Vista

[bobov (imported)]

Microsoft is releasing the consumer versions of Windows Vista tomorrow, as well as the new Office 2007. What are you going to do?

[Chadwick (imported)]

I am going to buy it. I have been folowing it since it was thought of lol computer geek here lol... I have built a 4 gig memory 160 gig hard drive and a h20 coold machine to run it lol also the new 8800 NVIDA card love it chow

[lookinginuk (imported)]

the best thing to do is hang on till they have fixed all the bugs in the first version then get the 2nd relese which will be more stable and secure !

[bobov (imported)]

To get the full Vista, I'd need to add memory and a graphics card, or buy a new computer. I'm using a good machine, but it's 5-6 years old, and there have been an increasing number of file corruptions over the last six months, so it might be worth getting something new. Still, I think I'll wait for debugging, comments, etc.

My question is whether it's worth the money to upgrade. What I've read is that Vista focuses on the integration of technologies through the PC - cell phones, iPods, Blackberrys, digicams, game boxes, TVs, etc. I don't use any of these. I read that security flaws have already been found. That leaves the new "Aero" display. Of course, Microsoft may begin withdrawing support from XP over time, so I'll probably wait a while, then buy.

[Paolo]

My advice is - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I'm perfectly happy with what I've got.

No need to screw it up.

I WOULD like to have a faster machine, but if I do get one, it sure won't have Vista on it...

Hell, they never got XP right!

[stewie69 (imported)]

XP may not be perfect, but it's the devil I know. Besides, I have no need or desire to buy a new machine right now, and even if I did, it would very likely be a Mac. And I never buy anything when it first hits the market. Let 'em work the bugs out, then I'll consider it.

[n3rf (imported)]

I got two computers recently to replace my old Pentium 2's.

These wer Pentium 3's with XPon one and 2000 on the one I use as my "primary" right now. Then I went to DSL that I had so long "avoided" thinking it would suck in all kinds of gooks. Well with my Earthlink program it works just "perfect" so for $150-dollars each with all my okl programs as well and files etc, I am out like $300 for both machines. Just to let You know what the market is for a "Used" Pentium 3 right now. N3RF

[Shortie (imported)]

Microsoft is releasing the consumer versions of Windows Vista tomorrow, as well as the new Office 2007. What are you going to do?

I've never been an early adopter, and see no need to vary that policy with Windows Vista. Microsoft has committed to supporting WinXP until April of 2009, so there's certainly no reason to spend the money to "upgrade" to their newest operating system at this time.

Don't even think of running Vista on a computer that doesn't have the latest and greatest chip on the motherboard. Although the "Home" version of Vista will run on older machines, the Aero interface will not be available. My question is, "If you can't have Aero, why bother?" Most of the so-called improvements over WinXP are just eye candy, in my estimation.

[strassenbahn (imported)]

I think it really comes down to what you really use your computer for, rather that what Microsoft is hyping as the "wow factor". If you would really use those bells and whistles, it makes sense to get Vista, if not, then not. In my case I use my computer excusively for word processing, Googling for information, Internet shopping, participating in forums like EA, and e-mail and find that Windows 2000 is 100% adequate for me. So as in all aspects of life (including, incidentally a decision to get castrated or keep castration in the realm of fantasy), the Ancient Greek maxim applies: "Know thyself".

[Sac_mec (imported)]

I can't remember where, I think it was on either the ''Computeractive' magazine website, or the BBC tech pages, but I'm certain I read that the first SP1 for Vista is being released within about 2 weeks. Inspires you with confidence, eh?

The more I read about Vista, the more I see that it is Microsoft controlling your surfing experience and not you. Newcomers to PCs with absolutely no knowledge will possibly enjoy it but anyone who has used Windows 95, 98SE, XP with SP1 and 2 will find their own personal control over their own personal PC very limited.