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3 Reasons Why Windows XP is Far More Popular Than the New Windows Vista Operating System

Microsoft has touted Windows Vista as the "largest upgrade since Windows 95." However, ever since its release, Windows XP users have been slow to upgrade to this new operating system. This article reviews three main reasons why.


Software Compatibility
Many people choose to stick with Windows XP because of its software compatibility. Windows XP has countless numbers of compatible programs in its software library. Windows Vista, on the other hand, is a relatively new operating system. As such, several software developers have not developed and released software for Windows Vista. For this reason, it is incompatible with many types of software.


Windows XP cannot be considered an outdated operating system yet, because many software developers still consistently develop software for this particular operating system. Until Windows Vista has complete software support, Windows XP will still be considered the better operating system in terms of software availability and compatibility.

Cost of Use
Another reason why many people feel reluctant to upgrade to Windows Vista is cost. So far, Windows Vista is proving to be a relatively expensive operating system. The cost of using Windows Vista tends to exceed its price tag. Some older computers, for example, may not meet the demanding hardware requirements of Windows Vista. For this reason, most people with older systems will be required to upgrade their hardware in addition to purchasing the operating system.

Windows Vista also requires loads of memory to run, and this has many current and potential users concerned. The Vista premium ready designation, for example, requires 1 GB of RAM. For those who do not have this much, a feature called "Support Ready Boost" enables the user to extend the RAM by plugging in a USB key.

Sheer Inertia
Perhaps the most compelling reason why upgrading to Windows Vista may be difficult for some people is simply inertia and a sense of alienation. Many avid fans of Windows XP are just very reluctant to upgrade to Windows Vista. They feel that this new operating system alienate
s them from the familiar and very user-friendly Windows XP. Numerous users of Windows XP may, at first, feel uncomfortable with the newest operating system released by Microsoft - Windows Vista.

Many people feel very uncomfortable using Windows Vista because of its new graphical user interface and numerous other new features. Windows XP has been the standard Microsoft operating system for the past five years (the longest time in which Microsoft has used the same operating system) and windows users have gotten very comfortable using it. Upgrading to Windows Vista would be an awkward experience for the millions of people who have gotten accustomed to Windows XP.

To Upgrade or not to Upgrade?
If you have yet to answer this question for yourself, you should not feel rushed to upgrade to Windows Vista. Windows XP is still a very common and widely used operating system, while Windows Vista is not quite yet the standard Microsoft operating system. If you feel that upgrading to Windows Vista is simply not worth it, you may keep your Windows XP operating system with minimal consequences.