Are you planning to upgrade to Microsoft Vista?

[SmokeWatcher]

I have a multiple license version of XP Pro, so I have no incentive to "upgrade".

[ZetaVu]

Is it just me or is the Yes result starting to shrink? I'd be curious what the actual votes are (unique users). It will be more interesting to see if this changes with 4.6.

Personally, I think the only thing that will change this is if BTV can find a way to work with cablecard on vista systems, and by working I mean make files that can be archived without losing quality (we can do that now with s-video)

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by ZetaVu

I'd be curious what the actual votes are (unique users).

The more interesting question is weither people have/will "upgrade" their HTPC to Vista, done with a poll where people can only vote once...

[adcase]

I voted yes, my origional vote would have been no, but with the untimely demise of my old PC I had to purchase all new hardware and got and work bought Vista Business for me so I have it installed.

[scubadog40]

I did and took it off. I just put together me a new computer with 8800gts videocard. Still to meny problems. Will keep running xp for awhile.

[mayhem70]

I upgraded my laptop to Vista Ultimate, but I'm going to keep my BTV server on XP Media Center 05....though I have a license for an upgrade for it. I'll probably keep on XP for the lifetime of the machine (barring some evil dirt nap the machine could take).

For those of you waiting for Vista SP1 to upgrade, you also should keep in mind that Windows 7 (codename:vienna) is slated to release in less than 2 years. And there will be a target of a new OS every 2 years after that.

[MarcP]

Sounds like what Microsoft was saying when XP came out. Vista was supposed to be released years ago.

[mayhem70]

Let's say I have the inside scoop.

[ZetaVu]

They already started talking about the next release for 2009, not sure if that will have the winfs or whatever file system. I remember also the talk about the OS eventually becoming insignificant as more and more apps evolve into webapps. Eventually I see an OS becoming more like a browser, and all apps based on one of several programming platforms and compatible with all browsers.

At this point, m$ will be forced to compete head to had with other utilities like Norton or whatever, big difference will be their bundling, and depending on who is in charge in the US they may fall right back into legal issues like in Europe.

I think the future is going to be component devices that interact with each other, like appletv or Playstation or whatever, more and more linux based appliances, and computers which are graphical dataservers whose primary function is to access apps on the internet. Even then, more appliances will do this, eventually the computer might disappear entirely and be replaced by a dozen small, simplified devices.

[cmcquistion]

Apple has managed to release a new version of OS X about every 12-18 months for several years. Their users don't seem to complain about it. They look forward to it and spend their money happily to get it.

There are several big differences, however, that Microsoft could learn from. First, Apple charges a pretty minimal amount for every release ($100 or less). Second, Apple shows their customers what they are gaining from each release, including IMPROVED performance, on the same hardware, with every release. Third, Apple tries to retain compatibility between each version and works very hard to help developers maintain compatibility.

[merrypig]

And Apple shafts their users by charging a premium on the hardware ...

[ZetaVu]

Here's another interesting poll (I linked the slashdot summary for those not wanting to actually rtfa) while 87% of poll respondents were aware of Vista, only 12% of those were considering upgrading to it.

http://it.slashdot.org/it/07/04/04/2220207.shtml

All in all this poll is 70% higher (not even twice) and this is as windows heavy a group as you can find.

[rugby]

Originally Posted by merrypig

And Apple shafts their users by charging a premium on the hardware ...

No they don't. In the past they did however they're priced competitively now FOR WHAT YOU GET. Apple doesn't and won't ever make a competitor to a $299 PC. They also don't have a competitor to the $499 laptop.

[noodleNT]

It's been fighting me driver wise but I do like it. Every few weeks it gets better.

[luniticlizard]

I am going to upgrade to Vista when I build my new PC. This will probably be sometime in 2008. However, I am going to buy Vista now, only because I get it cheap through my school (less than $50). I will then turn my old PC into a dedicated HTPC running XP Pro SP2.