“I have set up many computers over the years, so I wasn’t shocked that the out-of-box experience was less than ideal. Still, I was struck by just how irritating it was to get going with the new Sony Vaio SZ laptop I bought about 10 days ago. It was the first new Windows machine I’d bought in a few years, because I had been waiting for Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system. I was amazed that the initial experience is still a big hassle,” Walter S. Mossberg reports for The Wall Street Journal.
Mossberg reports, “I’m talking about two main problems. One is the plethora of teaser software and advertisements for products that must be cleared and uninstalled to make way for your own stuff. The second is the confusing welter of security programs you have to master and update, even on a virgin machine. I’m also referring to how slowly a new Windows Vista machine starts and restarts, even if you haven’t yet loaded or launched any of your own software.”
“I am not singling out Sony here. I would have had a similar experience if I had chosen, say, a Hewlett-Packard laptop. Most major PC makers feature the security programs and trial software and offers I encountered on my new Sony. They are not part of Vista itself,” Mossberg reports.
Mossberg reports, “I also was shocked at how long this machine took to restart and to do a cold start after being completely shut down. Restarting took over three minutes, and a cold start took more than two minutes. That suggests the computer is loading a bunch of stuff I neither know about nor want. By contrast, a brand new Apple MacBook laptop, under the same test conditions, restarted in 34 seconds and did a cold start in 29 seconds.”
“I wish computer makers would stop loading all these trial programs and offers on computers and that security precautions could be much less disruptive and more automatic. The first day of owning an expensive new gadget should be a pleasure, not a hassle.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “DreamTheEndless” for the heads up.]
We guarantee that Walt already knows this, but we’ll state the obvious: If you get an Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro, you can install Windows Vista on it and at least avoid all of the OEM crapware from the likes of Dell, HP, Sony, Toshiba, etc. WIndows start up times are still going to be longer than Mac OS X, no matter what, but at least you don’t have to clean off junk software to start.
Better yet, install Windows XP on the MacBook, if you need to run a Windows-only app, since Vista is even more of a bloated mess than XP (we know, hard to believe, but they did have over five years to bolt bloat onto XP). Note: Windows is still WIndows and you’ll have to install and maintain anti-virus protection and sacrifice processor cycles to run it constantly just like any other Windows PC sufferer, unless you can keep Windows off the network and just use it for local apps.
For those that have to run WIndows on a Mac to access the odd application, we recommend keeping Windows offline (you won’t have to pay for and run AV software); use the Mac for network tasks instead.
Yes, it still amazes us that 8 of 10 people run to Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Dell, etc. to repeatedly saddle themselves with the demonstrably inferior platform. Ignorance of the Mac option (and personal computing in general) is still extremely rampant and we pity the people who pay good money for the pleasure of limiting their productivity and options while frustrating themselves needlessly.
Related articles:
Harris Poll: Users balk at Windows Vista upgrade – April 05, 2007
Windows user spends 30 Days with Windows Vista: ‘It’s a lemon, an unstable operating system’ – April 04, 2007
Network World: Need a new PC for Vista? Switching to Mac may cost less and give you more – March 16, 2007
BusinessWeek: Microsoft’s Windows Vista is ‘slow and dangerous’ – March 15, 2007
Analyst: Microsoft’s Windows Vista is very good for Apple Mac – March 13, 2007
Windows sufferer spends six hours trying to ‘upgrade’ to Vista, says: ‘I should’ve bought a Mac’ – February 07, 2007
Windows Vista woes push BBC News editor to regret never having ‘defected’ to Apple Mac – February 06, 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
Analyst: Microsoft’s Windows Vista could be an opportunity for Apple – January 26, 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
Microsoft’s Windows Vista is basically Microsoft’s version of Mac OS 9.3 – October 11, 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
Windows expert dumps Windows, switches to Apple’s Mac OS X, finds software plentiful – March 12, 2007
InfoWorld: 9,000 people switch to Apple Mac every day (plus testing ‘Embrace and Extinguish’) – February 28, 2007
Netscape founder Marc Andreessen switches to Apple Mac – February 28, 2007
Computerworld: Windows expert dumps Windows, switches to Apple’s Mac OS X – February 08, 2007
Embrace and Extinguish in action: TechIQ’s ‘The VAR Guy’ dumps Windows, switches to Mac OS X – September 25, 2006
Bill Gates unhinged with Apple envy; Microsoft on path to become high profile casualty – February 06, 2007
Apple takes dead aim at Microsoft’s Windows Vista in latest ‘Get a Mac’ ad (with video) – February 06, 2007
Bill Gates has lost his mind: calls Apple liars, copiers; slams Mac OS X security vs. Windows – February 02, 2007
Those unfamiliar with Apple’s Mac OS X may be impressed with Windows Vista – January 29, 2007
Microsoft emails reveal serious Mac OS X Tiger envy – January 26, 2007
A Windows expert opts for a Mac life, finds the experience ‘superb’ – December 07, 2006
15-year Windows vet tries Apple Mac: ‘My God! This is amazing!’ – December 04, 2006
Dave Winer: ‘Microsoft isn’t an innovator, and never was – they are always playing catch-up’ – December 01, 2006
Harvard Medical School CIO picks Mac OS X over Linux and Windows – November 30, 2006
A Windows expert opts for a Mac life – November 06, 2006
Apple Macs can run more software than Windows PCs – October 30, 2006
Apple does it again: New Macbook Pros much cheaper than Dell – October 25, 2006
Embrace and Extinguish in action: TechIQ’s ‘The VAR Guy’ dumps Windows, switches to Mac OS X – September 25, 2006
Top Windows developer dumps Microsoft’s ‘pile of crap’ for Apple’s Mac OS X – September 12, 2006
$399 for Windows Vista Ultimate?! (Hint: Get a Mac) – August 29, 2006
Thurrott pits Apple Mac Pro vs. similarly configured Dell, figures out the Mac is less expensive – August 18, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Apple Macintosh simply does more and costs less than Windows PCs – February 14, 2006
Defending Windows over Mac a sign of mental illness – December 20, 2003
Yes, you can install Vista if you don’t mind wasting 15GB! on the sucker. Geez, M$– it’s not nice to call someone’s baby ugly, but… THAT’S AN ENORMOUS BABY!
And he’s slow and really shiny. You should really address that.
Just sayin’.
R
Looks like his diaper is full, too.
MW:very
And get Parallels. That way you’ll never have to reboot just to use that occasional Windows app either.
Mossberg can wish all he likes, but one thing that allows PC makers to sell cheaper boxes is all that crappy software they slap on the hard drive. Developers pay to have it there, so the retail price can be lower.
As a consumer, you either realize that you get what you pay for, so you get a Mac, or you believe that the PC is cheaper and then accept the fact that you’re saddled with slower boot times, the hassle of getting rid of trial software you’ll never use, vulnerabilities AND exploits out the whazoo, and an OS that’s so difficult to use that even today, nearly 26 years after the first IBM PCs shipped, most people still go out of their way to avoid using them. With all the things you can do with a computer today that can make your life easier, you might think that everyone would be doing them. They aren’t, and that’s because Windows has taught them that computers are difficult to use. The real challenge for Apple is to teach these people that a computer doesn’t have to be difficult.
If you MUST run Windows apps on a Mac, Crossover is the best way to go. Run the app, minus the Windows, which is the problem to start with.
Boot time shouldn’t be an issue on a modern OS! You’re supposed to start it once and keep it there.
“I’m talking about two main problems. One is the plethora of teaser software and advertisements for products that must be cleared and uninstalled to make way for your own stuff. The second is the confusing welter of security programs you have to master and update, even on a virgin machine.
Name one other product in any industry that even begins to approach this level of BS. Yet somehow Windows still sells…
They aren’t, and that’s because Windows has taught them that computers are difficult to use.
At one time, cars were expected to need regular tune-ups, had to warm up before they could be driven, and were considered shot at 100,000 miles. Today we have warranties that long, and maintenance of any kind is frowned at.
So perceptions can and do change.
My 24″ iMac starts up in about 11 seconds. Re-start is about 18. It’s incredible. Not even enough time to go pour a cup of jo. And I’ve only re-started about four times in the four months or so that I’ve owned it.
aka Christian,
The average Windows PC user simply would not believe you, even though we Mac users know it’s true. Microsoft has conditioned them to fear the PC. This is how MS gets the masses to “stick with the evil you know…” It’s sad. I, too, pity the poor saps rolling their garbage Windows PCs out of Best Buy. They really are exactly like lemmings!
The big problem is that Crossover isn’t compatible with 80% of the Windows software out there, so I’ll be sticking with Parallels running Windows 2000.
Thanks MDN
As someone who switched to Mac 2 months ago, I can say on behalf of windows users that people have become so accustomed to mediocrity that they put up with it. I am constantly cursing at my pc at work because of the unbelievable number of little things that go wrong on each day and not because of virus or spyware, but because of incompatibilities introduced by trying to integrate thousands of programs into a giant stinking pile of manure known as windows.
Ahhh, Vista reviews like that are music to my ears! Wow, indeed…
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
“This new Windows PC I just bought is crap! I don’t understand it. It’s brand new. I’d better go buy another one.”
I just don’t get the mentality of people that buy a PC and complain that it is a hassle to work with – AND they keep working with it.
Take the damn thing back and UPGRADE to a Mac.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over – expecting different results”
The WOW starts in 2 & 1/2 minutes!
Recently someone I work with had both of his computers (laptop an desktop) die on him within a week. He’s not that computer savy so he went to BestBuy to get some new ones. BB said they only had Vista computers to sell him, but he insisted on XP because of compatibility issues he had. They said they’d need a week to remove Vista, install XP, remove all the crapware, and move over the files they could save from his old computers. One week turned into 2 and they charged him something like $400-$500 for the pleasure. I almost had him sold on a Mac, but at the last minute he chickened out. The sales rep scared him off with a load of BS about Macs (same old FUD, terrible lies).
So now he has computers he can use now at least. Time wasted, money wasted. What an awful experience. And Windows machines are cheaper??
I wonder what Pee Cee makers would have to do for their clients to start wondering if the Windows platform is really the right choice for them. Sell computers preloaded with viruses?
Drunk Cheney,
Exactly!!! Next time ask them, “if your car needed to go into the shop once a week or even once a month, would you buy a car from the same company next time?”
They usually start to see the light.
The next piece of education is getting people to realize that it’s the OS and not necessarily the hardware that is the problem. But, one step at a time.
mm,
One word – “Darwin”
Let the village idiots gouge their eyes out with butter knives if they want.
“I wonder what Pee Cee makers would have to do for their clients to start wondering if the Windows platform is really the right choice for them. Sell computers preloaded with viruses?”
i am sorry, but, you do know that has already happened, right?
stopped em all, huh? oh wait…..
We are bombarded by mediocrity and live with it.
We tolerate substandard workmanship, piss-poor service, misrepresented products and services, and in the wake of our disappointment and/or anger, we take our business someplace else but in the meantime we rationalize our purchase and may even make excuses for the provider to avoid ridicule.
God, it’s all around us! We live with it, because to do otherwise would cost us even more time and money. Mostly money, because we will spend more to achieve a level of satisfaction we deserve.
Our homes are filled with products that have failed to live up to our expectations.
It’s not just PC users who are afflicted with this problem we Mac users have experienced this existence plenty in the last thirty years. Fortunately for us, we have a friend in Jobs who puts a very high premium on the user experience.
I’m willing to wager though that the law of diminishing returns comes into play as market share expands and the equity of overall customer satisfaction and the need to move product becomes a delicate balancing act.
Again, we are fortunate that Apple makes the whole widget and have very strict control over the user experience, something PC weenies believe to be the greatest detriment to the platform, and when things go badly it’s easy to narrow down a list of suspects. In the PC world the list is long and the variables are infinite.
Most PC users I know, who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, have a contingency plan waiting in the wings and could teach us all a lesson in being prepared for disaster. They have found a way to live with the PC platforms shortcomings, eccentricities, and its ever-looming destiny with corruption.
With so many cooks in the kitchen, the PC soup of the day is hearty and hot but tasteless and bland and comes with plenty of stale condiments.
‘One is the plethora of teaser software and advertisements for products that must be cleared and uninstalled to make way for your own stuff. The second is the confusing welter of security programs you have to master and update’
I have no experience of what he speaks
Here is my test of Vista.
http://homepage.mac.com/fklittle1975/weekofthepc/Personal21.html
Given that the average PC gets restarted about once every month or two, why is this a big deal unless you for some reason keep turning your PC off rather than suspending/resuming it?