Windows Vista pros and cons

The decision for some small business users to upgrade to Microsoft Windows Vista once it becomes available in early 2007 will depend largely on what the new operating system can do for you and what hardware you have to run it on.

Microsoft has prepared a Get Ready page listing the hardware required to run Windows Vista, and for Windows Vista beta 2 there's a public download available.

It's still early, and Microsoft could easily change aspects of individual features between now and the final release. But based on what I've seen after living with Windows Vista beta 2 for a week, here are five things I think you'll like about the new operating system -- some of which might persuade certain fence-sitters to upgrade -- and five things that may convince others to stick with Windows XP for a few more years.

What I love about Windows Vista
Learn about the new features within the Windows Vista operating system that I think you'll like.

What I hate about Windows Vista
See what I think is wrong with the new operating system.

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1. Missing drivers? Anonymous -- 19/06/06

   Sometimes people seem to misunderstand what beta means.
   
   How can you review and blast a product as if it's ready for release, when even the watermark down in the bottom right hand corner says BETA?

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   1. Not much will change. Anonymous -- 20/06/06

      because in the Real World the Beta is pretty much what you're going to get, minus some minor bug fixes.
      
      There is no way MS can rewrite enough of that code to fix the driver problems alone before release...let alone anything else.
      
      Apart from some cosmetic changes and a few last-minute bug fixes then this BETA is as good as it's going to get.
      
      Just see if I'm wrong.

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   2. mmm.... beta Bill Hasting -- 14/03/07

      We should burn microsoft as much as possible for being so uptight in releasing vista they are noobs! Burn City, Population: MICROSOFT!

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2. Vista Isnt Gmail Anonymous -- 21/06/06

   Windows Vista has been in development for how many years now? It has also been delayed for twice that long!
   
   Now if it takes them that long to produce something with that many delays i think everyone has the right to judge and review the beta product.
   
   Hell Gmail has been in beta for like 3 years now, and people still judge that.
   
   My understanding is if they are keeping this beta for well over the expect realse date it should be conisderd for review.

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3. Er, Any Virus Protection?? Anonymous -- 21/06/06

   You guys need to get a clue. For pity's sake. You're up to 100,000 viruses for Windows and your assessment of Vista does not even warrent a mention of the subject.
   You're in a house the builder said was secure and safe but is in fact made of papier mache, you have patched thousands of holes in the walls anywhere in size from pebbles to boulders, and now you are eyeing a house in a new development erected by the very same builder.
   The User Account Protection 'feature' has gotten a ton of negative press because it's garbage, akin to patching a bullet hole with a Band Aid. And can you please explain in what way you understand what Microsoft is trying to do?? When Apple has been able to successfully protect its users for FIVE YEARS??
   I don't think the Micros**t has figured it out yet either, so I don't pay them money and use their crapware. I pay more to live in a brick house.

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4. Sayonara Windows, finally Ed -- 21/06/06

   After three years of persistence and demos our CIO has finally been swayed to trial Linux in our office, after seeing all the nonsense in Vista, and how far Linux has progressed even in just the last year. We’re currently trialling Novell/SUSE and Ubuntu and I am just so thrilled, I can’t tell you. I haven’t been this excited about software for a number of years - and relieved that we may be able to finally break free from the Microsoft noose. If anything, Vista finally gave us the kick along we needed. We’ll have OpenOffice.org as well so there’s another several thousand saved.
   
   Just thought I’d share it with you. Good luck all.

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