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Several people have asked me if I'm upgrading to the new Windows operating system - Vista. The answer is no. I won't be running Windows Vista until I buy a new PC, which hopefully won't be for a while.
The reasons why I'm not upgrading are quite simple. First, I'm not a glutton for punishment. Upgrading to a new operating system is something you do only if you have to - kind of like a root canal. It involves making sure your computer meets the minimum requirements to run it. Believe it or not, my computer doesn't have the horsepower to run the whiz-bang features of Vista. Upgrading an operating system also involves making sure that the drivers for all the hardware on the inside, and the peripherals on the outside, have updated drivers for the new operating system. Most major manufacturers are releasing Vista drivers, but I wouldn't expect new drivers for that ancient scanner you're holding onto.
Second, there isn't any specific feature in Vista that would compel me to go through the cost and hassle to upgrade. Sure, Vista looks really great, but that novelty would soon wear off. There are several incremental upgrades to programs that I never use like Paint, Wordpad, Windows Movie Maker, and Sound Recorder. The new additions to Vista are all things that you can get through free, third-party applications for Windows XP.
If you're thinking you need to upgrade to Vista, save yourself the hassle and wait until you get it preinstalled on your next new PC. If your current PC isn't performing like it used to, you're much better off doing a free and simple upgrade - reformatting and reinstalling Windows XP. If you're vigilant with keeping your antivirus and anti-spyware up-to-date, and are careful about what software you install, Windows XP offers rock-solid stability.
