On last.fm: R.I.P. MJ
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet

August 27th, 2008

"Why do you hate Vista so much?"

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 11:57 am

Categories: Marketing, Microsoft, Thoughts, Vista

Tags: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Question from this week’s email bag:

Why do you hate Vista so much?

I don’t hate Vista, really. Honestly I don’t. I hate Garfield movies and I really hate mushy, overcooked broccoli, but can honestly say that I don’t hate Vista. I was on the beta team, I was running beta versions on my main production systems, I helped ID numerous bugs, I’d rolled out Vista onto several systems a couple of days after it went RTM and I own more Vista licenses that probably most people here do. I don’t hate Vista at all, but that said it is safe to say that there are aspects of the OS that I find underwhelming and disappointing. Allow me to explain what I mean.

There was a five-year interval between the release of Windows XP (released Oct 25, 2001) and the release of Windows Vista (RTMed Nov 8, 2006) but after all that wait what we ended up with was an OS that, by pretty much any metric that you want measure it against, was outperformed by Windows XP. Not until the release of Vista SP1 over a year later (Feb 4, 2008) did Vista get to the point where it could realistically compete with XP.

Fifteen months spent tweaking an OS so it ends up being as good as the version that it’s supposed to replace is ridiculous. In fact, I’d go further and say that people who used Vista during the time between RTM and SP1 (people like me) would have been better off downgrading to XP. Windows 7 will need to deliver a robust and compelling user experience straight from the box.

Eye-candy and tweaking –>

Pages: 1 2 3

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

Subscribe to Hardware 2.0 via Email alerts or RSS.

Related Discussions on TechRepublic

Did you know you can take part in these discussions with your ZDNet membership?

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 192 Talkback(s)
The worst successful company ever
It's time for people to quit mealy-mouthing around and speak the truth; MS is where they are today by excelling in dirty dealing and outright illegal behavior, not by writing good software, and expec... (Read the rest)
Posted by: tiredofcrappysoftware@... Posted on: 03/19/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Reasons that Vista bothers me...  kRogue | 08/27/08
SP1 shouldn't be doing that  Lerianis | 08/28/08
Had no trouble with Vista, but Microsoft pissed me off  BillDem | 09/17/08
MS CHEATS  ssalemi@... | 09/24/08
The worst successful company ever  tiredofcrappysoftware@... | 03/19/09
Books and Articles  Harry Bardal | 08/27/08
Hear, hear!  NetArch. | 08/27/08
A+ post.  TripleII | 08/27/08
Looks like you got some converts  Joeman57 | 08/27/08
Well Said!  chessmen | 08/27/08
Are you a speech writer for Obama?  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
Amen to that.!!  esdrasf@... | 08/28/08
McCain should be so lucky....  nothingness | 08/28/08
Nothingness  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
I don't know....  James Quinn | 08/28/08
It's only valid to class envy warriors.  frgough | 08/28/08
I wish I could buy an ailing relative a home..:P  James Quinn | 08/28/08
No doubt...  nothingness | 08/28/08
like PeeWee would say  nothingness | 08/28/08
And you must...  n0neXn0ne | 08/28/08
So every book about every OS is part of a false economy?  marks055@... | 08/27/08
Losing argument...  jasonp@... | 08/28/08
One OS to rule them all  BigDoggyDog | 08/28/08
Brilliant post!  TedKraan | 08/28/08
So?  Sleeper Service | 08/28/08
Well now...  deefburger | 08/28/08
Not good enough  BigDoggyDog | 08/28/08
Eloquent, but completely clueless yet again Harry.  Scrat | 08/28/08
I recall reading that Parallels has sold over 1 million copies.  ye | 08/28/08
No doubt that one copy of Windows XP is  James Quinn | 08/28/08
Even though you're unwilling to respect copyright doesn't mean...  ye | 08/28/08
It's not just copyright. Don't limit me to that..:P  James Quinn | 08/28/08
Why the assumption  frgough | 08/28/08
Also, people run Parallels in Windows to virtualize other OSs  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 08/28/08
Where did I say anything about Windows sales?  ye | 08/28/08
kapow!  zaine_ridling | 08/28/08
You tell Him!  deefburger | 08/28/08
Harry, I both agree and disagree with you!  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 08/28/08
Alone  Harry Bardal | 08/28/08
Not "Open", but it's a Free market  BillDem | 09/17/08
"emotional responses"  Ole Man | 09/17/08
That Has Been My Point All Along  Cardhu | 09/27/08
The False Economy Exposed for What it is  graywz | 08/28/08
Let's get real  rbslack@... | 08/28/08
Excellent Post!  Cardhu | 09/27/08
RE:  desjardinsy69 | 08/27/08
Pretty much.  Sleeper Service | 08/27/08
Pretty much....Wrong. Vista Deserves It's Bad Reputation  chessmen | 08/27/08
Hook, Line, and Sinker.  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
I run Vista x64 Home Premium...  Sleeper Service | 08/28/08
i ran Vista too  TedKraan | 08/28/08
That's going to be difficult...  Sleeper Service | 08/28/08
I agree in part  AndyCee | 08/28/08
@AndyCee  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
Ah, a x64 Expert ... well, let me ask you ....  websquad | 08/28/08
99% Certainty  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
rhetorical  TedKraan | 09/25/08
If You Are Seriously Considering Switching  Cardhu | 09/26/08
Was Vista...  jasonp@... | 08/28/08
Was XP...  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
You're Engaging In Hyperbole  Cardhu | 09/27/08
RE:Do you mean "downgrading to XP" perhaps?  RicD_ | 08/27/08
Downgrade to XP?  NetArch. | 08/27/08
Very Good  Kromaethius | 08/27/08
You know more about Win7 than the rest of us?  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
The reason I don't use Vista  dragontiger | 08/27/08
Why I wanted Vista  DevGuy_z | 08/27/08
That is the main draw of Vista  Lerianis | 08/28/08
How Explorer handles photos... very nice.  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
I agree ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 08/28/08
"...outperformed by XP"  itpro_z | 08/27/08
I have to agree.  ye | 08/27/08
I Have To Disagree  chessmen | 08/27/08
What?  Pooch666 | 08/28/08
Yes...  zkiwi | 08/28/08
It should have been Microsoft's best effort  BALTHOR | 08/27/08
In two years it will be.  Sleeper Service | 08/27/08
So which are you saying is now?  AndyCee | 08/28/08
Exactly. 5 years in the making, and it was not an improvement over XP.  DonnieBoy | 08/27/08
Yeh, sure, you betcha  Pooch666 | 08/28/08
still don't get the search function...  willyu | 08/27/08
Agent Ransack  bmgoodman | 08/27/08
Did you disable indexing?  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
There's only one real reason that matters: Security  ye | 08/27/08
Vista security  gertruded | 08/27/08
Then you're unqualified to discuss the subject.  ye | 08/27/08
when you are unqualified....  gertruded | 08/27/08
You're unqualified because you lack qualifications.  ye | 08/27/08
Qualified people make smart decisions.  storm14k | 08/27/08
I've never had security problems with Windows.  ye | 08/27/08
@ye: Aha!  TedKraan | 08/28/08
@TedKraan: I didn't say "smart". I said "smarter".  ye | 08/28/08
@ye, but in general...  zkiwi | 08/28/08
@zkiwi: I think the last problem I had with a virus was the...  ye | 08/28/08
Vista Security So Annoying People Just Turn It Off  chessmen | 08/27/08
Security is a great reason to go to Vista  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
Windows 7 needs to beat Vista.  TripleII | 08/27/08
Why? Though I have to say with all the different versions...  ye | 08/27/08
Poor wording.  TripleII | 08/27/08
I suspect a 2010 year UMPC should meet Vista's...  ye | 08/27/08
And then...  storm14k | 08/27/08
The latest and greatest is expected to be Windows 7  ye | 08/27/08
You're resorting to rumors now?  Zogg | 08/28/08
Re: You're resorting to rumors now?  Michael Kelly | 08/28/08
@Zogg: Hence my use of the words "expected" and "rumored" which...  ye | 08/28/08
No Ye, you just responded with "fluff".  Zogg | 08/28/08
@Zogg: Again I qualified my comments with...  ye | 08/28/08
Its "zero information content" of course. And your "double standards".  Zogg | 08/28/08
@Zogg: I don't have to provide any supporting facts because...  ye | 08/28/08
Wow, argument via fiction!  Zogg | 08/28/08
Don't Bother Reading Ye  Cardhu | 09/27/08
Correct me if I am wrong...  Michael Kelly | 08/28/08
You'll have to ask TripleII. I have no problem running...  ye | 08/28/08
If they supported Vista, they would be an option.  TripleII | 08/28/08
Just not compelling!  techboy_z | 08/27/08
RE: Vista  very old techie | 08/27/08
RE: Vista is the best windows ever..ahm..with SP1  kejser | 08/27/08
Even without SP1  Lerianis | 08/28/08
These are ALL poor arguments!  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
I've got to disagree with PC2  ye | 08/27/08
I don't hate Vista because I don't use it  Utah Stan | 08/27/08
And since you don't use it...  Sleeper Service | 08/27/08
I Tried Vista, and He is Dead Right... Vista Stinks!  chessmen | 08/27/08
What insightful advice!  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
OK...  Sleeper Service | 08/28/08
You really should qualify that better...  Wolfie2K3 | 08/29/08
Vista is good, it has its share of issues like any other OS  soulxfer@... | 08/27/08
Most Vista detractors are MS users  deaf_e_kate | 08/28/08
Really?  rtk | 08/29/08
RE: I don't Fista  dswanson2609 | 08/27/08
Who Knows the Most about Vista?  Utah Stan | 08/27/08
RE: yeah  irain84@... | 08/27/08
The anti-Vista anti-MS myth.  storm14k | 08/27/08
Agreed  beoz | 08/27/08
Agreed. Paying Customers Have The RIGHT To Complain  chessmen | 08/27/08
They did...  Sleeper Service | 08/28/08
The problem is that most of what we see in these talkbacks is FUD.  ye | 08/28/08
Yawn  tonymcs@... | 08/27/08
Uncommon usage aside  AndyCee | 08/28/08
RE: How Soon We Forget  The Rifleman | 08/27/08
You've totally missed the point...  cfischer83@... | 08/27/08
so who's missed the point?  mdsmedia | 08/27/08
Did you read the article?  cfischer83@... | 08/27/08
Good post  AndyCee | 08/28/08
OEMs don't develop their bloatware because Vista is lacking,  PB_z | 08/27/08
Despite the BS Vista is still way more secure than XP  tech_walker | 08/27/08
Despite the BS Vista Still Slower Than XP  chessmen | 08/27/08
Please provide references  mikefarinha | 08/27/08
While I'm sure it's better since this review...  AndyCee | 08/28/08
Vista vs XP  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
Be careful there ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 08/28/08
I don't disagree with your results  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
Because it is an OS that was not needed or ready.  systemx | 08/27/08
@ Chessmen re: Well Said!  M.R. Kennedy | 08/27/08
I Am Not a Apple User, I Prefer Linux  chessmen | 08/28/08
Simplicity  ppavlov | 08/27/08
And the softies say they like  devlin_X | 08/28/08
Great!  Sleeper Service | 08/28/08
No problem happy  devlin_X | 08/29/08
RE: I don't hate it  elderlybloke | 08/28/08
Adrian, I couldn't have said it better  zaine_ridling | 08/28/08
Let me sum it up!  ShadeTree | 08/28/08
I don't HATE Vista.... It's existence has been a  James Quinn | 08/28/08
I have used Vista  frgough | 08/28/08
Currently somewhat apathetic  AndyCee | 08/28/08
RE: Vista  yo_vinnie | 08/28/08
Such Cry Babies  jpr75_z | 08/28/08
Vista Causes Shoot em Ups To Crash  chessmen | 08/28/08
FUD  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
Why I Hate Vista So Much  chessmen | 08/28/08
Another point to make:  genefitz1976 | 08/28/08
Ok. 12% Of Vista Users Turn Off UAC  chessmen | 08/28/08
Wow, you dug deep. Good job!  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
thoroughly uninteresting  nizuse | 08/28/08
I don't hate Vista at all  dprozzo | 08/28/08
Too many versions  e-man_z | 08/28/08
I agree a bit  mikefarinha | 08/28/08
Getting better it is, but if I did not work in IT I doubt I would upgrade  ThePrairiePrankster | 08/28/08
RE: why do you hate Vista  rbslack@... | 08/28/08
No hatred at all.... its just that Vista is....  Ole Man | 08/28/08
Extras  daengbo | 08/28/08
Ignore msg mis-posted (nt)  devlin_X | 08/28/08
A sober and realistic view of Vista  pccoder28@... | 08/28/08
RE: VISTA PROBLEMS  PHILIP BASSETT | 08/28/08
The REAL problem with Vista...  Wolfie2K3 | 08/29/08
Vista = BadVista  Gradius2 | 08/29/08
It's because they love Windows XP  ntoremi | 08/31/08
RE: Too many reasons. What about this one:  joe@... | 09/01/08
RE: fIRST hARDWARE tHEN sp2  VONDRASHEK@... | 09/01/08
Wow. Excellent Article, Adrian  Cardhu | 09/18/08
I Love Vista  jrbales@... | 09/22/08
VISTA STINKS  ssalemi@... | 09/24/08

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

Click Here
advertisement

Recent Entries

advertisement
Click Here

Archives

ZDNet Blogs

White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

SmartPlanet

Click Here