I have been both a Windows and Linux user for a long time (I started with Windows 3.1 and RedHat 5.1 kernel 2.0.x if I recall correctly) and have stuck with both for various reasons. I'm writing this article not as a DIY lofty vantage platform by which I can bash MS nor as a 'Why you should switched' flame bate piece, but have tried to keep an open mind and reflect the actually experience that I have had with Vista so far, regardless of OS political propaganda. Please keep in mind this is still an opinion piece and most probably to be taken with a pinch of salt.
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Member since:2005-07-06
WCF/WPF/etc... are just API's, the actual stack that sits under these API's is not being ported.
IE7 on Vista is different that on XP, as the process runs in it's own environment and can't get outside the process (makeing any possible exploit basically moot).
UAC =! Limited User Account. UAC allows applications that just simply won't work under limited rights, or even with the run as command to run properly in Vista. It will also intercept file write requests and such for files that apps aren't supposed to be writing to and creates a file that the app can write to so that it will still work.
UAC is a huge improvement that is not available in XP.
Live Messenger isn't even part of Vista.
Dx9 drivers are just fine, I don't know what you are talking about. Dx10 is another issue, Dx10 cards are just now getting driver support in beta versions of the drivers, etc...
But still, don't know what that has to do with anything we are talking about. XP doesn't and will not come with Dx10.
WMP11 (not 10) actually runs a lot better in Vista.
Member since:2005-07-06
Dx9 drivers are just fine, I don't know what you are talking about. Dx10 is another issue, Dx10 cards are just now getting driver support in beta versions of the drivers, etc...
But still, don't know what that has to do with anything we are talking about. XP doesn't and will not come with Dx10.
Your expectations must be very low, because the current crop of Nvidia of drivers for Windows Vista are crap; talk to customers who have the latest 8800 graphics who don't have SLI support, the buggy support over all.
Interesting though, Nvidia's support on *NIX is fabulous, and better still, throw on XGL/Compiz/AIXGL, and you get all the great GPU powered effects without the complexity 'promised' by Microsofts new driver model, which has pushed driver development behind the eighth ball.
WMP11 (not 10) actually runs a lot better in Vista.
Hadn't noticed, they ran ok on both operating systems.
But like I keep saying, for *me* Windows Vista wasn't worth the pain and missery which ensued from from purchasing it.
Member since:
2005-07-06
Lets do a laundry list:
Direct X 9 = Yeap, worried about Direct X 10? I wouldn't, vendors can't even get their Direct X 9 drivers up to a reasonable standard.
Media Player 10 = Free download
Internet Explorer 7 = Free download
UAC = Limited User Account, the information is on Microsofts website on how to apply it to Windows XP SP2.
Windows Live Messenger = Free download
WinFX/.NET 3.0 = Free download
WPF/Indigo/etc = Will be available as a seperate download, either in full, or atleast minimal/plugin to allow vendors to provide .NET 3.0 applications for both platforms (Vista and Windows XP).
As for the rest, alot of it could be downloaded from third parties (Thunderbird for mail, Firefox for web browsing) or simply ignored as it adds nothing to the desktop experience other than to be an annoyance and/or distraction - Ultimate Extras being one example, around NZ$100 or so more than the bottom version, and yet, very little to justify the extra costs given that, for example, Services for UNIX which comes with Ultimate can be loaded onto Windows XP Professional for free, for example.