I have Windows Vista. Should I upgrade to Windows 8?


Recommended Posts

get windows 7, windows 8 feels like a beta os at the moment, yes its fast to start up but if you have a traditional device - laptop/desktop its not really built for you. its more for those fancy laptops you see on tv which turn into ipad like devices

Its only fast to startup because it never really shutdown in the first place

Disable fast boot and it takes the same length of time as 7

yes, disable something 7 doesn't have and it's just like 7...

that's sound thinking there

Do you actually know how fast boot works? Obviously not.

If 8 truly was faster than 7 at booting, you wouldn't be able to disable it, do some research.

I have been using Windows 8 on my Acer laptop for several months now, and I find that like many others, Windows 8 Irritates the hell out of me. If you do more than email or surf the web on your PC, stay far away from Windows 8.

Check out this thread on Reddit for more opinions on Windows 8.

http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/15rtbr/windows_8_proving_less_popular_than_vista/

At least 40 million people are using windows 8 now, so you can either trust the general population, or some fanboys on websites and blogs.

40 Million? No, I do not think so lol, source?

reasons to stick with vista:

  • you have old hardware that will never work on windows 8

Except that the specs quoted originally are more than sufficient to run Windows 8.

I have a core2duo with 2GB ram and some intel onboard graphics and it ran Windows 7 fine. It also runs Windows 8 with no hassle at all.

Just for fun I installed Vista SP2 in VMWare,

I set everything identically network wise for Vista as I have for every other OS I install there

Every other OS has no issues with the net once I reach the desktop (Linux > Windows )

Vista however

Untitled.jpg

If you have dealt with Vista for three years, then, given your specs, run, don't walk, to the nearest Windows 8 upgrade.

I agree. 8 will probably run better on 2GB than Vista IMO. At very least go to 7.

Just for fun I installed Vista SP2 in VMWare,

I set everything identically network wise for Vista as I have for every other OS I install there

Every other OS has no issues with the net once I reach the desktop (Linux > Windows )

Vista however

Untitled.jpg

Burns my eyes that does, and brings back horrible, horrible memories, nightmares in fact.

Do you actually know how fast boot works? Obviously not.

If 8 truly was faster than 7 at booting, you wouldn't be able to disable it, do some research.

Yes. Do you?

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/09/08/delivering-fast-boot-times-in-windows-8.aspx

Did it even work in NAT mode?

Just changed that to NAT and I have a connection :) , never had to do that before, so something was changed in Vista networking somewhere ?

Erm, yea I do and I don't need a website to explain it...... :/

Obviously you didn't until you fumbled your way to that site, or you wouldn't have quoted me as you did earlier.... fail

My old Acer Aspire gemstone laptop

Windows XP ---> Vista ----> 7 ----> Now Windows 8 Pro

Although no specific driver for Windows 8, it works wonderfully with windows 7 driver and is blazing fast compared to vista and 7...thanks to Windows Store, this laptop is still capable of getting cool apps and games every day

My old Acer Aspire gemstone laptop

Windows XP ---> Vista ----> 7 ----> Now Windows 8 Pro

Although no specific driver for Windows 8, it works wonderfully with windows 7 driver and is blazing fast compared to vista and 7...thanks to Windows Store, this laptop is still capable of getting cool apps and games every day

Similar story with my laptop

Vista Basic with Ultimate crapware > 7 Pre release > 7 > 8

Laptop was crippled with Vista, every update since then has been fine

Licenses =\= people using it right now. You're a fool if you believe 40 million people are using Windows 8 right now.

As for the question, it's a hard one. You're basically trying to select between 2 abominations, I would probably go 8 just for the fact you can hack it to make it a bit better.

Just changed that to NAT and I have a connection :) , never had to do that before, so something was changed in Vista networking somewhere ?

Some Hypervisors require that, as the virtual adapter might not be entirely compatible with vista or xp. Does Vmware workstation let you install a "legacy network adapter"??? that might help with the bridged networking.

NAT sometimes overcomes those issues.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

2 GB of RAM

Well my friend I have a Core 2 Duo T8300 (2.4 GHz) and upgrading to Windows 7 was blazing fast! Imagine you going to 8 which is slightly faster.

BTW, if you don't like the UI, just throw it a Start Menu hack and you're done.

Licenses =\= people using it right now. You're a fool if you believe 40 million people are using Windows 8 right now.

A Windows license is only sold when that computer with Windows 8 is activated. OEMs don't buy a bunch of licenses and hope to sell them one day,it doesn't work like that. When the computer is activated by the customer for the first time, that's when the license is sold and the OEM pays Microsoft.

And the only way bulk orders are counted is enterprise volume orders. So if people want to use that excuse, then it completely contradicts what they were saying about enterprise not wanting anything to do with windows 8.

But keep reading meaningless stats from some research groups that use some web hits or some other obscure method to calculate users, instead of using readily available real hard facts, and staying in denial.

Some Hypervisors require that, as the virtual adapter might not be entirely compatible with vista or xp. Does Vmware workstation let you install a "legacy network adapter"??? that might help with the bridged networking.

NAT sometimes overcomes those issues.

I`ll check properly tomorrow, right now I'm waiting for my pizza to cook and hoping I don't fall asleep with the oven on

Do me a favour and give me a Cat Slap to wake me up ;)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Glad I uninstalled this incredibly buggy browser. Looking at that changelog, they clearly don't test their updates at all.
    • UniGetUI 2026.2.2 by Razvan Serea UniGetUI is an application whose main goal is to create an intuitive GUI for the most common CLI package managers for Windows 10 and Windows 11, such as Winget, Scoop and Chocolatey. With UniGetUI, you'll be able to download, install, update and uninstall any software that's published on the supported package managers — and so much more. UniGetUI features Install, update and remove software from your system easily at one click: UniGetUI combines the packages from the most used package managers for windows: WinGet, Chocolatey, Scoop, Pip, Npm and .NET Tool. Discover new packages and filter them to easily find the package you want. View detailed metadata about any package before installing it. Get the direct download URL or the name of the publisher, as well as the size of the download. Easily bulk-install, update or uninstall multiple packages at once selecting multiple packages before performing an operation Automatically update packages, or be notified when updates become available. Skip versions or completely ignore updates in a per-package basis. Manage your available updates at the touch of a button from the Widgets pane or from Dev Home pane with UniGetUI Widgets. The system tray icon will also show the available updates and installed package, to efficiently update a program or remove a package from your system. Easily customize how and where packages are installed. Select different installation options and switches for each package. Install an older version or force to install a 32bit architecture. [But don't worry, those options will be saved for future updates for this package] Share packages with your friends to show them off that program you found. Here is an example: Hey @friend, Check out this program! Export custom lists of packages to then import them to another machine and install those packages with previously-specified, custom installation parameters. Setting up machines or configuring a specific software setup has never been easier. Backup your packages to a local file to easily recover your setup in a matter of seconds when migrating to a new machine Devolutions UniGetUI 2026.2.2 changelog: This release marks the completion of UniGetUI's migration from WinUI to Avalonia. With the remaining WinUI components and dependencies now removed, UniGetUI is fully powered by Avalonia. This update also brings Windows 11 Snap Layouts support, refined styling throughout the application, improved log viewing, new illustrations, and significantly smaller release packages. Highlights Further refined the Avalonia user interface to better match WinUI styling and behavior across package lists, navigation elements, dialogs, and controls. Added support for Windows 11 Snap Layouts when hovering the maximize button, matching the behavior of native Windows applications. Added illustrations for empty and loading package list states, improving visual feedback throughout the application. Improved the operation log window so automatic scrolling no longer interrupts users when reviewing previous log entries. Reduced installer and application package sizes, resulting in smaller downloads and a significantly leaner Windows distribution. User Interface Improvements Improved package list styling, column headers, backgrounds, hover states, and selection indicators for a more polished and consistent experience. Refined sidebar navigation and segmented controls to better align with modern Windows design patterns. Improved package tag badges and icon presentation throughout the application. Updated several labels, placeholders, and interface elements for improved clarity and consistency. Removed the remaining WinUI-specific styling dependencies, further consolidating the application around Avalonia. Windows Improvements Added native Windows 11 Snap Layouts integration for the maximize button. Improved maximize button hover and pressed visual states to more closely match native Windows behavior. Performance & Reliability Reduced the size of Windows release packages by removing unnecessary runtime dependencies and optimizing published builds. Reduced installer size through improved compression settings. Simplified application dependencies and reduced overall maintenance complexity. Fixes Fixed log output auto-scrolling behavior when manually reviewing previous entries. Resolved various UI inconsistencies and styling issues across the Avalonia interface. Addressed several minor issues and edge cases throughout the application. Other Changes Dependency cleanup and project maintenance. Internal code refactoring and infrastructure improvements. Additional test coverage and build pipeline optimizations. Download: UniGetUI 64-bit | Portable | ~90.0 MB (Open Source) Download: UniGetUI ARM64 | Portable Links: UniGetUI Home Page | GitHub | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • The best controller for XBOX and PC is down to the lowest price by Taras Buria Image via Neowin The GameSir G7 Pro is a fantastic controller for XBOX and PC. Officially certified, it works with Microsoft's consoles, mobile devices, and PCs, giving you a universal controller for any kind of gaming machine. And right now, you can save 20% on it, thanks to the latest deal during Prime Day 2026 (purchase link below). The G7 Pro has the classic XBOX layout, complemented by a couple of extra elements, such as the M button for changing various settings and four additional remappable buttons. It also has trigger locks and TMR sticks that eliminate drifting issues, giving you a reliable, long-lasting gamepad. The controller is powered by a built-in battery, which charges via a USB Type-C cable or the bundled dock station. The G7 Pro supports wireless (XBOX Wireless, proprietary dongle, or Bluetooth) and wired connectivity. In addition to software customization (you can remap multiple buttons to different actions), it lets you personalize the look by swapping the faceplate or grips, enabling multiple design combinations. Other features include a 1,000Hz polling rate, an audio jack for your headphones, Hall Effect triggers, and a swappable D-pad (two extra are included). The controller is also available in four color variants, and all of them are now discounted. Thanks to quality materials, reliable components, rich customization, universal compatibility, and an affordable price tag, the G7 Pro received very high praise in our review. It is certainly among the best controllers you can buy. GameSir G7 Pro - $63.99 | 20% off with Prime Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Microsoft further improving Windows 11 Taskbar with latest builds by Sayan Sen Microsoft has released new Windows 11 builds for users flighting the Experimental channels. The new builds are 26300.8758 for Windows 11 26H2, 28120.2374 for 26H1, and 29617.1000 for future platforms. There are improvements related to the Taskbar, File Explorer and more with the new update. The full changelogs are given below: First we have the build 26300.8758: Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out [Taskbar] Taskbar customization just got easier. As we continue to make improvements to the Taskbar experience mentioned last month, we've introduced a dedicated Taskbar Size setting, making it simpler to find, understand, and personalize your ideal taskbar experience. UI showing the new Taskbar Size setting in Settings. We've also made refinements to the transitions between taskbar sizes for a smoother overall experience. [File Explorer] We've improved the reliability of thumbnail previews for cloud files in the Details pane. The pane has also been reorganized so file properties are easier to find and review at a glance. Fixed an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run in administrative mode. Fixed an issue where the confirmation dialog might display an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file. [Sounds] Improved system sounds when using Windows in dark mode. Up next we have build 28120.2374: Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes [Mobile Device Settings] You can add and manage your mobile devices in Settings under Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile Devices. On this page, you can manage features such as using your device as a connected camera or accessing your device's files in File Explorer. [Remote Recovery Management] Added a recovery remote management plug-in to extend WinRE management capabilities for MDM providers. [Input] The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, delivering a smoother GIF browsing and sharing experience following the deprecation of the Tenor API. Finally we have the changelog for Windows 11 build 29617.1000: Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out [Windows Update] As announced in the Windows Update announce blog, we are now bringing a new unified update experience to reduce the number of reboots you see per month. We are starting by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with the monthly quality update, reducing the update experience to a single monthly restart. See the blog for more information. [Windows Magnifier] Magnifier now gives you more control over how you zoom. You can type an exact zoom percentage directly in the magnifier toolbar to land on precisely the level you need. We've also added preset step increments (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200%, and 400%) to the Settings dropdown, so you can jump to common levels in a single click. Whether you need a subtle boost or a dramatic close-up, Magnifier adapts to how you want to zoom. Enter an exact percentage or jump to preset steps —5% up to 400%. Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Magnifier. [Accessibility] We're introducing screen tint, a new accessibility setting that applies a color overlay across your entire display, softening its intensity so it's easier on your eyes throughout the day. If bright, saturated screens leave you with tired or sensitive eyes by the end of a long session, screen tint can help. Screenshot showing UI for screen tint in Accessibility, with color presets and a strength slider. To get started, open Settings > Accessibility (or press WIN + U) and look for screen tint under the Vision section. From there, you can: Pick from six preset colors or choose a custom color of your own. Adjust the tint strength slider from a subtle wash to full intensity. Night light warms your display to reduce blue light that can interfere with sleep. Screen tint reduces overall screen intensity to ease eye fatigue and light sensitivity during the day. They tackle different problems and you can use both at the same time, one working on warmth and the other on intensity. Note that turning on screen tint will disable color filters, and vice versa. If you currently rely on color filters, you might need to keep screen tint turned off. Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator. [Voice Access] Voice Access now supports Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), and Korean (South Korea). [Audio] Continuing our work on improving Sound Settings, we've made a few more updates in this build: We've adjusted the description text for the Allow option in properties for audio devices to include the current state of the device, to improve the clarity of the text and the purpose of the button actions. "Listen to this device" is now available in properties for audio devices, so you don't need to enter Control Panel for this functionality. [Multiple Desktops] Improved explorer reliability when switching between multiple desktops. [Storage] We've updated the dialog when creating a Dev Drive to now support specifying the size in GB instead of only MB. This has also been added when changing the size of volumes under Settings > System > Storage. [Personalization] This update improves color selection accuracy when adjusting your accent color to match your wallpaper when automatic accent color selection is enabled in Personalization settings. This update improves wallpaper persistence reliability across restarts and upgrades, including better support for large-resolution wallpapers and other scenarios to prevent solid color wallpaper fallback. [Display and Graphics] Improves the reliability and persistence of applying color profiles. You can view the official blog posts here (link1, link2, link3) on Microsoft's site.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      bernmeister earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      tuben earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      Reacting Well
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      441
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      196
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      154
    4. 4
      FloatingFatMan
      71
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      67
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!