Okay, we already know why the vast majority of MacDailyNews readers (we do have some WIndows-only readers, believe it or not) aren’t “upgrading” to Vista: because for Mac OS X users, it would be one hell of a downgrade. Shiver.
But, presumably for the Windows sufferers, Yahoo! Tech’s Christopher Null tries to sort out why those on Windows XP and older aren’t rushing to “upgrade” to Vista:
What’s turning people off of Vista? Here’s my take, in order of importance:
1) Price.
2) Nothing new to see here.
3) It’s annoying.
4) Tons of stuff is incompatible with Vista.
5) It’s confusing. Everything that XP could do, Vista can do.
6) It’s busted.
Full article, along with 2400+ comments, here.
Related articles:
US DOT, FAA ban ‘upgrading’ to Windows Vista, Explorer 7, Office 2007; looks at Macs – March 02, 2007
Gates: ‘Windows Vista’s had incredible reception’ – February 21, 2007
The Register reviews Microsoft’s Windows Vista: ‘Don’t buy it’ – February 20, 2007
Forbes: ‘Windows Vista utterly unimaginative, internally discordant and woefully out of tune’ – February 09, 2007
Digit: Don’t buy Vista; Microsoft may be driving millions to stick with XP or move to Apple Mac – February 05, 2007
TIME Magazine: Microsoft’s Windows Vista ‘an embarassment to the good name of American innovation’ – February 02, 2007
Microsoft’s Windows Vista: Five years for a chrome-plated turd – January 30, 2007
Digit: ‘Microsoft’s Windows Vista may be the best reason yet to buy an Apple Mac’ – January 29, 2007
Pioneer Press: Windows Vista shows ‘Apple is an innovation engine; Microsoft, not so much’ – January 29, 2007
Windows Vista disappoints, so get a Mac – January 29, 2007
CNET Reviews Windows Vista: Is that all? Clunky and not very intuitive vs. Mac OS X; warmed-over XP – January 24, 2007
Mossberg: Microsoft’s Windows Vista offers lesser imitations of Apple’s Mac OS X features – January 18, 2007
Windows Vista disappointment drives longtime ‘Microsoft apologist’ to Apple’s Mac OS X – January 17, 2007
InformationWeek Review: Apple’s Mac OS X shines in comparison with Microsoft’s Windows Vista – January 06, 2007
NY Times’ Pogue reviews Microsoft’s Windows Vista: ‘Looks, Locks, Lacks’ – December 14, 2006
Dave Winer: ‘Microsoft isn’t an innovator, and never was – they are always playing catch-up’ – December 01, 2006
Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is 64-bit done right, unlike Microsoft’s Windows Vista kludge – August 14, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista: If you can’t innovate… try to impersonate Apple’s Mac OS X – August 10, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard sets new bar, leaves Microsoft’s Vista in the dust – August 08, 2006
Microsoft botches another copy job: Windows Vista Flip3D vs. Apple Mac OS X Exposé – June 26, 2006
Windows Vista rips-off Mac OS X at great hardware cost (and Apple gains in the end) – June 13, 2006
Computerworld: Microsoft Windows Vista a distant second-best to Apple Mac OS X – June 02, 2006
I guess I’m one of the few Windows-only MDN readers. My reason for not upgrading to Vista is that my next computer purchase will be a Mac. Unfortunately, my windows laptop is working well enough for me to get by, but in the next year or two I will be buying a Mac to replace it. If I had an extra $1000+ I would buy a Mac right now (well, maybe I’d wait for Leopard). Until then, I will be an envious, windows-only MDN reader.
Read the comments there! It is amazing! People commenting there are deciding to get a Mac based on comments they have previously read. I have never seen anything like it! Word of mouth at it’s finest.
From Are You Near?: “… when M$ gets a lawsuit the world gets more apples…”
And Johnny Appleseed had to walk all over the country with a sack full of seeds. If only he knew it was as easy as calling a lawyer!
I think it’s great that evryone there seems pretty non-biased OS wise; that is a very diverse group of computer users united in their distaste for Microsoft and it’s ‘products.’ I think it’s hilarious. Microsoft: May they rest in disgrace. Enjoy your big karmic knuckle sandwich, Bill! It was bound to catch up with them sooner or later.
Please stop posting about Zune Tang as if he was a Windows lover. The guy is a MAC guy who was being SARCASTIC. When you talk about him like he’s not, you just make yourself look stupid. Get it?
the reason I decided to wait on upgrading to Vista is because of how disappointing I found it to be. I am primarily a PC user (although I just bought my first macbook!). My friends know that I absolutely HATE windows XP, but the reason that I run PCs is because I enjoy building and maintaining my own rigs, as well as playing a few games.
When Vista was originally announced (then, Longhorn) I was excited to hear that they would be completely re-building the system from the ground up. They promised increased stability, a streamlined interface and a new level of Windows security and privacy. Furthermore, I was really looking forward to having an OS which was resource-efficient and customizable in regards to resource-routing.
Of course, I knew about and loved Mac OS-X; however, I was relatively confident that Vista would at least deliver MOST of what it promised.
Oh, and let’s not mention DirectX 10, which I still believe will usher in a whole new level of gaming.
But when I installed Vista RC1 and then when it was finally released, I realized that Vista wasn’t much more than Windows XP v.2.0. Sure, the Aero interface is flashy and has some really cool ideas, and YES I really do love the Live Search bar. But the problem with Vista is that it simply doesn’t offer any real benefit over Windows XP. The kicker is that Vista doesn’t even offer increased compatability with programs. You’d think that Microsoft would have spent their time trying to INCREASE the functionality of their operating system. Instead of doing so, they have alienated many business-class users and gamers because of application-incompatability.
Now, I am impressed with some features. I have found that in terms of handling lockups and freezes, Vista is relatively better than XP. Furthermore, I found that Vista is able to actually recognize new hardware and actually *gasp* install it correctly! Also, I think that with some tweaking, the Aero Interface could be REALLY awesome (I’d say tune it down a little and simply get rid of some of the extra flash, it could be really nice. Additionally, I’d really like if Windows just scrapped two features: Sidebar and Flip. I say that if you’re going to do something, do it right. Flip is nothing more than ALT-TAB on steroids, and Sidebar doesn’t really do anything, since it’s on the attached to the desktop. Perhaps I’m wrong – I hope I am.
Will I upgrade to Vista in the future? Yes, when it actually presents a real benefit, I will be more than happy to drop the money and update my computer, but until that happens, I’ll just keep using XP and my Macbook.
Why your emphatic defense of “Zune Tang”? Why isn’t “Zune Tang” able and willing to defend him/herself?
“Zune Tang” was, is, and forever will be an annoying and repetitive little twit. Period. End of sentence. I couldn’t care less what “Zune Tang’s” motives were, he/she was among the least funny and least imaginative of all threaders. “Zune Tang’s” absence is a breath of fresh air. If “Zune Tang” returns, I will disparage “Zune Tang” with relish.
I think that poor pathetic “Zune Tang” has been humiliated to the point of changing his/her pseudonym. “Zune Tang”, if you’re out there, you suck, you monotonous moron of mammoth proportions, you ridiculous retard of repetitive writing, you dreary dumb ass of demented drivel, you tailor-made twit of terrible threads, you idiot savant of significant boredom.
Get it?
Word Patrol:
You moron, every Apple fan knows that “Mac” is the correct spelling. You betray your perjury with your pathetic and transparent ignorance, you idiot Microsoft apologist.
THANK YOU Word Patrol. It never ceases to amaze me how many humorless Macophiles there are who simply refuse to get the joke.
So, you too show up to support the idiot Zune Tang. I never knew that the monotonous moron had so many friends. Why don’t you give Zune Tang a ring and have him/her post another thread in defense of his/her pablum?
I’m not sure if anybody actually reads these comments this far down the list. But if you do, I have nothing significant and/or interesting to say.
That is all.
It’s no wonder so many people think Mac users are freaks.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”rolleyes” style=”border:0;” />
‘In the real IT world…’, a genius stroke of humor. Most of you are not getting it, a pity!
…. and your point is what, M@c? That you never have anything of interest running inside your skull?
Stereotyping, eh? What an ass you are, Jeff. I like your use of an emoticon…a definite sign of juvenile behavior.
Oh, my gawd! Missing, says I have no sense of humor! Does laughing at you count?
Why should Mac users about Vista anyway?
To me the most revealing thing is that at my workplace Vista is forbidden. New PCs are only approved with XP installed and the coupon upgrade to Vista is KEPT by the IT department. If you use your home PC to connect at work then you are advised (advice is a nice word actually…) NOT to install Vista. If you do your Vista PC will not be allowed to remotely connect to the intra-network.
Low and behold, if you use a Mac OS X at home there are no such restriction: still on your own but no blocking of your OS X computer to get into the intra-network.
Had to really pinch me twice to check I was not dreaming. Asked a colleague friend in the IT dept and she actually told me in a whisper that there are talks about allowing employees to buy Macs in the future to use AT work. I am in heaven!
I have this amazing sensation that the hell is starting to freeze as well.
Cheers
Zunetang, Where have you gone (Doo doo doobie doo)
Aww Zunetang, You’ve been gone too long
Zunetang (Doo doo doobie doo)
Zunetang
Hope one day, youll come back
I’d be so happy that I wouldn’t ask
Morning comes (Hey hey hey hey)
Into my room (Woo who who who)
Caught me dreaming like a fool
Zunetang, My Zunetang (Doo doo doobie doo)
My my my my Zunetang Where have you gone
Zunetang (Doo doo doobie doo)
My Zunetang, Hey hey my Zunetang
Doo doo doobie doo Zunetang
The short answer is that my PC runs fine on Win XP. It is a 4 years old and bargain basement with integrated video, 768 MB ram, a 30GB hard drive and a CD-RW. It is nothing fancy but it works for me.
In other words to “upgrade” to vista I would have to buy a whole new computer. And when I do that I am buying another intel Mac.
My experience with Vista so far (I installed on my iMac alongside Mac OS X) has been pretty good. I still notice a lot of stupid “windows” quarks, but it addressed all of my major problems with XP – It’s stable, much better aesthetically, and has no real security problems. While it still doesn’t compare to Mac OS X. The only problems I’ve had so far are little annoyances; as a whole, I think Vista is a stable, easy to use, safe and secure OS. It is much better then XP with it’s inept security and that horrible shade of blue they use everywhere. And I try to tell this to my PC user friends, but they won’t listen to me. They want to keep Windows XP, viruses and shade of blue and everything!
Which leads me to this conclusion: Windows users do not want Vista, because if they wanted a better OS, they would have bought a Mac years ago. The fact that they use Windows means they have already rationalized themselves to enjoy an OS that doesn’t work without spending hours scanning for spyware.
Vista is a dog. Plain and simple. A failed five year development process. Remember Longorn? Where are all the advanced features Microsoft have spent much of the last five years announcing (WinFS or Palladium anyone)? They couldn’t get them to work.
What we’ve ended up with is a Windows 2003 code base with a flash (and resource hungry) interface.
Sure it’s more secure than Vista but as anyone who has had to work with 2003 over the last three years will know it’s far from being completely secure. Any Unix based system is still far more secure.
It’s rather sad that all Microsoft have to shout about with Vista is the bloated interface.
Sadly what really hacks me off most is the interface itself. I’m an experienced Windows user and suddenly Microsoft have decided that the way I’ve been working for the last fifteen years is wrong.
Why have they buried the more advanced options?
Why has the desktop properties been buried?
Why has the network stack been buried?
What was wrong with the File menu?
Why don’t Microsoft seem to get the idea of system security. UAC is a joke. They don’t understand the difference between approval and authorization.
I’ve no object to change but change for changes sake or rather to allow them to differentiate a product is counter productive. Actually just like Vista. It’s now takes more clicks to get to where I want to go. They’ve clearly confused ease of use with dumbing down.
The most cynical move is selling Vista in numerous versions. How is a regular computer user supposed to know which version suits. Actually most will have to buy one of the more expensive versions. In the UK you’re looking at over $500 for the versions at the higher end. Could it be that Microsoft have released all the different versions to mask what an expensive OS Vista is.
I’ve recently bought a Dell XPS M1210 a portable development platform. It came with Vista installed and still has numerous issues with drivers and applications.
As a result I’ve gone out and bought a MacBook 2ghz Core 2 with 2gb RAM and 100gb drive. Within ten minutes I felt more at home using it that I had done using Vista for the previous three months! It even runs Visual Studio through Parallels Desktop almost as quick my Dell.
Amazing!