My gut reaction so far is that the problem is not so much with Vista per se, but with software compatibility problems. In any case, I'm sticking with XP until the major issues are resolved.....

People were complaining about XP a few yrs ago when it came out too. So, what's new?

Good point, Ronk. I think the difference is that XP was a major improvement over 95/98/98SE/ME, and the jump was worth it in spite of the problems. I'm not sure that's the case, going from XP (SP2) to Vista.

These complaints are very different involving basic operability. Windows XP works effectively for users, but Vista is flawed in significant ways making its usability dubious if at all.

Major PC vendors are actively sidestepping selling PC's with Vista installed, something they did not do when XP was introduced.

Our office/department tried Vista when it came out and it was such a disaster that we are back to Windows XP. It wa not our choice to switch but a higher up choice that was a HUGE mistake.

dave

Vista works plent effectively for me. I have not had a single problem with Vista - no crashes, lockups, blue screens - everything works. In fact Vista runs faster on my PC then XP did all thanks to things like pre-fetch and readyboost. All of my problems have stemmed from 3rd party software/hardware companies that are waaaay behind in creating Vista compatible drivers/patches, software. Is it Microsoft's fault that HP is incredibly slow updating all of their print drivers, if at all? They (HP) knew it was coming.

Obviously then you are not using a calibrated and profiled monitor and color management.

It sounds to me like you are blaming Microsoft for 3rd party vendors not keeping up. Why do people always feel the need to blame Microsoft when their beloved 3rd party stuff no longer works on a substantially *NEW* opperating system when ALL of the vendors knew of the upcoming changes no less than a year (more like 2 or 3) in advance. It's up to the vendors to keep up or go away. And actually I do have a calibrated profile for my moniter through ATi (not that I need it, but it's there). You might be having problems because Vista has very minimal OpenGL support and has gone pretty much exclusively Direct 3D.

The failure of color management with Vista is not a 3rd party issue. And what you refer to is not calibration and profiling of a display/monitor, so as you suggest it is really not an issue you apparently concern yourself with. You must not be doing color matched prints generated from Photoshop, for instance.

The Vista CM problem is quite simple. The new security system frequently triggers an on-screen security alert window, like when you upload image files from a camera. When that alert window pops up it nullifies the video screen setup generated at boot-up, so to restore normal screen values and function you have re-boot the system.

A complete description of the Vista color management problem can be read at: http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/Vista's_New_Color_Management_System_-_WCS

There are two sections in the body of this report under "Shortcomings" and "Authorization Bug" that are of serious importance to anyone doing critical photographic color work on a PC running Vista.

Here is a link to a 2 min video on u-tub that solves all vista problems

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVbf9tOGwno&mode=related&search= web page

Aahh... now I see what you are talking about. I guess, yes, that would be a problem. You could always turn UAC off, but that kind of defeats the purpose of Vista's better security and then you just have really cool looking XP. If there is enough noise I am sure Microsoft will produce a hotfix/update for the problem.

Oh, and let me guess Dave,... you use a MAC. I saw the video months ago when Vista was released. Looks more like someone with too much $$ and too much time.

I run both Windows and Apple Mac, the latter only in the last few years, Windows since the beginning. If you have to turn security off to get functioning color management, you are right all that's left is XP with a pretty face. So although I have a copy of Vista, I will continue to run XP until probably the fix comes in the first Service Pack, which is likely to be a ways off yet. The sad part is according to the latest news from C-net, Microsoft is strong arming PC makers to install Vista in new machines, countering Dell's policy to continue to offer new PC's with XP. The result has been more activity towards selling PC's with Linux installed. But GIMP is really no substitute for Photoshop.

It's (GIMP) not a bad substitute considering the price
Ahhh, if only I could afford Photoshop...

No nick
I have 3 windows machines...I still think the video is funny