First run-in with Vista.... Rant

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Blackjack, Feb 4, 2008.


  1. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    My neighbor wanted me to come over and help him with his new computer today, and it was the first time I've seen Windows Vista.

    Please..... if I ever post here that I've decided to get vista.... get together a hit squad and come kill me. I vow, here and now, that I will NEVER, EVER, put vista on my machine. Right now I run a stripped down version of XP, and if I ever need to upgrade, I'll go to linux.

    I'm really good at gettin around in windows. I've designed websites, I've created 3D levels for games, I edit photos, I've been selling on ebay for almost a decade, I'm not a pro, but I can do a lot of stuff. I couldn't get around in vista. It didn't want to let me do anything, it wants to give you just certain options and then do everything for you. Just give me windows explorer and then leave me the hell alone! /rant
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    If only ProgMan had been stable, I'd still be using W98. But XP rules. I've met only one person that likes Vista. When M$ stops supporting XP, I think Linux (or Mac) it the way to go.
     
  3. hartage

    hartage Monkey+++

    There are a lot of options that you can modify only through the registry. It has been that way since win95. If you really want to be able to modify any windows os's get comfortable with regedit.
     
  4. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    Wonder what they gain by building uch an obviously inferior os.??
     
  5. hartage

    hartage Monkey+++

    Job security ? Goose that lays golden eggs ?
     
  6. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    I don't think it's necessarily "inferior". I'm sure it has it's technological advantages over xp, but they've piled on so much "crap" trying to make it so anyone in the world can use it without having to actually learn anything, that it's made it just a total pain in the arse for those of us who have already learned how to use a computer.
     
  7. slots

    slots Monkey+++

    There is a lot you can do to improve the performance of Vista. In many ways a lot of the new Vista visual effects are just window dressing or "crap" :). They are totally uneccessary, especially as its going to cost you $$$$'s to get all the latest hardware to run it. Try Right-clicking on “My Computer” > Properties > Advanced > Performance-Settings > Visual Effects > Adjust for best performance > Apply > OK.

    I use the "custom" setting, and have about 4 of the 15 or so boxes ticked. Just experiment.

    The best and most repected forum for PC related twaeks/problems I have heard about is called neowins. Have a look.

    http://www.neowin.net/forum/

    Or simply search google for vista tweaks. I must have said this before, but I have been using Vista for over a year now, and I cannot relate to all the bad press that I hear about it. To me its been the best and most stable OS that Microsoft has made (I worked with win 3.1 upto XP before I tried Vista)

    Sorry, it may be a bit off-topic...:oops:
     
  8. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    That is very true, Slots. But, what you must also try to consider is the fact that Microsoft has developed a TON of new ways to track your online behavior, continue to allow viruses and other hacks to penetrate the OS, and make just about everything marketable so that the consumer ends up spending a boatload of cash just to operate a PC. Not to mention the opensource code that was hijacked from Mozilla and then sold to customers in the latest IE packages.

    Software is the largest market, and Microsoft holds the reigns. Additionally, as for the system itself; Vista is a resource HOG, requiring a new system to operate -this is the STANDARD in PC commercialism, making a computer that is only a couple of years old obsolete. Vista requires at least 1gb of ram to run, any less and it becomes rather uncomfortable to even use, slimmed down and all. Computer technology is on the rise, and to meet the commercial sales requirements of the corporations, Vista does its part very well indeed...by forcing sales upon mindless, helpless consumers. A person can still run any Linux OS on a Pentium II processor with a sickeningly small amount of ram.

    Point is, the Vista OS is just another Win ME consumer scam, only this time they fixed most of the bugs. Microsoft will continue to force others out of their market and work in tandem with big brother and their cartels.
     
  9. hartage

    hartage Monkey+++

    Not completely true, most of that is consumer's fault. Since win2000 (except the home editions) you can lock down local policy and permissions to really cut down on unwanted baddies getting in. But if those settings were default most people could not change their own systems. (adding/removing components and programs)

    This is akin to having a house but not knowing how to lock your doors and windows then blaming the builder for bad guys getting in.

    Look up "local policy" (for win2k, xp and likely vista) specificly look up "user rights assignment" and "security options"

    Of course there are more that are changed only via the registry.

    Surprise yourself at how much more secure people can make their computer if they simply took the time to learn. Here is a security scanner called windows gold disk put out by the DOD. http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/SRR/gdv2-cd1-engine-01-25-2008.iso burn it to a cd (iso file) and run a scan on your windows based system. You'll be surprised how many things are not clamped down that could be.
     
  10. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Awesome link, Hartage. ;)

    Yeah, I rarely post enough of what I mean. You are correct, but you know as well as I do that you can only make a WIN SYS "so" secure before you just have to give up. This is why the big dogs use Linux, and given the rise in cyber terror attacks, I can't blame 'em. This mess was made on purpose, most PC users simply do not know what to do to REALLY make M$ more secure, and I think that is what you were striving for in your response, as I wholly agree. But, "more" secure doesn't equal "real" security, as we can all agree certainly.
     
  11. hartage

    hartage Monkey+++

    I do agree. But there is no such thing as real security. It is a constant cat and mouse. All you can do is raise the effort needed to penetrate beyond what it is worth even if succesfull. You can never really make something totally secure. If something is valuable enough, or someone wants it bad enough they will get in. Especially on a network since most "regular" users make hideous security mistakes constantly.

    Even nasty microsoft products can be made relatively secure just as much as a linux rig not being set up securely.
     
  12. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Possibly true. Yet, how many Linux users are categorized the same as a typical WIN user? It's like comparing the crew from Lone Gunmen to monkeys with power tools.[notworking]
     
  13. hartage

    hartage Monkey+++

    Lol, what can I say ? That is a valid point.
     
  14. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I haven't had a problem with Vista but it's on a laptop we don't use for much. That User Account Control stuff was driving me nuts with the confirmation click things but doing what slots suggested and installing Tweak VI last night I got to shut that crap off. Shouldn't have a problem now, I hope!
     
  15. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Oh Hartage, forgot to mention that the Gold Disk is pretty cool for tightening down older versions of windows, but it doesn't work with Vista. Yet. ;)
     
  16. brotherpoop

    brotherpoop Monkey+++

    Hmmmm...something is diff. Too soon to tell but it did seem to pull the anchor up. Maybe I was a bit hard on Bill Gates...................NOT.

    Thanks slots. I'll dig deeper on the other stuff you listed.
     
  17. hartage

    hartage Monkey+++

    Proudly I can still say that I have had the honor of NOT being exposed to vista just yet. [beer] But yes I forgot to mention about it's ability to work with older windows versions.
     
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