Comparing Windows Vista And Windows Xp

[george]

Here is an article comparing Windows Vista and Windows XP in the areas of security, home entertainment, GUI, parental controls, and networking. The author clearly believes that Vista wins across these categories:

Definitive guide: Windows Vista and XP head to head

So you’ve heard all the hype about Windows Vista, but wonder what it means for you. Here’s the definitive guide on how Microsoft’s Windows Vista stacks up against XP:

SECURITY FEATURES

XP: In the original Windows XP, and with the first service pack or SP1, both versions still in use today, Windows XP has a built-in firewall that gave relatively good protection against hackers breaking into your computer.

The 2nd service pack, or SP2, improved the firewall to protect you from people trying to get it, and bad programs trying to get access out to the Internet, but it is still considered relatively basic compared with commercial offerings. Anyone serious about security should replace it with a good third party firewall or Internet security suite. All versions of Windows XP are also able to be set to download Windows updates automatically.

VISTA: Vista has a similar but improved firewall to Windows XP SP2, but anyone who is serious about their security will still replace it with a third party firewall or Internet security suite. Internet Explorer 7 has an ‘anti-phishing’ filter, but is known to slow down your surfing experience a little as sites you visit are checked by Microsoft’s servers for phishing attack dangers.

However IE7 and Firefox 2.0 have both been rated as only having partial success in detecting phishing sites, and as such have both earned a rating of ‘pretty terrible’ for anti-phishing prowess by us at Free Access (Tech.Blroge).

A new ‘user account control’ system tries to protect you from yourself, so you don’t accidentally make changes to important system settings without being warned first. However pressing the ‘ok’ button lets you do whatever you want anyway, and experienced users will just be annoyed. What did I do? I turned it off completely and am not bothered by it anymore. You’ll probably do the same, too.

Windows also has a new ‘randomization’ layer, which slightly changes the memory configuration of every Vista machine to make it harder for co-ordinated attacks to affect scores of machines at the same time.

Vista also has made protections to the ‘kernel’ or core of the operating system, with a protective measure known as ‘PatchGuard’, but this only extends to the 64-bit version of Vista, a version which most of us won’t be using for at least a couple of years. Most consumers will be using the 32-bit version of Vista which does not have ‘PatchGuard’ built-in.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

XP: Windows XP has always been able to play mp3 and video files, CDs, DVDs (with third party software), streaming media files and other forms of digital media with relative ease over the years.

An updated version of Windows XP, known as the Media Center Edition upgraded the digital media experience of Windows, giving it a dedicated interface to watch, record and pause live TV, play photos, videos and music, listen to FM and online radio stations and more.

VISTA: Finally, the Media Center capabilities comes built-into most versions of Windows Vista aside from the basic, entry level version. It has also been enhanced over the previous version, although reviewers claim it has not received as much of an improvement as the rest of Windows has over previous versions.

Vista also plays most other forms of digital media through it’s own Windows Media Player software, with a whole host of competing media players available to download, many free of charge, from the Internet.

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

XP: Ridiculed as being the ‘Fischer Price’ version of the Windows 2000 interface, Windows XP was still a fresh update upon its release 5 years ago. Today, however, will still perfectly functional, it is starting to look a little long in the tooth, with Apple’s Mac OS X offering Vista like graphics for several years already.

VISTA: Very cool looking 3D icons, transparent ‘glass’ windows and other lovely eye candy such as the ‘Flip 3D’ way of flipping through open windows. This new graphics system is called ‘Aero’. However this will require a graphics card with enough grunt.

Older laptops may not be able to support the full Aero graphics experience, and will default to a mode which looks similar but lacks most of the eye candy effects, such as the transparent windows and Flip 3D effect.

A system wide desktop search engine is built-into Vista and is fully activated. Interestingly XP has a similar function but it was never explained properly, with most people very familiar with XP’s annoyingly slow search capabilities. Vista’s built-in search is fast, like Google’s Desktop Search, and is great to have already built-in.

There’s also the ‘Sidebar’ which gives you access to downloadable mini programs and widgets to display images, the time, sports scores and other information at a glance, with lots of sidebar gadgets being written and on the way, especially so with the consumer launch on January 30th, 2007.

PARENTAL CONTROLS

XP: Without third party software, the parental controls in Windows XP were rather limited and really didn’t prevent children from visiting inappropriate sites on the Internet.

VISTA: Excellent parental controls are built-into Vista, mirroring the powerful features that today’s third party software offers to parents today. Parents have control over the sites their children visit, and are able to see every site they visit or tried to visit.

The software lets parents determine what times computer use is allowed, which games they play and software they run, and are able to track email messages and instant messages that their children send.

NETWORKING

XP: Unless you know what you’re doing, Microsoft’s ‘set up Wizard’ for wired and wireless networks could seemingly never be counted on to actually work, leading to many frustrations for people simply trying to network two or more computers together.

VISTA: A great deal of concerted effort has gone into making Vista the easiest operating system to network with others, especially other Vista systems, so that anyone, even without massive computing experience, can easily set up a wired or wireless network.

While that sounds positively delightful, does Mr Iemma really know what he is getting himself in for? To start with, the NSW Government has now decided it is going to be an Internet Service Provider to compete with publicly run companies.

-- Blog

[bubba]

Today, however, will still perfectly functional, it is starting to look a little long in the tooth, with Apple’s Mac OS X offering Vista like graphics for several years already.

OSX offering "Vista like graphics". Isn't that a bit backwards? It's more like Vista makes an attempt at being Mac OSX-like.

[Meerkat]

Today, however, will still perfectly functional, it is starting to look a little long in the tooth, with Apple’s Mac OS X offering Vista like graphics for several years already.

OSX offering "Vista like graphics". Isn't that a bit backwards? It's more like Vista makes an attempt at being Mac OSX-like.

Agreed, and the system-wide search tool sounds the same as the OSX Spotlight. Come to think of it, the Sidebar would seem to be the same as Mac's Dashboard, and the Media Centre the same as Front Row. I'm no Mac evangelist (I quite happily use both OSX and XP), but Vista seems to be playing catch-up here, and Apple releases Leopard in 07 (IIRC) which looks like another leap forward from the current Tiger.

[quiksilva]

That's always been the case I think.

But if you need wide ranging compatibility (for gaming, and various other applications etc) then M$ will be the way to go.

[friend2]

When XP first came out I was impressed by the new graphical interface

cause it looked better than previous OS's released by MS.

After about a week I did however switch back to classic style.

Why ?

Simply cause it's the fastest interface/graphics.

(I mean it's a lot faster.)

Anyone doing serious work wont need or want all the candy.

I'm sure i'll do the same the day I migrate to Vista.

That means bye bye "Aero" or whatever it's called.

From reports that I have read Vista takes up about 500 mb of ram

in idle !!

No thank you for me.

I'd wait at least 2 years before even considering this new OS until

the hardware has caught up with it.

When XP came out, a good midrange pc had approx 1 ghz and 128 ram.

It took about 2 years before that midrange pc reached the speed and memory range where XP actually works satisfactory.

Another bonus is if you wait, when you buy a new pc, you don't have to loose your hair looking for drivers that works.

Edited December 4, 2006 by friend2

[bubba]

That's always been the case I think.

But if you need wide ranging compatibility (for gaming, and various other applications etc) then M$ will be the way to go.

Not sure what you mean by this. True, there are far more kiddie games written for Windows, but I have yet to find a major application written for Windows that does not have an equal or better application written for OSX. Just curious, could you name some of those "various other applications" for which OSX has no equivalent?

Compatability? For what sort of file? Graphics files, PDFs, even Microsoft Office files are all compatibile in Winsows or in OSX. What sort of files are you having compatabilty problems with between Windows and OSX?

[richard10365]

I'll wait for "Windows Vista - Pantip Edition"

[cdnvic]

I'll wait for "Windows Vista - Pantip Edition"

Enjoy your Panthip edition.

[endure]

I'll wait for "Windows Vista - Pantip Edition"

Enjoy your Panthip edition.

Presumably, when all the pirating stops, Microsoft will be able to drop the retail price of Vista as they won't be losing any money

[bubba]

I'll wait for "Windows Vista - Pantip Edition"

Enjoy your Panthip edition.

Presumably, when all the pirating stops, Microsoft will be able to drop the retail price of Vista as they won't be losing any money

Yes, the nice people at MS are well known for their warm hearted and generous discounting of product prices once they makes back their investment costs. But when did MS start losing money on Windows anywhere? :-)

Interesting to note that about ten years ago, I was at a reception in Beijing that was also attended by the Microsoft country manage (an American). The story going around was that MS was accepting, or even encouraging the spread of pirated MS software in China's still-young PC market, so as to get a tight hold on the market and steer them clear from nasty things like Linux. So we asked him: is it true that MS tolerates pirated Windows and Office in China?

The China country manager smiled, had another sip of wine and said "I'm not saying, but if you can think of a better strategy to ensure total market capture in a place where nobody wants to pay for your product, please let me know". Today, Windows has a very good grip on China and MS and the US Commerce Department are turning the screws on China to crack down on pirated software. Now China will have to pay!

Similarly, in Thailand's "People's Computer" project, the first round of cheap "people's computers" were produced and sold with Linux installed, and the project was very successful. With the next round of people's computers, Microsoft bid a price of around 1000 baht for an installation that included both Windows AND Office. Yes, for 1000 baht! Guess that went a long way in killing off local Thai Linux development. When Thailand sells prawns at a suspciously low price in America, it's called dumping and trade penalties are imposed. When America dumps Windows/Office at a loss in Thailand, MS gains market share.

Edited December 4, 2006 by bubba

[quiksilva]

Actually Bubba you've got me on that one, I rescind my comment. Im mostly concerned about 'kiddie games' so if you like gaming Vista will be preferable to OSX.

[moonoi]

I'm just downloading Vista now (not a dodgy copy, I have an MSDN Subscription ). Its a huge download, nearly 3Gb as a DVD or comes on 5 CDs'

Can't wait to give it a try though, can't be any worse than XP

That said now that OSX runs on intel kit, I wish Apple would make a general release of it. I really liked it when I had my powerbook and preferred it to XP. Seems unfair that Apple users can run both OSX and Windows

[A_Traveller]

There is one area which may have serious ramifications which is presently being ignored, except in specialist technical circles.

Vista internals manage video in a different {allegedly secure} manner. The aim of this, is of course, to make it more difficult to copy or otherwise re-direct video content, the so-called analogue hole, primarily within HD formatted conent. However, the present position appears to be that HD rendering will require a confirmation of the codec and source. If the OS decides that the codec or the player or the content is not 'certified' then the OS decides if you can watch the video and in what resolution. There are other concerns here too, suggest a search on PVP-OPM if you want to catch up on this.

There are other 'features' within the new Office which show the way forward within the MS world is towards increasing control of content, even if you are the author, the innocuous sounding phrase at the moment is Digital Rights Management. However, it does not take one long to realise that these 'locks' and controls, which are being placed into the systems without much discussion, could be the thin edge of a wedge.

I'm sure many will look at this as paranoia, but we do seem to be living in a different world these days.

Regards

[friend2]

I'll wait for "Windows Vista - Pantip Edition"

There will be a "stainless steel",( maybe I should say steal) version avaliable sooner or later.

A "Pantip Vista" I wouldn't wanna have though

You probably have to wait until a "real" retail version appears before the

crackers have a go at it.

Offcourse i'm not condoning the use of Pirated software

Edited December 4, 2006 by friend2

[astral]

Definitive guide: Windows Vista and XP head to head[/b]

VISTA: Finally, the Media Center capabilities comes built-into most versions of Windows Vista aside from the basic, entry level version. It has also been enhanced over the previous version, although reviewers claim it has not received as much of an improvement as the rest of Windows has over previous versions.

More bloatware.

My PC is a tool for my work, I do not want the disk cluttered with lots of features I may or may not need.

I will add tools to my PC as and when I need them.

My "Media Centre" is in the living room, well away from the computer and features a DVR, which reboots without assistance in the event of a power failure.

Thank-you, but no thank you, Mr Gates

[Remo]

well we all know MS has a solid reputation of delivering bug free products/updates when

first launched

Would you really want to get your hands on the first copy of Vista?

Especially after MS has stood in front of Defcon and other groups saying the product is the most secure ever, so I am sure everything will run smoothly, I am sure most people in that the security business in IT would think it hugely immoral to embarass MS on its new product

I want it but I think I am going to watch first

Edited December 4, 2006 by Remo

[rainman]

i'm not touching vista with a 10 foot stick for another 3 years at least.

[Firefoxx]

Generally, it s a "Bad Idea" to jump in and use the first revision of any OS. Wait a bit, for something like a service pack or two to come out, CPU performance to catch up, major bugs to be ironed out and support for drivers to mature (or for old peripherals to become obselete), and then install it.

[cdnvic]

I'm going to get it early. But I might run it as a virtual machine inside a unix box until I'm certain it's all good. Have a few friends who were in the Beta testing program and they are quite impressed.

[pap]

The "pantip" version may still come around but its gonna take a lot of lost product keys or finding a way to fool your system to think it has talked to the licensing server to keep running. For the effort that will take the hackers they may decide to just write virus's instead.

[OlRedEyes]

The "pantip" version may still come around but its gonna take a lot of lost product keys or finding a way to fool your system to think it has talked to the licensing server to keep running. For the effort that will take the hackers they may decide to just write virus's instead.

Or launch DoS attacks on the licensing server/s ?

[The Coder]

The pantip version of vista is out! There is a new article in tomshardware on a trip to pantip plaza where thy purchased Vista Premium RTM for $3.50. The astonishing part is how low tech the patch is--you set the bios date to 2099, install, then change it back to the correct date.

[pap]

The pantip version of vista is out! There is a new article in tomshardware on a trip to pantip plaza where thy purchased Vista Premium RTM for $3.50. The astonishing part is how low tech the patch is--you set the bios date to 2099, install, then change it back to the correct date.

I could be wrong but my bet is when the os compares itself to the licensing server it stops working. I haven't had a chance to read up on the specifics on the mechanism yet but I would really be surprised if the os will continue to work without the proper hash when it checks in. Once that happens the os load will require you to pay to get in.

I was wrong once 7 years ago though.

[cdnvic]

The pantip version of vista is out! There is a new article in tomshardware on a trip to pantip plaza where thy purchased Vista Premium RTM for $3.50. The astonishing part is how low tech the patch is--you set the bios date to 2099, install, then change it back to the correct date.

First time it goes to MS for a critical security update will be the last day it works. It's more than likely an RC2 version as the RTM will have a vendor code in them that can be traced back to the vendor (Dell, HP, etc). In that case it will stop working completely in April or May when the rest of the betas expire.

"But the salesman at Panthip said it was authentic RTM!"

Yeah... they'd never lie

Edited December 5, 2006 by cdnvic

[The Coder]

From the article: "Back at home, we found that we had bought a fully functional RTM version and virus-free of Windows Vista that would allow us to install Vista Basic, Vista Premium, Vista Business or Vista Ultimate."

[friend2]

Just today I see the activation has already been compromised.

(Business/Enterprise editions only).

You do a few keyboard exercises, then activate's against the KMS server

in China.

Offcourse this server wont be around for long, so they have released

a VMware image (the server itself) that you can install locally on your computer(you need VMware).

Then every 180 days you simply validate it from that.

Microsofts attempts of stopping the pirates is going to be lost even before the first retails hit the street...

[cdnvic]

From the article: "Back at home, we found that we had bought a fully functional RTM version and virus-free of Windows Vista that would allow us to install Vista Basic, Vista Premium, Vista Business or Vista Ultimate."

It just hit Digg.com so someone in the know will sort it out one way or another. I still highly doubt its a workable RTM. How are they authenticating them? It's not like the old days of a simple keycode.

[Gary A]

After all the years XP Pro has been out, mine is finally working well enough to suit me. After all the trials and tribulations with XP Pro, I'm not about to go through that with Vista. Since Vista is even more bloated and needs more resources than XP, how can you possibly think it will be trouble free?

I'm still hoping for a comercial Linux that works out of the box and needs no fiddling to add drivers and such.

[Thaddeus]

Seems unfair that Apple users can run both OSX and Windows

It does really doesn't it

I downloaded 'Boot Camp' the other day so that I could run XP on my Mac. I decided not to bother when I realised that there isn't anything I want to do that I can't do already, and I don't work in IT anymore ..... yipee

[The Coder]

It just hit Digg.com so someone in the know will sort it out one way or another. I still highly doubt its a workable RTM. How are they authenticating them? It's not like the old days of a simple keycode.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has tried authentication protection and apparently failed. They did the exact same thing on the super duper expensive Windows 2003 Server, .NET, Enterprise edition. It had to authenticated within 2 weeks or it stopped working. Some hacker figured out that the authenticating module did not enforce this in safe mode. So what did they do? They wrote a service that made the authenticating code think it was in safe mode when it wasn't. Authentication defeated.

I think it is technically possible to make a rock solid authentication system, but Microsoft has a almost ridiculous track record in this area. Their stuff is just too full of holes. They may do one piece of authentication correctly, but blunder 99 exploits waiting to be discovered.