Should i use Windows Vista or just purchase Windows 7?

[AmigaNut08]

Now that Microsoft will not be supporting Windows XP anymore, today i was thinking about maybe installing Windows Vista on the computer that i use for online banking and shopping. The reason i was thinking this is because Microsoft will still support Vista for another 3 or so years (if i read right today) and because my desktop originally came with Vista which i downgraded to XP so i have the install CD and license sticker on the machine. I also have a laptop that came with Vista installed so i would be saving hundreds of $$$ if i chose to install Vista.

Does this sound like a good idea or should i just move onto Windows 7. I would like to hear from anyone that still uses Vista today as my experience with Vista before i wiped the hard drive to install XP, was not a pleasant one. Vista was unstable and not the best when it came to managing memory. Have these issues been fixed with software updates???

 

[robinsonb5]

Frankly, Vista is tolerable once you've installed the service packs. It doesn't sound like you're going to be using it for anything particularly demanding anyway - so yes, in the interests of not funnelling any more cash in Microsoft's direction, putting Vista back on the machine isn't a bad plan.

If it were me, I'd install Vista, then install Linux Mint alongside, and see which is the least jarring!

 

[AmigaNut08]

It doesn't sound like you're going to be using it for anything particularly demanding anyway

That's right. The machine wont be used for anything other than online shopping and banking, and from what i have read about how bad Vista is, the one thing people say is that it is more secure than XP.

 

[ColourWheel64]

It really doesn't matter what operating system you choose so long as you love it. People hate on ME, Vista, XP etc. but they're just being snobby and insecure about the stuff they have a personal investment in. Just learn what you can about the OS that you use and pay attention to your own opinion. After all, you have to use it, so make sure that you're not penalising yourself by following the crowd. In my experience, the 'intelligent majority' can be wrong in so many crazy ways.

 

[mes83]

Can only say that my "snobby and insecure" experience is that Windows Vista is buggy as hell. A real memory hog. As you have experienced yourself.

Windows 7 on the other hand is really nice. A bit like going from win98 to xp back in the day.
I have actually just upgraded an old pc from xp to 7, and it boots really fast, and the overall experience is great.

I do however understand your dilemma, now that you have a copy of Vista. I don't know if it has become better after updates, but it could be worth a try. You might also just stick with xp for the moment - how much do we really need Microsoft support anyway

This is however, just my own humble snobby and insecure opinion - sorry Nicholas, had to comment, I do understand what you are saying tho.


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[NinjaRabbit]

It really doesn't matter what operating system you choose so long as you love it. People hate on ME, Vista, XP etc. but they're just being snobby and insecure about the stuff they have a personal investment in. Just learn what you can about the OS that you use and pay attention to your own opinion. After all, you have to use it, so make sure that you're not penalising yourself by following the crowd. In my experience, the 'intelligent majority' can be wrong in so many crazy ways.

I doubt snobbiness and insecurity actuall comes into it at all, so much as just plain being responsible. I can't say that I would advise the use of any out-of-date, now-unsupported operating systems, regardless of who made them, for any activities involving the exchange of your financial details, as seems to be the stated case for AmigaNut08. Doing so, especially with such large targets (it's not like attacks against widespread OSes suddenly stop when their vendor ends support for them) as the ones you named, is inviting trouble.

Personally, I would echo robinsonb5's suggestion of installing Vista and Linux Mint, and seeing which suits. Whatever the choice is, just be sure to go for what's supported and will be for a while longer.

 

[r0jaws]

I have just installed Linux Mint 16 on my mother in laws laptop for exactly the same reasons. She uses it purely to bank with, and facebook the family. The installation (dual boot just in case) took just under an hour with everything working right off the bat, including wifi.
She is not technically minded, but she doesn't need to be, as it was a doodle for her to use.
Worth a thought. Secure and free.

 

[ColourWheel64]

I just notice that there are individuals that like to impose their opinion on other people, whether correct or not. I don't see so many recommendations, but more people tend to beat their choices into noobs heads. It feels like bullying to me, and I think that the reason is to help secure the continued survival of the company or group that maintains their software.

Part of the fun for me is finding out for myself, and I'd suggest that consulting the 'experts' about which operating system to go for isn't necessarily an effective way of making the best choice.

E.g. If you asked a Megadrive owner what the best console is, then they'd say the Megadrive because Streets of Rage and Sonic are the best games ever. Also, if you asked a SNES owner what the best console is then they would tell you the SNES, because Mario Kart and Streetfighter 2 turbo are the best games ever. Truth was, you could own both consoles and still find it difficult to decide which one you loved the most. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

The Microsoft security fixes in my opinion aren't worth their salt. I work for a company that deals in on-line payments. We use Windows 7 and still have to fend off the odd intruder or virus infection, and that's with the security measures that PCI compliance insists that we employ.

Rojaws (hope you dont mind the name drop - just noticed your Linux comment) will back me up that a good operating system need not cost money or require Microsoft support, and that isn't to say that open-source software isn't supported, because it probably benefits from better support than the big boys provide.

I'm not even recommending that you go for Linux, neither am I trying to dissuade you from opting for a commercial product, whether current or 'out of date'.

I think there's a lot of fun to be had trialling operating systems, and if this sounds like a good idea to you then don't be scared and go for it.

If you do fall prey to an on-line criminal then you're website, bank or credit card most likely has you protected anyway.

BTW. Does anyone here use MorphOS? I keep meaning to try it.

 

[commodorejohn]

BTW. Does anyone here use MorphOS? I keep meaning to try it.

I'm running it unregistered on a 1.5GHz Aluminum Powerbook. It's quite nice, as long as you're comfortable with the vintage early-'90s UI behaviors that Amiga software employs (and Lord knows I am.) Very stable and pleasant.

 

[ColourWheel64]

Does it have a free demo then? I was under the impression that you had to buy it to try it

 

[Merlin]

This are purely my opinions, your mileage may vary. I always found Vista to be a 'beta' version in it's feel and operation and the darned UAC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control) got on my nerves with every new install as it's on by default. Windows 7 is what Vista should have been and feels far more optimised and polished when you compare it to Vista.

In a way, it's like comparing Windows 98SE with Windows ME (and let's not all start hating on these, OK?)

Linux Mint 16 with the Cinnamon desktop is a useful free alternative to Microsoft's offerings and those who are considering changing away from Vista should give it a try. It's downloadable as a Live DVD that you can boot from, so if you like it, you can also use this to install it to hard drive. It's also free.

 

[commodorejohn]

Does it have a free demo then? I was under the impression that you had to buy it to try it

It's free to download and you can install it or run it as a live-CD. The only limitation to the free version is that every half-hour it'll slow down to a crawl until you reboot.

 

[finnr]

I'd just stick to XP. The 'no longer supported' is not that much of a deal, other than being used as 'scaring' the users with less than average pc knowledge, into spending money on a newer OS. And for needs? I can do practically all everyday add jobs on my smartphone or my raspberry pi, online banking included. The disadvantage being a small screen on the phone. The point being, windows xp, vista or 7, for casual home and small office use, are not really different; they do and can basically the same thing. make you PC start up and run applications. They vary a bit in look and feel. All current software, drivers, etc will run on these systems. There are of course different limitations, but for casual use who cares, right?

In my opinion Vista is more of a downgrade, and not an upgrade from XP. I find Windows 7 is very stabile, the best I have used from Microsoft since MS-Dos 5

 

[mes83]

Didn't even think about Linux.... But agree with some of the others, Linux Mint really is a nice operating system. If your hardware is a bit older, you might want to go for something lighter than cinnamon, eg. Xfce

Also Linux is supposedly more sequre when it comes to virus attacks.


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[NinjaRabbit]

Didn't even think about Linux.... But agree with some of the others, Linux Mint really is a nice operating system. If your hardware is a bit older, you might want to go for something lighter than cinnamon, eg. Xfce

I use Xfce regardless, myself. It has all the features I want, and it stays out of my way - couldn't ask for more.

Also Linux is supposedly more sequre when it comes to virus attacks.

It's structured entirely differently to Microsoft Windows, which means that a lot of attacks common to Windows just couldn't work on Linux or the Unixes. That said, it's no excuse for complacency or for using software that's no longer supported* - your system's only as secure as you allow it to be, and social-engineering attacks and suchlike are OS-agnostic...

*I came across a Debian Sarge install CD recently in a pile of old discs (for those unfamiliar with Linux, Debian Sarge is pretty ancient - it was released in 2005, and was getting on a bit when I got the disc as a hand-me-down when I started using Linux in 2008 ). I laughed and then threw it away.

 

[Arnie]

I have a Laptop that came with Vista and the UAC did my head in,

"Do you want to open this file",
"Yes",
"Are you sure"
"YEs"
"It might have nasty stuff in it"
"YES"
"OK, but I did warn you"
"Just open the god-dam file FF sake"

I'm still taking meds for it...lol

 

[AmigaNut08]

Thanks for all your input guys. I really appreciate it. Just before the weekend i was dead set against upgrading my OS, but then on the weekend after researching this whole no support for XP thing, it sort of scared me. There is a lot of talk about how XP is going to be high on the hit list of OS's to be hacked. But now after reading your replies, i am a bit more at ease with using XP a bit longer. After all i do have a hardware and software firewall on them, run Norton antivirus on them and scan them with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Emsisoft Anti-Malware, Spybot - Search & Destroy, and SUPERAntiSpyware at least 2 times a day to make sure they are clean (yes a tad bit crazy but better safe than sorry they say). And i find it funny how all these tech sites were the ones saying that XP is going to be hit by hackers and to upgrade to Windows 8. Are they getting a hand out from Microsoft to push their latest OS?? What made me think even more that this is all a scare tactic to buy Windows 8 is the fact that when i tried finding any info about Windows Vista or 7 on the Microsoft web site, i was just directed to pages that showed me Windows 8 and where to buy a new computer running it.

Thanks again guys.

 

[NinjaRabbit]

And i find it funny how all these tech sites were the ones saying that XP is going to be hit by hackers and to upgrade to Windows 8. Are they getting a hand out from Microsoft to push their latest OS??

I doubt there's any conspiracy - as far as I know, Windows XP is the most successful version of Microsoft Windows. Given this, it's only logical that once it reached end-of-life, it would continue to be a very big target, and one made more vulnerable by the cutting off of support for it.

 

[Zetr0]

It doesn't sound like you're going to be using it for anything particularly demanding anyway

That's right. The machine wont be used for anything other than online shopping and banking, and from what i have read about how bad Vista is, the one thing people say is that it is more secure than XP.

I have just installed Linux Mint 16 on my mother in laws laptop for exactly the same reasons. She uses it purely to bank with, and facebook the family. The installation (dual boot just in case) took just under an hour with everything working right off the bat, including wifi.
She is not technically minded, but she doesn't need to be, as it was a doodle for her to use.
Worth a thought. Secure and free.

+1 for a *Nix distro

If all you are doing is web, shopping and general desktop activities like word-processing / spread sheet then I would humbly recommend a simplified Linux OS, in fact you could consider AROS if you want to have a little fun as well.

Personally I would suggest a loaded Linux Distro like Fedora, Ubuntu or SUSE, however I have heard / read good things about Mint so give them a try, download Open Office and you my friend are good to go with not only a FREE and Continually updated system but also the joy of breaking the mold.

I got my daughter into linux on her laptop (depreciated when I upgraded for Uni) when she was about 13/14 - within 3 months she was compiling her own programs and then show ME how to finagle some eccentricities of Ubuntu when setting up VPN!

In regards to Vista / Win7, you can purchase at a reduced cost an OEM based license from eBay - that what I did for this little I7 Lappy, I gave Win8 a good 15 minutes of my time and it was utter torture!

Have a look about as cheap option are available, ensure that if you do buy a copy of Win7 for your system - make sure it is a reputable seller.

 

[AmigaNut08]

I doubt there's any conspiracy - as far as I know, Windows XP is the most successful version of Microsoft Windows. Given this, it's only logical that once it reached end-of-life, it would continue to be a very big target, and one made more vulnerable by the cutting off of support for it.

This sounds logical. So Vista being the least liked and used of XP, 7 and 8.1, then i guess that will make it less of a target.

- - - Updated - - -

+1 for a *Nix distro

If all you are doing is web, shopping and general desktop activities like word-processing / spread sheet then I would humbly recommend a simplified Linux OS, in fact you could consider AROS if you want to have a little fun as well.

Personally I would suggest a loaded Linux Distro like Fedora, Ubuntu or SUSE, however I have heard / read good things about Mint so give them a try, download Open Office and you my friend are good to go with not only a FREE and Continually updated system but also the joy of breaking the mold.

I got my daughter into linux on her laptop (depreciated when I upgraded for Uni) when she was about 13/14 - within 3 months she was compiling her own programs and then show ME how to finagle some eccentricities of Ubuntu when setting up VPN!

In regards to Vista / Win7, you can purchase at a reduced cost an OEM based license from eBay - that what I did for this little I7 Lappy, I gave Win8 a good 15 minutes of my time and it was utter torture!

Have a look about as cheap option are available, ensure that if you do buy a copy of Win7 for your system - make sure it is a reputable seller.

I may install Linux on my spare PC and have a bit of a play with it. I tried Linux a long time ago and did not like it, but i am hearing a lot of good things about Linux Mint these days so i might have to see what all the fuss is about.

About Windows buying an OEM license 7. I was also thinking this as i have Windows 7 installed on My sons computer and on my computer that i use for music recording, and apart from it being a bit temperamental with the hardware i use (Damn driver support), it aint too bad.