Multimedia Reporting (Adler-Utsler)

“I hate it, absolutely hate it very much.” said freshman Sandell Stangl about Microsoft’s new operating system Widows Vista. “Everyone I’ve talked to that knows about computers hates it,” he said.

With its release in January, Microsoft promised Vista would be safer, faster, and more user-friendlier than previous systems like 2002’s Windows XP operating system. However, since then, the system has not lived up to expectations.

Four months ago Stangl spent $230 for a Vista Premium Pack, but then deleted it from his computer because of numerous problems. One problem Stangl encountered was with playing games on it. He played one round of a one game and then it simply didn’t work.

Searching for a solution, Stangl went to the Microsoft troubleshooting website, but to no avail. He even contacted Microsoft via phone, but they said they couldn’t do anything about the conflict.

“It’s a relatively new operating system that desperately needs fixing. Windows Vista is a downgrade from Windows XP, ” Stangl said. He said people interested in upgrading a computer should buy either Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Edition.

However, Stangl is only one of a recent of wave of people who have experienced many problems with the system.

Freshman Bradley Thaw, a “computer guy” according to friend’s accounts, sat alone in Naismith’s narrow computer lab working on homework. “I’ve had it [Vista] for one month and it crashed today,” he said from the lab. Thaw summed Vista up as, “A better looking version of XP,” but that “too many background services and protection decrease its [Vista’s] speed and performance.”

Although, unlike Stangl, Thaw didn’t buy a copy of Vista— it came with the new computer he bought—like all new PCs. However, he’s still experienced many problems with it, especially when using the Internet. “Whenever I play a sound or music it slows down the Internet,” he said.

Sophomore Eric Kuch echoed Thaw’s comments. He said, “If you run Windows media player your speed drops significantly (online).”

Another internet-related problem Kuch dealt with was setting up accounts on the University of Kansas’ Internet provider Resnet. He said the problem with Vista is “You need Internet Explorer seven and Java to run the Internet, but Vista won’t allow Java,” he said. He said he installed Java via disc to get the Internet to work.

Though Kuch has used Vista he doesn’t have it installed on his computer. He said the only reason to buy it would be for the Direct X 10 graphics card, (unavailable elsewhere) which is a very powerful card that makes things look more realistic.

Another Vista feature, it’s security system, was supposed to ease user’s worries, but in fact has done the opposite.

Kuch said every time you try to run a program or do a simple task like right clicking on your computer’s properties, a message pops up.

“A box will pop up asking you basically, “Are you sure?” Kuch said.

As for the annoying questions, Stangl said, “Vista doesn’t have an option to turn [only] these off.” He too said any time he would run a program the computer asks if it’s ok to run it. He said you either deal with all the security features or none of them, which includes turning off any anti-virus protection.

The excessive security features have been so unpopular that Stangl said he’s only spoken to one person who has liked them, but said that this was because this person later figured out how to uninstall them.

Despite its many problems Thaw said he’s not going to switch operating systems though. “I’m going to wait until a service pack comes out. I think it will solve most of the problems.”

Thaw said the second service pack for Windows XP solved a lot of its problems. “Service packs are the only way to go,” he said.

Despite its problems, according to Microsoft, Vista sold more than 20 million copies of its new operating system in one month after its release. The company said this was double the number of copies sold during the first month of Windows XP’s release and more than the number of copies of XP sold in the first two months of its release.

In a March press release Microsoft said the figures, “reflect the broad interest in the security and usability enhancements in Windows Vista.”

Though, in response to user complaints, on August 29th Microsoft’s senior vice president of the windows core operating system division Jon DeVaan announced Microsoft is releasing a Service Pack for Vista.

In a Q & A news release from the company, DeVaan said the pack is slated for release in the first quarter of 2008. DeVaan added, “We’re making a beta available to more than 10,000 people in the next few weeks – that’s a critical step for us on the road to release, and we’re looking forward to the feedback we’ll get.”

To improve the system DeVaan said Microsoft draws on, “Windows Vista’s built-in, automated feedback systems, such as the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) and Windows Error Reporting (WER).”

Devaan said the new service pack will “address specific reliability and performance issues that have been discussed on many self-help forums, such as copying files and shutdown time.”

As compared to previous Microsoft operating systems, Devaan said, “We think Windows Vista is one of the best versions of Windows we’ve ever released, and, just like with past Windows releases, the servicing model is about continuously improving the quality of the code after it is released and keeping up with an evolving PC ecosystem.”

Financially, Windows Vista’s problems have not had a significant effect on its stock price, which was $30.53, a share on January 29th (before Vista’s release) and $28.91 as of September 6th.