Microsoft Vista Home Premium Reviews

I'm what most people would call a "Techie."  I have a BS in Computer and Information Science.  I worked in PC support at a major company for 2 years.  I help hundreds of people through the transition from Windows 98 & Windows NT to Windows 2000 and Windows XP when they came out.   But even with experience, I was still hesitant to order my new PC with Windows Vista because of all of the bad press the OS (operating system)received.  Never the less I swallowed my fears and got the new PC only two months after Vista was launched.  Even though I know my way around a PC, I still had issues when...

I bought a new Dell and it came with Windows Vista and is it ever a pain!!!  Every single action you try to do must be confirmed and approved and THAT is quite time consuming; most of my other Windows programs won't work with it; I can't download updates from the windows.com website because it doesn't recognize me as the Administrator even though I AM and I am signed on as such; this computer is loaded with twice as much RAM, etc. as my other computer that had Windows XP Home on it and my other computer (a Gateway) was almost twice as fast even though it was heavily loaded down with pictures and...

Several of my tech friends told me I should upgrade from my Microsoft Me which is on one of my computers to Microsoft Vista Home.  So I bought the Microsoft Vista Home and upgraded.

I found several problems with the Vista operating system. 

1.  It makes my computer sluggish because it takes up more hard drive and more memory to run efficiently. 

2.  It doesn't run some of my older programs efficiently if at all even though they are Microsoft programs. 

3.   It has too many bugs which needed patches applied which means more work.

Now I don't know all that much about operating systems, but Vista...

I don't understand.  Windows XP was a perfectly reasonable operating system.  I know it had it's weaknesses, but I much prefer it over this updated version. 

 I feel the upgraded security that Vista is trying to provide would be provided by keeping up-to-date virus blockers and security programs.  Or find out what it is that Mac and Linux have on keeping out viruses (gasp).

There is some getting used to with the tabs and such provided, but that is not my real complaint, as I don't mind adjusting to change if it is for the better.  However, I am asked with almost every step I take if I can...

• With all the security features, it tends to suffocate the user, rather than protecting him/her. Lots of functions aren't even possible without disabling some security.
• The fancy graphics and window viewing don't mean a thing if they slow down every other function the system tries to perform.
• Doesn't play well with other manufacturers' software/hardware.
• Doesn't execute hardware drivers well (or at all in some cases).
• Made too many changes in areas...

While it did take me a while to appreciate Microsoft Vista Home Premium, I have to say that I love it now and can't imagine life without it (haha). I haven't heard the best reviews from the computer savvy but for a casual user, like me, it is great. I love the appearance and the easy navigation. When I bought my computer (Feb 07) I wasn't even aware that there was a new operating system out for Microsoft so I was suprised when I turned on my computer and a little frustrated, being that I was used to XP. But really, whether you like it or not, if you don't upgrade you won't be able to play all...