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Windows Vista:
Should You or Shouldn't You?

This column should start with music from Jaws playing in the background and the title “It's Coming”. It has indeed been since Windows XP emerged in 2001 and soon it is time for the new Windows Vista to arrive. Before 2007 all new PCs will come with Windows Vista installed on them. So using Vista is inevitable for all PC users. Windows Vista (according to Microsoft's Web site) comes in several versions including:

    Home Basic -- this is probably what I can afford to buy – web surfing, instant messenger, and e-mail.

    Home Premium -- add home entertainment (movies) and home finances and pay more.

    Ultimate – this is what I wish I could afford – business, mobility, and home entertainment all in one.

    Business and Enterprise – this is for businesses and global organizations with servers.

Vista is based upon Microsoft's “trustworthy computing initiative” so it promises better protection from viruses and spyware by implementing data only areas in memory. Bad programs sneaking in as data cannot then infect the PC. Vista un-clutters the user interface making it more intuitive and easier to use. Network collaboration is enhanced with more controlled file sharing. The new features are based upon using the latest dual core (two CPUs in one chip) processors and high end graphics cards supporting 3D graphics. Vista has Windows XP Media Center features and more to take full advantage of streaming video.

Vista promises to provide new ease of use, networking and security features that are a significant step up from Windows XP. Recently, I attended a Vista presentation and demonstration. It suggested to me that Vista would be for sale in late (4th quarter 2006). The most sold version is likely to be the Ultimate version with cheap PCs no doubt having Windows Vista Home Basic Edition.

A key question is should, you buy a new PC with XP or wait for Vista? The politically correct and legal answer is “It depends!” If your PCs are running just fine, then by all means hold off until Vista is released for sale. The security and ease of use improvements are worth the wait. To get Vista, the least expensive approach is to buy a new PCs bundled with Vista.

In my case I do not any new PCs right now so I am waiting. When current XP PCs can be repaired or restored to factory fresh operation, then by it is more prudent to pay to fix them and wait for Vista. If everyone holds off PC purchases until Vista is released, this pressures Microsoft to get Vista to market sooner than later. One of my customers St. Jeromes Elementary School gets new budgets in July, so it looks like they must another year before moving to Vista. It would be highly disruptive to change operating systems during the middle of the school year, so waiting until school is out to make the change is the best strategy.

Sometimes because of extreme hardware failures, customers are forced to purchase a new PC. In that case get the cheapest PC model with Windows XP Home Edition and wait for Vista. Vista's promised features are worth the wait so purchasing a high-end PC with Windows XP makes no sense unless you absolutely need it.

Sometime after Vista is released, Microsoft Office 2007 should hit the market. Similar to Vista it promises to significantly increase user productivity with uncluttered “band” type menus and other ease of use features. Menus are more graphical (icon like) and pictorial helping users visualize immediately the changes a selection makes to their work.

Certainly all these changes will cost, because Microsoft sells nothing inexpensive. Vista will have great features but will it be a bargain? That remains to be seen.


Link to Vista at Microsoft

P. D. Moulton and Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server computer support, and virus & spyware removal. Dial-A-Nerd repairs PC (s), computers, networks, removes viruses & spyware and upgrades slow computers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DialANerd provides immediate remote access as well as fixed price computer repair, network repair, virus & spyware removal services at its local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair shop. Repair completion is typically 24-hours to 48-hours. Dial A Nerd recovers hard disk data and saves your data. Each hard disk is tested for errors for free. Dial A Nerd makes a fixed disk image, recovers and saves your data for about a 90% of the desktop computer, laptop computer, and netbook PC (s) serviced. Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair business provides fast PC repair, computer repair, desktop computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, and virus & spyware removal services with a warranty. Dial A Nerd works on many PCs including Sony computers, Gateway computers, Hewlett Packard computers, Compaq computers, Toshiba computers, Emachines computers, Clone PCs, and Dell computers in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD). The Dial A Nerd mission is delivering the best quality, affordable cost effective PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, desktop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, virus & spyware removal, home PC repair, printer configuration, PC - desktop computer - laptop computer - netbook computer performance optimization & speed up service. Homes and small businesses with limited IT service and IT support budgets in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) hire Dial A Nerd.


© 2000-2013 P. D. Moulton
DialANerd
7146 Rivers Edge Road Columbia, MD 21044 US
Phone: 410-531-5890 Website: dialanerd.com