Actually Vista isn't that successful. The sales have been pretty dismal. The only thing fueling Vista are new computers and laptops coming preinstalled with it instead of XP. Sales of Vista for upgrading existing PC is dismal because it doesn't offer anyone anything really useful other than some eye candy. Couple that with the vast numbers of incompatible software and you have people avoiding the new OS. And I did have to chuckle then you claimed Microsft had standards.Jcart wrote:Seriously, do you think a software would be so successful if you could not run even a couple applications at a time? Even Microsoft has standards you know..
I think I talked about that above. I guess you missed it.Jcart wrote:If you want to get a bit more technical on the discussion, it is not fair to compare XP and Vista simply because they use completely different techniques to memory management. Vista will try to cache the files and programs you use more frequently to give you a boost in performance. See http://vistafaqs.com/viewfaq.aspx?faq=113. This explains why it "appears" to be using your entire memory, however it will in fact free up your memory if it needs it.
The problem as I mentioned is that the SuperFetch will try to keep the prefetched data and executables in memory as long as possible. Instead of FREEING the memory when something not prefetched is loaded it will usually move the prefetched data to the swap file. That is HORRIBLE programming and use of the feature. If you only use the same few programs over and over again coupled with hibernation or Rabidboot then Vista Premium WILL seem fast because it is cheating. But when you go outside what SuperFetch thinks you are going to use then things get nasty and slow down.From My Post Above I wrote:Now part of the problem with Vista is their new SuperFetch protocol. Vista will attempt to figure out what you use the most and preload memory with those files. The problem is that Vista will also fill up your swap file with other files that were loaded during boot to make room for the SuperFetched files that aren't running yet. This creates a slowdown and one of the reasons they recommend using Flash Ram for Readyboost to get your computer booted faster. Also, the use of SuperFetch will drastically slow down a 1 gig computer because the operating system will try to keep the SuperFetched data in ram for as long as possible causing more swap file usage if you execute applications other than what SuperFetch thinks you will run. Apparently you can solve some of this outlandish memory and swap file usage by disabling the SuperFetch Service. For most people running Vista with only 1 gig of ram disabling the SuperFetch Service will greatly speed up boot time, shutdown and overall system operation. If you have 2 gig of ram or more leaving SuperFetch enabled CAN give an apparent speed boost when starting applications but not enough to warrant leaving it enabled.
I may try Vista Home Premium again at a later date with the SuperFetch Service disabled to see if things work better but right now XP is working like a champ and I have 8 games installed that I can play when I am not working, of which only 2 of them would install on Vista. So there is no reason for me to try it again anytime soon.
As I mentioned above disabling SuperFetch will usually speed up Vista as it will operate more like XP but the doggy filesystem will still drag down performance.
Here is a comparison...
SuperFetch can be likened to the Dialup Accelerators that would load the web pages it THOUGHT you would go to next based upon your past browsing. The DA would preload the pages it thought you would go to while you were viewing the current page. If you clicked on a link that took you to one of the preloaded pages it would seem like your dialup connection was very fast. The problem came when you decided to go to a link that wasn't prefetched. It would usually take LONGER to load that new link than without the DA because the DA has to discard all of the prefetched pages and start grabbing a new set. Everything would seem very fast on your dialup as long as you went to the pages the DA has prefetched but seem slow as a dog if you went outside what it thought you would want.
SuperFetch in Vista is like that except they throw in moving to swap what it prefetched if it needs memory for something not in the SuperFetch list.
For people who use many different applications in many different combinations Vista with 1 gig and SuperFetch enabled will experience slow response. But for people who have a small set of the same few programs they use over and over then Vista with 1 gig and Superfetch can seem like everything is working well.
I am in the former category.