Windows Vista
The Rodney Dangerfield of Operating Systems

*Pigs really can fly*
Ed Bott reports on Extreme Tech's results from comparison tests of Windows XP SP3 vs Vista SP1. They both are authoritative technical sources. The results upset the persistent conventional wisdom about Vista, and Ed has a little editorian fun with it. (I'm still going to wait for Windows Seven, which will most likely be described as Vista 2.0.)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=458

*Vista security is better than Windows XP security*
http://blogs.technet.com/.../microsoft-vista-vs-windows-xp-sp2-vulnerability-report-2007.aspx

*Is Windows XP good enough?*
For my personal use, it is. I intend to skip Vista and leapfrog to Windows Seven, which can probably be best characterized as Vista 2.0. But XP is no longer "better" than Vista for most users. Paul Thurrott has a good handle on living with XP
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_02.asp

Selected clips

*Vista's 11 Pillars of Failure*
Most Vista users would probably say something like, "It ain't all that bad." John Dvorak -- a professional curmudgeon -- has written a retrospective that pretty well sums up what Microsoft has done to itself. If there's a hole in your boot and your foot hurts, you should be able to guess what happened. ;-)
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2286065,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03079TX1K0000585

*Books on Vista*
I skimmed a few books about Vista at Barnes and Knoble the other day. "Vista: The Missing Manual" written by David Pogue was the best that I saw. He has a "For Starters" version of it too, but if you're serious, skip that one and go for the big one. Although I haven't seen it directly, I think "Windows Vista(TM) Plain & Simple" would be another good choice. If you try one of these, let me know how you like it.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/125.html -- Pogue
http://cybercoyote.org/links/115.html -- Joyce & Moon

*To upgrade, or not to upgrade?*
The short answer is yes if you really want to and your computer was built in 2007. And Vista is the right choice for most people buying a new PC. Otherwise, use some of the resources listed on this page to help decide. A good starting point would be George Ou's perspective.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=785

User Access Control is the most valuable thing about Windows Vista. Some view it as a pain in the neck, but I find it reassuring. (If you're still using XP, running with reduced rights to give you similar protection.) Mark Russinovich, a legendary Windows guru, lets you in on everything you always wanted to know about UAC in a special article.

I also keep a personal collection of Vista related clips in a frequently updated Google Notebook. I just added one of the best recent ones.

*The Vista Irrelevancy*
Sascha Segan at PCMag.com recently wrote about the irrelevance of Windows Vista. What he had to say parallels my own thinking. I've decided to skip Vista entirely for my own use. I'm guessing the next generation of Windows will arrive in time for the holidays in 2010.

"Here's when you know your operating-system upgrade isn't working: when people come into stores asking for its 7-year-old predecessor. But that's what's happening as shoppers come up to counters begging for Windows XP machines. For too many people, Windows Vista is just irrelevant.
. . .
"In five years of developing Vista, Microsoft has squandered the opportunity to change all the things that are troubling about Windows XP from an OS standpoint. Most important, the shambling, creaky horror that is the Registry remains definitively intact, along with the primitive DLL model, the vast security abyss that is Internet Explorer, and the old-school file system. Instead we get Aero Glass. Whoopee."

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2177628,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03079TX1K0000585

Earlier Clips

*Dual-boot Vista and XP*
It's fairly easy if you have XP installed and want to add Vista. Just follow the instructions when you start the Vista DVD. Going the other way is a bit more daunting. One of the major glitches to overcome in either case is keeping XP from erasing Vista System Restore points. You'll find help at the other end of these links.
http://dual-boot-xp-vista.classes.cnet.com/
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/080221#known0
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/080214#story1

*Installing Windows Vista*
Paul Thurrott is starting a series on installing (or upgrading to) Windows Vista. His approach is straightforward and thorough. It's a worthwhile read even if you're buying a computer with Vista already installed.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_01.asp

*Windows Vista Bookmarks*
A valuable collection of links to information on many aspects of Vista. They are aimed at beginning level users.
http://vistabookmarks.blogspot.com/

*Program Compatibility on Windows Vista*
Programs that have not been updated for Vista are likely to run into compatibility problems, even though they worked fine on Windows XP. Microsoft has done several things to help people work around the limitations, and they are nicely summarized in this blog entry.
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/06/08/17705.aspx

*The Kitchen Sink*
Microsoft's strategy has always been to include everything anyone could possibly need in Windows. Vista is no exception. Much of that stuff you'll never hear of or use. Many of those doodads and kitchen sinks just hang around stealing memory and CPU cycles. "Services" are one of the biggest drags on your system, to say nothing of enabling security breaches. SpeedyVista has a Vista services guide that will help you tweak Vista.
http://speedyvista.com/

*Advice on Upgrading to Vista*
Steve Bass has reader feedback about upgrading to Vista. Also, don't miss his link to Nvida's Vista installation advisor. My 3 year old rig, which was high-performance when I built it, failed their appraisal miserably. ;-)

Forbes on Vista: "at best, mildly annoying." Why you might want to wait at least until Vista SP1.

What are the requirements for switching to Vista? (Or for a new computer running Vista?) The PC Doctor has a nice rundown on what it takes.

*Vista Dates*
Update -- March, 2008: Well, SP1 will arrive on the 18th, 6 months later than I orginally thought. And Windows 7 is slated for 2010. I'd say late 2010 at the earliest even though I thought 2009 earlier.

Update -- March, 2007: My intuition that I should skip Vista and wait for the next version of Windows still feels good. I'm absolutely going to wait for the first service pack (SP1), which will probably arrive (late?) this summer. I will probably wait for Windows 7 (2009) and may even just switch to Linux instead. :-)

Everything you wanted to know about Vista -- and more.

"Wondering where your favorite Office 2003 menu and toolbar commands are located in the new Office 2007 Ribbon interface? Here's some help to get you started." --posted by Amit Agarwal, Digital Inspiration

"This article is key reading for those of you who are about to download or purchase Windows Vista and install it on a PC. I'm here to talk you out of it. Just say no to LeBron James and Windows Vista--for now. Here's why." --Mike Elgan, Computerworld
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128669-page,1/article.html

Microsoft's official website is a good place to start learning more about Windows Vista. Also see their "Get Ready for Windows Vista".

If your heart is set on getting Microsoft Vista when it launches in February there's probably not much to stop you. For the rest of you, Walt Mossberg put down out the pros and cons in plain English.

Paul Thurrott's "SuperSite for Windows" has more in one place online about Windows Vista than anywhere else I know of.

*The definitive guide to upgrading Vista*
ExtremeTech's upgrade guide is authoritative but easy to follow. PC Magazine's Insiders Guide is a good companion piece. Give them a look if you're thinking of an upgrade. [Click the "print" icons when you get there to get the articles all on one page.]
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2082979,00.asp http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2074998,00.asp

Which version of Vista should you get? There are many discussions of this online. All the ones I've seen analyze prices based on the assumption that you're going to buy Vista, or a Vista upgrade in a box. Most likely you'll get your copy of Vista when you buy a new PC. Microsoft doesn't charge computer makers anything near retail price. I'm guessing that Vista Home Premium will only cost $30 or $40 more than Vista Home Basic when you get it in a new PC. ExtremeTech has a comparison of features for those two, as well as the business editions. It will help you get the big picture as well as the details.

For most people, the biggest reason to upgrade to Vista might be to get better security. But is that what they'll get? Paul Thurrott's review of Vista security answers that question.

If you upgrade your computer to Vista, you may find that the drivers for some of your hardware will not work well or at all. Microsoft's TechNet site is an excellent place to look for a driver solution.

One good book about Windows Vista that I know of so far:

• Windows Vista Inside Out by Ed Bott [excerpt]