I started using Vista Business at the beginning of August and I am dual
booting with XP Pro. Vista is installed on it's own HD. The system is a
2.8Ghz P4, with 1GB memory. I'm also using a 4GB Sony USB flash drive for
ReadyBoost, assigning 3GB of the drive for that purpose.
To date, I've noticed no major gains in performance that I could say
outweigh the performance of XP Pro. However, Vista is more streamlined,
smoother fonts, I really like Aero. All my applications run as flawlessly as
they do on XP. I'm not a gamer, so I can't comment on things like that.
Office 2007 applications, my few graphics programs ( IE Micrografix,
Photoshop ) run just fine. All Adobe products are running, connection to my
business server, internet, and FTP sites are all running.
I was never a fan of factory pre-installed OS's, especially one that comes
from Dell. I'm in the IT business, so for people "in the know" and folks
with knowledge of loading an OS from scratch with none of the "fluff" that
PC makers like the Dell's and Gateways of the world install, I would venture
to guess William, that your system is really a slave to performance right
out of the box. I've blown out countless factory installed OS's ( along with
all their useless software packages ) for work, clients, friends and family
over the last dozen years or so. Whenever Windows ( enter version of your
choice here ) is installed as a complete, or "New" installation ( i'm not a
fan of upgrade versions ) you have the basics of the OS ready for you to
install what YOU NEED, not what the manufacturer packages for you. It's all
smoke and mirrors, and fluff. It's also their way of fooling you into
thinking you've gotten a great bang for your buck. All the "productivity"
software that they pre-install, is really counter-productive in my eyes.
Let's not even mention all the security applications that they will
pre-install for you. They're in the business to sell PC's, and they have to
make purchasing a PC a very "non-scary" scenario for consumers.
Modifications to the Vista OS ( or any OS for that matter ) that have come
pre-installed from any of the big names that sell PC's, is like putting a
silk hat on a pig. Blow the system out, and re-install Vista ( not from
their recovery CD ) fresh. You'll see a big difference.