I've been sort of wishing for something similar, too. The problem with Vista
isn't the OS - it's the support framework that isn't there yet. HP (my oem
vendor) blames the manufacturer of the errant device or software, the
manufacturer blames Vista and MS blames the manufacturers. I have a
Vista-certified device that my computer will not recognise, and I'm not an
idiot, nor do I load my computer up with crapware and virus-ridden hacks.
I've probably logged over a hundred hours searching newsgroups and Google
trying to fix the problem.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but perhaps if we can figure out some common
hardware configs, we can get everyone to quit playing the blame game - or at
least help people to choose a combination that will work. I know there is a
list kept of programs and hardware that 'work' in Vista, but they're not
working for everyone. I've seen two posts in the last few days about Realtek
HD problems - and that's on the 'works' list. (And Realtek HD works
perfectly with my system, btw.)

"periboob" wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> Right now, all I know is that there are a lot of people that are having
> Vista problems. And a number of people who are not. It seems to me, more
> of each type than can be explained by user-differences. Probably more
> than can be explained by installing on known incompatible hardware. What
> if there is a combination of chip-set, memory, video, etc that Vista is
> incompatible with? Has anyone checked? Note that vendors have no
> motivation to check this, because it could adversly impact sales.
>
> I would like to find a moderately civil forum/resource where people who
> are having problems with Vista can post, or have already posted their
> problems, along with their system parameters. Also, people who are not
> having problems could post their system configuration. The objective
> being to have a tool that would help with shopping for a system,
> providing more information to a careful shopper, to improve their odds
> of getting a satisfactory experience.
>
> The tool should consider things like system brand, model number,
> parameters of CPU, Memory, Storage (ready boost), Video (brand, model,
> memory)... Which software is running well, which is not, attached
> accessories (like printers, WiFi, scanners,...)
>
> The MS Hardware Compatibility List has been suggested, but The HCL is
> usless for this purpose. It lists hardware that Microsoft insider gurus
> can beat into submission. It has to, or HW vendors lawyers would have a
> hissy-fit. Further, every HW vendor will make every effort to stretch
> the truth, so their machines will sell. Marketing forces will bend the
> HCL to the point that, for most of us it will be ridiculously biased.
> (remember the absurd minimum memory specs MS has allowed for the last
> 3-4 versions of Windows?)
>
> Would a tool like this be hard to create? How many programmers will
> have to be laid-off if 20% of the potential customers for Vista, just
> refuse? Put 1% of those programmers to work now, because a lot more than
> 20% of the people I know are sure dragging their feet.
>
> Anyway, I am not suggesting someone create the reference, that will be
> built by the users--I just want a few bright web programmers to build a
> data collection tool, so if I am considering buying for example, a Dell
> Vostro with 2GB, Intel 1.6GHz Core2, and want to run Photoshop, Open
> Office, Firefox, Hooked to an XYZ printer, with a GWIZ wireless
> router,... I can get a clue what problems others may have had. Maybe a
> little map display to start with yellow blotches where you might expect
> problems, red for known traps, green for safe... Maybe a place to store
> the output of DxDiag, along with some user-experience results...
>
> An opportunistic person might even make a lot of money, because they
> could sell ads, and there are going to be a lot of eyeballs on real
> information about when and why Vista works or dosent, as opposed to a
> rather tedious exchange of insults on most forums I have found.
> (vistax64.com is a good exception)
>
> Anyone have links like that? Either showing some results, or just
> collecting serious information? (skip the links to the unmoderated
> battles between chronic complainers, fanboys, trolls and such)
>
>
> --
> periboob
>[/color]