I have pretty much quit using Vista and Ubuntu 7.04 after several hardware compatibility errors and software errors I decided to move back to Windows XP and 2000 Server. So why did I make this decision? Why earlier versions of Windows. Three words: compatibility, reliability and predictability.
Windows Vista was fine technically. I didnt have a bunch of issues with it but the issues I did have were indeed showstoppers. I rely heavily on some applications that just simply dont work with Windows Vista and the corresponding hardware wont work either and I am too cheap, or simply cant buy new hardware yet. On my main desktop an internal hardware device would cause Vista to bluescreen every couple of hours of use. Frustrating? Not the word.
Mobility simply on Windows Vista. My laptop while supported by Vista had some hardware issues that I just didnt want to have to muck with the first was my sound card. It works under Windows 2000 and Windows XP. After visiting Dells website and after talking to a support tech, I was told for the older Inspiron notebooks Dell wont be releasing updated drivers even if the machines can run Windows Vista. To make a long story short. the soundcard doesn’t work with Windows Vista easily. I have to disable my network card if I want to listen to audio and to connect to the web I then have to disable the soundcard for the network card to connect.
UWIN which I use for a third party client doesnt work on Windows vista nor does the hardware it has to interface with. Since I am basically her test bed, Vista was out of the question. Sure I probably could have used Vista, run the device and software under VM but whens the madness stop? Performance would also be an issue with that option. So back to Windows 2000 Server for that.
My stylus on my Tablet just wont work with Windows Vista either. Its frustrating because on one of the earlier Betas it did work fine once again they are working on fixing it, so its back to XP for that one until a fix becomes available.
So whats wrong with Ubuntu 7.04? simply put. 7.04 sucks. If this is supposed to be a Windows killer they have some major work to do. First, they include the crappy Prism54 driver which everyone knows is flawed and it wouldnt detect the 3 wireless USB adaptors or 1 PCMCIA card that I have. Blacklist it and use ndiswrapper right? Good plan. Some nimrod didnt include ndiswrapper on the install disk that has been included since version 4 so if you have no other alternative but a wireless connection you are SOL . Enabling the nvidia driver crashes 7.04 every time. My webcam was DOA with 7.04, one of my USB HUBS!!! Yes you heard it right HUB, H-U-B, the device you use to extend USB functionality by adding other USB devices, that works fine in eComStation/OS/2, BeOS and even Windows 98 will not work on 7.04. My Sony laptop has horizontal lines in 7.04 because of a faulty x-server driver, dont forget its supposed to be more laptop friendly. For me 7.04 is not a major step backwards. That laptop got Windows 2000 back and its never worked better.
Im sure the Windows and Ubuntu teams can fix the problems but for right now I need those three words: compatibility, reliability and predictability



site:See ya around Vista and dumping Ubuntu 7.04 « The Tech Journal