Okay, I haven't read through this thread, so sorry if this is repeat.
Why was Vista a flop? Was it because it was a bad OS? No. It was because of hardware problems. It was more demanding and resource hogging than old 2K and XP. Run Vista on decent hardware, and it was a pretty good OS. Now, why does 8 have the chance to be a flop? Because of Metro. IMO, I think some people don't like it because it is CHANGE. A lot of people don't like change, and that's why people hate it. Now, yes, 8 is built for a touch screen monitor, but it is a decent OS on a regular monitor and mouse and keyboard system. 8 is fast, and stable, and if you give consumers the option to disable Metro, it will do FAR better than if you don't.
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Well spoken! Vista is a good OS if you are running the older version on adequate hardwares starting off with at least 2gb of memory despite the MS goof originally made about a 512mb minimum! The OEMs loved the way they "cut corners" still seeing new desktops and laptops shipped out with only 512mb installed.
The security and stability issues that compromised XP were addressed in Vista however as well as the improved crash control. XP would simply end up blue screening far more often. Compatibility issues with older programs and lack of drivers suppoort were the main items on the list however besides the larger kernel that tended to weight the older version down ended up seeing a bad rep.
The CP here was found to be reliable as well for what it was being a new version with some enhancements and a few much needed improvements as far as the MS side of virus/malware protection namely a renamed MS Security Essentials to replace a worthless Windows Defender that never did much! Other core elements have also seen a further development of the MinWin kernel brought in first with 7. At least MS is continuing on with the modular type kernel to see that part of Windows made progressive.
The way MS decided to trash the desktop concept however by the way they implemented the "Modern" or whatever it will carry for a name is why most are up in arms about the drastic gui changes best suited for an embedded OS not for any form of standard desktop platform.
I like change. Most people do. That is why they buy new things - that is why we all have mobile phones. That is why "New" is often plastered all over packaging for all kinds of products.
I don't like win8.
At first I had to get used to the changes even 7 brought in while they were found to be favorable and well orchestrated over the contrast seen with 8. When speaking about Vista with it's sidebar annoyance you could easily disable that from auto loading. Not the Modern however!
It's not simply bringing in the Start screen idea for touchscreen monitors making this type of interface available but how MS went about stripping the common denominators of a traditional desktop OS out without leaving any options for the user! The 3.1 to 95 change of gui there was the best move MS ever made gui wise and was seen as progress.
Touchscreen support was improved with 7 but how MS is trashing the Desktop for Modern? How MS is bringing the gui changes this time however leaves much to be desired. While playing party favors to rivel the fruit company on the mobile market along with any improvement as far as touchscreen technology they seem to have abandoned the desktop user!
So how does it look in the long run? Here without being able to set WMP as the default playback medium for video capture/vcd projects and relying on some 3rd party program like VLC 7 still picks up the slack 8 would now be bringing in! Compatibility issues to some extent otherwise would be the normal thing to expect to some extent with any new version to come.
As for IE while one version will come default with each new version to follow IE 6 for XP, IE 7 for Vista, IE 8 for 7, and now IE 10 for 8 IE 8 seems to have been the best so far with 7 being a vast improvement for Vista to replace the practically useless IE 6 filled with too many security holes. IE 9 could be problematic while the beta for 10 had been looking better.
With the 64bit Windows in use here the solution was to be found elsewhere however yet still needing IE at times for a select list of things like software updates. The next version however is still seeing some rough edges until being finalized and seen out with 8 and no longer just the beta form as seen with the CP and RP builds. Once you see IE 10 available for Vista/7 then you will know the finished 10 is out.
