Integral Computer Consultants - Should you upgrade to Windows Vista?

Should you upgrade to Windows Vista?

February 2007

With the arrival of Windows Vista, many people are wondering if they should upgrade their computers to this new operating system. Vista promises a lot of exciting new features that are designed to make your computer secure and easier to use. The system requirements for this new version of Windows are very demanding so computers that are capable of running Windows XP may not be able to run Vista. Are you asking yourself what you should do? If so, keep reading.

Windows Vista offers a number of new and improved features over Windows XP. Some of these great new features include:

The new Start menu: The Start menu displays everything within the context of a single menu. Instead of having to scroll through a list of applications (which took up considerable screen real estate in Windows XP), you can now view a single, collapsible Start menu.

Improved folders: My Documents, My Music, My Videos, and so on are simplified and appear simply as Documents, Music, Videos. These folders are always present when you search folders. For example, if you're in the Documents folder, folder representations of Music, Videos, Searches, and so on, appear on the left side of the Documents folder.

Windows Aero: Windows Vista features a totally different look for its interface—a cleaner, transparent look with impressive graphic quality, not to mention Live Icons and the new Windows Flip 3D feature.

Windows Sidebar: Windows Vista offers a panel that displays your selection of Windows gadgets—mini-applications that perform useful functions, such as a clock, a calendar, a Microsoft Office Outlook inbox representation, and currency exchange.

Windows Search: One of the most helpful new features in Windows Vista, you can now search for files or applications from almost anywhere. Unlike in Windows XP, with Window Search, you can simply type a few letters of your search request, and the results appear on the fly—a helpful feature when looking for a file or application from the Start menu.

Parental Controls: Windows Vista includes Parental Controls that let you as the computer administrator set highly specific boundaries for other users, including separate standard user accounts for family members, especially children. You can set rules such as which sites a certain user can or cannot access and hours during which a particular user can use the computer; you can also curtail access to specific applications and view where other users have been on your computer and on the Web.

For some people, Vista will be an economic issue. Not everyone has $200-$400 to burn. Most probably have Windows XP, which despite popular opinion is a very good and stable operating system. There is 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.

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 fail. If you purchase a new computer. It will have Vista on it.

So, again, if you have the money to spend, upgrade. But if you're on a budget, stick with XP. It works fine, and will for several years more.

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