My Thoughts on Windows Vista: Not So Bad

I realize that I may get crucified for this article, but I am willing to take that chance. I am fully aware of the popular opinion of Windows Vista which is that it is a friggin' piece of flaming crap operating system. People at my school refer to it as Windows XP ME in comparison to the miserable failure of Windows ME which was basically a crappy repackage of Windows 98.

I decided to upgrade to Windows Vista not too long ago to finally get involved with Vista because it just wasn't going away so I figured I better get familiar with it. That is, after all, how the IT business works. As new technology comes out, you had better get to know it or you will soon find yourself out of a job.

So I installed it, and after using it for a bit I decided that it wasn't that bad after all. From what I can tell, the reason most people don't like it is that there is a slight learning curve to get to know it. After all, when Windows XP came out it really wasn't that much different from Windows 2000. In Windows Vista, a lot of changes have been made for the sake of change, and it is those changes that take some getting used to.

Also, many people complain that Vista is too bloated, and is a resource hog. That can be true as well, however there are a lot of unnecessary things in Windows XP that take up resources as well. Most of us have just been so used to shutting those off after a fresh install that we no longer think about them. For instance, I shut off all the pretty stuff in Windows XP except Visual styles, Drop shadows, and Common tasks:




The same goes for Vista, you can turn off all the extra bells, whistles and do-dads for a more enjoyable, and less resource intensive experience. Just do a quick search on Google, and you will find hundreds of how-to's on boosting performance in Vista.

In conclusion, I don't think Vista is all that bad. If you just take the time to learn the differences, and how to work Vista, everything will be okay. Change isn't always a bad thing.

What's your take on Vista? Good? Bad? Hit me up in the comments.

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Why is Windows Vista Slower Than Windows XP?

Many people are taking the leap and upgrading their pc operating system from Windows XP to Windows Vista, only to be very disappointed by the distinct slow down in performance.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Windows Vista requires twice the computing power and resources to operate at a performance level similar to that of Windows XP. So what can you do to improve this?

Firstly, it may be worth considering if you need to have all of the Vista bells and whistles that are turned on by default. The Aero interface in particular, although it looks pretty, requires considerable resources and it s worthwhile turning it off to see how much general performance improves. In addition many computers from manufacturers such as IBM come with a whole suite of ancillary support programs which you may not really need, such as firewall programs, anti virus programs, performance monitor programs, etcetera. Third party firewall programs in particular can use up a lot of resources. If you've been happy with the built in Windows Firewall, then consider turning off any third party ones.

The other two areas where a significant improvement can be made is by upgrading the amount of system ram or memory, and utilizing a ready boost compatible flash drive or flash card.

Upgrading system memory is very straight forward. Manufacturers like Kingston make third party ram to the specifications of the big OEM s like IBM, HP, Dell, Acer, Apple and others so it s not necessary to pay hefty prices to obtain a 100 compatible ram upgrade. Kingston also guarantee their memory for life so even if the reseller you purchased it from closes up ship you can go back to Kingston for any warranty related issues.

Upgrading system memory as high as your budget will allow is recommended, although anything higher than 4GB with the 32 bit version of Windows Vista is pointless, as it will generally only recognize around 3.5GB of the installed memory. The 64 bit version of Vista, however, can recognize over 8GB of memory, although most computers don t yet support this.

To take advantage of ready boost, simply plug in a compatible USB drive or flash card into your computer, then follow the steps to configure it using the built in wizard. Once configured, ready boost serves as an additional memory cache which can significantly improve performance by reserving part of the flash drive/card for memory management.

If you are not certain about whether your pc can be upgraded with more system memory, there are many websites which make this task relatively simple to figure out. Using your favourite search engine, type in your computer brand and model followed by the words memory upgrade and this should give you somewhere to start. Alternatively, if you still have your user manual this should contain specifications about how many memory slots you have, the maximum memory capacity your pc can handle, and the type of memory that is compatible.

To check your currently installed memory for Windows: Right mouse click on the My Computer icon and select Properties. The total memory is calculated and displayed under the General tab in the system properties window. For Mac: Click About This Mac or About This Computer from the Apple menu. (Far top left of the screen). This will provide information about your Mac s total memory (built in memory plus DIMMs installed). By: Rod Bland

Author Resource:-> Rod Bland is the owner of RamCity, a specialist RAM Upgrade supplier shipping directly from Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. http://www.ramcity.co.nz. Article From Hot Site Content

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Turn Windows XP Into Vista: Part Deux

A few months ago I wrote about a skin package to make Windows XP look just like Vista. That package changed everything from the boot screen to the gadget bar to give Windows XP just as much eye candy as Windows Vista. Well, almost. It still didn't offer the 3-D desktop that Vista offers.

No problemo, there is a utility that will give you the Vista 3D desktop option in Windows XP. It is called Winflip, and is absolutely free (Hey that rhymes). It allows you to display all of your open windows in a 3D way that looks just like the way Windows Vista does it.



There have been lots of articles written about it lately. This comment is taken from Free Download A Day:

WinFlip adds an interesting dimension to task switching. Rather than just using Alt + Tab to move through your open windows, it displays all your currently open application windows in a 3-D stack on your desktop. To change to a different window, you can use your mouse or keyboard to choose the desired application window. You can configure the look to use large or small images for your windows, and its relatively small footprint means that you won't bog your system down for just the aesthetics.

If you are still on a quest to have the Vista experience without the Vista crapiness, then Winflip is another application you can add to your arsenal.

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The End Of Operating Systems As We Know Them.

The end of the Operating System as we know it is at hand.


Well actually, not quite at hand but the blueprint has been laid down and the race is on to see who can make the future happen. I happen to know three entrepreneurs in the valley who are actively working on making this happen.


How pray tell? I'll tell you. Not because I want to share a secret but because so far they no one has discovered a cost effective way to do it...It's pretty well understood that this is the direction we're headed in.

First, let's take a look at the way operating systems have evolved.

Earlier operating systems actually just came on the hardware because the computer age was in it's infancy.

Then came the age of the early computers with the large floppy discs (they were actually floppy). Next came the smaller so called floppy discs with earlier Windows PC's. Then came CD's and of course, here we are today with DVD's.

These models of O.S. were all based on an install process, based on the theory that you would have a piece of hardware called a computer and that this computer could start off as a blank slate.

You could then take your CD's, DVD's etc and install whatever operating system you wanted on this computer and (relatively) tailor the install to your own needs.


The new model is more interesting. It states that all you need is a web enabled terminal and a keyboard. The operating system is hosted by the particular company you choose and all you have to do is log in to your environment with a username and password. This is how you log into Hotmail or Yahoo now.


It makes sense. Nothing for the user to install, all they need to do is pay as they go. If you want office, you pay to add it and download it onto your OS module. If you want games, add them to your profile and there they go.


Also, since this O.S. is now a service as opposed to a stationary piece of software, who needs to take a laptop with them? All you need is your username and password and you can really work globally from any web enabled terminal.


So far, no one has executed this model perfectly. The hardware requirements are well...Googlish but the winners would rule the earth. Think about it. Ability to work from anywhere. To have the SAME EXACT desktop wherever you went.


To have access to all the notes you left in Notepad wherever you are. To have the same desktop background and colors. The same distracting programs that you love and the exact same feel as your "home" computer.


You would have the same exact footprint wherever you were.


My prediction is that Microsoft or Google will do this first. If I had to call it now, I would say Google would be my choice. They are BOLD, wildly innovative and know how to scale the sort of infrastructure required to pull off this madness.


Microsoft could catch up but they are burdened with supporting legacy operating systems. It makes the transition harder.


Anyone who has used a Citrix thin client sees this model coming. I predict this will be here in less than 5 years and will be highly disruptive technology.


I for one, can't wait.


Till next time.

Onuora Amobi




About The Author:

Onuora Amobi is the CEO of Nnigma Inc. and editor of http://www.Windows-Vista-Update.com. He writes a monthly article for the website that can be found at http://www.windows-vista-update.com. Windows-Vista-Update.com is the premier Microsoft windows Vista information portal. On this site, you can find news, information, tips, new features and updates about Windows Vista.

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

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