Hardware, VISTA, FSX and YOU Questions and Answers

[NicksFXHouse]

26.
Who are you and how do you know about this stuff? Do you work for Microsoft?

A:
I have a background in electrical engineering and business. I do not work for Microsoft directly. Before most of you were born I worked in research and development at McDonnell Douglas. Afterwards I spent many years in the motion picture and television special effects industry before the onslaught of CGI. I currently work in PCB research and development for a large Aerospace firm. I consult on the side and have been contracted for several years through a publicly traded global outsource firm who was hired by Microsoft for professional software evaluation.

[congo]

Microsoft might team up with the government in a new domestic spying program.

This is exactly what bothers me about Vista. Microsoft may have no choice in the matter without someone in charge who can stand up to government.

Current political climate could not be better for such a thing to occur.

[richardd43]

Cell phones now have tracking devices in them. New cars will have black boxes and trackers in them too.

Am not sure what Microsoft might be required to do for the government but I know it will not keep me from buying the product.

I am looking forward to Vista and the new graphics card I will be buying.

[NicksFXHouse]

27.
I downloaded and tried the latest VISTA BETA offered my Microsoft. I thought it was cool but it did not seem to perform as I expected. I really did not think it was faster then XP and it did not run my games any faster. I thought DX10 was better. Why did VISTA run so poorly?

A:
DX10 was not fully implemented in VISTA. You do not have a DX10 video card so you will not see any improvements. I was not very impressed with the BETA 2 release either. Microsoft has since released another BETA which is not public. In this latest non-public release VISTA ran exceptionally better for me and for the first time in months I was quite impressed. Driver support is increasing for VISTA and I suspect the next release will also implement parts of the OS that up until now have been disabled. DX10 will be fully implemented as well.



====================================

I have provided the above information as a reference guideline for those who have questions. To the best of my knowledge the information I have provided is correct. I may add more as time goes on or I see repeat questions in the fourms that can be answered in this thread.

I hope it helps answer some or all of your questions and may help you with those difficult hardware decisions.


For specific information regarding processors, memory, motherboards and cards it is always best to start a new thread and ask directly about the products you are considering. The advice and opinions given about processors, memory, motherboards and cards usually changes over time and with new additions to the market.