Vista

Got it today, x64 version.

Looks nice, looks to have some interesting features.

I've not had a lot of time to play with it, but to be brtually honest, I still like OS X better. Vista feels...unorganized to me.

It doesn't help that half of my menu options aren't even working...I click them and they stare back at me dumbly...

I am surprised that Vista made it to beta 2 in this shape. XP was miles ahead in finished features...

I can't give a real accurate review, as I haven't had enough time to play with it.

Examples:

View amount of ram and processor speed opens activation information:

 

Last option does nothing for me:

 

Lastly, this is more a question for Halo, where do I report issues?

 

I've managed to crash it twice by merely browsing the web

I'm wondering if a lot of my problems don't stem from the poor driver support thus far.

 

Yeah, I agree. I was really disappointed.

 

Thanks!

Funnily enough, my sound works in the 64bit version. However, the only driver I have installed thus far is the Nvidia graphics driver. It can't find drivers for the my firewire cards and complains about the USB drivers (which were in box).

Its not stable enough for me to even to run though.

 

Why don't they just improve XP ??

Or is it more to do with marketing and having a completely new product out ?

How long does XP have until it will be useless or obsolete ?

 

If they improve on an OS--they charge same price.

If they make a new OS--they charge the same price.

XP is deprecated in features compared to competing OSes.

Vista has potential, lets see if they can follow through.

 

>> Problem here is they made a public preview available really in alpha phase. I think they made a huge mistake. I fear that they want to see user feedback in case they think they are close, where hopefully they are looking for feedback before they implement harder code. Major Attitude <<

I agree entirely Major...

Additionally, it simply amazes me how many people all over the web are currently ready, willing and over-eager to effectively become uncompensated guinea pigs for (of all companies) Microsoft in order to install a "test" version of Vista Beta - which you correctly identify as actually being Alpha in "Beta-Sheeps" Clothing - on their already fully-functioning Win XP machines!

Don’t get me wrong; I thoroughly enjoy testing new programs and utilities when they come out but handing over my PC to test an MS Beta-Buggy operating system from a company that is about as consumer-friendly the IRS or perhaps Dr. Kevorkian? Forget-about-it! <g>

Also I do not remember this amount of hyperventilation going on when XP was in beta.

Good Luck!

 

All I can say is that I've used Vista as my primary OS since 5308 x86, albiet on a test rig and I find it excellent and I hope they continue the improvements, as of course they will.

I think drivers will be the main issue even when Vista does go gold! There will always be growing pains. Oh, to the person who didn't like the x64 Vista, My x64 XP is also still crying for proper drivers from the manufacturers after all this time.

OK, let's go buy new hardware then! NOT!!!

It is a Beta and one has to expect these problems.

 

Both XP and 2K were FAR more complete by this point.

 

Well, I understand about missing drivers, but I was crashing and crashing bad. So in box drivers are poop too.

 

Installed x86 version.

Blue screened within minutes after installation.

This is silly. Only driver I installed was the realtek audio driver from Windows Update, because I can't find a Vista one anywhere else.

 

I downloaded windows vista beta 2 and so far i've had about 5-10 lockups and one blue screen of death, plus if you got a sound blaster audigy ls the vista drivers at creative.com don't work, i had to use my old windows 2000/xp setup cd under compatilbility mode to install drivers for my sound card.

 

Its only letting me clean install. I'm gonna hunt for some different audio drivers, as I think its suspect. Neither install crashes until after I install the Windows Update version.

Asus doesn't have any listed for my board on their site.

I like the look of the OS. I am sad its unstable. I'm gonna keep stabbing at it, like a good tester though, when I have more time

 

Well, it is beta. You had to expect that.

 

I'm also embarrased to say, I havent been able to get my head around the interface yet--nothing is where it used to be.

So to debug these stop errors...I cannot find the place to get rid of the auto reboot and the minidumps are not being created.

 

I need them for the onboard realtek chipset for the Asus A8n32-sli deluxe.

I think its a 7 channel oonboard audio chipset.

Its definately realtek.

I've also go some unknown devices...I am gonna assume its the 1394 controller and the broadcom gigabit network controller.

Also, are there any Nvidia motherboard drivers? Vista is complaining about my usb controller drivers, which are in-box.

 

I found this if it helps any Adryn, http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_community.html

Steve

 

I'm still working on it, with new drivers, thanks to Steve

I am still crashing left and right though.

 

I gave bad info. Its Marvell Yukon, and it has drivers. I'm using the x86 version...no clue what the unknown device is--others report it for the a8nsli32 too.

I turned off auto reboot, and it still reboots

 

I've just installed Beta2 x64, my first look at Vista. So far so good, no crashes and the only driver I had probs with was the modem that I never use.

I do find Vista is way slower than XP, I also read somewhere that this is a big compliant against Vista .. what experiences are ppl here having ?

I'm running an AMD64 4200+ with 2Gb RAM.