Windows Vista Ultimate x64
03rd Sep 07
OK, well I'm not sure if anyone is running Windows Vista (either the 32-bit or 64-bit version); but I'll happily share some experiences with you. Some of them specifically pertain to your life as a Digital photographer (others not).
Firstly, if you can possibly avoid upgrading just yet then do so. There really is currently no compelling reason to go the Vista route. The ONLY reason I installed Vista x64 was to leverage the 4GB of RAM that I had in my machine that wasn't being fully utilised.
Before upgrading to Vista (especially the x64 version) it's absolutely critical that you have all of the latest drivers available. Don't forget, silly things like keyboard and tablet drivers. The obvious ones include network, display, raid etc etc and it even boils down to making sure you have the x64 versions for your UPS! And most importantly the x64 drivers for your Spyder calibration device.
Here are some quite serious caveats when using Vista x64 though and after doing some research it does appear as though I am stuck with the situation until some new software and/or patches have been released:
1. Vista colour management leaves a lot to be desired and there is a bona-fide bug in the Gamma configuration of ICC profiles. So much so, that on bootup, a well calibrated Spyder profile will get loaded to your display adapater and your monitors will look great. A few seconds later, Vista will overwrite the gamma setting on your card and destroy your calibration. The currently only available fix is to REMEMBER to re-run the Spyder profile from the startup menu to re-apply the ICC profile. Don't forget to do it now!
Also good luck managing the plethora of profiles that Vista Colour Management, NVidia Control Panel and your Spyder calibration device attempt to load to the display adapter.
2. If you use a Canon and you shoot RAW, well sorrreeee. You can no longer view your RAW images as thumbnails in the explorer window if you're running Vista x64. Apparently it works fine in x32? Canon cannot currently tell you when they will have a working x64 version of the RAW Thumbnail previewer?
3. If you use Canon on a 1DsMark II (and one or two other models) be careful if you update the .TIF RAW files with any EXIF or other metadata using Photo Gallery or Explorer. Vista will corrupt those files. Canon says to be sure to use their most recent codec. Great, we shall. But it DOESN'T work on x64!!!
4. If you use DxO Optics Pro (as I did), there is currently no version available for Vista x64. DxO have no timeline currently for a release.
5. Soundblaster drivers are still buggy. At random your speakers will produce nothing but static. Shut-down, reboot, uninstall, reinstall or any combination of those will sometimes fix it. No guarantees. It does appear that one of the latest Windows Updates may be the cause of all the problems but like I say, no guarantees. How can the worlds biggest soundcard manufacturer not yet have decent drivers for Vista?
6. Do you use a Microsoft webcam like the VX-3000 or VX-6000. Well don't try you one of those and expect the microphone to work on x64. It's an acknowledged bug. Totally preposterous if you ask me. It' a bloody Microsoft product!
7. Every now and again Vista just stalls. If you Google the problem, there are lots of people experiencing this but no-one can pin-point the exact cause of this just yet. It's really annoying but just sit back; take 10 breaths and normal service will resume. Not a big deal really?? Yeah right!!!
8. I hope you have a decent anti-virus subscription because McAfee Home for instance doesn't support x64. Luckily I'm a corporate subscriber and there is a release in that line that keeps the kooties at bay? Sheesh.
9. You've heard about UAC (User Access Control) right? You sure you've heard it? Please confirm you've heard about UAC? Click here to confirm that UAC is running on your machine? UAC is active, please confirm you know about UAC? (are you getting the message). It's really annoying. I understan the rationale but it's really annoying.
What about the good stuff? Well, ok...there is some good stuff.
When it's up and running Vista x64 runs really well most of the time. Photoshop CS3 flies on it and CS3 has certainly been more stable for me on Vista that XP SP2 - perhaps it's the extra RAM that it now has in my case I'm not sure?
Apart from that, well that' about it really?
Can you make Vista work for you? Well, sure you can. You jut have to work around the above issues.
Oh yes, SP1 is due for release shortly. Quite frankly I wouldn't hold your breath that even half of these issues will be addressed.
Cheers
Ian
