XP vs. Vista

XP or Vista?

There's a lot of discussion here about people installing XP even though their new hardware came with Vista installed, or installing Vista on their older machine that came with XP. If you have an opinion on the XP vs. Vista debate then please share it in this thread. My opinion which I share just below might start a nice debate, and here is a recent XP vs. Vista thread on neowin.net where more opinions can be found.

Why I choose XP over Vista anytime

I'd go for XP over Vista anytime. I would actually make the following analogy:
Linux <=> you own your house
XP <=> you rent your house
Vista <=> you rent your house and it comes with spy cameras everywhere, and big bro has all the keys...

In other words it's a question of trust and ownership. Just got a new computer with Vista installed, and I only boot Vista when necessary (mainly to get more details on the driver installed and find XP equivalent) and usually without networking.
With vista you give much more power to M$ to update things on your system and do things you're not even aware of. I just don't trust M$ especially in a context of all the spying the US government is doing on everyone.
Below are a couple references on vista spying on you:
http://news.softpedia.com/...Harvest-User-Data...shtml
http://hacking-dharmata.blogspot.com/...spies-on-you...html
BTW, my XP installation is just secondary, I'm in the process of migrating to linux, so it's another reason that makes me prefer XP over vista, which I'll only use in the last resort.

 

i reckon at least for the moment xp is better performance. however vista looks a whole lot better and smoother then xp and once you get past the bad parts it is a decent os

 

We really needed another XP vs. Vista thread? We already have like 8 million of them... try searching.

 

I agree, there are too many of these popping up when there are literally thousands here, just use the forum search please.

 

Fortunately, I don't run the programs they list as spying on me, and if M$ tries to take over my computer, they don't know my inner h4x0r....I'll boot into Linux and pwn them all!!!!!

 

Why another thread... hundreds are already debating in other threads. And I noticed that it's usually an XP user who starts it! Is this a way of justifying using XP instead of Vista? Why berate another user using Vista if that user is happy with it?!?

 

Where are these threads you all talk about?
I searched for threads with vista and xp in the title and did not find any that focused specifically on vista vs. xp.
Please point us to the threads you talk about and tell me how to find them.

 

http://www.notebookreview.com/searc...F;GIMP:0000FF;FORID:11&hl=en&btnAction=SEARCH

 

Ok, I see them now, I was using the forum search tool and not the search box next to the site logo...
So would a new thread on 'vista spies on you' be ok?

 

I prefer XP over Vista because of compatibility with older programs (2000-ish) and fewer graphical artifacts (may have to do with drivers but they appear with all the Vista drivers I've tried and none of the XP ones so it's moot point whether it's drivers or OS). A few other things such as always displaying the file properties I want in Explorer rather than "Rating", "Tags", etc., but those are the main two.

And processor whine. I don't know why operating system should have any effect on it, but for some reason it had a major effect on it for me. Vista --> very bad processor whine, XP --> mild processor whine on battery, none on AC. The root problem likely lies with Intel, but if one OS significantly decreases the problem I'd rather have that OS.

 

LMFAO @ Vista spying!!!

I'm sure the NSA really cares about your search for the latest LOLcats on the innerwebs.



I am a dj and if Pioneer CDJ-1000s weren't so picky about CD-text from versions of Nero after 6, I'd be using Vista. That's really the only reason I'm still using XP.

 

I guess so, except these spying complaints are mostly silly. In most cases, Microsoft does the minimum necessary to implement a useful feature. Not really any different from Google knowing what you search for on the web. For example, yesterday I plugged in a printer, and Vista automatically went to Microsoft's servers on the internet, found a driver, and retrieved it for me. That's awesome, and if it means that some request for this driver appeared in Microsoft's server logs, it's worth it to me. Or take the "Problem reports and solutions" feature. It checks with Microsoft to see if there's an update that can fix your program crashes. Of course they end up keeping track of what programs are crashing and how often. So what? If you object to it that much, just turn off the feature.

Here are some examples from the first article you linked to:

It's no different from XP. If you don't like it, don't use DRM content. And don't use iTunes either, since it does basically the same thing.

Good, because that's useful.

They should really give you the option (if they don't already), but you can see how this is useful. If you don't like it... no one's forcing you to run this program, even in Vista.

You mean if I use Microsoft's email service, they'll know when I'm using it?! Oh no!!!

Your second article has a more legitimate complaint -- that you can't turn off all updates entirely -- but that's the case in XP too, unfortunately. It makes it out to be like it's a Vista-specific thing, but it's not: http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=779

 

There was a article ive read before that talked about Vista's undocumented crap you download from windows update.

Dont really care if ms breaches my privacy aslong as it doesnt bother me or slow my computer down. Got nothing to hide!

 

People talk about Vista's spying. What the heck does that mean? What kind of spying. Did MS placed a backdoor so they can access my system anytime they want? Could someone elaborate what "spying" means? If it's the automatic updates then you can customize not to install them until you decide to.

MS has an authentication program so that people who do have legit MS programs can download from them. Is this spying? Why would MS give free updates/upgrades who didn't use an authorized Windows program (hacks). They're just protecting their intellectual property.

DRMs are software dependent for example iTunes. It's your choice to use it or not but it's not your given right to make money from someone's else work. People post songs (mp3) to share but technically you are depriving the artist from lost income by not paying for it. It's human nature to share but it's also human nature to steal.

Search subjects before asking because it gets kind of old replying to the same arguments. Apples, oranges, both fruits different flavors. Choose your poison and stick with it but please don't give that holier than thou XP is better than Vista.

One more thing, XP has been around for at least 7 years and Vista a little bit over a year. Is this a fair comparison? When XP first came out people said it couldn't hold a candle to Windows 2000. XP has matured and Vista is in it's infancy. Come back in 7 years and tell me the virtues of Vista versus whatever is the current OS.

So the point is again?

 

No I don't see your points. Denial and nothing-to-hide are classic reactions, I had them before. The nothing-to-hide argument actually shows a lack of understanding of the issue of privacy, especially in the context of data collection. I just don't trust M$ to protect my privacy, and their attempts to monitor user activity clearly goes beyond what system maintenance and improvements would justify (e.g. the list of music and movies you play). Same issue with the RFID debate: I can see plenty of useful application that would make life easier. But I don't see big corporations and governments doing their best to protect our welfare and privacy, certainly not at the highest level, so I'd rather not support such technology. My point is, just as I won't entrust young children with firearms, I won't entrust corporations and governments with the ability to watch everything I do.

I agree, privacy was already an issue in XP, see this article for example. So what do you think it's become in Vista?

 

How valid is all of this "spy" talk?

 

Privacy? How is MS intruding on your privacy? Does MS care what movies you see and music you hear? A child with a gun is a very poor example. Young children usually don't know what a gun is and it's potential for destruction. They only see it as a toy and don't know the consequence. Do you mean that MS is supplying us a "loaded" gun? Any technology which involves computers usually will monitor what you're doing. For example, Costco. Every item you've purchased is listed on their database under your membership number. It also monitors merchandises purchased so they can re-stock their warehouses appropriately. And when you use your credit card it also monitors your spending habit. To me these are more intrusive than MS "spying". The only way of being safe from prying eyes is to use pencil and paper and use cash instead of credit cards.

 

And even then we aren't completely safe from intrusion. I see your point and it has been noted. You make good points.

 

M$ may not care about what you watch and listen to, but the RIAA and MPAA certainly would. Just as young children don't know what a gun is, most of you who are reacting against my privacy concern just don't know what privacy means in the context of data collection. If you think it's only about hiding the things you don't want others to know about, then you have a very narrow understanding of the issue. This flash movie will go a long way in demonstrating some of the issues. This paper will provide more arguments for the more hungry.

So because everyone is putting camera and other monitoring devices around, you accept the situation and don't mind your neighbor's new camera pointing towards your house.
You certainly make a good sheep.

 

And the alternative is to live in a remote area (no cameras), do not even get on the Internet (unless you are a sophisticated hacker with global servers and fake IP addresses), do not leave your house (spy satellites) or drive (those darn cameras again) and pay cash for everything.

Are there security concerns out there in the world? Yes, but overall I can't lay awake at night fretting over it. Baaa, Baaaa.......

And in my opinion, MSFT is no better or worse than any other company. Google - "Do No Evil" - HA! You don't see them saying that much any more, do you?

 

Asking your representatives for laws that protect the privacy is no longer an option in the US?

Just asking.