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Vista is a strange beast. You'll want it because it looks prettier, is more secure and well.. it's new. But the beast will bite you if you are too much of a skinflint to actually buy hardware or software from the last couple of years. <\/p>\nBeen to PCWorld and seen the shiny new shrink-wrap packaging ? Wondered if Vista will make your life complete or just blow some perfectly good beer money ? Read on.<\/p>\n
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Vista is a strange beast. You'll want it because it looks prettier, is more secure and well.. it's new. But the beast will bite you if you are too much of a skinflint to actually buy hardware or software from the last couple of years. <\/p>\n
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Vista's main problems are that it doesn't like old hardware and it doesn't like old software. So if you are still running an essential piece of software to perform a particular task, see if it can be upgraded or replaced. <\/p>\n
A few heroes and villains here to mention:<\/p>\n Haupaugge, maker of fine TV cards has committed to bring everything into support under Vista but only the newer stuff works with Media Centre. Most people who don't plug their PV into their TV won't care and will be applauding even the basic support available. <\/p>\n Creative Labs have simply withdrawn support for their pre-Audigy 2 sound cards. If you have an older card, expect to receive basic sound support courtesy of Microsoft and nothing else. No 5.1. No Dolby. Just "dingly" noises. Buy or own a more recnt one and you'll have some beta and\/or incomplete drivers which will mostly work. <\/p>\n HP have simply said "no" to older hardware and provide links to shinier new devices that you should buy. So my HP PSC1215 that works perfectly under XP is not obsolete according to HP. It will print. I can onvince the GIMP to scan from it but the array of buttons on teh printer itself no longer work. Gee. Thanks HP, I'll be sure to buy another printer off you.<\/p>\n nVidia, maker of at least half the gaming-quality graphics cards in computers around the world didn't manage to get their drivers working with Vista and paying weekly visits to their website to get the latest driver is currently an essential activity. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aero<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you fought that battle though and upgraded\/replaced everything, You'll discover that Vista is stable, fast and a nice place to work. I'm infering here that your system can run the AERO interface and that you at least bought Home Premium. If your machine doesn't run Aero or you saved money by buying Home Basic then you've totally missed the boat.<\/p>\n Applications <\/strong><\/p>\n On the Applications side, Minesweeper looks better, making DVDs from photos or movie footage is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, To watch DVDs, you don't need third-party software anymore and of course Outlook Express has finally been killed-off.<\/p>\n IE7 is a total dog though in my view. You'll be wanting to Install Firefox as soon as you can.<\/p>\n If you are one of those people that often deletes or overwrites files by accident, ShadowCopy will make it easy to quickly recover older file versions.<\/p>\n User Access Control (UAC) is annoying if you tinker with things like me but is great for the demi-novice as it causes a "stop and think" approach to making system changes.<\/p>\n Direct X 10 is interesting in concept but currently just DirectX9-with-bits-you-can't-really-use as the cost of a grpahics card to run it puts it out of the reach of everyone except cash-rich bachelors with little else to spend their money on. <\/p>\n Vista had trouble running some games because of driver support still being flaky. That will improve over time but is annoying. nVidia have finally release decent drivers so for the most part this should no longer be an issue so long as you run the latest ones. Presumably ATi\/AMD is in the same boat – especially no what the new breed of DirectX 10 cards and their drivers have been launched. <\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n If your new PC comes with Vista, make sure it is Home Premium. <\/p>\n If you are upgrading your home PC, get hold of the Vista Upgrade Advisor <\/a> and see what in your computer needs replacing. If you have less than 1GB of memory, buy some more RAM whatever you do. If you want to make Vista run really well, don't rely on Microsoft, ask nVidia<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n If your PC runs fine, you don't want to risk breaking anything or it is critical to your business, wait a while. It'll keep. <\/p>\n![\"Image\"](\"http:\/\/www.simkin.org\/joomla\/images\/stories\/fruit\/cherry.jpg\" "\\"Image\\"")
Hardware issues are not as severe though. The first thing you need to know is exactly what hardware you have in and attached to your computer. (Vista Upgrade Advisor <\/a> might help) Now go visit the website of the maker of each piece on the list and do a search for Vista.<\/p>\n