What is good about Windows Vista?

[Common]

I really hated Vista when I first tried it, since I had been using XP for a long time, but after a while I started to enjoy it because of the look and feel. Also I started to get used to it and personalised it to my taste.

Vista is faster and is argued to be more secure, so I suppose those would be good points about Vista, and I have noticed the increased security in it.

Although I will still always prefer XP over it. But I might actually get Windows 7 instead because I have heard that it is good.

[aldo]

What's good?
1) It isn't 8 years old.
2) Instant Search and Start Search.
3) Sidebar ftw
4) Windows Aero kicks XP's theme out of the universe.
5) More secure
6) Less dependencies on IE (Windows Update now is a program on the OS, not through IE)
7) More secure
8) DirectX 10

...

[Elektrisk]

What's good?
1) It isn't 8 years old.
2) Instant Search and Start Search.
3) Sidebar ftw
4) Windows Aero kicks XP's theme out of the universe.
5) More secure
6) Less dependencies on IE (Windows Update now is a program on the OS, not through IE)
7) More secure
8) DirectX 10

...

1) It isn't 8 years old.

That will only be relevant when problems arise because of the lack of Microsoft's ongoing support for XP.

2) Instant Search and Start Search.

I think XP's search does just fine; you can have it search all files and folders, as well as specific files and folders.

3) Sidebar ftw

I never used the sidebar; what's so great about it?

4) Windows Aero kicks XP's theme out of the universe.

This can be obtained with a tranformation pack.

5) More secure

A computer's security is completely reliant on its user(s).

6) Less dependencies on IE (Windows Update now is a program on the OS, not through IE)

True.

7) More secure

See above.

8) DirectX 10

What programs/games rely solely on DirectX 10?

[h4ck3d-]

I never had a problem with vista. Just disable the UAC via control panel, and don't be an idiot when doing stuff. I've never seen a blue screen by my own doings. Never had a virus is 6 years.

same here not for 6 years but i never saw BSOD i like it a lot, i honestly think its faster then XP, and plus the whole vista look is cool, the XP look is kinda boring

and you can disable the UAC but i rather keep it on because if i download something and it asks for permission i check it twice before downloading just to make sure its the one I'm downloading.

[Elektrisk]

I don't see why people say "XP looks boring/too plain". YOU CAN INSTALL THEMES.

[QBANBOY407]

themes FTW! I hate vista but i love windows 7!

[aldo]

1) It isn't 8 years old.

That will only be relevant when problems arise because of the lack of Microsoft's ongoing support for XP.

No, it is relevant now, because Windows Vista is built on newer technology than that of XP's, and has waaay more potential.

2) Instant Search and Start Search.

I think XP's search does just fine; you can have it search all files and folders, as well as specific files and folders.

It does fine? Windows Vista can search your WHOLE computer in mere seconds, XP takes minutes. Have fun trying to find a PNG image, doc file, or ppt only file on XP. In Vista just search for: type:png, type:doc or type:ppt and all you will get are files with those extensions. With operators and more, you can refine your search to what you want, and what you only want and sift through less. Try that with XP's search.

I never used the sidebar; what's so great about it?

Cool little widgets for CPU usage, weather, feeds, stocks, twitter, and whatever else you can think of. Better than having a web page or more constantly opening and needing to be refreshed to get the data, even then, you have to look for it. With Windows Sidebar, it is right there for easy viewing...

4) Windows Aero kicks XP's theme out of the universe.

This can be obtained with a tranformation pack.

Windows Vista needs nothing. Needing something to get it to do what Vista can is really a lame excuse. Just because you can doesn't make it equal. If you are talking about themes which make XP look like Vista (Like Brico packs or whatever), I have tried them, and they are nothing like Vista at all.

5) More secure

A computer's security is completely reliant on its user(s).

Of course it is, but Windows Vista makes it easier...

6) Less dependencies on IE (Windows Update is a program on the OS, not through IE)

True.

7) More secure

See above.

8) DirectX 10

What programs/games rely solely on DirectX 10?

None exactly depend on DirectX 10 alone. Just because a game may be compatible with DirectX 9 and what not, doesn't mean much of anything... DirectX 10 is newer, and always more efficient. Look at DirectX 11, it has a lot of new things from parallel computing and is more efficient, even on games which weren't made at the time of DirectX 11, but they will still benefit.

[Elektrisk]

No, it is relevant now, because Windows Vista is built on newer technology than that of XP's, and has waaay more potential.

I've never seen software that won't run on XP, but will on Vista. I have, however, seen software that won't run on Vista, but will on XP.

It does fine? Windows Vista can search your WHOLE computer in mere seconds, XP takes minutes. Have fun trying to find a PNG image, doc file, or ppt only file on XP. In Vista just search for: type:png, type:doc or type:ppt and all you will get are files with those extensions. With operators and more, you can refine your search to what you want, and what you only want and sift through less. Try that with XP's search.

You can do this in XP as well.
It's very simple. Go to Search -> Pictures, music, or video -> Check pictures -> Type in '.png' in the search box; you'll only get .png results. I just tested it.

Cool little widgets for CPU usage, weather, feeds, stocks, twitter, and whatever else you can think of. Better than having a web page or more constantly opening and needing to be refreshed to get the data, even then, you have to look for it. With Windows Sidebar, it is right there for easy viewing...

If you use Firefox, you can get 99% of these with addons. I prefer that over having to go to my desktop to view the gadgets.

Windows Vista needs nothing. Needing something to get it to do what Vista can is really a lame excuse. Just because you can doesn't make it equal. If you are talking about themes which make XP look like Vista (Like Brico packs or whatever), I have tried them, and they are nothing like Vista at all.

Not really. All you have to do is patch a .dll, then download the theme pack and simply doubleclick the MSStyles file or whatever the theme was written in (windows blinds, ect). I just don't see why you'd say that a feature makes the OS better if you can obtain it with a few clicks. I've seen many successful vista transformation packs. There're many on customize.org.

Of course it is, but Windows Vista makes it easier...

For people who DO know about PC security, I believe it just makes it more of a hassle.

None exactly depend on DirectX 10 alone. Just because a game may be compatible with DirectX 9 and what not, doesn't mean much of anything... DirectX 10 is newer, and always more efficient. Look at DirectX 11, it has a lot of new things from parallel computing and is more efficient, even on games which weren't made at the time of DirectX 11, but they will still benefit.

Yes, but I've never experienced a game where the quality was poor because of the DirectX controls. It was completely because of my GFX card.

[aldo]

1) I have never had any software compatibility issues myself. I may have not seen any programs which work on Vista that don't on XP, but I don't use XP, so I can't test it.

2) Try searching for an file with an extension of ini in your WHOLE computer in under 1 second. Because I sure can.

3) I don't... Those add-ons would have to be minimized or made so small you can't view it without putting your face right next to the screen.

4) Oh, you mean programs (Windows Blinds) which you have to pay for? As if.

5) Then turn it off... Simple as that. That's why there is a switch for it in the Control Panel.

6) Have you ever tried a game running on a newer platform with DirectX 10 with the games you use now to see the difference?

[Elektrisk]

2) Try searching for an file with an extension of ini in your WHOLE computer in under 1 second. Because I sure can.

I just tried, and it only took 30 seconds; I timed it.

3) I don't... Those add-ons would have to be minimized or made so small you can't view it without putting your face right next to the screen.

I have a small laptop, and I can view my weather, IP, email notifications, and all that in Firefox's statusbar without it getting cluttered.

4) Oh, you mean programs (Windows Blinds) which you have to pay for? As if.

Um, no. Go to customize.org and you'll find a LOT of theme packs that stand as transformation packs and just standard themes. The theme could have been made in Windows Blinds, but you don't have to have WB to use a theme made in WB.

6) Have you ever tried a game running on a newer platform with DirectX 10 with the games you use now to see the difference?

No, and I don't see a point in doing so. I've played and beaten Assassin's Creed for the PC on my XP machine, as well as Fable and other games. I don't see a reason to try to upgrade if they're just fine as they are.