Windows Vista Upgrades

From Kim Komando:
When should I upgrade to Vista?
When would be the best time to upgrade to Windows Vista?Vista is the new Microsoft operating system. It is scheduled to debut in January. Then, we will all have to decide whether to upgrade.
This question is more complicated than it sounds. For some people—me, for instance—the answer is easy: immediately, if not sooner! But not everyone has to have the latest thing right away.
For some people, Vista will be an economic issue. Not everyone has $200-$400 to burn. Most probably have Windows XP, which is a very good operating system. I see no compelling reason to move to Vista. Microsoft will imply that only losers stick with XP. But that is just advertising.
Furthermore, Vista might demand a new computer. Vista's technology requirements are much greater than those for XP. Theoretically, you can update an older computer. But the costs of parts and labor can devour you. That's especially true if someone else does the work. And your power supply, microprocessor, motherboard, etc. will still be old. They could fail at any time.
Run Microsoft's upgrade advisor to see where your hardware stands.
So, I'd say most people can stick with XP. Again, it works well. And it's secure, especially if you use Firefox, not Internet Explorer.
There are things that will force a change. A few are:
• You might have something new that you want to try. It will run on Vista only.• Microsoft will stop supporting XP eventually. It did just that recently with Windows 98 and ME. That will mean no more security updates. For your safety, you should then upgrade. But that's still a ways down the road.• Your computer will stagger to the grave. Your new computer will have Vista on it.
So, again, if you have the money, upgrade. I will. My machines are powerful and won't require extensive updates. But if you're on a budget, stick with XP. It works fine, and will for several years more.
A more-or-less complete version of Windows Vista is available. Its catchy name is Release Candidate 1. Download it through my site.