Are You Upgrading To Windows Vista?

[CowboySlim]

If you're buying a copy of Vista with your computer, it is activated by the OEM. From what I can gather, you can install these bundled versions as many times as you want on that computer.

That would be similar to the XP copies we get when we buy from Dell, most of the time it never asks you for the key code, but if you attempt to install the os from the Dell supplied cd to a non-Dell pc, you are asked to activate the software.

I would assume that that feature is either built into the install, or there is something on the utility partition that comes on all Dell pcs that tells the os install that it doesn't need the code for the install.

When you but a Dell PC with a preloaded OEM, Windows XP,
the activation/license/key business is in their customized BIOS.
That's why is speaks up when one is attempting to load it on another PC.

So if your Dell proprietary mobo dies and you want to replace it with a generic, but specwise identical, Intel board from newegg, well............................

[aviationwiz]

I use Mac OS on my main computer, but I will not upgrade to Vista on my laptop nor for Parallels or Boot Camp.

[Spazmogen]

If you are going to upgrade, HERE are instructions on how to use the upgrade DVD to do a clean install, even without a prior OS on the drive !

Its got me thinking I may buy the academic version for $99 CDN and just hold onto it until later this year when supporting software appears like Antivirus and anti-spyware...

[Ian]

For spyware, Windows Defender should have you covered. I've been using it under XP for a few years now and I haven't had the need for Adaware or anything else.

As far as antivirus products go, you should see clients for the 32 bit version of Vista soon, if not already. I know Symantec's corporate version is available. The 64 bit version will take longer though due to its secure kernel.

[Spazmogen]

If you ordered one of the Family discount keys from MS, they do not work with Vista. But MS will not tell you what product is does actually work with ! Anyone care to try it with Office 2007 ?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/produc ... count.mspx

people are just getting an error now when they try and buy the keys. MS is trying like mad to get a fix in place.

I've read about this problem from several sites now today.

[stix]

What are the corporate and academic sectors doing, upgrading or waiting?

I'm not sure about the corporate sector, but in the academic world, we're looking at the summer of 2008 at the earliest.. and we're usually one of the first to mass roll outs of new OS's.

What's the reasoning here? Is that because of budget or are you waiting for a more mature product?

[Ian]

What's the reasoning here? Is that because of budget or are you waiting for a more mature product?

For us, the decision is due to a) the lack of a Novell client and b) software compatibility. We currently have 200+ applications available to our students, most of which aren't compatible with Vista. It usually takes a good 6+ months for software vendors to get off their asses and support a new OS.

[stix]

For us, the decision is due to a) the lack of a Novell client and b) software compatibility.

What do you mean by "the lack of a Novell client"? I have a rough idea, but it would be good to hear more about it.

[Ian]

What do you mean by "the lack of a Novell client"? I have a rough idea, but it would be good to hear more about it.

We're still using Novell (stop laughing) for file serving and app deployment. With XP, there is a Gina replacement that lets you authenticate against eDirectory and will run login scripts, etc. This isn't available for Vista yet.

[MonteLDS]

i am currently running Vista Ultimate x64 on my new system.

I chose to upgrade to stay in front of my clients. I had RC1 for a few days just to see the new changes. the final has been fine. only thing i have a problem with is acrobat pro 8 working with this OS. their has yet to be a patch for it. I am having my old box deal with anything i need to PDF. no big deal though. only have to PDF items when i have to do billing.

[Ian]

Monte, I'm surprised Acrobat 8 is the only application you're having problems with. The 64 bit version of Vista has a lot of application compatibility issues.

[LoneWolf]

What are the corporate and academic sectors doing, upgrading or waiting?

I'm not sure about the corporate sector, but in the academic world, we're looking at the summer of 2008 at the earliest.. and we're usually one of the first to mass roll outs of new OS's.

What's the reasoning here? Is that because of budget or are you waiting for a more mature product?

As someone also in the academic sector, we're waiting for a more mature product.

We just had a technology bond issue pass (public school district) and so we have Vista licensing as part of our new MS Select license. But XP works great, and until Longhorn Server arrives, I can foresee possible group policy issues between Server 2003 and Vista, or just things we can't do. Also, program compatibility will be an issue on some older applications we can't retire yet.

Finally, for best performance, we'd turn off Aero, resulting in a Vista that looks like XP, so why not just run XP?

The future upgrade to Office 2007 scares me more yet, though. It'll be a minimum of a year before we think about it, but the new interface is going to tie our staff in knots for awhile.

[MonteLDS]

Monte, I'm surprised Acrobat 8 is the only application you're having problems with. The 64 bit version of Vista has a lot of application compatibility issues.

I have yet to see any other than acrobat 8. it seems to make an x86 program folders for older applications and does fine.

[CowboySlim]

Monte, I'm surprised Acrobat 8 is the only application you're having problems with. The 64 bit version of Vista has a lot of application compatibility issues.

I have yet to see any other than acrobat 8. it seems to make an x86 program folders for older applications and does fine.

Geez. Monte, you have really been upgrading. too.

[smartin4]

For those that took or are planning to take the plunge into Vista, a list of drivers for Vista, not sure how accurate they are, but I know that one of the complaints (at least through some of the RCs) were about locating drivers.

http://www.radarsync.com/vista/vista_more.php?result=0

[Wesociety]

I voted for "eventually".

I'm in the corporate sector, working for a large telecommunications company and I can tell you that we currently have no dates set for a mandatory Vista upgrade.

I had the chance to beta test early last year, but I never wound up messing around with it.

Personally, I believe a vast majority of companies will be trudging it out with Windows XP until it is no longer an option (when Microsoft drops support or patching). The Vista minimum requirements, commercial software/driver compatibility problems and compatability with in-house home grown applications are all major complications that would stop companies from quickly implementing Vista in the desktop world.

The server world is a whole nother ball game. We are looking at taking on some LongHorn servers this year, so I'll probably be messing around with Windows Longhorn soon...

[Spazmogen]

I will not be upgrading to Vista in with in the next 3 years.

There's little in the way of software drivers for it in the next 4 months anyway. But I was happy to see most of my software apps work fine with it.

SP1 is due out later this fall.

I had RTM version of Ultimate installed again. Did it last night, and FDISK'd it this morning. It lasted 12 hours, most of which time I was sleeping. Thankfully I had run Norton Ghost on XP before I installed Vista Ultimate. So I just reverted back to XP after the FDISK.

lol.

man was I wrong.

Vista OEM Home Premium was onsale and I took the plunge. After 1 month, I'm happy with it. Even the Blackberry's software works with it.

[aviationwiz]

Vista OEM Home Premium was onsale and I took the plunge. After 1 month, I'm happy with it. Even the Blackberry's software works with it.

My dad also took the plunge on OEM Home Premium as it was on sale. Can't speak for the BlackBerry Desktop Software though as I do all of that on my laptop running Windows XP.

Besides, we got a free HDTV Tuner and Flash Drive, so it's not too bad:
http://www.localpcbuilder.com/offers/

[eliminator]

.. just cause it came with my new Inspiron, a couple months ago.

After all the tuning, I still find it terribly slow compared to XP, and in dire need of an sp

[dolphinius_rex]

Even now I keep hearing people complain about compatability problems with software and even some hardware... I still expect I'll be stuck upgrading to Vista eventually, but I sure hope it works better by the time I'm forced into it!

[Spazmogen]

I can do without the constant ballon pop ups if you edit your start up settings.
As well as the "are you sure you want to do this?" followed by another 2 screens of "are you positive you want to do this?".


Microsoft give the user a break here.

[eliminator]

A nice tuneup, like disabling the vsearch service, will help... easy !

[Pilgrim]

I was hesitant at first until I installed the Beta version and then had the opportunity to play with Vista 32-bit for a few months and then upgraded through RC-1 and then RC-2. By then I was in love..... In fact, I built a new machine just for Vista and have never regretted doing so.

As a point of interest, I dual-boot with XP SP-2 Home. Why? Because I fell victim to all the nonsense rumours about hardware drivers and software incompatibility with Vista. I can count the number of applications which I had been using which weren't compatible on one hand, but none were anything I now miss. ALL of my hardware worked fine, although I have since replaced my Epson Stylus Photo R200 with the newer R260 which is 100% Vista-compatible.

Yes, I've tried 3 different Linux distros and didn't care for any of them. I'll be sticking with Vista for a long time since it and Office 2007 do everything I need to do on a PC.

[LoneWolf]

I just picked up a retail copy of Ultimate Upgrade off of the local Craigslist a couple of weeks ago for $120. Still deciding whether I'll use it or sell it off myself.

Whatever I do, I'll still likely wait until SP1 is out, seeing how XP still does everything I need. I really wish x64 support was better; it's what I'd truly want to use (although I'd probably still need to run x32 in a VM for one or two really old-school apps).

Meanwhile, I just upgraded to Ubuntu 7.10 on my PC laptop, which is dual-booting along with XP, and am playing around with a Powerbook G4 Titanium I picked up for a song. I have enough things to keep me busy without Vista. Ubuntu 7.10 has some really nice improvements over 7.04.