Windows Vista – or not?

if you are buying a new computer with Vista pre-installed you can be sure that the computer will run Vista OK, but you should still check that there are Vista drivers available for your printers and other peripherals.

There is very little point in upgrading your current computer from XP to Vista.. there are a few nice touches in Vista, but the pretty looks and improved desktop search aren’t really worth the hassle and expense of upgrading.

Also, the next Windows operating system, currently known as Windows 7, is expected to be released in late 2009 and XP will be fully supported and updated by Microsoft until 2012, and although little is known about Windows 7 at the moment, it is promised to be a much more radical departure from XP, rather than the predominately cosmetic changes offered by Vista.

If you do want to upgrade to Vista now though, check your machine will run Vista with Microsoft’s upgrade tool, which you can find here..

Vista advisor.

If you are used to using XP, adapting to Vista is easy, they are similar to use, and you will soon get used to it.

Personally, I find I use XP far more than Vista, probably out of habit, but there cerstainly aren’t any great advantages, or disadvantages, of choosing Vista.

One last thing – Don’t buy Vista Basic – go for Home Premium, and if you are installing on an existing computer save yourself a lot of money and buy the OEM version.

It comes without the pretty box and you will only be able to install it on the one computer – you won’t be able to transfer it if you change machines – but it is much cheaper.