I'm in good company if those that believe Vista is not going well for Microsoft. I've been one of those PC users who decided to stick with Windows XP for the time being instead of switching to the new Windows Vista. My reasons include the cost of upgrading my several PC's, not wanting to increase my hardware capabilities as needed by Vista, wanting to wait until the kinks are worked out and older devices are made more compatible etc. After helping my father-in-law try to get a printer and his networking working with his new Vista, I think its safe to say I'm really happy with my decision to wait this one out.
There have been many who have given Vista a chance and either gone back to XP, Mac or even to Linux. This week one of the most pro-Vista people I know of, Jim Louderback the (now former) head of PCMagazine has come out saying he is disappointed with Vista and will be switching to another Operating System soon. Here is his conclusion:"I could go on and on about the lack of drivers, the bizarre wake-up rituals, the
strange and non reproducible system quirks, and more. But I won't bore you with
the details. The upshot is that even after nine months, Vista just ain't cutting
it. I definitely gave Microsoft too much of a free pass on this operating
system: I expected it to get the kinks worked out more quickly. Boy, was I
fooled! If Microsoft can't get Vista working, I might just do the unthinkable: I
might move to Linux."
He also mentions his Media Center PC and the problems he has experienced with it on Vista:
"Take my media center PC, for example. It's supposed to serve up photos, videos,
and music. Instead, it often simply drops off the network for absolutely no
reason. Chip Van Winkle might be able to see it, but Compuccino [his new name for his notebook PC on Vista] can't."
Jim Louderback admits he was a big proponent of the Vista OS and explains his change here: "Maybe it was something in the water? I've been a big proponent of the new OS
over the past few months, even going so far as loading it onto most of my
computers and spending hours tweaking and optimizing it. So why, nine months
after launch, am I so frustrated? The litany of what doesn't work and what still
frustrates me stretches on endlessly."
All I can say is, Microsoft must be realizing by now that they better do something fast to fix all of the problems they have with Vista. If they don't, and they drop support for Windows XP they will soon be losing Windows users in large numbers and Mr. Gates will be saying "Vista, we have a problem!"
