MBReview.com reviewed Windows Vista, and concluded: "Overall, my first impressions of Vista, and specifically Vista Ultimate, are quite good. I had few problems moving over hardware and software, other than issues of driver support by manufacturers. This is an extremely annoying issue and I'm sure I'm not alone in my distaste for such lack of driver support. The new Aero interface is gorgeous and is one of the big reasons I have moved over to Vista on my main system. It has it's quirks like anything, but it is a big improvement from WindowsXP. Thus far, I'm impressed."
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Member since:2005-07-06
Why blame Microsoft? they don't write the drivers; the fundamental problem in your scenario is Nvidia and their crap quality of their drivers; they had over 2 years to get their drivers up to snuff and the design of WDDM was known before the the betas were released publicly.
Me? I'm pissed off as well; I have a Nvidia go 7300 on my laptop, I have the latest beta driver installed (100.64) and it gives me chills the fact that I have to resort to running a beta driver, but at the same time, however, I don't blame Microsoft for Nvidia's laziness.
Then again, Ati is no better - it seems that hardware companies want to do the *least* amount of work necessary to get their hardware up and working with Windows or Linux; and when the whole system is taken down thanks to their crappy driver, they run off and blame Microsoft.
Member since:2005-07-06
Why blame Microsoft? they don't write the drivers
Maybe they did not write them, but Microsoft did sign the drivers.
Vista will not let you install any driver that has not been signed by Microsoft, and as they keep telling us, driver signing is a quality control process.
Member since:2005-10-09
If you read my post, and see the "regardless" comment. MS should have used their *enormous* pressure to make sure Nvidia/ATI got their stuff together. Otherwise, they should have just pushed launch back. It's stupid to launch a product that's supposed to introduce things like DX10 and so forth, and have even basic video acceleration problems.
So, yes, it's not MS's programming fault that the video drivers suck. It's *still* MS's problem.
Member since:2006-09-15
"I don't blame Microsoft for Nvidia's laziness."
I love that one, brings a smile to my face. Luckily for me Nvidia isn't lazy on Linux 64bit drivers and they work really well.
I think there are more issues here than just lazy driver writing by both ATI and Nvidia, don't you? The SATA drivers on Vista are a pile of crap as well which has made me stay clear of Vista with a barge pole.
Member since:2005-07-08
Why blame Microsoft? they don't write the drivers;
You and I know that, and I'm sure that ormandj knows this, too. But the primary purpose of an OS is to provide applications with access to the hardware. If it can't do this reliably, than from the user's perspective, the OS is faulty.
For comparison's sake, people always say that "Linux doesn't support my graphics card by default, and the proprietary drivers suck." In theory, this is really the graphics vendor's fault for not adequately supporting Linux. But in reality, it's Linux that isn't providing the hardware support that the user needs.
Place the blame one whomever you wish, but for the user, the buck stops at the OS vendor.
Member since:2007-02-18
This is why this site is so annoying. YES it's Microsofts fault. They changed the rules, they required hardware and software DRM, they changed the way the bus and cards work on the computer. They want to control content, and therefore a requiring a massive re-write from the vendors. MS changed direct X to 10 and forced a crippled wrapper. Why don't you people pay attention? Vista doesnt trust you, forces more work for the hardware suppliers, and ultimately the costs are passed to the consumer. They have gone so far as to force vendors to obfuscate the drivers. They want nothing out in the open. No one in their right mind should be buying Vista.
Member since:2006-06-03
Why blame Microsoft?
Because if you are a serious technology company, and you are going to release a piece of software that breaks 3rd party product functionality while relying on those products to function properly, you had better make sure that you have the support of those third parties to get updated drivers out BEFORE you release this flagship product.
Member since:2005-07-08
Member since:
2005-10-09
I tried Vista myself, but it's unusable for me. I actually "liked" the OS, it seemed pretty nice and all, but wow - talk about video issues. I tried it in a box with a 7900GT by EVGA, good quality card. Using the stock Vista drivers, display sleeps, but when you try to wake it - screen is garbled.
Sometimes switching resolutions in games causes screen to garble. Alt-F4ing out of the game then causes the screen to revert back. Etc, etc.
Happens with MS Vista-included drivers, Nvidia's drivers from the site, and also their beta drivers. Irritates me to no end! This is a major bungle. Yes, reinstalled a few times, and yes - seen a gazillion reports of the same thing all over the net.
Vista == nono until fundamental issues like this are resolved, regardless if it's MSs fault or the major manufacturers.