Decisions, decisions

[Raduque]

OK, so I've been running a *coughnotsolegitcough* copy of XP Pro, and decided I'd like to actually go "Genuine" before even accessing the Microsoft website requires it.

So, I hop on over to newegg and take a look at the latest OS prices: XP MCE is my personal favorite version of XP from a price/performance standpoint. Well, as I was getting ready to click buy, I scrolled down just a little bit, and well.... Vista Home Premium is $3 more. I had previously ran the free CTP of RC2 on my laptop and had liked what I'd seen. Now I have a choice to make: MCE or Vista Premium.

So, the question is for all of my fellow ATers who are running Vista Premium, is it actually ready for prime time? Have most of the issues been ironed out and the drivers working correctly? I hadn't kept up with Vista, as I hadn't planned on using it for... quite some time, but seeing as it's just $3 more then MCE, I may as well take the plunge now.

System specs if it helps
Core2 6300 @ 2.8
2gb DDR2-800
nVidia 7900GS
Gigabyte S3 mobo (using all the onboard stuff, GBe and realtek HD audio)

Oh, and as I'm posting this I'm reading the giant Vista information sticky, but I'd like to get others' opinions as well.
Thanks

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Raduque
OK, may as well take the plunge now.

Thanks

 

[Nick5324]

You've likely opened a can of worms with this one. There are a number of Vista bashers on AT, but some Vista lovers as well.

Since launch, it seems many, but not all, of the driver issues have been addressed. As far as I know, Vista still doesn't play nice with a lot of web cams and some scanners; if either of these things are a concern for you, some research for your specific hardware is in order.

If you game, I don't think the Nvidia drivers are quite there yet. I don't know how significant of a FPS hit there is, but I think gaming in Vista hasn't caught up to XP....... yet.

If you use Nero, you need version 7.

Shrug, if it was me, I'd pick up Vista. I have the business edition, so no media center stuff, but I think it is a nice OS.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: Nick5324
You've likely opened a can of worms with this one. There are a number of Vista bashers on AT, but some Vista lovers as well.

That's fine, I welcome all opinions

Since launch, it seems many, but not all, of the driver issues have been addressed. As far as I know, Vista still doesn't play nice with a lot of web cams and some scanners; if either of these things are a concern for you, some research for your specific hardware is in order.

I don't have a scanner or webcam, but I do have a shared printer I connect to - it's an all-in-one, but I only use the printing part of it.

If you game, I don't think the Nvidia drivers are quite there yet. I don't know how significant of a FPS hit there is, but I think gaming in Vista hasn't caught up to XP....... yet.

If you use Nero, you need version 7.

Well, nVidia is always releasing drivers so eventually it'll get better then XP. I'm just asking for playable at the same settings I use in XP.

Speaking of Nero I currently run 7.5, so it looks like I'm OK there. How about programs like D-tools or Steam?

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: Raduque
........... How about programs like D-tools or Steam?

Daemon Tools 4.09 lists Vista support, but I can't personally verify that it works.

According to a February review by ExtremeTech, Steam and Vista play nice. Link

 

[bsobel]

Well, nVidia is always releasing drivers so eventually it'll get better then XP. I'm just asking for playable at the same settings I use in XP.

The drivers still need work but are MUCH better than at launch.

Speaking of Nero I currently run 7.5, so it looks like I'm OK there. How about programs like D-tools or Steam?

D-tools runs fine on both v64 and v32

 

[bruceb]

Compare the various versions of Vista before you make a choice.
You might be best off with Vista Ultimate Edition

 

[leekirlew]

With your rig id get vista

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Nick5324

Originally posted by: Raduque
........... How about programs like D-tools or Steam?

Daemon Tools 4.09 lists Vista support, but I can't personally verify that it works.

According to a February review by ExtremeTech, Steam and Vista play nice. Link

they both work flawlessly (I use both)

 

[jkresh]

unless your major use is gaming I would say go for vista, if you are really worried about gaming in the short temr then xp has better drivers but unless you are worried about a couple of frames here and there vista is fine. Also vista's media center features are a definite improvement over mce 2005 so ...

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Compare the various versions of Vista before you make a choice.
You might be best off with Vista Ultimate Edition

If the choice is Ultimate or MCE, I'm buying MCE. I firmly believe the OS should not be the most expensive part of the computer.

Thanks all, I bought Home Premium, so I should be on Vista by this weekend.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: bruceb
Compare the various versions of Vista before you make a choice.
You might be best off with Vista Ultimate Edition

If the choice is Ultimate or MCE, I'm buying MCE. I firmly believe the OS should not be the most expensive part of the computer.

Thanks all, I bought Home Premium, so I should be on Vista by this weekend.

Ultimate OEM is what, about $200 and you use it for the life of the system. It's actually not that bad of a deal.

 

[bruceb]

$189.99 + shipping at Newegg for Ultimate OEM (not the upgrade)

But then you have the license moving issues to contend with in the future.
But it seems MS is fairly liberal in letting you move to another pc if the need
arises. They would probably not allow it, if you were changing it around
every few weeks or so, but once like every 2 years, well parts fail and need
replacement

 

[Raduque]

If I find that I need/want features of Ultimate, I can still do the Anytime Upgrade Live or whatever it's called, right?

So I'll just stick with Premium right now, I don't even know if I'll like using it on a day-to-day basis.

 

[videopho]

Vista 64 bit Home Premium, all the way.

 

[bigi]

I have been using: Vista Ultimate 64-bit (8GB ram), Vista Home Premium 32-bit (2GB ram), and Vista Home Basic 32-bit (1GB ram) on three different machines. People should really start forgetting about XP...

For any main rig I'd go with 64-bit vista and as much ram as mobo can take!

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Raduque
If I find that I need/want features of Ultimate, I can still do the Anytime Upgrade Live or whatever it's called, right? So I'll just stick with Premium right now, I don't even know if I'll like using it on a day-to-day basis.

Yep you sure can.

 

[doggyfromplanetwoof]

I never had a problem with vista yet, i could not get starcraft installed, but a quick google search fixed that.

Daemon tools runs fine, but I find alcohol 52% much much better, with shell functions and burn/rip functions to boot and its free / less bloated.

I have ultimate my self, and the backup features are just amazing. Love it. I use vista on my htpc and its a blast, no need for any 3rd party programs, windows media player 11 is now better than winamp imho.

 

[bigi]

doggyfromplanetwoof

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

This is trully hiariiarious!!!

 

[BD2003]

The gigabyte board (I have the same one) works flawlessly.

The 7600gt I have loses maybe 10% at most compared to XP. Latest drivers are more than stable enough.

I have pretty much the exact same system as you, and the only problems I continue to have are with my X-Fi. The onboard HD audio worked flawlessly.

I'd say its ready for prime time, if you can deal with a *few* less FPS.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: bigi
doggyfromplanetwoof

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

This is trully hiariiarious!!!

Great, bring your thougths on it to OT or send them via PM.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: BD2003
The gigabyte board (I have the same one) works flawlessly.

The 7600gt I have loses maybe 10% at most compared to XP. Latest drivers are more than stable enough.

I have pretty much the exact same system as you, and the only problems I continue to have are with my X-Fi. The onboard HD audio worked flawlessly.

I'd say its ready for prime time, if you can deal with a *few* less FPS.

Creative released updated drivers for the X-FI 2 days ago, have you tried them?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: BD2003
The gigabyte board (I have the same one) works flawlessly.

The 7600gt I have loses maybe 10% at most compared to XP. Latest drivers are more than stable enough.

I have pretty much the exact same system as you, and the only problems I continue to have are with my X-Fi. The onboard HD audio worked flawlessly.

I'd say its ready for prime time, if you can deal with a *few* less FPS.

Creative released updated drivers for the X-FI 2 days ago, have you tried them?

Nope, wasnt aware. Ill have to fire them up...the main problem Im having is occasional BSODs on suspend, and I just simply didnt have that problem without the X-fi in the system.

 

[Raduque]

Well I got the Vista package today around noon, and now, at 6:45pm, it is still not installed. How long is this thing going to sit at "Completing Installation"?

Edit: The last time I installed Vista, it took about 30 mins from the time I put the CTP DVD in till I was on the desktop. Granted, this was on my laptop, but my desktop is significantly faster in every way, especially raw HDD speed.