Windows 7 v Vista

telecasterguru (Frank) · #1 22-10-2009, 11:12 AM

Can somebody explain to me what would be achieved if I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7?

How would this affect the current programs that I run on my laptop?

Is it a good idea or not?

Why do people say that Vista has been a disaster? I have never had any problem with it.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated as I am not a computer person.

Frank

gary · #2 22-10-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecasterguru

Is it a good idea or not?

Hi Frank,

Some might say the age old advice of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes
to mind.

DJDD · #3 22-10-2009, 12:33 PM

i agree, if Vista works for you (lucky you!) then don't upgrade.

MrB (Simon) · #4 22-10-2009, 01:51 PM

I have been using Vista SP1 for a year now and have never had a problem.
XP was only good once it's problems were sorted with service packs 1, 2 and 3.
Vista is now up to SP2.

What ever happened to PC magazine cover disks distributing Windows Service Packs?
I want to install SP2 but it's far too big for me to download (dialup)

Rod66 (Rod) · #5 22-10-2009, 01:54 PM

Hi Frank.

Upgrade to Windows 7 like your life depended on it. You will notice a vast improvement. One of the easiest upgrades to ever grace the face of a computer screen and by far the best operating system Windows has been able to put out for consumers. (not including Windows 2008).

Speed is the single biggest improvement.

Just do it...

cheers

Rod

ps I'm leaving for an undisclosed overseas destination now, so I'd be happy to hear how the upgrade went on my return... one day.. honest...

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #6 22-10-2009, 02:03 PM

1) I agree, I have no idea why people have incessantly whinged about Vista - I've used it since May 2009 without issue. I know many people who have similar experiences

2) If it ain't broke don't fix it. Never a truer motto

3) NEVER upgrade imho. Upgrade process causes a wide variety of issues from my experience. Windows just breaks...I always recommend backing up data, wiping existing system, clean install, import data. It's the *safest* way from my vast experience. Not necessarily the easiest, or fastest, but the safest.

Dave

telecasterguru (Frank) · #7 22-10-2009, 02:10 PM

Thanks everyone.

One concern that I have is that it costs nearly $400 to upgrade and think this is a bit rich.

XP to Vista and now Windows 7. If Vista is so terrible they shouldn't charge to upgrade to the operating system that it should have been.

Frank

MrB (Simon) · #8 22-10-2009, 02:26 PM

Frank, Microsoft do offer a free Vista to Win7 upgrade path... conditions apply though.
I do not qualify

Check here if you qualify: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy...de-option.aspx

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #9 22-10-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod66

Hi Frank.

Upgrade to Windows 7 like your life depended on it. You will notice a vast improvement. One of the easiest upgrades to ever grace the face of a computer screen and by far the best operating system Windows has been able to put out for consumers. (not including Windows 2008).

Speed is the single biggest improvement.

Just do it...

cheers

Rod

ps I'm leaving for an undisclosed overseas destination now, so I'd be happy to hear how the upgrade went on my return... one day.. honest...

i would check on driver support first.

I have been using W7 now for months, and i can see very little difference with it and Vista SP1

mithrandir (Andrew) · #10 22-10-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

I have been using Vista SP1 for a year now and have never had a problem.
XP was only good once it's problems were sorted with service packs 1, 2 and 3.
Vista is now up to SP2.

Vista is such a wonderful thing that work still downgrade every new PC/laptop to XP SP2 before delivering it.

Quote:

What ever happened to PC magazine cover disks distributing Windows Service Packs?
I want to install SP2 but it's far too big for me to download (dialup)

I can cut you a CD if that helps.

MrB (Simon) · #11 23-10-2009, 12:48 AM

Cheers Andrew, will help heaps.
Sent you a PM.

Tandum (Robin) · #12 23-10-2009, 01:02 AM

Windows7 will use half the memory of vista to boot and sit idle, it will run software that vista won't and it's far more stable than vista. They are on a winner with this one.

If you are one of the 2% of people that are happy with Vista, stick with it.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #13 23-10-2009, 02:15 PM

Windows 7 upgrade and complaints may have been self generated. Can you imagine Microsoft providing a stable software that could be used forever, that wouldn't make nowhere near enough money.

Windows 7 is visually appealing and expected to suit the masses. So spend your money folks.

Harpspitfire · #14 23-10-2009, 11:00 PM

id rather buy a new computer/win7 then upgrade, but let me ask this- i use XP and am happy with it, no problems and it runs all my astro stuff- i use a computer for basic info, occasional buying, photoshop, astro programs and mail-- is there a point in me even buying a win7 computer?

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #15 23-10-2009, 11:32 PM

With the current computer, probably not. Any future computers will have x64 CPUs, so newer operating systems have x64 options, and you can grab them and have more RAM in your machine that you can use. If you don't need the RAM, then stick with what you're using (if it works for you and you're happy).

Dave

mithrandir (Andrew) · #16 24-10-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpastern

With the current computer, probably not. Any future computers will have x64 CPUs, so newer operating systems have x64 options, and you can grab them and have more RAM in your machine that you can use. If you don't need the RAM, then stick with what you're using (if it works for you and you're happy).

Try telling the laptop/notebook manufacturers that all boxes are to have 64 bit CPUs.

The limit on the amount of RAM you can have is the product of slots and maximum supported DIMM sizes, not the 17,179,869,184GB that the address bus allows. That means 8GB on this x64 box or the laptop. But with laptop 4GB DIMMs at over $1K each, in effect 4GB.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #17 24-10-2009, 11:38 AM

Well, that's laptops for you Andrew. One reason why I'm not a fan (proprietary hardware). Most laptops these days are Intel dual cores, which obviously support x64. I wouldn't recommend buying a laptop that wasn't.

Dave

leinad (Dan) · #18 25-10-2009, 03:02 AM

I was running Vista on this lappy with 2GB mem, 2Ghz Centrino Duo.
Just loaded Windows 7 RTM and loading all software back on. Boot up times are fast!

Windows 7 has XP Emulation built in, so all your XP compatible programs should work without a problem.?

supernova1965 (Warren) · #19 25-10-2009, 07:14 AM

Vista is such a wonderful thing that work still downgrade every new PC/laptop to XP SP2 before delivering it.

I always called that an upgrade when I did it for a client

telecasterguru (Frank) · #20 25-10-2009, 08:16 AM

My desk top runs XP service pack 3 and that is when the problems really started.
I still can't get it to run properly but I have no idea how togo back to SP2.

Frank