I recently purchased a copy of Microsoft Vista Home Premium edition. After some initial frustrations I am up and running successfully.   My version of Vista runs about $240 retail or $150 if you’re upgrading from XP, so you might want to think twice if upgrading is worth the cost and effort. Here are some of the pros and cons.

Pros

Vista looks cool. Some day people are going to look back at how hideous and boring computer desktops were and wonder what developers were thinking. The transparent windows and fade-in transitions are a nice touch and ergonomically things are laid out nicely’”although you will go nuts trying to find things at first. I’m finally getting the hang of the explorer.

Vista makes full use of my computer’s configuration. I built my system to some very high specifications (64 bit dual core processor and 3 gigs of RAM) which weren’t supported by my 32 bit version of XP Pro. Vista eats up some of those performance gains with its flashy transition effects and other ‘œenhancements’. But still there’s nothing I’ve managed to throw at this machine that it couldn’t crunch out in short order.

Video looks much better and Vista automatically knows how to play DVDs, which saves me installing a program. I haven’t got a chance to play a lot of video yet but multimedia is one of Vista’s main selling points. Winamp’s performance is like night and day from my previous setup. Your mileage may vary depending on hardware though’¦ computers can be so complicated!

Cons

The biggest drawback is compatibility. None of my devices worked properly’¦ including the wireless USB device I use to connect to the internet. Drivers are out there but many of them are still ‘œbeta’ meaning the manufacturers  published them without QA or support. If you don’t know what a driver is, or how to find an updated one on the web, I’d suggest you stay far away from Vista unless you’re ready to pay for professional install.

Program compatibility is another factor. Quicken 2006 gave me some problems but installed after I downloaded some updates.  Other programs, like Nero, wanted me to buy a newer version.   My antivirus software (a cheap alternative to Norton from EarthLink) was not Vista compatible, so I had to shop around for that as well. I went with Bit Defender because it had the distinction of being the one of the cheapest and best according to PC World magazine.

Finally… Vista’s expensive. To save money, I bought the OEM version because at $110, it costs less than the standard commercial version. You can buy copies on both Newegg and Amazon.   However ‘”caveat emptor’” you only buy the right to install OEM software on one computer, so if you buy an additional machine later you have to (in theory) buy a new copy.  

If you’re buying a new computer, chances are you’ll be getting Vista anyway. However if you have an older system, laptop  or one that you’re building yourself you may want to weigh the pros and cons. Check to see what software and hardware are supported before you upgrade. Vista is not for slower outdated  computers. Eventually Vista may take over but XP is going to be with us for quite a while.