XP Downgrade Option Extended 6 Months

This is great news for businesses that have applications that only work on XP, but what is so wrong with Vista?!

I've been using the 64 bit edition a couple months after it was released and it works fine. I don't think I could go back to XP.

It doesn't crash (touch wood) and it looks so much better. Anyone else actually like Vista?

I totally agree, I have a number of vista and XP machines and I find Vista a lot nicer to work with. I had a few issues with Vista at first, but after a number of updates it seems to run really well.

I think you're on your own there, although I will admit to mostly disliking the OS because of all the change for change's sake tinkering done with the UI. I still have to hunt around the taskbar for five minutes to find the shutdown button and even when i do i can neever get the thing to actually shut down.

This is just one of the many reasons OS X is better than Windows in my opinion, every new release adds functionsality but seeks to further streamline the UI whereas every ne version of Windows throws in a whole host of new buttons, options, dialog boxes, redundant pop-up click boxes and annoying 'helpful' hints. You would have thought they would have learned from the hated paperclip. Let's hopw they follow through with their promise to give us a sleek new OS in 7, but like with Sarah Palin, the bar is currently set so low they can hardly disappoint.

Sunil, I use Vista at home and have done since May 2007. I like it! It runs well on my high-end PC and it does what I want it to do.

Vista for business is a no-no though. You would have to be clinically insane to deploy Vista to your business instead of XP.

I have Vista on my machine at home. I find it sooo much nicer to use compared to XP.

I too had trouble finding the off button at first and put the machine into deep sleep which was more like a coma because i could not wake it up again!! I sorted this out pretty quickly (found the extra step to turn off) and Vista runs very nicely indeed.

It is much better on the eye and quicker at getting to files such as "Documents" and "Computer" (only 1 clicks) from start menu. I also like the window preview when you hover the cursor over minimised window.

However, I think Microsoft take the mick out of us with the amount they expect you to pay for the OS. They should bring the cost down like on pre-installed OEM with recovery disk with new laptop... more people would buy it then. (I think)

Add me to the people who really likes Vista. I find it much more intuitive than XP once you realise the inherrent differences. Definitely like the dropping of "My" from document folders. DEFINITELY like the change from "Documents And Settings" to "Users".

Just thought i'd add a little tip in w.r.t turning off in Vista - if you go to power options in control panel, then go to "change what the power button does" (or words to that effect) you can set it so that the "start -> power" is actually "shut down" rather than "sleep"

I don't see what the problem with Vista is either. I always hear people saying that they can't find things that have moved around but the Start menu search can usually find anything after just typing in a few letters.

@Steve and other, Windows XP downgrade option was extended because businesses are not ready to change their Pentium 3 or 4. I mean most the staff is using Word or Excel type of software, they don't need power. They will change the system when it cost is start to cost too much to maintain or are finished. In fact just 2 years a half ago, nearly business adopted XP, else they were happy with Windows NT4 or 2000.

The main problem with Vista is not the RAM or CPU power, it is the video card, and multi-core CPU. As Aero uses the GPU instead of the CPU to draw this causes a problem for many. SURE they use Aero Basic (XP engine), but the IT dept, and managers sees it as cutting on the OS. Also Vista although runs fine on a single core CPU, it's processes where optimized for multi-cores (uses several cores simultaneously) rather than a single core. It should have been optimize for both setup.
Multi-core CPU..for word.... not worth it. Since Vista was in beta, I knew it would not sell like hotcakes, and that is ignoring hardware companies that where in vacation and did not realized that a new Windows was out and their XP drivers didn't work on it. It was the same with Windows 2000, hence the repackage of NT5 as 5.1 also known as XP.

I expect Windows 7 end of life to start being adopted with businesses.

Another issue, is licensing. Many Companies pay a license fee to use a Windows for a certain time. And they won't change until their license is over. There was sooo many extensions for XP license, that I think they have many years to go, before it ends.

Another thing, is specialized software. Many companies that work with companies to make them specialized software make on purpose to only work with a specific version of Windows. Which explains why some businesses still can't update to SP2 or even SP1. They do this, in the hope that the company that made the software be hired again and perform the updates and charge them. It's disgusting and destroys the reputation of programmer, like computer technicians...

@mr dog, that is because you are not used to it. You are more used to MAC. I'll admit if I use Linux... or even a MAC I would just as lost as you, under Vista. That is normal. There is always a learning curve. After 1 month using it seriously, you should be comfortable with it. I would expect the same with Windows 7.

Gordon - it's sanity. Everyone moves on. That's what happens. Even the pirates are cracking it.