windows vista

[maggie01]

I have recently got a new laptop (notebook) and it says it is Vista Capable. What are the benefits of vista if any?

[fo3nix]

Few. Some good security enhancements. But I'd advise you to stick with XP for as long as you can.

[Buenchico]

If you want to read the Microsoft hype, see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/Windowsvista/

However, if it follows the usual pattern of Windows developments, it will just turn simple tasks into complicated ones and be an absolute pain in the @rse. (I bought a secondhand PC a year ago. It came with XP. Within an hout of getting it home, I'd got rid of XP and replaced it with Millennium. XP is absolute rubbish and I've little doubt that Vista will be far, far worse).

Chris

[fo3nix]

Personally I'd disagree with Buenchico there. Millennium is far worse than XP for many reasons (largely, it's not based on NT). Windows 2000 was and is a decent Windows OS, and XP is the same with more peripheral support (drivers), as well as more wizards for things and a flashy interface. Turn off the bright interface and you basically have win2000 back.

[vehelpfulguy]

For a long time Microsoft had two development paths for Windows.

There was a "simple" Windows that was basically DOS with a windowing interface. This started properly with Windows 95, then 98, then Millenium. The last release was Millenium.

There was a more complex and secure Windows that started with Windows NT, then went to Windows 2000.

When Microsoft brought out Windows XP it was based on the more complex and secure Windows 2000.

So I agree with fo3nix.

Millenium is a very un-secure operating system with no real protected multitasking.

Windows 2000, and XP (and now Vista) is a fairly secure, fully multi tasking operating system.

[maggie01]

It's a bit too technical for me, but thank you. I have XP. This is the only one I have ever used so I suppose I feel comfortable with it.

[willmeally]

Isnt the main thing that it allows 64 bit computing?

[stephen1947]

I did read in a computer magazine that wait until all the problems have been sorted.

I purchased a new PC when XP was introduced and there were 2 service packs that followed.