Preface
Who am i, Credibility note
Windows vista Release date
A bit on the name ( VISTA )
The 4 vista editions
The Miscrosoft Monopoly
Do i need Windows Vista ? - Do i need to Upgrade from windows XP ?
What's different in vista, what's new ?
Conclusion

Preface

Some time ago, i was checking if i want to upgrade from windows XP to Windows vista when vista is out later in January 2007, The answer is YES, i will upgrade, but i have reasons that may or may not apply to you, on this page i will try to help you find out if you need or do not need windows vista.

Credibility note

On this page, i will not advise you or try to convince you to buy windows vista, to most people, i will be advising them NOT TO buy windows vista depending on there needs.
If you do pre-order/order windows vista from a link on my website, i will get a 5% commission for that sale, But that is not why i am writing this, I am NOT advising you to buy windows vista, i have put every effort to be as objective as possible, the simple facts and the professionals opinion (as a software developer) , Nothing more nothing less (at least this is what i think i am doing).

Long before the release date, i have been investigating Vista (ever since VISTA was actually LongHorn) since i will have to develop software to run under it soon.

When will windows Vista be released ?

The release date of windows vista is January 30, 2007, a date that was initially some time late 2003, but the date has been pushed away so many times, it is finally time to start shipping.

A bit on the name ( VISTA )

Windows vista was originally Windows LongHorn, i think microsoft changed the name for a good reason (to them), Some of you will probably say LongHorn was just a codename and not the final products name, just like XP was Whistler, i personally think this CodeName game comes in for a reason (my opinion).

When longhorn was out for testers around the world, people tend to write reviews on the internet, and since these reviews are not so good, Microsoft does not want you to stumble upon them when investigating Vista (like you are doing now) , so now you will probably not see what people were saying about LongHorn simply because you did not search for it.

The 4 Vista editions

The upgrade versions will upgrade XP in place, but will NOT upgrade XP, 2000 in place, you may upgrade xp64 and windows 2000 but you will need to manually bring back all your files and settings.

The Miscrosoft Monopoly

The number one factor that you will one day need to consider winodws vista for is that software providers will start making software that only runs on vista soon, and this is why i am buying it, the OS in my oppinion is not worth the $100 for the ultimate vista upgrade, you have already paid for most of the features when you baught XP, you are paying microsoft to FIX there coding slopyness in the previous versions, so you are paying them to redo and fix there own mistakes, so i am not sure, is fixing the security your responsibility or theres ?

Do i need Windows Vista ? - Do i need to Upgrade from windows XP ?

This is the question we are trying to answer all through the document, Windows vista is NOT cheap.

Most the new fancy features in windows Vista are available from third party providewrs, Most of them are FREE !

For example, the Search feature that Microsoft considers worthy of being put on the (important feature list) can be beter acheived with the free google desktop application.

Then why do i need vista ?

Let me put it this way, Windows vista has been built from the ground up, this means that it is more likely that software around the world will start asking for vista in there minimum requierments lists !

Also, and although not worth your money, vista utlises hardware, this does not mean it is cheaper for you to use vista, for the long awaited opperating system requiers compatible hardware for you to enjoy the new features like Aero desktop experience

Vista is more fun right ? i'm not sure, it depends on weather you consider "Looks good on your screen" fun !

What's New in vista, What changed

The Bad

The License has become more restrictive (see details here)

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For some time, i thought that i will not need to upgrade, Windows XP was doing Fine, why go Vista, after all i use windows only half of the time.

I am a linux administrator, i like it better than windows, and that has NOT changed with vista, but i have to be wise and be real, MOST of the software i use (and i use allot of software) comes for the windows platform, and most of it does not come for any other operating system, Windows is a fact of life.

So, i needed to investigate if i wanted to upgrade my XP to vista, and as usual, i hate investigating and keeping to myself, i thought i would write an article about my findings, so here it is guys and girls (ladies and gentlemen)

First of all, let me tell you a bit about my needs, and why i need vista.

I am a computer professional, i write software for a living, and in my case, security is one factor i can never neglect, Although Windows XP service pack 2 is good, the OS (unlike my linux box) lacks some of the very basic features, Windows IS NOT MY FAVORITE OS

Vista came to the rescue, i have been testing vista ever since it was LongHorn (yes, vista is Long horn, they just had its name changed to vista), in my opinion, the change was made because early releases of the software crashed like hell, and the beta testers did not like it, so changing the name erased all those bad experiences, and most people looking for info about vista on the internet will not be presented with all the bad reviews about LongHorn !

yes, long horn is vista, they changed its name and i think that is because Longhorn had many problems when people were testing it, and maybe microsoft just did not want you to come across all those terrible reviews when you search for the new OS on the internet, so now you will search for vista and not be presented with the longhorn reviews.