#190296 - 2008-10-23 10:08 PM
Vista Deploy or Delay
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Ashpoint
Starting to like KiXtart
Registered: 1999-08-27
Posts: 192
Loc: Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Hi guys...
My client has about 70 Windows XP Pro systems and we need to buy some new workstations.
Do we get Vista Business or stay with Windows XP and consider jumping over Vista and plan for Windows 7 as our next major upgrade?
Worry: We DO use roamin profiles for some users!!
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#190299 - 2008-10-23 11:32 PM
Re: Vista Deploy or Delay
[Re: Glenn Barnas]
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Ashpoint
Starting to like KiXtart
Registered: 1999-08-27
Posts: 192
Loc: Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Thanks Glen...
We purchased a test machine (we will have 4gb RAM) and the KiX script worked just fine. The roaming profile didn't. I never liked the implimentation of roaming profiles (done by the IT guy before me) so I think we will drop the idea anyway if we adopt Vista.
The HP desktop system can be retrofitted with XP Pro and I'll wait a few days to see what the user says (and the opinions of this BBS) before deciding if I will reformat and install XPPro.
My initial impression is tending towards XPPro but that may be my conservatism and reluctance to change!
Regards,
Michael
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#190313 - 2008-10-24 09:31 PM
Re: Vista Deploy or Delay
[Re: Ashpoint]
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NTDOC
Administrator
Registered: 2000-07-28
Posts: 11634
Loc: Space
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The back end support for Vista over XP is a lot different.
Remote tools, scripts that have always worked no longer work on Vista and need work arounds. Software that has worked since Windows 3.1 may or may not work and needs to be confirmed and tested. Drivers that worked for 2000/XP do not work for Vista and have to be made for Vista.
Even FAST PCs with tons of memory boot and shut down slower than XP on most systems I've seen.
The entire Imaging/Ghosting model for Vista has changed from the 2000/XP days and is a PITA to me, but to each his own.
Overall for me the "positives" do not out way the "negatives" especially for a Company having to manage and maintain many machines.
For another recent article on this subject, take a look here.
XP beats Vista?
.
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#190314 - 2008-10-24 09:56 PM
Re: Vista Deploy or Delay
[Re: NTDOC]
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Allen
KiX Supporter
Registered: 2003-04-19
Posts: 4574
Loc: USA
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I have very mixed feelings about Vista. A year ago, you could not have begged or paid me to use it in a business environment. My stance has soften, some, but still its still likely I would suggest XP in a business environment.
The one thing I have started doing is if I am deploying Vista, it's Vista x64. I feel like if I have to take on all the issues with Vista, I might as well make the complete jump. The only real issues I've run into using it was hardware drivers, and that has been minimal. Almost all the 32bit apps work, although you are completely out of luck with 16bit apps, as Vista x64 doesn't support those. The upside of x64 is you get to use all that Ram the new computers are coming with, and call it a "feeling", but it just feels right, runs fast, and never locks up. At least that is my experience with x64.
I think my biggest beef with Vista is the, "Why?", factor. I'll be plugging along thinking more favorably of Vista and then suddenly run into something that should work, but no longer does. Then do a little research and find that Vista doesn't do that.... WHY? A perfect example just happened yesterday for me, you can no longer reliably use the File System Object to get the size of folders. Not the end of the world, but what a PITA. There have been a number of times that has happened over the past year and a half.
As Doc said, about back end support. Plan on EVERYTHING taking longer. You have to test everything. No assuming. Of course, if you have all new versions of your apps and new hardware, Vista is pretty painless.
_________________________
(... better days ahead)
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#190315 - 2008-10-25 10:12 AM
Re: Vista Deploy or Delay
[Re: Allen]
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Arend_
MM club member
Registered: 2005-01-17
Posts: 1896
Loc: Hilversum, The Netherlands
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I agree with Allen for the most part.
In my company I test a lot, also Vista and 2008.
I switched to Vista x64 on my home PC 6 months ago, not becaus I wanted to but to force myself using Vista. It's like a fungus, it grows on you.
Eventually I got to like it, so much I decided to install it on my work laptop. Most of my kix scripts work without change, just take WOW and (like Allen said) File System Object into account. But every new OS has those type of changes. 98 scripts didn't work properly in all things on 2000 either.
Anyway I installed McAfee 1 week ago and Vista crashed. Then I decided to switch back to XP x64 but within a week I reinstalled with Vista x64 (with Symantec x64 now) and I couln't be happier.
On a side note, we have a couple of 2008 File servers and Tools servers into production now and they are running great also, big change comming soon is switching to a 2008 Domain... I'm holding my breath 
One thing I do believe is awesome about Vista/2008 is WDS deployment, I'm our company's RIS guru and used that for many years, I even deploy linux and use it to boot Acronis to image PC's. But WDS has so many NEEDED extra options that I'm totally in love with it
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#190335 - 2008-10-27 05:55 PM
Re: Vista Deploy or Delay
[Re: Arend_]
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NTDOC
Administrator
Registered: 2000-07-28
Posts: 11634
Loc: Space
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Another possible gotcha... is ODBC / DSN setups if doing 64 Bit.
Windows x64: 32bit Odbc vs 64bit Odbc
If you do decide to go Vista 64 Bit then you might want to review a bit from sites like this: vistax64.com
I suppose the issue is, do you want or are you ready to have to potentially fight issues as they come up. I tried to use 64 Bit Server 2008 but after just one day I gave up as there were too many obstacles and old software or methods that I just was not ready to Update/Fix/Study/Etc.. at least right now. If I had a second box to play with in my spare time maybe, but not my main system.
As an example none of the Cisco VPN clients work with 64 Bit but they do have another method of a client that does work on 64 Bit but it's not a click install so I just didn't want to spend the time right now to read up on it and configure it to work.
The good side of using Vista either 32 Bit or 64 Bit is that it will increase your knowledge level as you will be forced to learn new things whether you want to or not. 
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