Are you thinking of upgrading your Windows system to run Vista, Microsoft's latest operating system? "Don't do it!" says Tim Weber, Business Editor of the BBC News website. He tried and had huge problems.
Says Weber, 'It took me one day to get online. The detail is tedious and highly technical: reinstalling drivers and router firmware didn't work, but after many trial and error tweaks to Vista's TCP/IP settings, I had internet access. Once online, Creative's website told me that my sound card was a write-off. No Vista support would be forthcoming.'"
If you are thinking of upgrading your present computer to Vista, I'd strongly suggest that you first read Tim Weber's article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6407419.stm.
Tim Weber is certainly not the only person who has had problems upgrading his modern PC to Vista. You can find hundreds of similar horror stories by using any search engine. Start first with this link: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=vista+upgrade+problems&btnG=Google+Search.
I wrote an article about a month ago describing my experiences with Vista. I had no difficulties simply because I took "the easy way out." I purchased a new, powerful computer with Windows Vista pre-installed at the factory. I did not go through the problems of upgrading from an earlier version of Windows. Having read all the horror tales about upgrade fiascos, I'm glad I chose to purchase a new computer with Vista pre-installed.
You can read my earlier article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/02/a_few_thoughts_.html.
Windows XP is already a dead product. There will be no more upgrades for XP, and even the vital security updates will stop in about two years: April 2009. In short, all of us are going to face a choice sooner or later: switch to Vista or to Macintosh or to Linux. There are good arguments for each of those choices.
Anyone choosing to remain with Windows should start thinking about upgrading. However, I wouldn't rush into it, and I certainly would never upgrade an existing system. Sooner or later, you will decide to purchase a new computer. I'd suggest that you upgrade to Windows Vista or Macintosh or Linux at that time, not now.
I will add a personal comment: I have had this powerful Windows Vista computer sitting on my desktop for a month now, alongside two older Windows XP systems, a Macintosh, and a Ubuntu Linux computer. The new Vista system has the most powerful hardware of all my computers: a dual-core 64-bit processor (essentially two high powered central processors on one chip), 4 gigabytes of RAM memory, a 500-gigabyte hard drive, a very sophisticated video board, and even the capability to record, edit, and create television programming.
Even with all that power, I am not using the new system very much. I find that I prefer my older Windows XP and Macintosh OS X systems.
Your mileage may vary.
