# Hmm, Vista Might Not Be as Popular as Was Hoped **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565 "2007-04-25T07:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/41 "2007-04-26T18:07:31Z")
Thanks, everyone. I called CPUsed in Toronto, where I plan to get my MacBook Pro (two weeks and two days and counting!) and they said they’d still have it two weeks from now. (I was thinking about getting it at FutureShop, but the non-OEM non-bundled price of XP Pro there cancels out my friend’s Future Shop employee discount, so I might as well got to somewhere that is a) closer, and b) knows more about Macs. 🙂 I’ll keep your suggestions in mind in case Bill pulls a fast one in the nextt wo weeks.) ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/42 "2007-04-26T18:16:48Z")
\ HA HAA!!\ ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/43 "2007-04-26T18:44:57Z")
[QUOTE=Dag Otto] Does dell add all that crap on their business machines too? I did notice that Dell was offering XP on it’s business machines (with the OS disc) before they made the announcement to offer it again on the home machines. Maybe Dell never did quit offering it to business customers. The business machines seem to be priced the same as the home machines, so why would anyone get the home machines? [/QUOTE] My friend just helped his friend set up 2 Dell machines that other-friend got for $800 (total) from Dell’s “Outlet.” He called me up from the setup just to tell me that he did not have to de-crapify the Dells. So it seems that no, the business models (and/or the outlet models) do not come pre-Dell’d. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/44 "2007-04-26T18:45:03Z")
I can see why people’d like it. There are some programs–Second Life is the one I’m familiar with–where Vista+Certain Graphics Card Brand = not running correctly, or at all. Personally, if I _had_ to buy a computer _right now_, I’d go with XP over Vista. Of course, given a practical choice, I’d wait a while and see how Vista fares before making the decision… ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/45 "2007-04-26T19:19:13Z")
My rule-of-thumb with Microsoft products is that they generally start working on a new version once they’ve worked must of the bugs out of the last version. Therefore, this is the perfect time to upgrade to Windows XP and Office 2003. I’ll upgrade to Windows Vista and Office 2007 when the next versions are getting set to be released, circa 2010 or so. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/46 "2007-04-26T22:10:12Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] I bet windows 3.11 would scream on my machine. [/QUOTE] I bet it wouldn’t run at all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/47 "2007-04-26T22:28:58Z")
I can’t get “my” $450,000 colour print server to play nice with Vista yet, and there are little problems with some of our custom database applications. There are practical reasons for wanting the _option_ of sticking with XP, besides neophobia. In our office, the downsides to having a shiny new OS heavily outweigh the benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/48 "2007-04-26T23:14:07Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Vista’s license agreement forbids running it under a VM unless you get the Really Expensive Version. [/QUOTE] I can’t believe people actually care about this 😕 Anyway, Vista sucks, My dad got a new laptop, and I’m going to call him and tell him how to redo his computer with XP now, because he doesn’t like Vista, he says it’s too slow even with a gig of ram. No point in it, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/49 "2007-04-26T23:25:34Z")
[QUOTE=Eonwe] I’d say a big change is, at least based on what I’m reading, is that I ought to have 2 gig of ram for it to run smoothly. There’s an added cost I’m not thrilled about, as 1 gig with XP has been more than adequate for my computing needs. [/QUOTE] I was at a conference about 6 weeks ago, where Microsoft themselves had a big trailer where we could all go in and try Vista and Office07 out. It looked great, but they were in fact running 2Gigs of RAM ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/50 "2007-04-27T00:29:26Z")
[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe] I can’t believe people actually care about this 😕 [/QUOTE] Care about running in a virtual machine, or care about what the license says? I definitely care about running in a virtual machine. My main computer is an Apple laptop, and it’s a pain for me to have to reboot just to use Windows. Parallels works really well for me, and I wouldn’t want to give that up (or pay an extra $100 just for the privilege of keeping it.). If you mean who cares what the license agreement says, beyond the obvious potential legal issues, [ul][li]It is fairly trivial for an OS to determine if it’s running in a virtual machine, even if the virtual machine is trying really hard to mask its virtualness.[/li][li]Most virtual machines won’t bother to play cat and mouse with Microsoft for the purposes of out-doing a license agreement.[/li][\*]Microsoft has the capability to push updates on its users that will make their software comply more precisely with the license they specified, and are increasingly not shy about doing so.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/51 "2007-04-27T00:56:07Z")
I’m working in the computer department of an office supplies store at the moment, and we only sell Vista. All our new machines are preloaded with Vista and there are only a couple of older models left that run XP. I estimate we have at least one machine returned a week because of compatibility issues with Vista. Our company’s policy on returns is that, as long as it’s within the specified period and they have their receipt, we will give them a refund no matter what their problem with the product is. It’s rather frustrating to see machines coming back because people can’t get their new computer to recognise their old printer and lack the skills/internet access to download the drivers to get it running. I -wish- our store would offer XP as an option, especially as so many of the machines we sell are low end and are going to run slowly under Vista (for instance, we have only one laptop that has 2 Gig of RAM - all the others have 512 Mb or 1 Gig). If I was buying a new computer now, I’d go for XP with the intention of upgrading to Vista later. It needs time for all the bugs to be ironed out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/52 "2007-04-27T01:21:08Z")
[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe] I can’t believe people actually care about [adhering to Microsoft’s EULA] [/QUOTE] (edit mine) I’m gonna be running a little business out of that computer, and I want it to be all shiny and legal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/53 "2007-04-27T03:24:48Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Ironically, many Mac users really seem to _like_ Vista for some reason. [/QUOTE] You’re kidding, right? If not, it would certainly be news to me that any Mac user has actually liked Vista. There have been quite a few Windows users who have been turned to the Mac side by Vista’s release, but I’ve not seen any of the reverse happening. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/54 "2007-04-27T03:35:53Z")
[QUOTE=Sleel] You’re kidding, right? If not, it would certainly be news to me that any Mac user has actually liked Vista. There have been quite a few Windows users who have been turned to the Mac side by Vista’s release, but I’ve not seen any of the reverse happening. [/QUOTE] I didn’t say Mac users were _switching_ to Vista, only that they liked it. Nearly everyone in Leo Laporte’s various podcasts who’s a Mac user says they like it (and that they hope Apple swipes things from it). ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/55 "2007-04-27T06:15:14Z")
According to the latest business news, [Vista is more popular than we think](http://news.google.com/?ncl=1115536085&hl=en) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/56 "2007-04-27T06:46:23Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] According to the latest business news, [Vista is more popular than we think](http://news.google.com/?ncl=1115536085&hl=en) [/QUOTE] No, those stories just show that Microsoft is making a lot of money from Vista sales. Not that it is ‘popular’ in the dictionary sense of “being well liked”, “appreciated by people”. As the statements here, and on nearly any online computer help forum show. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/57 "2007-04-27T06:50:18Z")
[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net] No, those stories just show that Microsoft is making a lot of money from Vista sales. [/QUOTE] Which isn’t really surprising since it costs so damned much. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/58 "2007-04-27T13:28:36Z")
[QUOTE=GawnFishin’] This kinda reminds me of the story of the woman who called her ISP for tech support and wanted to know why every time she tried to connect to the internet the phone screamed into her ear. Then after having someone explain what the internet was all about, goes on a rant about after paying $30 per month for the internet that she shouldn’t have to spend any more money on a computer to get online. [/QUOTE] In the future when there’s a patch cable to the cranium interface, some people won’t have equipment powerful enough to surf the world web. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/59 "2007-04-27T13:40:09Z")
[QUOTE=Cazzle] I estimate we have at least one machine returned a week because of compatibility issues with Vista. Our company’s policy on returns is that, as long as it’s within the specified period and they have their receipt, we will give them a refund no matter what their problem with the product is. It’s rather frustrating to see machines coming back because people can’t get their new computer to recognise their old printer and lack the skills/internet access to download the drivers to get it running. [/QUOTE] My sister is still waiting for print drivers to run with VISTA. The release date was last moved to the end of April so maybe she will be able to print something in a week. Like ussual the move isn’t smooth as silk as it was promised. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565/60 "2007-04-27T14:39:49Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] According to the latest business news, [Vista is more popular than we think](http://news.google.com/?ncl=1115536085&hl=en) [/QUOTE] Sales figures don’t count when they include OEMs being forced to include Vista on their new systems. If you want a real gauge of popularity, count only those sales that came from retail boxes and OEM-with-hardware-purchase editions, and watch those figures plummet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hmm-vista-might-not-be-as-popular-as-was-hoped/401565.md?page=4)