Windows Vista: The day Microsoft stopped trusting its users

I've often had a love-hate relationship with Microsoft. This is partly due to my resistance to change. I remember the first Windows PC I ever used at home was an Intel-based 486 Packard Bell with Windows For Workgroups 3.11. From Windows' inception until Windows XP, Microsoft had always had DOS as a backup in case things with a home user's computer went awry. It was also a nice way to play some of the best computer games known to man, such as Jazz Jackrabbit and Day of the Tentacle.

Funny enough, I initially thought that the first version of Windows NT I had ever used was Windows XP. As of this writing, however, I have come to realize that I actually had some exposure to Windows NT 4 back when the Dayton Library used it on their computers. However, in that circumstance, I didn't get to interact much with the inner-workings of the computers themselves, so I just thought that it was Windows 95. All in all, Windows NT had not been a bad beast thus far, although it was different. And then came Windows Vista..........

Windows Vista Desktop via a screenshot from my Toshiba Laptop.

When I first saw it, I wasn't sure what the big deal was. I mean, I had heard about how restrictive it was, but to be quite honest, it had not "blipped" on my technological radar. In fact, it wasn't until I started using Windows 7 all the time for school that I realized how bad Windows Vista really was. I mean, I had heard about the restrictions (most notably, the one known as "User Account Control") which, by the way, appears in Windows Vista as well, but I just never gave it any thought.

Windows User Account Control Prompt.

The other useless feature (or maybe they're two features) is (are) the Sidebar and its Gadgets. Just like the "Channel Bar" from Internet Explorer 4.0, this feature was in theory, a good idea, however, upon further discovery from usage, it's honestly pointless, as are its gadgets, but at least in Windows 7, a user can place the gadget anywhere they want on the desktop. 

The Windows 7 Desktop (for comparison only). Notice how the gadgets are not shadowed by a toolbar.

At any rate, if you're going to upgrade off of Windows XP (not that I recommend it), go with Windows 7 (or newer if you desire). I can't speak for Windows 8, but I hear if one adds a modification or two, they can get a desktop that is similar to the one shown above. Sounds like a winner for someone that can't get a touch screen.