Is Vista OK?

JonnyThunder

Well, it's preference really. But when Vista is idle, it begins indexing files and directories for quicker access later. Now, I have a few issues with this. The first one is that I don't like my harddisk chundering away while im trying to concentrate. You can hear it, and you know it's happening! The second, is that Vista is designed in such a way that indexing is pretty quick on the fly anyway - so unless you've got a million files on your HD, it really isn't worthwhile. Finally, Vista almost always starts this process when im still working on stuff, which has a significant performance hit.

Just try it and see for yourself! Once you've switched off indexing, you'll never go back!

BillScarab

Another happy Vista user here, as others have said just check anything you intend to plug in will work. I had no problems with my scanner/printer/camera etc. and they're all a few years old.

Personally I don't find the UAC that much of a bother, it's a pain when you first get it and start installing lots of things but after that it quietens down. The most annoying thing is it doesn't learn so if you try and run something that activates it you will be asked every time you run it. It is easy to turn off though.

I can't see the point in buying a machine with XP now unless you have some very odd hardware to use with it that will definately not work with Vista.

Vista is probably the most stable new OS Microsoft have ever released.

Millionaire

JonnyThunder wrote: »

Well, it's preference really. But when Vista is idle, it begins indexing files and directories for quicker access later. Now, I have a few issues with this. The first one is that I don't like my harddisk chundering away while im trying to concentrate. You can hear it, and you know it's happening! The second, is that Vista is designed in such a way that indexing is pretty quick on the fly anyway - so unless you've got a million files on your HD, it really isn't worthwhile. Finally, Vista almost always starts this process when im still working on stuff, which has a significant performance hit.

Just try it and see for yourself! Once you've switched off indexing, you'll never go back!

Thanks for that, i didnt know that. I'll give it a go

JonnyThunder

Millionaire.... also check this page out!!. It covers all the services that run by default in Vista. You can disable many of them to squeeze out every last drop of power from your OS. Even if you dont disable anything, it's an interesting read!

Millionaire

Excellent, There's a few things in there that i can disable. Thanks

Cricri

JonnyThunder wrote: »

And yes, I did buy it! :mad:

I didn't mean "you could nick it for free", I meant I wouldn't be able to spend so much in an OS upgrade myself. So out of the two of us, you are the capitalist

Applications going faster? That's interesting, I never heard of that before. Do you mean business apps such as MS Office, or such as SAP or Oracle?

wolfman

I'm a Linux user, but still use Windows at work, and keep a dual boot install of Vista at home (for work stuff).

I like it too. As long as you've got a machine capable of handling it, and no older hardware (where by drivers might not be available). It's very slick, and works nicely. A similar experience to OS X. I've not had any problems with it yet.

JonnyThunder

Well - various improvements i've found really. I mean, the general speed of Vista is faster IMHO. It seems to handle multi-tasking a lot more smoothly, and has better fault tolerance when things do go wrong with apps.

I run mySQL server and develop websites on my work PC. Im also a photographer, so there is a lot of photo-editing required - all of which is quicker since installing Vista.

I think a key point to remember here though, is the speed of the overall machine. ON a fast machine, vista makes the most of the hardware and the overall feel is a lot faster (certainly in comparison to XP). On a slow machine, vista may struggle or will appear average.

I'll tell you one thing I did notice - even when you've loaded on a lot of software, Vista still maintains it's speed. XP was an 'install once a quarter' type OS. it ran well, but once it started filling up it got slower. I haven't reinstalled my Vista since release day and it's still beautifully fast (despite all the stuff I use and have installed).

Icon_3

The Kerio firewall I used in XP does not work with Vista. Understand the Sygate one doesn't work either.
I know Vista has its own firewall but if its anything like the one in XP it will not be very good.
Are there any good free alternatives?

albertross_2

The one in xp sp2 does the job it is designed to do (block attacks from the outside world), as far as I know that is also the case with the one in vista (which has outbound protection).

In these days of bb with routers, software firewalls aren't as necessary, especially when everyone just ticks allow everytime they get an outbound popup.