Part 3: Windows XP vs. Vista: Add Hardware and AutoPlay

005: Add Hardware
The very first thing Vista does is complain, complain, complain. . . “Windows needs your permission to continue.” Apparently, there is no oblivious way of turning this “User Account Control” window off – which really blows! This pop-up permission window frequently appears whenever you do a change to your operating system. Other than the pop-up, the Add Hardware control panel has nothing new to show.

006: AutoPlay
AutoPlay in Vista has defiantly changed for the better (I would hope). Before in Windows XP you would have to manually click the drive in My Computer and right-click properties, AutoPlay tab and adjust your settings there – otherwise you would change your settings whenever you insert a removable media into the machine. To be completely honest I hate AutoPlay! For example, every time I want to burn a new CD from Nero Burning ROM the Windows AutoPlay feature always plays it part to annoy the hell out of me – even after telling Windows to shut-the-hell up! Oh and notice the screen shot in Vista that Microsoft monopolizes only there tools to play by default – like Windows Media Player for playing an audio CD. That action alone about setting default playback in Windows Media Player blows away average users from using third-party tools like WinAmp in this case.

Windows XP AutoPlay
Windows XP - AutoPlay