The biggest puzzle about Vista is that it comes with either 32 or 64 bit flavor. I had thought that it would come with 32/64 bit capability like AMD always called it. AMD and Intel had been selling 32/64 bit chips for several years since. My computer runs on them and I have yet to see any 64 bit benefits or better yet so called 32/64 bit benefits. Maybe I dont know what the hell I am talking about, but I know for sure that my 64 bit chips is not running at full potential lately. If I install 64 bit Vista, I have to give up my old stuff. 64 bit means you can install more than 4 gig RAM limit as 32 bit allowed. We are not even there yet. The memory makers are not cutting prices lately.. Do we really need something like 16 gig RAM, really?? Maybe, we will soon enough, duh?

Perhaps the most galling thing about Vista is that if you put XP on the same brand new machine, the machine runs significantly faster and with more stability than it did with Vista. I'd call that a "fault".

Yep, MS's Vista was the worst disappointment in recent memory, forget about 2007.

Nothing innovative AT ALL? C'mon, Microsoft. I'm a big MS fan, but even I couldn't swallow this pill. Mainly because I, like many Americans, have already used OS X. Vista is just a worse OSX with less features and Microsoft glitch-iness.

Windows 95 and XP were mindblowing, but Microsoft is really showing their hand with Vista, mainly that they are primarily a business computer OS and everyday users should probably look to Apple for their everyday computer tasks.

Again, I am by no means an Apple fanboy, but the ripoffs here cannot be denied. Horrible performance, and as mentioned, no perceivable improvement in exhange. Thanks, but no thanks; I'll stick with XP.

Vista is what actually got me to look at Apple.

Things to ponder; XP ran like a dog with it's legs cut off on machines that were "current" at the time it was released. Dell shipped 1.6GHz Pentium 4 machines with 64MB of PC133 RAM and 20GB hard drives with XP preinstalled (wanna talk about slow?).
As far as PCs go, being "New" only means it's not been used. You can't go out and buy a $699 Wally's special and expect it to run Vista properly. The $699 machines of today were the $1000 machines of last year, and most likely the $2000 machines of the year before. Vista was created with future hardware in mind. Once items like SSD are on the market in full swing the performance of Vista will improve dramatically. Just as XP's performance improved and became more stable as the hardware progressed.
As for the compatabilities in software and some hardware, not to be rude, just to the point, it's trash. XP would try to run anything, coded properly or not. XP allowed pieces of software to make alterations to it's core components all in the name of operating whatever it is the user is installing whether it's good, bad, or in-between. This opens the system up for alterations that can lead to serious security and operational stability issues. Vista is a VERY good attempt at preventing such alterations and miswrote code from running. Many software manufacturers over the years have learned to do things by simply figuring it out on their own how to make a computer perform a particular function and haven't always coded their applications and device drivers to "textbook standards", this is where Vista cracks down as well. For now it is a hassle to many people and businesses who do have need for their older software, in the future, as these software packages become upgraded to "textbook standard" code, then overall the computing experience will be a better/more secure one. For those that have software that was custom-made that isn't Vista compatible and corrections to the code are not possible, Microsoft gives away software called Virtual Server and Virtual PC to be able to run other operating systems as an application.
It's the squeaky wheel that gets all the attention, in this case it's the ones that don't want to admit they have junk hardware and software compared to what's at the top end of what is coming out over the next couple years. Vista is not a day to day replacement to XP as of yet, the software and hardware companies need to get on the ball for that to happen.
Right now Windows Vista is a playtoy for those who like the latest and greatest. Anyone who needs to work with a PC should have a XP machine standing by "just in case".
If you want to place blame somewhere, place the blame on the OEMs like Dell and HP that attempted to force users to Vista by initially removing XP as a choice. Blame it on the software vendors for not coding their device drivers, games, and applications to the standards laid out for the programming language they used to code their software.
Microsoft released their plans and many test versions in plenty of time other manufacturers could have been ready, esspecially with all the delays Vista had. I think everyone see's Microsoft as a bully (which may well be true) and they just enjoy taking shots at them even when they are looking towards the future and really have developed a truely superior PC Operating System.

To all of you that are comparing what was available when XP came out and what available now... McDonalds is waiting for your call to go to work. Get Real... Get two computers of the same set up and compare them... XP wins. I can't even get the FireFox updates I need because Vista blocks them. I bet Steve Jobs is sleeping very well right now. Now maybe in 5 more years Vista will be worth a F**K. My sister just bought a used laptop and the store owners would not recommend one with Vista at all. As the saying goes, Windows '95 = Apple '89. Somehow I think the wrong CEO is the richest person in the world.

Windoes Vista is a Gamers OS , not a Family Type of OS so , Gamers get every things ouf it that they wany and and do even more , XP is still going Strong , i have even Seen People take there MAC OS off there Mac Comp's and put XP on , Xp just need to be updated differently , and than MS can than have a Gamers and Business OS and than have a Family OS , so that will be the end of this story.

Windows Vista is the reincarnation of Windows Me. I hope it is as successfull and lasts just as long on the market. As for our company, we made a quick purchase of machines that were available with XP and will skip this generation of OS.