[SadisticSid]

the only real reason to upgrade an os is because you need code that can take advantage of newer hardware technology. running an old os on a new computer is just a major performance hit. so that part they had best do from scratch.

Not really. There's not much, apart from the use of 64-bit and multi-core processors, that has been introduced in the last five years. XP drives practically every bit of modern hardware in native mode. Vista will come with support for both, although which of the 20-or-so versions will allow it I couldn't say. I can't imagine how an average Vista system running Doom 3 or whatever will be able to outperform the same one running Windows XP, purely on the basis that Vista will occupy more memory. It will also very likely consume more CPU time, as unless they've optimised things immensely, or taken out unnecessary services, the extra functionality trumpeted by Microsoft will need to be running too. I hope I'm wrong though.

[jr2]

Hey, is one of the new features in Vista a new and improved BSOD that actually tells you why you're screwed?

[ZmaN]

Hey, is one of the new features in Vista a new and improved BSOD that actually tells you why you're screwed?

hey thats a good thing.  End users hate BSoD's....

Especially me!

[jr2]

...remember from Win 9x:
'This program has performed an illegal operation.  Please wait for the computer police to arrive.'

[Mars]

I thought Vista will have a RSoD

[jr2]

I thought Vista will have a RSoD

Aha, I knew it!!  There's the improvement!  Ladies and Gentlemen, after five years of extensive coding, Microsoft is proud to announce that they will be changing the color on the Automated Capillary Blowing feature that has been included with WinDOwS since its inception.  This decision was made after research found that the new screen color will more closely match the faces of WinDOwS users when the ACBf activates.

[NGTM-1R]

Hey, is one of the new features in Vista a new and improved BSOD that actually tells you why you're screwed?

I haven't seen a BSoD since...since...Jesus, since I last tried to run Battlecruiser Millenium. I wouldn't even have known XP HAD a BSoD if not for Derek Smart.

[Bobboau]

I hit a few of them when I first got my compter and the BIOS settings were a bit wacky and the primary hard drive was fuct.

[jr2]

Just gotta love it when the main hard disk goes.  Only thing worse is having bad RAM and thinking that it's the hard drive.

[Nuke]

windows vista better be less sensitive to bios tweaks. sence ive been using xp ive actually been afraid to tweak my bios. i did once and windows freaked, i changed it back and windows was still dead, so i had to reinstall. not that i dont back up but god damn i have of stuff to reinstall.

[Turnsky]

windows vista better be less sensitive to bios tweaks. sence ive been using xp ive actually been afraid to tweak my bios. i did once and windows freaked, i changed it back and windows was still dead, so i had to reinstall. not that i dont back up but god damn i have of stuff to reinstall.

you'll find that XP will freak out to a completely new motherboard, too.

[WMCoolmon]

Hey, is one of the new features in Vista a new and improved BSOD that actually tells you why you're screwed?

I haven't seen a BSoD since...since...Jesus, since I last tried to run Battlecruiser Millenium. I wouldn't even have known XP HAD a BSoD if not for Derek Smart.

 

Derek Smart:  Introducing New Fu(n)c(k)tionality of windows.

[IPAndrews]

A RSoD is just going to make you more angry surely.

[diceman111]

the only real reason to upgrade an os is because you need code that can take advantage of newer hardware technology. running an old os on a new computer is just a major performance hit. so that part they had best do from scratch.

Not really. There's not much, apart from the use of 64-bit and multi-core processors, that has been introduced in the last five years. XP drives practically every bit of modern hardware in native mode. Vista will come with support for both, although which of the 20-or-so versions will allow it I couldn't say. I can't imagine how an average Vista system running Doom 3 or whatever will be able to outperform the same one running Windows XP, purely on the basis that Vista will occupy more memory. It will also very likely consume more CPU time, as unless they've optimised things immensely, or taken out unnecessary services, the extra functionality trumpeted by Microsoft will need to be running too. I hope I'm wrong though.

Maybe not an old game like Doom 3 but most likely for newer game such as Oblivion and the ones that will be released after Vista are released you will gain a performance boost since they will be able to take advantage of the fact that Vista have better support for Multi core processors and 64-bit processors and the new Direct X 10, even thoug that one will come to Xp aswell I guess.

Besides it looks better 

/Dice

[Descenterace]

If an app is single-threaded, it can't make use of multiple CPUs no matter how good the OS is, and if it's not compiled for 64-bit CPUs it won't receive any benefits from running on a 64-bit CPU.
There'll be a small performance boost, though, because the OS has to run stuff in the background while the game is running. Also, many games run sound on a seperate thread.

[neoterran]

Well, sorry to necro this, but it's better than starting a new one.

So Vista has been final for a month now.

I've recently had the chance to upgrade my FS:SCP installation to the latest things (thanks taylor) and I have to say, it works flawlessly on vista with the very latest video card drivers. In fact, since nvidia had to redo their video card drivers, i actually think my openGL is better than it was before.

I had some serious problems running freespace on the late beta and RC1 builds, so I'm glad this cleared up nicely. I think most of the problem was the poor graphic card driver support during the beta process.

[Taristin]

ATi is still yet to offer good drivers. The current crop for Vista lacks OGL, and crashes my card. (Though, admittedly, the drivers are for the RTM version of vista. not RC1)

[ChronoReverse]

So the latest special nvidia betas include OGL now?  GAH.

I am still raging at the lack of OGL for the ATi drivers.

[brozozo]

So, when is Vista going to be released?

[achtung]

So, when is Vista going to be released?

January 30 is the set date for the general populace.