Is Windows Mojave BETTER than Vista?
Microsoft decided to launch an experiment; to find out what people would think about Windows Vista, if they didn’t actually know they were using Vista. So, they invented a fake OS name for Windows Vista called ‘Windows Mojave‘ and pretended that it was a top secret build of the next Windows OS. It was basically just Vista with a different box.
They then asked people to play around with Windows Mojave – and give their feedback. The users all claimed before using Vista, that Vista sucked.
Then, after using Vista for a while, in the belief that it was Windows Mojave, they universally loved it! You can see what happened here.
The Mojave experiment was flawed
The problem with the Mojave experiment is that it didn’t actually address the problems people have found with Vista. For example; the testers were using Vista on a pre-installed machine and didn’t have to worry about software compatibility. Equally, there were no driver issues - though it seems that the vendors have now sorted that problem out. It always pissed me a bit that Microsoft were blamed for the driver issues, when it was the vendors that caused it.
To make the Mojave experiment work, they should have let people take Vista home and use it on their primary PC for a month and THEN ask what they thought!
Mac, Linux, XP and Vista
As a Mac, Linux, XP and Vista user, I get to see all the major OS’s every day. I love OSX and the 3 year old PC I run Linux on is still running faster than the 8 month old machine that I use for Vista. That said, I have Vista Home Premium installed on a laptop, which has been running rock solid since I bought it last November.
The Vista laptop gets used most days and has also been virus and malware free. I have no issues with it – but still cannot use it as my primary business laptop PC, because some of the specialist marketing software I use will not work correctly with Vista.
The point?
The Mojave Experiment is a fun idea and it does address some of the unfair flack aimed at Vista, BUT it could have been a far more powerful tool if Microsoft had given these users more time and got them using the software at home on their main PC. As such, I see the Mojave experiment as a missed opportunity.
What do you think – is the flack aimed at Vista still valid?
No related posts.
Vista is a piece of bloated crap. Do yourself a favour readers – get a Mac!
Windows is for idiots who are too stupid or too broke to buy a Mac!
While i agree that windows is incredibly bloated, Mac’s are just as bad, they are loaded down with software that I’ve never used, and have no need to use, and their graphics drag the system speed as well.
And as for Arctic Fox’s comment: Mac’s won’t run most of the software in the world. Why would I limit myself so severely? On top of that, why would I want a computer that requires me to use only hardware licensed by Apple?
Let’s face it, no operating system is perfect, but realistically Macs are not “better,” they simply offer different options.
Macs offer NO customization; PC’s can customize mildly and at least change hardware; Linux is completely customizable, but overly complicated.
I happen to KNOW for certain that Rachael is REALLY Steve Jobs.
It’s OK though, coz Steve Ballmer often comments here under the name of ‘Saucy Sandra.’
Technically, Windows is harder to use than a Mac and more prone to viruses etc, (so not too idiot friendly).
JC
@lucky
There are good and bad points in all OS’s.
Like you said, it’s all about options.
JC
Er buy a Mac, no a Pee Cee, no wait a minute buy a Ubuntu machine……
For heavens sake grow up
The people have decided and most of them have a Pee Cee. If it does what you want then well done. if it doesn’t try soemthing else……
personally i like my new netbook but it might not be what you want, although it has a web browser (firefox), an office suite (open office) and something to play audio and video (Mplayer)
Job jobbed……Nice blog
@SaucySandra (It’s Steve Bllmer again isn’t it?)
GREAT comment!
I really like the various netbooks – it’s all about choice!
JC
@Lucky:
your comment:
“Mac’s won’t run most of the software in the world. Why would I limit myself so severely? On top of that, why would I want a computer that requires me to use only hardware licensed by Apple?”
is factually wrong, you can run most Mac, Windows and Unix software on a recent Mac, which more or less makes it the least limiting hardware platform available.
You can also use practically any hardware you like with a Mac, whether it is ‘licensed’ by Apple or not.
As to the Mojave experiment, Microsoft thinks that Vista’s sdoption rates are simply due to bad publicity on the internet and that the consumers are just too simple to see the greatness of their OS.
However, business is just as sceptical and that is the market they will not convince with a staged stunt.
Here is a challenge: hand out 1000 copies of Vista to ordinary customers, let them take it home and let them install it on their own computers in their own environment.
@kenfegore
I have to agree with your final statement about handing out 100 copies of Vista to people – to install themselves and run in their own environment.
Thanks for the comment!
JC
@kenfegore
I own a mac book, I couldn’t (in it’s original state) install any windows software. However, with the installation of a Windows Emulator, (which kinda defeats the purpose…) I was able to install various programs.
As for the hardware issue, while you can use any hardware with a Mac, you are violating your user-end agreement, which states that you will only have MacOSX installed on a system with only licensed by Apple hardware.
Thirdly, I pose the same challenge to Mac, hand out copies, and don’t tell people that they can’t use “Bejeweled” on it, and see how many keep it versus their XP machine.
Lucky
p.s. sorry about the smiley face, the website converted my “)” into it
“3. Arctic Fox | 29 July, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Windows is for idiots who are too stupid or too broke to buy a Mac!”
Problem with that. Mac is one of the most difficult OS’s i’ve used, besides Ubuntu. And to get a decent mac you have to give an arm or a leg. Your smart if you buy a pc because you can get better than mac for a lower price (made a 23,000 dollar power mac, same pc for 8000)
4. jimconnolly | 29 July, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Technically, Windows is harder to use than a Mac and more prone to viruses etc, (so not too idiot friendly).
JC
Problem with this theory too, it’s not that it is more prone, it’s that you won’t get much out of a virus for mac or linux, thats only 10% of the computer market. Where as almost all buisnesses, and 90% of computers, run some form of windows. If it is so hard, why is it so popular?
Windows is “more prone to viruses etc.” is saying that “more accidents happen when people cross this road east to west instead of west to east.”
One of the anti-virus companies did a survey of Windows machines and said that eighty-seven percent had up-to-date virus software, and 95 percent had some form of anti-virus. Microsoft runs an antivirus program with over 200 common viral killers, and they reckon that around one in 350 machines have a virus. Let’s see, Macs are three percent of the world market, and Windows machines with no anti-virus are five percent of the market. Not much difference.
Too many people have been taken in by the people who said “Vista is crap,” to the degree that when most of them saw it, they didn’t even know it was Vista, and still gave it an average of 8.5 marks out of ten after finding out.
People keep saying when you install Vista over XP is doesn’t work out well, and I think it’s worth reminding everyone, that when XP came out, you didn’t install it over 98 and expect XP to work at full speed, so with expect this with Vista?
My take is that if you’re buying a new computer, you should buy Vista, but if you’re still using XP, stick with it. Most new computers are up to handling Vista, both in terms of hardware and in terms of drivers, but the older ones will be much more of a hassle.
Vista is a bit bloated and in that I don’t care for it, but it at least looks nicer. Once the UAC is disabled, it’s very stable and in fact I’ve had less funky problems with it than I did with XP.
I have to say, there are some EXCELLENT points being made here and far more balanced than you often find in blogs.
Get a decent machine, and vista runs like a charm. Show me a mac that can play team fortress 2 on my 8800 gts at native speeds without having to buy a windows license in addition ANYWAY, and I’ll go for it.
Show me a mac that allows me to manipulate everything that I could ever want to, with absolutely no restrictions or “help” from apple, like Debian, and I’ll go for it.
Until then, the mac OS isn’t for me, and all of these fights about which is the BEST are completely pointless. If it works for you, great, just don’t call me an idiot because my stuff doesn’t work for you. It’s your lame ass that has a problem with it.
Excellent article, by the way.
I run Vista on a new, quick laptop and it’s 100% rock solid. No problems with it at all. I think the problem people are having with Vista is more to do with it’s SIZE and the fact that XP is now a ‘fairly’ reliable OS.
Like @Paul says, if you are buying a machine that comes with Vista, keep it but don’t ‘just upgrade’ for the heck of it if you are happy with XP.
Jim