Greg Stumpf
EF5
For future reference, when ordering a Sony VAIO, you can get the free "Fresh Start" option that will install only the basic OS and hardware drivers - no bloatware at all.
I have Vista 64-bit and have had nothing but issues, not just with software and peripherals, but with performance. Frequent lockups, and I have had to reformat twice now after entering fatal loops. Last week I lost several hundred photos that I hadn't had the chance to relocate to the external drive. Next machine will most definitely be a Mac. I don't know why I didn't go ahead and get one this time.
It would take a whole lot of hard selling at this point to make me believe that Vista wasn't the worst thing Microsoft has ever done to their users.
I had a computer tank during chase season and bought another (top of the line gaming laptop), in which the hard drive went bad a week later. Took it back and got this one. Having two hard drives go bad in two great laptops would be pretty rare. This one has a terrific Asus motherboard. It would take a whole lot of hard selling at this point to make me believe that Vista wasn't the worst thing Microsoft has ever done to their users.
All in all, a major step backwards in providing transparency to the end-user. Isn't that what computer OS's are supposed to do? Be as transparent as possible and get the hell out of the way so we can do whatever we want to do.
Speaking of which (and getting back to your home issue), "whatever we want to do" for most home users generally consists of browsing the Internet, storing/creating pictures, e-mail, maybe watching a movie or two, and a few games.
Why is it then Windows is so poor at all of these. Microsoft has to practically be dragged kicking and screaming before they update IE, their lack of multimedia driver support is (still) lacking, Outlook you have to buy separate, WMP doesn't include even the basic codecs by default (and you have to hunt to find them), and the games are pathetic. And speaking of pathetic...how is it possible no state has yet declared fraud for that snake oil.
...and in the midst of all this, we get told by Microsoft that we are complete idiots. We "mojave" jokees are the focus of Microsoft's absolutely brilliant ad campaign. Much like the Geico caveman, us Vista-realists have also now been informed by Microsoft that we are soooo incredibly dumb about the inner workings (of our previously working inner workings mind you), that we now believe the earth is flat.
Brilliant Microsoft. $300 Million was a lot to get the message across to us, but $300 Million might be just barely enough to get it across to us all how stupid Microsoft really feels we are.
How quickly we forget WindowsME. Now THAT was the worst thing they ever did to us!
I still don't understand what everyones obsession with running 64-bit is. 64>32 so therefore it must be better?
Good day,
The major con, obviously, with Vista 64 is that you basically have to set up your PC and buy all new software to replace the programs that "used" to run when you have XP Pro / Vista 32.
Wait until Windows 7 - What's that gonna do?