Should I upgrade to Windows Vista? 
That is a topic of heated debate.
Honestly, a lot of it is based on personal preference, but here are my 2 cents.
Upgrade to Vista only if you:
- Want or need some its enhanced multimedia capabilities
- Need 64-bit capability in order to utilize large amounts of RAM
- Like to tinker with new things and stay on the cutting edge
- Want to use an application that requires Windows Vista
- There is some feature you heard about in Vista that you just have to have
- You know your hardware and software are compatible with Vista
However, be prepared for the following when you upgrade:
- Don't even attempt to use Vista without 2GB of RAM unless you like pain - in fact, I'd recommend 4GB - luckily RAM is cheap, assuming your computer can handle 4GB
- Most people still have Windows XP - so there are a lot more support resources out there for it (friends, your local fix-it guy, etc) - don't be surprised when you are asking someone for help that their eyes glaze over when you mention you have Vista
- Be prepared for little quirks and hardware issues - they still don't have the kinks out yet
- Unless your computer is reasonably new and/or you have a lot of memory, expect it to be a little slower running Vista
- The user interface is COMPLETELY different - expect to take some time to re-learn the operating system's user interface in Vista
Honestly, unless you know what you are doing, and you are just dying for Vista immediately - wait to get it with a new computer. Quite often, the cost involved in upgrading your machine to handle Vista and the cost of Vista itself almost costs as much as a new computer running Vista (you can get a Dell desktop with 6GB of RAM running Vista for less than $500). Thus, for most people, upgrading is just not worth the hassle.
Besides, Windows 7 is right around the corner . . .
Visit
http://www.smileyfacepc.com for assistance with Windows XP or Windows Vista.
