It's evident that the author doesn't use the product that is being slammed. I have installed Vista Ultimate and it is a very stable platform like it's predecessor, Windows XPx64 and Windows XP Pro. I have zero problems with hardware and zero problems with software and my hardware and software ran previously on Windows XP Pro. Those who are having problems are those who never maintained their software and hardware since Windows 95. Computers and software need to be maintained in the same manner that you maintain your car. If you don't change the oil, air cleaner AND keep your tires inflated at the proper level, the longevity of the car will be impaired. Keep literate and informed and you won't write bs like the article slamming Microsoft's Vista!

Compared to XP, Vista is junk. It is not nearly as intuitive, is loaded with errors and has the sorriest help features ever. We "upgraded" one new computer with Vista and have lost a lot of productivity. Beware of Vista.

I, too, am a Vista user, as well as a MSFT shareholder for seven years now. I did maintain my Win XP Pro but had serious compatibility issues with Vista. I would characterize Vista as less stable than XP and finding Vista-specific drivers for hardware is still a problem. I might add that IMHO they overburdened the new Office products for Vista, making them cumbersome and un-userfriendly.

I have Vista and what I learn from Vista is if it has a driver for any of your periphals like video card, mouse, or whatever. Take this and forget your original drivers that comes from your installation CDroms that you bought even recently. Microsoft is sick and tired of incompetent makers of everything and decided to replace everything with its own to keep systems running smoothly. If you had insisted on using your CDrom to install original drivers that came with your widgets, you are asking for trouble. I decided to move old periphals with the older computer and its XP and start all over with my new Vista machine with new periphals or old periphals with Vista drivers, whatever. Dont blame Microsoft, blame hackers, incompetent incompatible vendors, etc. OR Microsoft was not sharing its codes with competitors for reasons unbeknowst to me or anyone.. Duh?

I run a foster home. I have used macs and pcs

My foster kids are rough diamonds, some came to me not even knowing how to use the bathroom properly (didn't know how to use toilet paper). They trashed one new PC in short order even though I painstakingly maintained it. For example even with anti virus software there were constant malware problems. The PC was so hard to navigate and and there were constant (buggy) software updates, incompatibilities with peripherals etc.

I then gave them my old Mac (a twin processor G4) and for three years I have had NO problems -- they download all kinds of stuff from the internet, play internet games, have external drives hooked up, burn cds all without supervision from me. They don't even have a Manual! Seriously I spent maybe five minutes explaining the mac to them. In three years I have done no maintenance on it, of course there is no virus problems. Try doing this with several foster kids and windows Vista!

Years ago I gave my foster kids the PC because it was cheaper but there's no price advantage to PCs now. And with the ability to run both Windows and OsX on intel macs there's no reason to get PCs anymore.

sonny martin said
"As for kids thrashing a PC, I have seen Apple machines trashed likewise. If they didn't know how to wipe their ass, they certainly did not know how to run any machine regardless of maker."

Guess you are referring to my foster kids, fact is with them the PC was toast within a few months but the G4 keeps on trucking after 3 years - with considerably LESS maintenance on the mac on my part. In that time I also threw away another PC. The facts are just in front of my eyes about how much easier it is maintain a mac. Whether you believe it or not "the kids who don't know how to wipe their ass" could NOT TRASH the MAC! Mac's before OsX (i.e "Classic".) could be temperamental because of extension conflicts but Unix based OsX is rock solid.

As for "get literate about how to install and repair your computer. There is NO EXCUSE to not know how to maintain and repair", this reminds me of a certain bunch of motorcycle fanatics, they loved a particular 'temperamental' brand of cycles and were macho-proud they could strip down their bikes and fix them - they simply wallowed in tightening loose screws and wiping oil. When others complained that those bikes sucked they said "you guys don't know how to maintain these babies" and they were SO PROUD that they needed to DRIVE AROUND WITH TOOLBOXES STRAPPED TO THEIR SEATS!!! At the same time other companies produced cheaper, faster, easier to maintain bikes but these guys kept with their machines because they had spent so much time learning to fix and baby those pieces of junk and were so wrapped up in the 'brand' they couldn't change. They were the home bike repair experts and proud!

Seriously why the heck do I (or any sane ordinary computer user) want to spend EVEN A FEW EXTRA MINUTES on computer repair (with Windows) when I do NOT have TO (with a mac)? Some people ENJOY fixing their buggy cars, I don't, I pick cars which are a PLEASURE to drive with LOW MAINTENANCE NEEDS and COSTS. Besides peripheral conflicts, lousy hardware from cheap PC makers, and general bugginess, as one (PC ) reviewer said there are a HANDFUL of mac malware for OsX but over 100,000 for Windows -- c'mon which platform should be easier to maintain?

Vista was made to work with the latest computer technology. You have to install it with such. That is what it was designed to do. It will give you problems otherwise.

On the back of Vista packages there are warnings regarding the system needed to install the software. If you do not have the recommended system requirements, some features will not even install because they will burn up your computer.

BUT - I can only guess that this is what you are referring to since never got around to telling us how you think MSFT sells Vista even though it doesn't work (your very own headline) Instead you went on about how providing an upgrade service constitutes a monopoly and poor MAC - they only have 5 % of the global business.

Were you counting on folks just reading your headline but not pulling your article to actually read it and find out its jibberish? Uh huh! Caught Ya

Who posted this? Seriously - Did anyone read this at Blogging Stocks before posting? Hello...anybody home?

Does no one remember when Windows XP launched? Microsoft was getting the same flack for XP that Vista's getting now. Vista IMO is great. I've had zero problems with any components of the OS and have had no issues with driver incompatiblity. I've also built over 40 computers (side job) with the Vista loaded on it and have heard nothing but good comments from customers. The problem that I see is that people listen to the ridiculous Apple commercials and never give it a chance. They just continue to bash it because I guess bashing Microsoft is cool these days.

From a business standpoint MS has to make money I dont care how much one thinks they are a monopoly but it is obious they work for it. That said here is my experience. I installed vista ultimate on a P4 2.8G 1.25 GB DDR RAM MSI mobo. Well after installing a couple of programs, Vista started running like my Gradmother, SSSLLLOOOWWW. I did have some hardware issues. I installed the same software on an AMD 4800+ with 1.25 GB DDR2 RAM Shuttle MOBO and Vista worked without a fuss. I installed a lot more software and it still works. I also have vista home premium preinstalled on my ACER Laptop also works like a charm. Point is Vista is buggy, requires better hardware than xp, MS is after money (like any other business), but Vista does work if installed on a compatible machine. I had similar issues when XP was released, Bashing vista will not stop the innevitable. Dont get me wrong, I a big fan of linux (Fedora, Suse and Ubuntu in particular). I am not very familiar with macs to judge. So stop whinning and try vista on better machines

I am writing this on a 4 y/o emachines computer that has vista, and i can tell you that it works like magic, i had all sorts of problems with xp drivers but vista runs great, i do 3D rendering and works even better than my 1y/o desktop running xp, im not switching back to xp, love Vista