the OS), a hefty multi-core processor, and an insane video card that heats up my entire living space up by at least 3 degrees fahrenheit. Although by many Vista is accused of being inoperably slow, needless to say my machine has absolutely no problem running all of Vista’s bells and whistles without a hitch. I realize that this spec of machine is not common among the majority of PC users, but it does at least make the point that the machine must be capable of handling the OS so that it runs smoothly. There are lower graphical performance settings that can be used with lower-performance machines.
The 64-bit version of Vista (and XP) suffers not from any lacking in Microsoft’s software, but instead by general lack of driver support by third-party companies. My Linksys wireless internet card, for example, is not supported by Linksys for Vista x64 yet, so I had to resort to independent drivers which cause it to function just fine. Many other devices are provided with drivers, and they also work perfectly.
In any case, the point I am trying to reach here is that most of Vista’s so-called problems are due possibly to ’deficiencies’ and prejudices of the actual user. Windows XP was Microsoft’s primary operating system from 2001 all the way to around 2007. If you think about it, a ton of home users began to use computers roughly within that time frame, naturally causing them to become comfortable with XP. Vista, with its slightly changed user interface and more secure features, threatens that comfort. For example, many don’t like the UAC system within Vista that frequently asks for a user’s approval to perform possibly critical functions, such as running an executable file, but they don’t seem to realize that said feature can be disabled, or that it is probably for their own good that it asks in the first place. Various flavors of Linux have similar security features which work well.
Just the other day in my university science class, the professor was running an integrated PC through a projector in the auditorium-style classroom, with about 12 individual windows opened running various programs and processes, when the PC he was using began to stutter a little when trying to play some of his video files. The PC in question was undoubtedly running Windows XP, but the professor, not realizing his mistake, said something to the effect of, “Now see, they say Windows Vista runs up to 2/3 slower than XP as you can see here, so don’t use Windows Vista!” This professor is probably a victim of hearsay and Apple commercials. Apple indeed has been trying to use Vista to attack Microsoft like vicious harpies, which I cannot blame them for doing, because the misunderstanding and fear of Vista is indeed running rampant!
Is Vista perfect? Of course not. Is it an improvement, in at least the important aspects, over XP? Yes, but leave the hearsay behind you before you try it. You can keep your old XP operating system, but while you’re at it I’ll be running Dreamscene, DirectX 10, and the newest integrated Windows Media Center on my Vista. I realize I am probably in the minority with my opinion on the matter, but just give Vista chance!
Posted by N. Palmer 
