Share your thoughts on the future of Windows here. Keep your comments constructive, please.

I am highly unimpressed with Vista. Long on promisses and short on delivery. Gamers for example will migrate at some point, because they need DirectX 10, shame that MS does not do their customers right and release that on XP. Windows users that review it sing its praises, because they don't know better, yah they claim different, but who is kinding who. Others are trapped and to lazy to use a competing product. It is well worth your time to look at the alternatives, but most will not. So, please go out and buy Vista and be punished for using it. Don't you think it is great how a company can sell you a product and then get to sell you fixes, or operating system protection! It should work out of the box, be safe and secure. Sadly Vista will not deliver, it will have serious security flaws and you will need to purchase even more protection. So, have it, because you don't learn.

Many very intelligent people choose to use Windows over other operating systems for various reasons. There are many other choices out there and people are not being forced to choose Windows. As Microsoft loses market share to competitors we will see how secure the Linux/Mac platforms actually are. Why would you try to attack less than 10% of the installed base, when you can attack 90% at once? Also almost every business in the world sells fixes and protection for their on products or has a third party do it. That's like saying to Ford/GM that their cars should run forever without any maintenance and they should never have any kind of recall. That's just unrealistic.

Intelligent people do not "choose" Windows, its more that its jammed down their throat due to the currently available software they're required to run. That is changing. But the Microsoft story never changes. They hype lots of features, never deliver on time nor what they stated they'd deliver. They're a marketing machine selling vaporware. Always has been and with their even current situation it looks like they always will be.

I agree with "Johnny P" that Vista is long on promises but becoming shorter on delivery by the day. I have run a beta copy on a Dell GX620 with 1GB System memory, SATA300 drive, and a Dual core Pentium D 2.8GHz with less than impressive response. I will also admit that I don't care for the direction MS has taken with respect to authentication and the wholesale rewrite excluding custom GINAs and changing the implimentation of Smartcard technology.
From a consumer point of view (home use) people will probably love it. So far what I have seen from an Enterprise view I think it is not positively differentiated enough from the current OS and Patch level to warrant the enormous resources needed just to run the OS.
I don't mean to be mean but to me it appears to be a bloated OS with no clear advantages.
Unless something changes drastically with Vista my personal suggestion on consults will be to be to move to the MAC OS where possible and I am NOT a MAC nut I don't even own one but I may within the next few years.

Microsoft has created an excellent opportunity for needs assessment in the pc environment. Most especially in the small business/home business environment. Maybe you need Windows... Maybe you can find an opportunity to use Mac or Linux (I have managed to run Linux as a sole proprietor). I fail to see where 95% of the small/home businesses will NEED Vista. So, if you need Windows because of specialized software and you see the need to upgrade - upgrade now with a fairly well patched XP system. If you are doing generalized word processing, spreadsheets, databases, web, email, etc. then consider Mac or Linux. Mac will cost you more. I am not in a position to argure about which OS is more bug free, virus free, prone to attacks, etc. - But, as was mentioned in an earlier post, hackers are attacking Windows because it's a big target. Running Linux keeps you under the radar and that is one less thing to worry about when you are the President, Vice President, CEO, CIO, Operations and IT Department for your own business.

I want a desktop operating system that is virtually 100% reliable and highly secure. I want to be certain that I won't lose my work or my files, or have to waste time fixing issues or rebooting. IMO XP is certainly not there yet, not even close and now it seems it never will be, because Microsoft will release Vista, which by virtue of it's immaturity is almost certainly less reliable. How long will Vista last in the market place before it is replaced by yet another Microsoft miracle? Long enough to make it highly reliable? Taking the past as a guide; probably not.

My early experience of Vista has left me wondering what is the point? As the world becomes more web focused, the OS becomes much less relevant. Is this really the time to make it a lot bigger?

This Vista rollout is taking longer than expected. I hope it does not turn into a big vapourware fiasco. I can't believe a Billion Dollar Software company can hold millions of Windows user's breathe. Its simply shocking.

One would hope that with all the silly religious fundamentalist nonsense in the world, that IT of all fields would be somewhat immune ... and yet we continue to see ridiculous and insulting "arguments" put forth like people who use Windows are dumb, lazy, etc. If those are the best cases you can make pro or con an IT product or service then frankly you should go into preaching. The idea that one has the one and only revealed truth and is smarter than everyone else belongs in church, not in technology.

I am no toady for Microsoft. However I find myself defending them, even though there are frustrations.

In many ways Microsoft sets the bar, the minimum standard for computing. They have absolutely massive distribution, so on the desktop, you have a pretty good idea of what awaits you if you know the OS type and version. If you pay attention, this also means you know what issues you are likely to encounter.

Does anyone seriously think there aren't major, systemic issues with Linux? Mac? Solaris? BSD? You pick your poison and live with the consequences.

I suspect Vista will be a slam-dunk. Hundreds of millions will get it as they buy new PC's. Many will upgrade their hardware just so they can run Vista. Many organizations, sadly, need some external prompting in order to upgrade. Microsoft has that clout, that name recognition.

Vista will provide user interface improvements. 64-bit software, while not strictly tied to Vista, will become commonplace with Vista. Increased security, which is becoming ever more urgent, will protect a lot of clients.

The stuff that's been stripped out will come in follow-on releases, probably as Service Packs. So it's late. What, you've never delivered a project beyond the targeted deadline? In 3 years or less most of us will be running Vista. Count on it.

I can't think of a reason to buy or use it. All the cool features have been removed. There is really no upgrade path as you really don't if hardware or software will work under Vista. Training costs are undefined. And realy what new features does Vista bring to the plate?

I'm a big MS fan, but I am not impressed with Vista. I've used the beta version on a Dell laptop (which left me with no working wireless, so I didn't use it regularly.) What we have here is a fine "update", which should have taken only a couple of years after XP. It is neither "revolutionary" nor reflective of the time it has taken to bring forth. I will not spend the money to proactively update any clients' business systems (I'm sure a "new" Office suite will force me instead.) and would only consider upgrading at home if it were steeply discounted or bundled with freebies, like XP was. (Everyone thought MS was ripping us off then, I can't imagine what will be said this time around.) If MS has to delay the release, as some foresee, may heaven help them, as Wall Street won't.

The download isn't working for me. It only downloads 907 bytes for either file.
Thanks anyway

I have just downloaded Vista 5600 and need a product key. I have played with the program through a friend of mine and I like the program myself.

I too am an MS "Lifer" but Vista may break that cycle. I am unimpressed with Vista as it seems to be just a Windows XP with bling. Bling I might add that comes at a very high cost in hardware.
I hate to be a fuddy-duddy but I think I'll stick with XP as long as I can and Maybe the release of the OS after Vista will strike a chord with me because Vista doesn't.

"...I think I'll stick with XP as long as I can and Maybe the release of the OS after Vista will strike a chord with me because Vista doesn't."

Hope you're a young guy. Most of us will be dead by the time M$ comes out with the OS that follows Vista. IF they are still in business after this butchered, useless, powehungry, "new"(?) features (that their competition has had for years), joke of an update.
Sign me tired of it, and half-switched already.

The Microsoft folks are showing us once and for all how computing technology has just left Windows XP behind while they just counted the cash that they conned out of millions of victims due to their punitive and greedy licensing practices. A reality check is long overdue for Microsoft. And that promise is now called Vista, which is really nothing to be crazy about. Same dog, different collar.

Just installed Vista 5600 and it won't recognize any of my modems. What gives?

Vista, to put it mildly, is a flat out dud....

Other than gaming there is no reason for a home user to upgrade their PC. Unless of course they try to install Vista and discover that their computer is now "too slow". So yes Vista is bloated and power hungry and thank god for without it the home PC market would collapse.

Just bought Vista and am contemplating installing it, thinking about waiting to see if it screws up to many other people. As a gamer I also have to wait for the DirectX 10 hardware to come out cheaper.

CPU: 3.2Ghz Northwoods P4
Mobo: ASUS P4P800SE
HDD: Seagate PATA 160GB
Puny little 180Watt PS
Windows Vista Ultimate
Installation: Clean on fresh HDD
Results: Rock Steady Performance
Getting THAT experience from an MS OS: Priceless

I am so upset that I installed Vista on my laptop.
It caused my computer to totally CRASH and burn.
I was at a photo shoot out of town when my husband purchased and installed Vista. He thought he would be helping me, but instead it's been a NIGHTMARE!!
The supposed new and improved Vista program caused 40 programs on my computer to stop working...even Microsofts own programs. In particular, all my photo editing software was hosed. I've been trying to repair the programs, only to get the same message each time.."incompatibilitiy issues with Vista".
When I go to each individual site for assistance, the majority of the time I have only learned that the programs have no software updates or solutions to the issues. In fact, most of them state that they don't even plan any updates in the future. So where does that leave me?? I had to purchase Microsoft digital image suite to be able to complete the photographs for my clients. This is a good program, but I really didn't have time to learn a new program when I was already behind schedule due to Vista problems. Nor did I need the added expense.
And as if these problems were not enough to deal with, now my wireless network will not work with Vista. And guess what?? Intel has no solutions or updates to repair the problem and none are scheduled to be released. So what now??? More expense and trouble for me AND my clients. I'll have to send the photos to an outside lab to be printed causing me more money and my clients more frustration. I have no doubt I will lose clients as a result. Not to mention the cost factor in all this, I've defintely gone in the hole because of Vista.
So my plan..GO BACK TO THE MAC!!
I'm embarrassed to admit that I have been convincing friends to switch to windows because it is, or rather I thought it was until Vista arrived, superior technically over the Mac.
How can something supposedly so "new and improved" cause so many issues? Oh, did I mention that my Toshiba Satellite Laptop is Windows Vista CAPABLE???

Frustrated,hosed owner of the "new and improved"
Windows Vista,

Gail P.S. My new advice: GO BACK TO THE MAC