I’m finally getting a chance to write about my new HP Slimline computer running Vista Ultimate. It’s been up and running for over a week now, but thanks to work and other commitments writing about the experience has been non-existent slow. There’s a good bit to write about in sincere hopes of providing additional information for people who want to do the same thing I’ve done. Namely, setting up a front-room system that runs Vista Media Center and adds more media choices to everyday living.
But, I digress, this specific post is about Vista Ultimate and the fact it shouldn’t have been released. It’s clever to use, but there are just some unrefined things happening that hopefully Windows 7 will fix.
My current issue is Vista’s obsession with waking systems from sleep through more than just pressing a button. Every single thing plugged into Vista can wake it from sleep including Ethernet, a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, or the $30 notebook cooler that just uses USB to power it (the Slimline runs HOT, HOT, HOT but that’s for another day).
There’s a lot of group discussions on the subject but what a pain the ass. This shouldn’t have been on by default. Using this system is like a giant game of wack-a-gopher (game where one has a mallet and tries to hit the gopher when they poke up their heads). Hit the gopher waking the system via a live Ethernet connection, the gopher waking it via the wireless mouse on the floor pops up its head. Cream that little fella and the new USB cooler is now out of its hole.
Clever OS, but not ready for prime time. Still.
