Windows Vista stability still a concern?
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Sadly the above Chart is mine, from my M1210 Running Windows Vista Ultimate
Each Red X equals a significant failure like an Application crashing or a blue screen.
Yesterday for example Windows Vista Ultimate blue screened twice, one was caused by an inbound remote desktop connection and the other by visiting a web page.
During a blue screen you lose everything you have open.
Twice is unusual but does not fill me with confidence, both seem unrelated.
From the 10th of August to the 10th of September 2007 I have had 14 such failures
Only 2 were severe enough to cause Blue Screens
12 Application instances that stopped working were:-
Internet Explorer
Explorer (as in Windows)
LVPrcSrv.exe (This is the logitech web cam software). I don’t use it but it is running all the time.
I have to compare this user experience to my Windows XP Pro desktop I run in tandem. This machine has experienced no problems in the same period.
Note to any helpful Microsoftie Please put me me forward for the the Windows Vista SP1 Beta. (colindiponio@gmail.com)
Coming to think about it, using Windows Vista feels like being in a really long Beta.
When SP1 comes out of Beta I am going to rebuild my machine and fingers crossed it turns out to be stable.
Business users should draw their own conclusions about which is more stable XP or Vista.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
I’m glad it’s not just me who finds Vista unstable. I bought a new laptop with Vista pre-installed to to present stuff to clients. It’s not a great time to choose to crash when you’re trying to impress people. It did so several times over 2 months despite trying out newer drivers. Since I installed XP on it the machine has been very reliable. XP may look a little tired but with maturity brings stability.
I did chuckle when a new Vista install failed to automatically detect the Internet, but an XP install on the same machine found it without prompting. What I find most irritating with Vista is the poor usability of the control panel. Things that are one-click away in XP are now hidden away or an extra one or two clicks away. Way too much effort went into making it look pretty. That is not what a good OS is about. Sorry Microsoft. As much as I have tried to like it the darn OS doesn’t like me either!
September 12th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Hi Gary
I have been happily deploying XP for most of this year, but when the Dell OEM availability dries up in Dec2007 I will be supplying Dell OEM Vista Business Downgraded to Dell OEM Windows XP Pro.
I find truth the best policy and clients appreciate it. They are the ones footing the bill for new technology. Everytime I have the “well if you go vista, be prepared for” conversation they all end up choosing XP.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Absolutely, Colin. For most business users I don’t feel that Vista offers anything new of value to outweigh its problems. Okay, BitLocking the drive on a laptop is of value to companies with employees stupid enough to leave a laptop in their car, but if their company doesn’t have a stricktly enforced password policy then it’s worthless.
Coupled with the extra cost of training staff (users and IT) how to use Vista (or what’s changed), compatability testing of existing off-the-shelf and bespoke software, upgrades to machines and the OS rollout, there are no gains, only losses to be made. It’s funny because I’m usually first in the queue to jump to a new OS. Either I’ve grown up or Microsoft have made a bit of a mistake.
September 13th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Windows Vista needs a Service Pack and not just a Service Pack to please the marketing people or the “I’m waiting for SP1″ crowd.
But a proper Service pack that gives us the robust OS we have all been waiting on.
NT 4.0 was stable
Windows 2000 was stable
XP is stable if users behave themselves.
I expected so much more from Microsoft. Bring on SP1 I am waiting
September 13th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Col:
Sorry you’re feeling blue. Couldn’t resist a bad joke.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Hi Sue.
With all the bad press that blue screens get, you would think they would eventually change the colour.
Colin
September 28th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Same here – recently bought a top of the range PC with Vista Ultimate pre installed. I haven’t seen so many Blue Screen Crashes since the early days of Windows NT 4.0. Copying files from one PC to another causes a BSOD if you don’t switch off the virus scanner first , installing a well known computer game gives the same result as did updating my print driver. Windows NT 4.0 needed two years and 3 service packs before it was anything like stable enough for business users – I think it is going to be the same for Vista. I work in IT so I have to keep up to date with the latest software – if it wasn’t for that I would reinstall my new PC with XP. My advice to my managers – stick with XP for at least another two years.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Hi Alan
Some good news today is that they have extened the life of XP at both retail and OEM well into 2008 and for good reason.
You would think that after 20 years developing operatng systems, things would be getting better not worse.
Colin