Gnomie Kyle Patterson writes:

After 6.5 months of using Windows Vista Ultimate at home, I have finally decided to go back to Windows XP SP2. Please forward my story as a cautionary tale to anyone considering installing this operating system. Fact: more Windows applications work with OS/2 2.0 than with Windows Vista Ultimate.

Windows Vista Ultimate Diary:

The first sign that something was wrong with Vista came when I tried to install Visual Studio 2005. After installing several service packs that were significantly larger than Visual Studio 2005 itself it finally worked (sort of).

Next, I tried to burn a DVD of some video clips I made with my digital camera using Easy Media Creator 9 (supposedly Vista Compatible). After several weeks and about 15 ruined DVD+Rs I decided to give up trying to archive this video content to DVD with Easy Media Creator 9 and tried a new product.

I purchased Nero 7 Ultra Edition (also Vista Compatible). It took about 6 ruined DVD+Rs to realize that it wasn’t going to work no matter what options I set.

Then I replaced the DVD burner with a new one (also Vista Compatible). I went down another 6 DVD+Rs before giving up.

Here are a few things I’ve learned:

  1. Vista Compatible = Microsoft gave us a sticker that we use to sell hardware/software.
  2. It’s got a great Texas Hold ‘Em game (although you can only play against the computer).
  3. It takes a patient person to use Control Panel now that you have to answer the dreaded Allow/Deny message box with every option you click.
  4. Those people that make the Mac commercials aren’t exaggerating.
  5. You cannot read XP backup files with Vista.

Okay enough with the diary; I could write about 20+ pages of this stuff. I’ll spare you the story of the fun I’ve had with my iPod, Trillian, and everything else I have tried to run under Vista besides Office 2007 and IE7 (AKA the only 2 applications that work under Vista).

In conclusion I am now convinced that Microsoft was only trying to drive demand for XP SP2 by releasing this OS. Do not make the mistake I made. Only buy a new PC that comes with XP SP2 or Linux.

[tags]vista, vista problems, windows vista[/tags]