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Vista may hinder creative productivity

updated 06:35 pm EST, Tue February 27, 2007

Vista vs. productivity

A recent study suggests that Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system actually decreases the efficiency of creative users more than Windows XP, despite the Redmond-based company's efforts to offer a smoother interface that is easier to use. The study, conducted by Pfeiffer Consulting, examined a series of independently financed benchmarks that establish how Vista impacts User Interface Friction (UIF) and user efficiency, according to IT-Enquirer. Looking at a number of issues that were considered under-performed in previous versions of Windows, the benchmarks revealed slowdowns in the areas of mouse precision, but especially menu latency and desktop operations (such as opening folders or deleting items).

UIF is a concept developed by Pfeiffer that describes and quantifies the perceived differences in efficiency as well as user experience between an operating system, applications, and digital devices. UIF also defines the observable fluidity and productivity when performing the same operation on different computer systems, programs or devices.

Pfeiffer Consulting is advising creative users to think carefully before migrating or upgrading to Vista, as benchmarks showed that creative professionals may actually become less productive than they would be using Windows XP.

Mac OS X still remains a clear winner with regard to creative efficiency, according to the study.

 
Previous Comments

creative

02/27, 06:44pm reply

"You're Using Photoshop to Create Art"

Cancel or Allow?

"You have Chosen to Print A Photo"

Cancel or Allow?

Sorry, I had to =)

FastAMX79

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

0

Shocking!

02/27, 07:49pm reply

All that effort to knock-off the MacOS, and it's still not as productive!

G4_Kessel

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Joined: Jan 2003

0

So true

02/27, 08:19pm reply

ANECDOTAL:

I went to my local BestBuy the week after Vista came out to see how good it was. I was amazed at the awesome shininess, but under that, everything was sooo XP. On all the computers I played with , all functions were slowed to be really fluid and "beautiful" but it really just wasted time.

VISTA OPERATES IN SLOW MOTION, and it's distracting...

Hope4 TheWorld

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Joined: Jan 2007

0

MS must Die

02/27, 08:42pm reply

Enough said. I think the world is sick and tired of that filth.

jarod

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Joined: Apr 2005

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Vista

02/27, 09:50pm reply

Yes all the same stuff re hashed under a prettier looking hood and it does slow you down.

Has anything been improved.... Yes

But overall its crapolla if thats all they can do in 5 years

russellb

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

What???

02/27, 10:55pm reply

Menu latency? Slowness opening folders?? Delays deleting items???

Are they sure they tested Vista and not XP?

But, hope4 theworld, people said the same things about OS X when it came out...especially compared to OS 9.

LouZer

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Joined: Nov 2000

0

OS X vs. OS 9

02/28, 12:00am reply

"But, hope4 theworld, people said the same things about OS X when it came out...especially compared to OS 9."

OS 9 was a cooperative multi-tasking system ... of course it "seemed" much faster as all user interaction preceded everything else on the system, unless of the course the system was hung on another process.

Of course I don't believe this report says the system is slower as in "rendering," but as in people have to wait for the "nifty" effects to finish before being able to continue. One thing they mentioned was having to wait for a folder window to "materialize" before being able to get at the contents. This is flash over function and wears thin fairly quickly, if it's something you need to do often.

mjtomlin

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Joined: Oct 1999

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heh

02/28, 06:27am reply

Came across some good reading here, http://www.tofoknbad.com

Raccoon

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Joined: Nov 2005

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Clippy sez...

02/28, 01:08pm reply

"It looks like you're trying to be creative. Would you like some help with that?"

corsair

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2005

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