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Bob Faletra

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I, like many others have been suffering with Windows Vista for years now.I didn't listen to my solution provider friends that told me not to move to Vista.

I've lived with it because it was the latest from Microsoft and I like to be current--it's a sickness I can't rid my body of.

Mind you I have 12 computers in my house (don't ask me why because there are only four people in the house) with nearly an even split between PCs and MACs.

Over the past few months both Apple and Microsoft have come to market with new operating systems.

So why did I rush out and get the new Snow Leopard from Apple the day after it shipped but I'm so hesistant to do the same with Win 7?

Because I'm scared right down to my motherboard about what might happen if I try to install this sucker.

I know I should. I know it has to be better than that dreaded Vista. But I also know that I might find myself with far too many issues if the install doesn't go flawlessly--and I know it won't.

I'm afraid I won't be able to get the printer to work. I'm scared the networked backup drives won't connect. I'm worried I'll have to chase down the activation code on my Microsoft Office copy and then try to get that reauthorized by someone answering the phone in a foreign country who I can hardly understand. Then I'll have to do the same with five other programs sold to me by companies that have rigged it so it's impossible for me to actually talk to a live person. I'm concerned a dozen other problems will pop up and require me to spend hours tinkering with some obscure setting that will take me a week to find. I'm afraid some information box will pop up during the install that was written by a brilliant engineer that can't write in a language I or anyone else can understand.

Somehow I just don't know that I want to pay Microsoft $199 and then suffer for the entire weekend trying to get it all working.

I guess this boils down to this; Microsoft has an image problem and Apple doesn't. Why is that?

In the end we should all be thankful about Microsoft's image problem because it drives business to solution providers.

So let me ask you. Should I make the Win 7 jump or not?

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Tags: bob_faletra, microsoft, faletra, windows_7


Nov 4, 2009 8:29 PM Wayne Wayne  

Windows 7 is the best operating system ever ;-)
Nov 4, 2009 9:13 PM Henx Henx  

Jump! Jump! Haha Just do it. I like you have about 12 machines, all mostly PC's tho, just three macs. I have Win 7 on 8 machines and to be honest with you I have never had any problems(going on 6 months). But the problems you are having disappear with 7. Win 7 gives new meaning to the term "plug-n-play". Try it on one of your machines, you wont be disappointed.
Nov 5, 2009 8:39 AM KenS KenS  

I think that you are justified thinking that Win7 will be a bear to work properly with everything, but to be honest, when I installed the Win7 Beta on my notebook (over top of Vista), magically my dual boot of WinXP worked, where it didn't with Vista.  Vista was another Millenium Edition mess up by Microsoft, and they tried very hard to make Win7 operate like XP, but have the glitz and functionality/look and feel of Vista, without all the annoying security alerts and pop-ups.  Definately check with the software vendors that you have installed on your current windows machines to see if there will be any compatibility problems, but 7 is FAR SUPERIOR to Vista and may even be better than XP!
Nov 5, 2009 9:24 AM bob faletra bob faletra  
Nov 5, 2009 1:38 PM BWalter BWalter  

Hope you don't have any Guest accounts on your Snow Leopard machine.....:)

 

FYI...Windows 7 is AWESOME! Yes, I know, very MACish but hey.....
Nov 5, 2009 7:37 PM Gisabun Gisabun  

Hmmm. Why did you install Snow Leopard right away but were hesitant for Windows 7? Maybe it's because you like all the hype that Apple dumps out there.

 

If it takes you a weekend to sort out the issues with Windows 7, it's a PEBKAC problem.

 

Just a reminder that within weeks of Snow Leopard's release 10.6.1 came out and then 10.6.2. Now that is quite fast. Shows that Apple programmers are too busy partying [or whatever] than proper coding. Since the 10.6.0. release, problems with syncing with Palms, guest account issues [who keeps guest accounts open?], problems with upgrading from 10.x to 10.6.0 (related to accounts), wtc.

 

BTW, PEBKAC = PErson Between Keyboard And Chair
Nov 5, 2009 8:17 PM Henx Henx  

"Yes, I know, very MACish but hey....."

 

Damn I know...cant stand that default size for icons hahaha..first thing i changed.
Nov 6, 2009 2:42 PM KenS KenS  

Wow, looks like quite a few people have drank the Microsoft "Kool-Aid" and are die-hard fans on this posting.  I've had my fair share of issues with MS installs and uninstalls/updates and compatibility and can understand how other people are cautious and don't want to WASTE money getting as OS that is as buggy and annoying as ME or Vista was...horrible that the technical experts that are supposed to be commenting are blaming the User for install headaches and issues...but I guess that is the way MS people operate - Just like the commercials ;-)

 

PEBKAC can be the issue, but the Customer is Always right and adding insult to injury only further perpetuates the ineviatable move...how many updates did MS have the first week or two after Vista rollout?  How many "patches" are required per week on MS systems vs. Apple systems?  I'm sure there are compelling arguments for both sides, but blame shouldn't be placed squarely on the shoulders of the poor novice who is trying to install an OS, but rather the person who sold the software to them not giving them enough direction or support to do so successfully!
Nov 6, 2009 3:05 PM Gisabun Gisabun  

I must be lucky or maybe I just don't like upgrading OSs. I have yet to experience any issue with an update [at least that I can't handle].

 

Ever wonder why many companies hold off in installing a new OS? To let all the kinks get out. They wait for service pack 1.

 

"how many updates did MS have the first week or two after Vista rollout" - You can put that as an indicater. Win 7 has been out since August [for companies and IT pros. It only was just last month's updates where there were updates. So no updates in August or September. And no security updates for November scheduled.

 

Meanwhile OS X 10.6 was updated to 10.6.1 within a few weeks and now 10.6.2 is out [or will be]. 10.6.1. was already 71MB. The updates are accumulated. So 10.6.2 will be larer and so on. This could happen maybe 6-8 times a year. 10.5.8 hits 759MB!!!

 

The customer may always be right is more of a customer service phrase. Anyone who has done support knows that a customer with computer problems may not admit that they did something wrong. "Oh. I never had any malware." Only to find evidence of AntiVirus 2009. I've done various levels of support for close to 15 years. I may give them some leway at the beginning I know that the is a decent chance that I won't be told the whole story.

 

There are plenty of times where it *IS* the users' fault. Recently students trying to get their cheap $30 upgrade had problems upgrading. Why? They didn't read directions [so much for higher education]. They were trying to upgrade from XP 32-bit or Vista 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit. Microsoft stated clearly on the site that you can't upgrade. Anyone with enough Microsoft OS experience knows this.
bob faletra

bob faletra

 Member since: Mar 27, 2007

My take on the going and comings in the industry

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