Windows Vista pros and cons

By Robert Vamosi on 13 June 2006

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Windows Vista pros

On this page, you'll learn about the new features within the Windows Vista operating system that I think you'll like. Since the Windows Vista Aero graphics system, which I like, will work only with certain high-end hardware configurations, I've focused here on features I like within Vista that do not require Aero. At the moment, all of these features are scheduled to be included in the Home Premium and Business editions of Windows Vista. If you're mainly interested in what's wrong with the new operating system, move on to the next page, where you can learn more about glitches we've encountered so far.

1. Search or create virtual files
Forget directories, forget directory trees. Microsoft has integrated search throughout its new operating system, and you'll quickly come to wonder how you lived without it. You can search for all documents authored by John Doe, then save the search as a virtual file folder for later reference without having to physically relocate or make copies of all those files.
2. Widgets — er, Gadgets
In Windows Vista, Microsoft allows you to drag and drop Gadgets (think Widgets on the Apple OS X desktop) to tell time, calculate currency, or tackle any trivial task you perform regularly that would be handier if it were always on top of your current screen. Presently, you can acquire Gadgets, or Widgets, for your Windows XP machine from online sites such as Windows Live. In the near future, Microsoft says you'll be able to write your own Windows Vista Gadgets, allowing you to really personalise your desktop.
3. Built-in diagnostics
Programs won't run, the operating system crashes — Microsoft says these will be in the past with Vista. So far, we've seen more dialogs, from explaining why an application won't run to warning us that there are driver conflicts that prevent our laptop system from going to sleep. For example, Vista will listen to your hard drive and report pending problems, giving you ample warning to back up your data. There's also a Problems Report and Solutions monitor where you can see what problems Vista has encountered, and then go online to find possible solutions. And, have you ever noticed how Windows computers get slower with age? That's because files get separated from each other on your hard drive and require occasional defragmentation. Most of us never do it, in part because it uses too many system resources. In Vista, the process is automatic and runs in the background, so you won't even notice it.
4. Need more oomph? Vista will find it for you
Need more RAM? How about borrowing some from that 256MB or greater USB drive? In Windows Vista, the new Windows ReadyBoost feature can swap flash memory with any large USB device. If your laptop has a new hybrid hard drive, the Windows ReadyDrive can improve your system's overall performance, battery life, and reliability by taking advantage of the drive's built-in flash capabilities. New Windows SuperFetch can cache on your hard drive frequently used apps based on the frequency of use so that, for example, every Monday morning when you arrive at your desk for work, you can count on Outlook and your Internet browser to launch quickly. Also, finally, there's a new feature called Low-priority Input/Output that should keep you productive: in Windows Vista, user applications will get higher priority with system resources than antivirus or defragmentation processes.
5. Enhanced help
Help used to be limited to a few pithy sentences about the task you want to perform. Windows Vista changes all that. There are more options available within Help inside Vista. For example, you can initiate a remote-assistance session so that someone you trust can take over your PC remotely and diagnose a problem or perform a task for you. You can also go online and search Microsoft's knowledge base or contact Microsoft's technical support. One really cool feature, however, is labelled Do It Automatically. Here, a task such as checking the version of a driver will be automated, with your desktop going dark as a pointer arrow floats over the screen indicating what to click and where. From time to time, the pointer will stop and a dialog box will require your input before it continues to perform the task. While there are only 15 of these automated help sessions within the current Windows Vista beta 2 release, we hope Microsoft adds more.

Topics: windows, os, pros, cons, operating system, vista, windows vista, con, microsoft, new

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Comments (44)

  • forro005 commented on 16/06/2009 05:19 Report abuse

    First of al, i would like to great all of the intervenients. Just to tell you that I agree on some and disagree in other points about some comments. The reason why is because, I also am using windows vista and had great moments with it and also had less conforatble moment with it. The only fact is that Vista will take place one day and XP and all other will just get old and die. I would suggest instead to start investigating it a little deeper.

  • lgjpage commented on 31/12/2008 07:55 Report abuse

    Having similar problems as mentioned in above comments : While typing my cursor will disappear, and sometimes it moves and startes typing into my sentences above. Also sometimes when I backspace, it takes me from the page I am typing on to the previous page, or while typing it will move down the page on it's own.

  • armf17249 commented on 15/12/2008 16:53 Report abuse

    After reading all the coments ,I think widows vistia and all the ones before sucks I'm useing XP PROFESSIONAL witch i uninstall and start useing MAC SYSTEUM wich out strips widows so anyone out there go for the MAC OPERATING SYSTUM WITICH IS MUCH BETTER.

  • jgates00 commented on 27/11/2008 07:23 Report abuse

    Any respectable IT person knows Vista is a hunk of junk for now. No large corporations use it, in fact most have made contracts that Microsoft provide Windows 7 immediately on release. Most corporations have not and will not install Vista. And yes you are wrong most games and programs are incompatible if they are more then a year old. If you go to Vista get ready to purchase all your programs again. These words come from experience and knowledge.

  • dirtdragon51 commented on 21/11/2008 03:00 Report abuse

    I agrre the Windows Vista is a great operating system when it comes to safty and popup features, but what i disagree on is that many games and programs are not compatable with the system. This makes it all pointless,

  • STR8KRAZY commented on 15/10/2008 09:33 Report abuse

    I don't think I hate Vista, as a matter of fact I've never used it in-depth, only temporarily while using my brother's Vista running laptop. I didn't see any problems with it then, only sharper icons and window previews before restoring my program from the task bar. However, I still do not wish to upgrade to Vista, because it does have higher system requirements, and my computer simply isn't high grade enough to have high enough upgrades to match the requirements of some programs I would like to run. That, and there's the ever present money issue. I'm sure I'll upgrade to Vista or the next operating system the next time I get a computer that can run it more efficiently, however for now, XP is here to stay.

  • mohammad commented on 08/10/2008 14:47 Report abuse

    Guys, let's stop arguing about vista and talk about the article! I found it very useful and thank you for it! I needed to figure out what operating system to choose and this may have made my decision! Check out the cons too!

  • mohammad commented on 11/07/2008 16:36 Report abuse

    O pepole......stop right there,its enough.just i want to make attention about very very very very very important thing ,which is, u can master vista within almost 3 hours by reading so cool vista help.but in xp u read help in 20 years and the result not only no understanding but also more and more of confusing about thing u search.and in turn more and more of hating xp.in vista help, the information is arranged in a perfect manner without any of dump branching.also using and manipulating vista is easier than doing so for xp.this is due to the new arranged direction for tools.

  • pragggSP commented on 28/06/2008 05:52 Report abuse

    I like some of the features vista has. I am currently working on networking at home and at school which has winxp. I had problems downloading Microsoft student software. A technitien said it had memory cruptions. I don't know what that means. My computer starts up slow. I hope I can work out the problems, otherwise I will go back to xp.

  • Get over it commented on 28/06/2008 05:46 Report abuse

    I think the majority of people complaining about Vista are just mad because XP will soon be obsolete. Get over it, it's part of the deal in the modern technology age. Eventually Vista will be obsolete too.

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