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Absolutely. For now, but the crux will probably be DirectX-10. A pitfall of propriatary (sp) software, as always. Atleast if you game. Certainly, you can feel the gentle squeeze against us 2K users? (the finest of the Windows OS's, I believe, perhaps barring 2K3-server). MSN 7.5/Live/etc. all don't work now, it's only going to get worse... and the worst, it's an arbitrary lock-out. grr.

no idea ;-)

i can tell you, tough, why you might wanna try other stuff - linux respects your freedom, Mac OS X is easier to use. both need less maintenance, are easier to setup and new versions DO enhance your experience with them...

ok, you'll have to sacrifice some stuff. you're used to windows, you know your way. so it might not be worth it, sure. well, maybe it's worth a try, right? i'm sure you'll find the basics are pretty much better than XP, both in the modern linux desktop and Mac. you'll like it, really, even tough there are imperfections.

Ok, let's say that's true for you (don't really know why, but that's your opinion). What are you going to do when you need to buy a new PC? Install the wonderful Windows 2000 on it? Doesn't work. Install the great Windows XP on it? Won't probably work either - simply because there won't be enough drivers. What are you going to do then? I'll tell you what you are going to do: Start up the PC with Vista and use it for the nest 3 - 4 years.

That's how it has always worked for MS - people are lazy in general and therefore cannot grasp that there are enough alternatives around. But it's funny to listen to all these people condemning Vista and hailing the wonderful 2000 or XP ...

[/] That's how it has always worked for MS - people are lazy in general and therefore cannot grasp that there are enough alternatives around. [/i]

In which case either NOT buying a new PC or installing Linux instead is the solution? That sounds pretty "lazy" to me, but also common sense, if your PC still works.

But it's funny to listen to all these people condemning Vista and hailing the wonderful 2000 or XP ...

Well maybe that's because Vista doesn't really feel like an OS that's been in development for five years? I doubt many of the people who were using Linux/BSD/BeOS when XP came out now think that XP is somehow a suitable replacement for Linux - indeed, the reverse is probably more true now than ever.

Think about it: five years and still there's no drivers or software or anything. I thought Microsoft were supposed to work closely with vendors or something (not least on Firefox, as reported by this very site some time ago, which according to the present article still has problems with Vista despite Microsoft's "help"). Although if their "help" writing apps is as good as the "Help" they put in their programs, I'd advise any old grannies needing to cross One Microsoft Way* not to accept their "help".

Honestly, with the number of apps needing an update to work with Vista and yet not coming out with one, you could be forgiven for thinking they' been spending the last five years converting them to work on Linux.

*Notice how they named it that without irony?

Edited 2007-01-21 23:41

What are you going to do when you need to buy a new PC?

Well considering that I think the OS was already far too bloated when XP came out, I will probably junk Vista for Linux anyway. So yes they will get £15-25 of my money - if I can't find a desktop PC with Linux on it.

But actually the last time I "bought a desktop PC" I built it myself, entirely dispensing with a Windows CD licence which I've found little reason to miss in three or so years. And the next PC I buy will probably be a laptop - with Linux preinstalled.