LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Should I upgrade too Vista???
I get asked this all the time!! It all depends on what you are doing with your system.
If you are not doing anything to your system and just would install it on the 'daily driver', I probably would not.
If you are upgrading/replacing your existing desktop or laptop, you might want to look at it.
If you do not have an actual need to upgrade, then don't. But if hardware is being upgraded or replaced, then at least build the system with enough uummmph to run Vista. Vista requires Processor Cycles. So fast CPUs, Dual Channel RAM and Video cards need to be up to par.
Vista is the next Operating System for Microsoft. It comes in four flavors, similar to XP's three flavors; XP Pro, Home and Media Center Edition. And there are Student Teacher versions for these as well. There is ongoing debate on whether one needs to migrate to it just because it's available. It has heavy multimedia integration. It does have better security than XP, & many more wizards for setting things up. Which I find to be annoying when all I want to do is make a quick change, I know have to go through a bunch of clicks to do the same thing. But it's easier for the general user.
It has a much more eye candy, with a feel more like a Mac than Windows. Especially the Ultimate Version. There are some issues with older software, (lots of games) and devices not being able to run on Vista, but this will fix itself over time, just like XP did, and every OS before it.
To be honest, I am just now building a new system for myself and I am putting Vista Ultimate on it. I have not installed Vista for any of my clients as of yet. Mainly because there do not have a need to migrate yet. On a side note: the new 64 bit OSs are nice but very few software programs are written for them yet. So one does not take full advantage of the 'fatter pipe'.
There is a small learning curve with Vista. MS moved a few things around so if you are very 'handy' tweaking XP, you will need to find where they moved things too in Vista. If your a Novice user, you may find not much of a change at all.
At some point we all will move to Vista. And if your like me and dont want to buy a new PC in three years, build this one so it can run Vista with minimal changes when you do finally decide to make the switch. To keep a PC or laptop upgradable be sure it has the following things:
1. The motherboard BIOS can be upgraded, or is "64 bit Ready" to run 64bit Operating Systems & CPUs.
2. The motherboard can run "Quadcore" CPUs. Prices for these chips will drop significantly in the next year. But when the software catches up, and really takes advantage of the Quadcore design, systems will be so fast, you will need a license to operate them.... I'm an Intel guy so I will spec Pentium 4 - 3.0Ghz & up if your really on a budget, but the Core2Duo and Duo Extreme chips are the best bang for the buck. A 2.0 or 2.4Ghz Core2Duo will run anything you will run into. But for a few bucks less, a 1.6 or 1.8 runs nicely too.
3. The motherboard can run 4GB of RAM, 8GB being the norm in the near future. Get at least 1GB of DDR2 RAM. You don't need 4GB right now unless you are heavy into AutoCAD, graphics, music or video editing.
Video and audio are your choice based on what you plan to use the system for. The better video card you have, the more "Eye Candy" you can enjoy. The more work the Vid card does, the less work the main CPU does, which means faster refresh rates & rendering required by the latest video and graphics.
A system with at least these abilities will be able to run any version of Vista when you finally do migrate over. Some of these options are harder to find on laptops, as laptops do not lend themselves to upgrading like Desktop systems do.
I don't know if Gateway, IBM, HP, Toshiba, etc. has the option for XP Pro, I now Dell does, for around $150 I think. and maybe eMachines, (yuck!!) Even if they don't offer the option on the website, you may be able to request it if you 'call in' to order.
Whether to get Vista installed is really up to you. If you really like XP and don't want to hassle with learning a new OS, then go with XP Pro, (not XP Home). If you don't mind learning a new OS and all of your software, games, printers, scanners, cameras, MP3 players, music instruments, etc., all have drivers and software that runs on Vista, then go with Vista. Just make sure you have the horsepower in the CPU, Video Card & RAM to run the 'flavor' of Vista you want. The more 'Eye Candy", the horsepower you need.
I generally do not migrate to a new OS for at least a year to year & a half anyway. So I am at my normal time table. I know others that have been running it for over a year and have had nothing but minor issues and love it. The only thing I can say is to build the system to able to run Vista in the future. At least your system will be ready when the time does come.
People that have had alot of problems with Vista either didn't do their homework on their software/drivers before upgrading, or installed it on their existing system that was only just fast enough to run XP properly. Now it chokes on Vista.
Sorry for the novel.
Reply With Quote
