Topic: Vista, already safe for us photographers? (Read 10021 times)

Hendrik · « **on:** August 11, 2007, 05:01:22 pm »

I’m planning an upgrade for my computer and since I build my own, I can buy a cheap OEM version of an operating system. Currently I use XP Pro.

My question is simple

Is it already safe to use the newest operating system from Windows: Vista Home Premium?

If I recall correctly, there were (are?) problems, for example with the loading of LUT tables. It was not recommended to use Vista for a professional workflow.

Is this still the case and should I install XP again?

Tim Gray · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2007, 05:13:39 pm »

I just recently built a new machine with Vista 32. My main problem was/is with my Wacom Intuos 3, but I suspect it's a hardware problem rather than Vista. If I had to do it over again, I would have stuck with xp. Vista doesn't give me anything I needed beyond xp and consequently the learning curve (not steep, but still there) was non-value add.

DiaAzul · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2007, 07:17:56 pm »

Quote

Is it already safe to use the newest operating system from Windows: Vista Home Premium?

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=132707\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

No - not safe until after Service Pack 1 is released (at least).

[Rant on]
From a user perspective its a piggin piece of rubbish. Though technically it is supposed to be good. If you don't absolutely have to buy a PC you may want to seriously consider going across to Apple. I have installed it and wish I hadn't.
[Rant off]

Raw shooter · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2007, 07:32:45 pm »

Yes, Vista 32bit is now ready - and it was not just a few months back.
I have two work computers.
One is a Dell XPS laptop (dual core, 4 GB RAM, 200 GB 7200 rpm drive).
I have two hard drives that I switch back and forth
Drive 1 is XP Pro
Drive 2 is Vista 32 bit Ultimate
The XP drive was my workhorse due to video drive support for my NV 7950. That changed with NV driver updates. Now it is all Vista. So much better at everything. Eye One Display 2 installs (v 3.6.1) and works perfectly in Advanced mode. Vista Ultimate has changed so much visually that it appears to be something other than Windows. Love the useful Gadgets, maybe too much!

Other computer is a Dell QuadCore desktop, same 4 GB RAM, 2 500 GB 7200 drives, NV 8600 GTS. Dell 24 inch (1920 x 1200). Again, a perfect Vista 32biit system. Eye One Display 2 installs (v 3.6.1) and works perfectly in Advanced mode. It may be better on the Dell 24 than XP on the monitor profile. I need more info on the Windows Color System, but the other application color (PowerPoint, Publisher) is so good now (compared to XP), not just Photoshop CS3 or the other Adobe apps. Something is very good here.

Hope this helps - just get the latest drivers. Also give Super-fetch the first 3 minutes after startup. The response after Super-fetch loads is rocket fast. Once again, I didn't expect this much difference. Microsoft may have finally got something almost perfect.

KeithR · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2007, 09:09:02 pm »

Quote

I just recently built a new machine with Vista 32. My main problem was/is with my Wacom Intuos 3, but I suspect it's a hardware problem rather than Vista. If I had to do it over again, I would have stuck with xp. Vista doesn't give me anything I needed beyond xp and consequently the learning curve (not steep, but still there) was non-value add.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=132709\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I recently got a new system that is running Vista 32(old system running XP Pro) using an Intuos 2 and just downloaded new drivers. Went on the Wacom site and saw that there are new drivers for the Intuos 3 dated 7JUN07 so that may help with your problem.

wolfnowl · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2007, 01:50:22 am »

If I had to do it over again, I would have stuck with xp. Vista doesn't give me anything I needed beyond xp and consequently the learning curve (not steep, but still there) was non-value add

Yes, but unfortunately, if Microsoft stays their course then XP won't be supported anymore within about a year and a half...

Mike.

Doug Fisher · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2007, 09:24:05 am »

>>Yes, but unfortunately, if Microsoft stays their course then XP won't be supported anymore within about a year and a half...<<

No doubt they will kill support at some point but they have already said that support will be out past a year and a half.

I just bought a laptop with Vista. Vista really is a pig. Lots of eye candy and I am sure some interesting changes in the backroom, but thing is, it now takes one or two more steps to complete many common procedures compared to XP. There are so many popup windows that you really get annoyed. Some software still doesn't work right on Vista. SP1 Beta was rumored to be released this month with a full release at the end of the year. Who knows if that schedule is realistic.

Microsoft has already announced an intention to release the next operating system in 2009 which is supposed to be much more of a change compared to XP to Vista. I think a lot of people are going to wait until then to upgrade. I believe Vista is going to be like Windows 98 ME in that most of the people who adopt it just do so because they had to buy a new computer and the software was the only one offered.

My $.02,
Doug

Nigelfrommanchester · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2007, 09:44:15 am »

I replaced my home PC in January and decided to stick with XP due to the lack of drivers (the main issues for me at that time were Epson 2100 and 1290 printers and the Nikon 5000 scanner).

Last Wednesday I bought a HP notebook for travelling as a gentle introduction to Vista, but three days later I didn't have it working even after a Windows reinstall from the hard disc (HP don't ship a Windows disc). In the end I took it back. Shame because the hardware seemed good.

I now have a Macbook, but lets not go there ....

Nigel

RonBoyd · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2007, 12:19:33 pm »

Quote

Is it already safe to use the newest operating system from Windows: Vista Home Premium?
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I cannot answer specifically to the "Home Premium" Version -- I have the "Ultimate" version installed. Nevertheless, I have been using it for about three months and I would no more think of going back to XP than I would reverting back to Windows v3.1.

The ONLY problems that I have encountered with this OS have ALL had to do with third party software that did not comply with the minimum specifications set out by Microsoft. I have, therefore, had to do without several programs that I used in the past -- no major programs and acceptable substitutes were found in all but one case. (That single issue has to do with the Vista driver for my Microtek i900 scanner -- Microtek keeps promising but has extended the expected release a couple of times.)

The bottom line is that Vista has so many things to offer, over and above XP, that it would be like going back to Photoshop v7... or believing that v7 is "good enough" not to upgrade to CS3.

IMHO,
Ron

Hendrik · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2007, 05:14:17 pm »

… I still don’t know why Vista is better; I think their advertising was not so great after all.

Reading all opinions here, I think I buy the OEM version, but will not install it yet. I think I install XP Pro again and wait what sp1 for Vista will do. I went to the website of XRITE and saw they still haven’t a software update for Monaco Optix XR Pro. I know it’s a discontinued product, but I expect them to provide some service. The update is still beta I believe.

@Doug Fisher, do you have a reference?

KeithR · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2007, 09:30:15 pm »

Quote

… I still don’t know why Vista is better; I think their advertising was not so great after all.

Reading all opinions here, I think I buy the OEM version, but will not install it yet. I think I install XP Pro again and wait what sp1 for Vista will do. I went to the website of XRITE and saw they still haven’t a software update for Monaco Optix XR Pro. I know it’s a discontinued product, but I expect them to provide some service. The update is still beta I believe.

@Doug Fisher, do you have a reference?
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I just recently got a new computer running Vista and also have the Monaco Optix Pro. It took some digging but I found something you may want to look into from the XRite site:

[a href=\"http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx?ID=730&Action=support&SupportID=4021]http://www.xrite.com/product_overview.aspx...&SupportID=4021[/url]

It is about a work around for the Optix pro on Vista. I looked through it, and now have the Optix working on my new system. Hope this helps!

Hendrik · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2007, 01:45:11 am »

@KeithR Thanks , shall take it into consideration.

BernardLanguillier · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2007, 02:30:32 am »

Vista is the main reason I decided to switch from PC to Mac.

The process was pretty painful and time consuming for me, but in the end I have a system that is close to prefect.

cheers,
Bernard

Mark D Segal · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2007, 08:21:24 am »

Quote

Vista is the main reason I decided to switch from PC to Mac.

The process was pretty painful and time consuming for me, but in the end I have a system that is close to prefect.

cheers,
Bernard
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=132932\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Bernard, this is interesting. Presumably you were on XP before Vista. What do you see as the main advantages of switching to Mac rather tha remaining with XP? And what about Vista caused you to switch to Mac? (I am on XP Professional, and just bought a new Dell 690 Precision Workstation last November after deciding the switch wasn't wroth the pain, but I always keep my eyes and ears open for what to do next when the time comes!)

Doug Fisher · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:44:49 am »

I found a version 6.5 that is Vista capable for my Monaco profiling software (EZ Color?) that profiles monitors and printers It was not easy to find. I use an Optix XR for profiling with that software. You have to dig around on the Xrite site a bit. Xrite is definitely trying to phase out the Monaco name.

Doug

rdonson · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:34:35 am »

Does anyone know if the behavior of the new MS color management system that was identified by Steve Upton in this thread has been addressed?

This would cause me great pause before jumping on Vista.

John.Murray · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2007, 03:21:50 pm »

Quote

>>Yes, but unfortunately, if Microsoft stays their course then XP won't be supported anymore within about a year and a half...<<

Doug: I believe you are referring to License Availability:

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

Support for XP including security and driver updates will continue through 2011:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=133

hth - John

Misirlou · « **Reply #17 on:** August 18, 2007, 12:01:03 am »

Quote

Does anyone know if the behavior of the new MS color management system that was identified by Steve Upton in this thread has been addressed?

This would cause me great pause before jumping on Vista.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=132996\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

If you're talking about the "confirmation dialog popup clobbers VLUT" thing, it was never an issue for me. First, you can shut off the annoying Vista confirmation behavior in about three mouse clicks - forever. Second, I'm using the ColorVision monitor profiling suite, and with their ProfileChooser applet, I can load a new monitor table at any time. In fact, Vista makes it pretty easy to calibrate both monitors independently on a dual monitor setup, and that alone is a good reason to use it. At least for me...

Author Topic: Vista, already safe for us photographers? (Read 10021 times)