If you are sticking with XP - and plenty of us are - and you're planning to miss the upgrade to Vista read
this article on the Australian PC World. It looks at big questions like: will Windows XP still be properly supported by Microsoft and, as a primary development target, by third parties? Is there something we've missed, some hidden gotcha that's going to trip us up?
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Member since:2006-09-15
Have experienced no app breakage with x64 Vista.
If you are dealing with centres that are running pre NT apps then I suppose there could be issues but also Vista does allow for compatability options with regards to running apps.
In a Graphics/Media environment I have yet to come accross application problems.
As for right click on a file and open with option, it's there. Can't remember if it's hidden on a default install but it isn't rocket science to get it configured.
Vista is different but so are all other alternatives to Windows XP and unfortunately, Vista is the only one that runs apps written for Windows XP or I would advocate alternatives to clients where they have XP only apps. Parallels on OS-X is a pain especially with running OS-X in a Windows Network (flaky network folder sharing between OS-X and Windows XP where the folders are hosted on Windows boxes) and WINE doesn't cut it on Linux although Linux networks nicer with Windows boxes.
The reaction to Vista is nothing more than MS bashing that people do when ever they release something different. It happens all the time and in time when people get over themselves they will wonder what the fuss was all about just like they have with Windows XP. Sure, a service pack or 2 will help the process as well but hands up those who loved OS-X on it's first release?
Member since:2006-01-12
I have to agree with your upgrade statements. I have invested time and money in my tools. As with any serious user, my tools lock me to my platform.
I have to question those who says "My upgrade from XP to Vista failed so I switched to Distro xxx/ OS X/ or whatever." #1, it is implied that this is your primary work box. Otherwise, why the heartache? Unless you're a developer using cross-platform tools (Eclipse, Qt, text editors...) it would be almost impossible for a serious user to change primary platforms at the drop of a hat without serious retooling. I spent years switching from Mac OS to Windows. At best I could get a side box and split duties, but why complicate my workflow?
Only a casual net/ mail/ messaging/ media user can easily switch platforms. They can also ditch the PC for a phone.
One thing I wish Windows would finally do is create a 1-stop control panel similar to FireFox, Word 2007, or KDE's System Settings. Category list on the left, settings on the right. I've given the new control panel an open-minded chance and hate it. I can't believe 1 dept created Office 2007's unified menus and another dept created this.
Member since:2006-10-10
The fact is that Vista is/was made primarily for the home user. There isn't anything that beneficial inside to make IT managers start frothing at the mouths, and cutting checks for (massive) hardware upgrades.
To reply to your post, I've been testing Vista Business on a box at work since Oct. of last year, and like you, it more or less works. Still has problems with McAfee 8.5 (mostly ePO), issues with Timbuktu, but by and large it fumbles it's way through the plethora of common apps we use at work (Lotus 7, SAP, Office (which had better run swimmingly). There's nothing that makes me happy I'm using it, however. Apart from those apps, I really don't push it with much more. Solidworks will not run, and they are developing a whole separate Vista version for such, probably because of UAC. I can't see our organization taking it on for at least the next 3 years...minimum. As long as we can deal with XP Volume licensing, and get security upgrades on the regular, we'll be sticking with XP.
I'll agree, there is one thing that Vista has fixed....taking the next drive letter for USB drives. XP is really a mess in that regard. MS should be publicly humiliated for the USB mess, and taking this long to actually get it right. They pushed for the standard 10+ years ago, and are just now, getting it straightened out. But I digress....
The simple fact is, as the article stated, WinXP is tried and true. It's (relatively) stable. It brings very little new to the table in the business IT world. A properly configured Active Directory Policy structure, along with a few 3rd party apps, and you have very few reasons to begin planning a mass migration to an OS that is going to cause your helpdesk months of pain and suffering.
Member since:
2006-10-10
If you haven't had many problems, consider yourselves lucky. The vast majority of IT centers do not want to take the chance of breaking current and legacy apps in order to upgrade simply because MS tells us to do so.