Windows XP Essential

[Relambrien]

My experience with Vista has been pretty bad. It's never crashed or gone crazy on me, which is surprising, but I've been having a lot of compatibility issues. I use a lot of freeware, and I've struggled horribly to get a lot of it to work correctly.

Also, maybe it's just because I'm so used to XP, but Vista's menus and navigation just seem horribly unintuitive.

Of course, this is from using my father's computer and testing stuff on it; my personal computer still runs XP. I'll stick with it until I build another one; by that time, the compatibility issues should be resolved and I'll be able to focus on learning Vista's navigation.

[Squeek]

http://www.vmware.com/

Also I've downloaded all the freeware I used to have and dozens more that are not listed as Vista compatible and they've all worked just fine. I really only use VMWare for things that I don't want clogging up my registry that I'll only use once.

[sonic-fast-fingers]

hmm some interesting comments from everyone...but for anyone who said that this is a hacked version of xp or a "skin" its not. do your research before you throw out comments like that. it was releases in the UK after Vista. so maybe it's not a whole new OS but it is newer than xp professional and newer than the current vista that is out. over all i really like this version...but by no means is it hacked or a "skin"

EDIT: I decided to add a poll due to the chat of Vista and the mixed reviews of its ability to function. Have at it.

[Squeek]

...

You're telling us to do research?

Maybe you should do your research. There's no such thing as "Windows XP Essential". It does not exist outside of torrents.

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/default.mspx

Notice how it's not there?

http://www.google.com/search?q="Windows+XP+Essential"

Notice how the results are all torrent sites? Notice how there's not even a link to Microsoft's website?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ndows_versions

Oh my god it's not there what a shocker.

Do you want to know what XP Essential is?

It's a hacked version of Windows XP with a Vista skin on it. That's it.

[plasmix]

Originally Posted by sonic-fast-fingers

hmm some interesting comments from everyone...but for anyone who said that this is a hacked version of xp or a "skin" its not. do your research before you throw out comments like that. it was releases in the UK after Vista. so maybe it's not a whole new OS but it is newer than xp professional and newer than the current vista that is out. over all i really like this version...but by no means is it hacked or a "skin"

EDIT: I decided to add a poll due to the chat of Vista and the mixed reviews of its ability to function. Have at it.

Go to System Properties and check the OS.

[chidori!]

the only problem i have on vista is quicktime. it always fails to open. and makes itunes fail to open. dam apple and their crappy macs. it was working earlier this month. and it works on the laptop.
other then that vista is perfect

Go to System Properties and check the OS.

if its hacked wouldn't it still say that its xp essential
Sonic: you've been squeaked like a rubby ducky.

[Squeek]

Originally Posted by chidori!

the only problem i have on vista is quicktime. it always fails to open. and makes itunes fail to open. dam apple and their crappy macs. it was working earlier this month. and it works on the laptop.
other then that vista is perfect

Due to my problems with Apple software on my old computer in XP, I vowed to not install any Apple software on my new computer.

So when it came time that I needed to install a .MOV player, I got this:

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm

I can assure you it works in Vista and it won't add itself into the startup registry every time you use it!

[Relambrien]

Something I forgot to mention. My father's computer is running Vista 64-bit, which may or may not be a part of the compatibility issues I've experienced. I think it's important to make that distinction.

[Afrobean]

While we're on the topic of Vista, does anyone else have a funny feeling from working with it?

For me, it doesn't feel like I'm interfacing with an operating system. It feels like I'm interfacing with software which is designed to mimic an operating system. I can't really put my finger on why it feels like that though, since I don't get that feeling from ANYTHING else.

[Squeek]

Originally Posted by Relambrien

Something I forgot to mention. My father's computer is running Vista 64-bit, which may or may not be a part of the compatibility issues I've experienced. I think it's important to make that distinction.

That might be it. The reason I didn't get 64-bit was because people were saying nothing works on it.

In other news, that is one excellent avatar. I have animations disabled at home so I only just noticed it now since I'm at work.

@Afro: It feels exactly like XP to me. Dunno what you're talking about.

[Zolo_0]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

While we're on the topic of Vista, does anyone else have a funny feeling from working with it?

For me, it doesn't feel like I'm interfacing with an operating system. It feels like I'm interfacing with software which is designed to mimic an operating system. I can't really put my finger on why it feels like that though, since I don't get that feeling from ANYTHING else.

o.O Nope haven't got that feeling.

Btw, nLite is the software used to tweak these things and add things.