Well, we'll tell you this. We've got a copy of the RTM (Final) version of Windows Vista Home Premium. And we've been using it for about a week now. Sometimes Vista leaves us scratching our heads. No doubt it looks pretty. But why Microsoft put things were they did and moved them from where they've been since Windows 95 to confusing, sometimes arcane locations, is anyone's guess. We sure don't know. We don't have any pipeline to Bill Gates (despite what several of our critics think :-) ). The learning curve of Windows Vista is higher than any Windows learning curve since those of you who used Windows 3.1 moved up to Windows 95.

Here's the scoop. Before you even consider buying Windows Vista (yes, you're going to have to be a strong-willed person to do so, because millions and millions of advertising dollars are coming at you soon!) - make sure your computer can run Vista.  Remember: Microsoft is the master of understatement. They say if you have a 800MHz Pentium IV processor or better, 512MB of RAM and at least a 128MB dedicated (not shared) video card you can run Vista Ultimate with the cool-looking (actually it looks like an iMac) Aero Glass. However, I wouldn't even attempt to run Vista Ultimate on such a wimpy machine. Our honest recommendations? Pentium 1GHz or better( Most machines in the past 3 years have that), 2GB of RAM, and 256MB dedicated video card. And to run any version of Vista you need at least a 40GB hard drive. Honest? Make it at least 80GB or you're going to be dealing with a lot "low disk space" errors.

We'll there's something else you should know. Not only should you make sure your computer can run Vista, but make sure it can run the version you're probably going to want to buy. With a rather confusing array of versions, and the fact that for the first time Microsoft is going to let you "upgrade" your version via online purchase, it's important that you know which version you want and what version you may way in the future.

Windows Vista Basic is $99.00 for the upgrade version. (Those of you with Windows 98/ME can forget about the upgrade version, because you cannot upgrade from those versions to Windows Vista). Now in the past you could get the "home" version of Windows (upgrade) for around $99.00. But will you be happy with the basic version of Windows Vista? The answer is: probably not.

Most of you are going to want Windows Vista Ultimate, but won't want to shell out the sheckles for it - so you're probably going to settle for "Windows Home Premium" which is somewhere between Basic and Ultimate - but has enough features to keep most of us happy. But Windows Vista Home Premium is $169.00. That's $70.00 more than most of us are used to paying. So, some might want to bust out the $99.00 for Windows Basic now but with an eye toward buying (online from Microsoft) an upgrade to Windows Home Premium later on. Confused yet?

But wait, there's more! If you're only want Windows Vista Basic now, but think you're going to upgrade to a better version later, you have to make sure that your computer can run Windows Vista Basic in the first place and that it has what it takes to run Windows Vista Home Premium (or whatever version you're considering upgrading to) in the future.

We'll Microsoft makes it a little easier on you by providing a tool you can use to check out your PC to see if it's compatible with Windows Vista and what versions of Windows Vista your computer is capable of running. We urge you to run this tool before you run out and buy Windows Vista (any version) or you could be shelling out mucho dinero for mucho disappointment. (The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor works with Windows XP. It will not work with Windows 98, Windows ME, or Windows 2000).

And, when you install Windows Vista (any version) you're going to see an installation screen unlike any you've ever seen in Windows.

Number one: You don't need to have your Windows key ready. You can install and use Windows Vista for 30 days without a key. Huh? Yes it's true. But, be forewarned, after 30 days, you won't be able to access your computer (except to enter the Windows key) - so don't install Windows Vista from someone else's Vista CD just to take it for a test drive, unless you're willing to: a) buy a licensed copy of Windows Vista or b) do a complete format and reinstall Windows XP. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Number two: All versions of Windows Vista are on your installation disk. This means that Windows Vista Basic is on the same DVD as Windows Vista Ultimate. The key is your key. Get it.?

Number three: Windows Vista (all versions) come on DVD not CD-ROM. Why? Because it is too big for CD-ROM media, it's almost too big for DVD media. So if your computer does not have a DVD drive, you can't install Windows Vista. If you're computer doesn't have a DVD drive, don't run out and buy one just so you can install Vista. Your computer is probably too old, too wimpy or both to run Vista. Make sure you run the Vista Upgrade Advisor before you run out and start upgrading your old PC!

Number four: You cannot put Windows Vista on a machine that doesn't have some sort of connection to the Internet. Dialup will do, but optimally you'll have broadband.

Now that we've given you some of the Windows Vista facts, we'll give you our opinion. Should you bow to the advertising pressure and run out Tuesday (30 January 2007) and buy Windows Vista? Honest? No. Probably not. We have to have it for obvious reasons, but if we didn't, we probably would wait for awhile. Windows XP is still a stable and excellent operating system with a few years of serviceable life left. Many companies use Windows XP and Microsoft is going to provide support for it (updates, security patches, even a Service Pack 3) for quite awhile yet. So XP users will not be in the same boat (for the time being) as Windows 98/ME users find they are stuck in no man's land without any sort of free support or updates from Microsoft. Well, Windows 98 is soon to be nine years old. In computer terms, that is a long, long time. Windows 98/ME users are going to find themselves being shut out soon in the software arena as more and more developers stop producing software for Windows 98/ME and concentrate on Windows XP and Windows Vista. So, Windows 98/ME users, hear me, at least go out and get yourself a copy of Windows XP while you still can. We imagine they'll become cheaper after Windows Vista rolls out on the 30th. You cannot upgrade (we're telling you this again because it's important) from 98/ME to Windows Vista, but you can upgrade later from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

If you have a burning need to be on the cutting edge, we're sure you'll be there on the 30th to buy your copy of Windows Vista. But if you're like most average XP users, you're pretty happy with what you've got.

Finally, we are aware that MS is already working on a Service Pack (SP1) for Windows Vista and is or is going to be beta testing it soon. MS expects to release Vista SP1 this autumn. So, waiting for awhile may make sense in that regard as well. In any event, unless you have some particular strange desire to be on top of everything technical - if you plan on staying with Windows XP for awhile longer you're going to be just fine. There's nothing particularly earth-shattering about Windows Vista.

We've only been using the final (Released To Some of US) version for about a week. As we use it more and more we'll keep you all informed and, of course, we'll throw in a few tips and tricks for you diehard state-of-the-arters who just can't wait to explore the world of Windows 2007 er I mean Windows Vista.

I do not use IE 7 on any non testing machines, as a lot of sites do not work well with 7.0 as of this post.

But memory, I see being added to machines.. even if they stay with XP

Jc