I hate having to correct my visitors. We had a few helpful pointers added to the comment thread for optimizing Windows Vista, but not without a few jabs.

I’ve been watching Windows desktop mindshare slowly slip away over the past few years, and some Windows “home users” simply can’t accept that – they simply won’t. It’s easier to accuse someone else of taking extreme sides than it is to further the discussion in an intelligent manner, or provide valid counterpoints to further support your position.

John Buffam ~ “Chris, I use both Mac and Vista, and I find Vista to be quite fast. I have a dual core middle of the road intel laptop and Vista is just as fast as any version of XP I have tried. The sleep settings work fine and I find it ironic how guys like you and Leo trash Vista, while all the time plicking away on your Macs, biased as can be. Its a Mac ad site just like Leos. The facts are 95% of people at home choose PCs, its time experts realized thats the market”

You’re assuming that we don’t see holes in OS X? You’re also assuming that 95% of “people at home” want to run Windows – or that Windows is the best choice for them. In either instance, you’re wrong. When you rely on polls, statistics, and numbers to prove your point – you’re proving absolutely nothing. At least true experts understand this. “Experts” who ignore the big picture aren’t experts at all.

At least present numbers from the other side, John. Or tell us what we really need to realize. Open your mind before you open your mouth (and yes, there are times when I need to do the same thing).

kiko ~ “Interestingly I just watched the new Leopard promo video – I presume the “narrator” is a typical Mac user – he sure is glad for the new Time Machine cause he had a folder with some stuff he needed and when he went to look it wasn’t there – he “didn’t know what he did” but luckily he can recover it…actually he had that happen to him a few times in the video….and every time he “didn’t know what he did” but it wasn’t there….are we beginning to find some “operative words” here??????…and wow how about “spaces” ! …uh I think linux had virtual desktops years ago and so did pc’s…but what? – you can move stuff between them? – wow! – oh yeah that how they worked in those days…this is what I believe is called “advertising” which came soon after the first Gutenburg press…( which was closely follewed by the first salesmen…)…”

Sometimes, it’s not about the features – and hardcore technologists often forget that. Do yourselves a favor: don’t forget that. :) You could argue that one operating system copies another, and at one level you’d probably be 100% correct. But that’s no longer an interesting argument, gang. It’s a given. What’s more interesting to discuss is which operating system does what feature better than the other – and sometimes that boils down to raw truth (as opposed to personal preference).

mark64 ~ “I am sorry to say chris because i have watched you since Sceensaver days , and must say you are becoming exactly like what the article describes. Think about some of your most recent articles and being easily “wowed” by certain features of Apples new OS. I am not sure you even used those features before being wowed. Vista has many features, but you have ignored them. If You find any problems (Many vista users dont have) you magnify them and seem to want to jump on the oh so popular, bash windows bandwagon. Many windows haters have never even used or spent any real time using vista. I like the people that have said ‘after 30 minutes i knew vista sucked, and so i went to buy mac or went back to XP’”

Actually, no… if you bothered to read the article you recommended, you’d quickly see that I’m not an apologist. You’re also incorrect in assuming that I haven’t seen the features in person.

I have most certainly NOT ignored the features in Vista – but “this” isn’t just about features, if you haven’t figured it out already. Moreover, you can’t bash Windows – you can only CMD it. ;)

I’m not a Windows hater, and I resent that you would label me as such. It was my love for Windows that drove my passion – and that passion for it has almost disappeared. If I hated Windows, why would I bother writing about it? If you take my public issues with Windows as hatred, then you’re not understanding why I’m bringing them up publicly in the first place.

If you don’t share why you’re disappointed in something, how in HELL do you expect they’re ever going to get fixed?! Would you be so quick to label either John Gruber or Paul Kafasis Mac haters?!

Pfeh.

Steve A ~ “I’m really beginning to tire of all of this crap you keep spouting about Vista. You have to be doing something wrong to have so many problems. I agree it wasn’t rock steady before the main consumer launch, but now it’s more than ready for a production/work environment. I’ve seen a massive boost in speed of programs on my machine over XP. Photoshop now loads in less than two seconds, and that’s with hundreds of extra fonts. Show me that on XP or OSX.”

Ugh. Okay. Seriously. Take off your rose-tinted glasses, Steve:

• Dell gives them what they want: Windows XP
• Partners Report 10 Annoying Vista Problems As Conflicts Dampen Debut
• Microsoft Buckles, Gives Windows XP A Life Extension
• 6 Months Later, a Report Card on Vista
• The five sins of Vista
• No end in sight for Vista’s Long Goodbye
• Quick Bits: Hasta La Vista, Vista?
• Windows Vista Problems Still Deter Adoption
• Unhappy with Vista? You might downgrade to XP

I suppose they’re we’re all doing something wrong?