New computers can still be fitted with Windows XP rather than Vista. Just ask the supplier to load Windows XP. In fact, so many people and businesses are requesting XP (rather than Vista), that Microsoft has had to extend the time when it will stop manufacturing Windows XP. Smaller computer suppliers will now be able to fit XP until January 2009.
Buying
things for a Vista computer:
Make
sure that the box for the item you are
buying is marked with this logo.
The box may contain a different but similar message but the contents will be Vista compatible.
As far as I can see, Vista offers few technical advantages, one advantage is that it can write DVDs. But all computers fitted with a DVD writer are already equipped with proprietary software for writing DVDs.
Based on past experience, the new version may contain bugs which will need sorting out. I never buy the 'latest thing' for that reason. I try to buy the 'end of a line' because the product will then have been thoroughly debugged. New computers will have Vista installed; owners will have to sort out any bugs and incompatibilities until Microsoft (or makers of peripherals) have resolved them.
Having had a good moan about Vista, I must point out that Microsoft made a huge and beneficial difference to computing by producing a standard system that is practically universal. We can go into virtually any office, school, library, or home and know instantly how to use the computer. When I first started using computers 25 years ago, every program was completely different and each had to be learned afresh as you moved from one office to another. However, Microsoft is steadily wrecking this standardisation with every new release.
Should you upgrade to the new version of Windows? My advice is wait until about the end of 2008, or better still, wait until you replace your computer. I can see only one obvious improvement compared with Windows XP, i.e. the Start button has been replaced by a circular anonymous button. After 12 years Microsoft have finally realised that closing down by clicking a button labelled Start is just plain daft. Is that worth paying £100 or more for an upgrade? Having said this, the 'shut down' symbol is now almost invisible, it is a tiny unlabelled right-arrow.
You will undoubtedly have to pay more than £100 because you will most likely need more RAM memory (at least 2Gbyte to get anywhere near the speed of XP). You may need a new printer, scanner or camera because the Vista drivers may not match your peripherals; in my experience so far, this has been the case with 3 out of 3 computers fitted with Vista. Microsoft will be offering Vista updates. Other manufacturers will be preparing new drivers for printers, scanners, and cameras to suit Vista. Rather than buy new peripherals you should try to download new drivers from the manufacturers' web sites
Vista is certainly more complicated than XP and many old favourite tools are needlessly renamed or hidden in new often obscure locations. Some re-learning will be required.
Hidden essentials: In Vista's version of Internet Explorer (version 7), would you believe it! the menu is missing. Click the Tools button (the one with the gear wheel) then click Menu Bar to put it back where it belongs. On the Start menu the essential command Run has been banished. To restore it, Right click the Start button. Click Properties. Click the Start menu tab. Click Customize. Tick the box labelled Run Command. Click OK and OK. Click the Start button and you will see the Run command has been restored to its rightful place. As for Vista's version of Outlook Express, it is now called Windows Mail and the very useful Contacts pane is missing. You are out of luck with this one, it has been replaced by a new indistinct Toolbar button called Contacts. The 'shut down' symbol is now almost invisible, it is a tiny unlabelled right-arrow.
