So I got just a little curious early this week about Windows XP performance over Windows Vista performance after reading how "bad" Vista performance has been described.  Especially when reading (here, here, and here) about how Windows XP Service Pack 3 (still in beta) is supposed to have a pretty good performance boost over SP2.

Since I picked up my "new" (it’s now 7 months old) laptop last May, I’ve only run Vista on it.  So, yep you guessed it, I wiped it and installed Windows XP on Tuesday.

That little experiment lasted all of 30 hours.  I couldn’t stand it.  I’ve gotten so comfortable with Vista, with all the improvements, all the changes, all the "hassle" that I can’t go back.

Now I see all my fellow Windows cohorts shaking their heads and wondering why I would be so foolish.  Some will point at performance issues, others will bring up the application compatibility, others will go on and on about how the Aero interface "sucks" or whatever.

Depending on what your trying to do, any one of these can be valid arguments – but they’re meaningless to me, and I’ll tell you why.  Vista is better.

I’m not a gamer or high-end video editing snob, so I don’t see performance issues.  All the applications I use are written correctly (hint – follow the fully documented Microsoft programming guidelines folks) and have no compatibility issues.  I like the Aero interface.

Maybe the thing is that I’m partial to Windows in the first place.  I’ve worked with Windows since v3.0 as a professional IT guy.  I’m the guy who has to deploy these operating systems to thousands of computers in enterprise environments.  I’m the guy who has to manage systems with this OS on it and keep it up to date on security patches, updates, fixes and such.  I’ve seen the arguments everyone has about Vista too many times from Win95 through WinXP.  They’re always the same.  Yes, compatibility is always the biggest compelling argument that a person can come up with – and there are a huge number of ways to go about correcting these things.  Mostly by Microsoft themselves – providing tools to compensate for inadequate coders and program structure decisions.

In all honesty, Windows’ (not just Vista) biggest problem is licensing, rather than anything else.  It’s obvious Microsoft needs to keep making money and the traditional way for them is to push an upgraded operating system and office solution.  But that is fodder for another post anther day.

I guarantee for the general business and personal user, Vista is better.  Yes, it is a change and requires YOU to adapt (a failing of ALL computers STILL at this time in history), but it is much better at day to day tasks than XP.

I know you’ve got an opinion on this.  What are you points on why Vista isn’t ready for prime time?