By now it’s obvious that Microsoft’s latest and current operating system, Windows Vista, has been a big failure. The numbers do not lie, most people still prefer Windows XP over Windows Vista (see the numbers in my previous post).

Some people do like Windows Vista, but based on what I read from people’s experiences, I think most would rather go back to Windows XP or they can’t wait for Windows 7 to come out. Those who have never had any issues are the ones who like it. On the other hand, most people did have some kind of problem and they are not happy with the way Windows changed after Windows XP and therefore hate it. Let’s have a look why this is.

10 reasons why Windows Vista is not that great:

1. Windows Vista is slow – It takes long time to load.
2. It is demanding – Windows XP was too when it came out, but Vista is much more. It needs the latest hardware to run. If you have an older PC you don’t stand a chance.
3. It takes up resources – To run Vista smoothly and without delays, your PC needs at least 2GB RAM.
4. General usability – Windows Vista has different commands, buttons and it is not always clear what you have to do to arrive at a particular place. It is somewhat confusing and you need more time to get used to it. Control panel options have been changed, and navigating through folders is bit more complicated.
5. Cancel/Allow prompts – Whenever you want to install a program or perform some basic task, you get a message that asks you if you are sure that you want to perform this action. Then you have to confirm or cancel. (This option can be turned off)
6. Missing Drivers – It is difficult or even impossible to find Vista compatible drivers for some hardware, for example video cards and sound cards.
7. Compatibility issues – if your software worked with Windows XP and you upgraded to Windows Vista, it was likely that half of your programs didn’t work. You had to install new versions that worked with Vista or wait until they come out. Some examples include DVD burning software, firewalls and antivirus software. By now most programs are compatible but others still have some issues.
8. Problem solving – When you have a problem with the operating system, Windows Vista connects to the Internet to look for a solution but very often it doesn’t find anything. Then you are on your own.
9. Cost – considering how many problems Vista causes, it is not worth the money needed for an OS upgrade.
10. Security – A new operating system that is fairly new and untested is always an easy target and can be exploited by hackers and viruses. Plus, with so many incompatible programs, your security software choices are limited. More than two years after it has been released, Windows Vista still has issues.