Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1

I have never been so frustrated over an operating system. If Vista was my first experience with a computer then I would never have developed an interest in the technology. I can't even down grade to XP. Getting Vista wasn't my idea. It came pre-installed with my new computer so now I have to re-install my old harddrive in order to have XP. Vista causes PhotoShop's tools not to work. No matter which tool I click it remains with the "grabby hand" which does nothing. I can't even copy or paste in the application. Can this just be a coincidence? I've never had that problem with XP. Vista is so slow! Where's this major updated OS promised to us? How do these people stay in business?

I have no desire to be an operating system guru. I want to boot my computer, read email, surf the web, use a few applications. Instead, I spend all my time waiting on the whim of Vista. It updates when it wants; it reboots when it wants; it slows down *my* needs on the computer to jam up CPU usage. Every time it does an automatic "update" to drivers, I have to completely reinstall my printers. This is a piece of junk, created by computer junkies with nothing better to do than complicate the lives of the average user. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Use XP...or better yet, buy an Apple; its operating system doesn't want to be dictator of your (virtual) universe...

Alas many service packs later and bugs ironed out, Microsoft moves on to another money-maker as Windows XP was finally becoming a very reliable operating system. Vista does have many nice new features, especially designed for the net administrator wannabe or average Joe who wants to try to setup a mini network in his basement. I am by no means an expert on the subject, as I am the type of person who knows computers just enough to be dangerous. That said, I do have some thoughts on this operating system I hope will be helpful.

First off, I see Vista as XP with some bling. Unfortunately there's a price. Its called compatibility. Be careful if you are a PC gamer and wish to still play your older games (this meaning a game from a year ago or more), or have your video graphics card perform exactly as it did before, etc. I still can't get games (First person shooters) to work quite as smoothly since my upgrade, regardless of having the latest graphics driver, etc. I've even heard that some people can't get their printers to work yet when it comes to hardware plug-and-play I've been quite fortunate with Vista and have had no issues. Some suggest to create a dual-boot machine where you can use XP for some programs and Vista for another, but I think most people aren't familiar with how to do that or should even have to go through the trouble. So apart from incompatibility issues if you are upgrading an existing system or using older software, we can now move on to the bling. As far as a visual interface for daily Windows activity be it internet browsing, exploring your files, using media, etc. Vista is beautiful. However, it turns out you can download the look of Vista on an XP operating system if you want. So why should you buy Windows Vista and why do I give it 4 stars? Well, no matter how happy you may have been with, say, Windows 98... you don't really have a CHOICE when it comes to Microsoft operating systems should you continue to use the internet or buy new software, unless you are going to go Linux or some other OS. So to be up and current with the world is not a bad thing for sure when it comes to your operating system. Plus you'll have the latest protection with Vista's security, despite whatever anti-virus software you get. Another reason I give Vista 4 stars is I haven't had any real issues be it crashing or anything, so far it has been quite stable. If you have XP and are happy with it, I think you could stick around for the next OS release, as I hear it's coming much sooner than the long gap we had while XP dominated the market. If you want a simple way to have a slick look for your day-to-day tasks, "the latest thing" then go for Vista.

I installed the full version of Vista Home Premium SP1; installed Photoshop CS3, Illustrator CS2, Acrobat 8 Pro, MS Office, Oblivion, Expression Web 2, and other assorted programs, checked em' all and they worked with no problems. My hardware from the hard drives to video cards to printer and scanner and Digitech GX4 were all installed with no problem. Security software installed flawlessly and seems to work well.
Then came the exciting part... activation!!!
I hit the activation button and hauled a$$ in case this thing blew! Nothing happened. Who would've ever thought after reading some of the reviews on this site.
I am mainly a user, not an intense tech buff that figures out frame rates and data transfer times.
That said...the interface is very appealing. I really like the gadget sidebar and the interesting gadgets that can be installed. I have a 22" screen so I leave the sidebar on at all times.
I had one problem, (1)!!! I installed Media Creator and it disabled my DVD drives for a bit. I went on line, read the suggestions and removed a few lines from the registry and went right back to work with my DVD drives in tow.
I run a MSI P7N Diamond Motherboard with a Q6600 2.40 ghz quad Intel, Dual BFG Geforce 8600 GTS OC video boards, Creative X-fi Fatal 1 TY sound, 160 and 750 HDD's, dual DVD's... can't figure out where to plug in the popcorn machine.
I would recommend Vista with no problem. I have had a very positive experience with Home Premium, maybe SP1 fixes the problems other reviewers have had. Don't know cause' I shied away from purchasing Vista for so long because of the reviews. The tech stuff I will leave to other reviewers, but do U want to drive the 1998 Pont. Grand Am or the 2008 Pont. G8? It's up to you! Thanks for listening....

I thought I would write this review since a lot of people seem to be wondering if some games will work with vista. Just a short list of games I have played on Vista with no problems. All played great with no crashing problems installing problems or otherwise.

1.Half Life Orange Box
2.Far Cry (original version)
3.Stalker
4.The Witcher
5.Quake 4
6.Crysis
7.Oblivion IV
8.Planescape
9.Fear
10.Unreal Tournament 3 (gold / 2 / and original ut)
11.Alien vs Predator 2
12.Doom 3
13.Portal
14.Enclave
15.Dead space
16.Prey
I went from win 98 to the windows Vista so for me it has been an incredible improvement. I really like Vista and haven't had any problems worth mentioning. I wonder if people having problems with vista don't have systems strong enough to run it. (just a thought I really don't know).
I'm running an HP Media center w/ AMD 64x2 6000+ / EVGA Gforce 9600 oc / with 4 Gig ram. Sorry to here about all the people having problems with it we all know how frustrating a quirky computer can be but all in all I'm very happy with vista.
Added note: My Vista home premium came preinstalled when I purchased computer. I have always felt I would just be fooling myself to think I could put a system together that would be as good as one put together with the combined efforts of 1000's of very intelligent people. I give both Vista and HP 5 stars.