Part 1: Windows XP vs. Vista: Introduction

Author: Taehoon and Phil (Bli-Shem)
Date: 03/25/07

Welcome to that series of blogs on Window Vista. The objective of this topic is to provide an overview of Windows XP vs. Windows Vista. This content is bias, opinionated, and should not be interpreted as official comparison. The intent is to show that Window Vista is not worth the cost. We used a typical computer of what an average user would use and purchase today, except for RAM and Video requirements.

System:

• Windows XP Professional SP2
• Windows Vista Ultimate Edition
• 1.8 GHz Pentium 4
• 768MB of RAM
• 10GB Hard Drive
• Video Card (not used, screen shots used through Remote Desktop)

001 – Starting Up

Windows XP:
At the start of Windows XP the Windows XP Tour launches, or pop-up’s up next to the clock on the Start Menu. With or without the tour users already was familiar with the uses of Windows XP for the most part – the GUI was very similar to earlier versions of Windows (i.e. Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000). For example the Start Menu and it’s buttons are consistent.

Windows Vista:
By default the Welcome Center appears, there is no ‘Start’ menu or ‘Start’ button anymore. The only thing representing the difference is an icon/button with the Microsoft logo on it – although it’s still called ‘Start’ officially. At the start of Windows Vista the Welcome Center appears with ton’s of information for the user to click upon. . . of course what the average user doesn’t know is the majority of the functions within this Welcome Center doesn’t quite work properly or you have to disable 3-4 security measures to enable something.

Windows XP - Tour

Windows Vista - Welcome Center

002 – Start Menu

Windows XP:
The Start Menu is somewhat similar to earlier versions however My Computer, My Documents, My Pictures, etc are are integrated with the menu itself. Earlier versions of Windows had My Computer, My Documents, My Pictures, etc located on the Desktop. Not that difficult to understand where things are located from the Start Menu. . .

Windows Vista:
With Vista’s Start Menu there is no more My Computer, My Documents, etc – it’s now called Documents, Computer, Pictures etc (they removed the ‘My’ prefix altogether). Additionally when you click on All Programs from the Start Menu there is no more sub-menu like Windows XP. The contents of the All Programs are now all inlaid with the menu itself (at the left column of the menu). There is also a Start Search field just above the Start button which allows you ONLY to search your computer – wouldn’t it be better to have it search the web?! Most user’s probably won’t even consider using this option, they would most likely  want  to use there old ways where they would click on  My Documents and search for their document there (but now since the new look has changed everything users are forced in using the new ways).

Windows XP - Start Menu

Windows Vista - Start Menu

Disclaimer:
This post is one of many to present the basic characteristics as you (the user) would see with Microsoft Windows XP and Vista. At each overview will contain screenshots and our views of the concept being demonstrated. It is again important you take “our views” as opinions and not as statements of facts, and we do not think favorably about Vista.

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