Music, Personal Tech & Human Rights since 2005

Computers, NJN

Windows 7 or Vista, should you wait?

By Stephen Pate, NJN Network, January 17, 2009

We hate change and resist it with a passion. Now that the word is out about Windows 7, the articles are everywhere: should you wait for Windows 7, get Vista or try to keep Windows XP? CNET has a user story which is interesting if not instructive.

Of course you should upgrade to Vista. Why not? You heard it had bugs? For a generation raised on technology it’s hard to believe we are so stuck in the past.

Here’s a stunning revelation: every operating system since the beginning, since Noah pre-released Ark 1.0, had bugs and incompatible drivers, devices and programs. That’s the nature of technology. New things are better, hopefully, but always different and usually a bit of trouble. There is one law I’ve learned: you can’t go backwards in technology or life. Try driving your car backwards to the store, work or Toronto.

Everyone online and friends told me to avoid Vista and for the first time in my life I listened. When I bought two computers with Vista, I wasted time trying to revert to XP which is a great operating system but out of date. I got my copy of XP on 9/11 which is sort of weird but it ran out of steam eventually, like George Bush always talking about terrorists as if life didn’t move on. Wi-fi connections with Vista are much simpler for example.

HP ought to be shot for not updating their drivers to Vista sooner. They did this once or twice before and it reflects their muddle, lack of profit or stubbornness. It also gives their competitors a window of opportunity to take market share. Try a new printer manufacturer like Lexmark, Canon or Dell. HP aren’t the only or best printers on the market.

I use Sonar for audio recording and the bulletin boards tell you to stick with XP which is a crock. So we ran around trying to prop up Sonar on old XP boxes. Then Cakewalk upgraded Sonar, not Vista, to use Microsoft’s new and better audio drivers. Wow, Sonar works much faster with less latency. The lesson is Microsoft and the other manufacturers are in a competitive race to improve technology to meet our demands for faster, cheaper and more. When they make a leap forward, run with them. Should Microsoft have kept patching XP forever? Why?

Up until a few years ago, I liked to work at the beta stage for Windows, each and every version. It was exciting. We learned a lot and felt cool to keep ahead of the pack. I installed lots of trouble but none of that killed me and since people were paying me to be in the know that paid off.

And the silly talk didn’t start with Vista: it’s been the same right back to Windows 3.0. Oh, don’t install that or you’ll go blind. Windows NT? No stay with Novell. Windows for Workgroups? No that doesn’t work which was a lie because we had a WFWG system at work and one at home.

Naysayers are everywhere in life, even in technology. A lot of them write for magazines and feed on fear. Here’s my decision grid on when to upgrade:

– Like to try new things and learn from experience – beta stage
– Need some new feature or productivity – when released, you need and can afford it
– Somewhat nervous – wait one year or Service Pack 1
– Run a major IT network – at least SP 1 or 2
– Own a typewriter – stick with DOS

Stephen Pate was introduced to an IBM 360 in 1970 and it was love at first sight. In 1980 He founded Island Computer Ltd, a systems integrator, and Aquilium Software, an international water and electrical software developer, which he took public. He has been writing about technology since 1981. He has had a long term working relationship with Great Plains Software and Microsoft including participating in the world wide launch of Windows NT. When he has the time, he loves listening to complete Italian operas. He is a musician, songwriter, journalist, social advocate, business person and collector of life’s experiences who spends too much time on the computer.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.