Windows came out in the 90’s as the principle operating system for IBM computers. In the early days, Windows was hardly able to do more than a few tasks, however today’s Windows versions dwarf earlier versions in comparison. Windows 95 was probably one of the most popular versions, until it was replaced by 98, ME, and then finally XP. Windows XP is still used by a variety of businesses and individuals because of its reliability and ease of use. However, this is slowly starting to change thanks to Windows Vista, which was released several years ago after many years of development and design.

Windows Vista, which was code named "Longhorn" during the design process, has changed the way that Windows looks forever. Along with adding functionality for 64 bit systems, Windows Vista has also turned Windows into a home entertainment system that can stream audio and video anywhere that you have wireless access. Vista’s goal was to make more advanced features easier to use by novice computer users, and for the most part they succeeded with that goal.

Most of the advanced functions in Windows XP were made easier to find and easier to use in Vista, which has made it very popular with that type of user. However, many advanced users have complained of the "bulkiness" of the software and the resources that it uses in complex tasks. However, many of these complaints can be solved by simply adding more RAM to a computer, which is the case anytime you introduce a more complex operating system.

While the jury is still out on Windows Vista, it is the primary operating system sold with every new PC and laptop purchase across the world, and so like it or not users are becoming used to using it. My favorite part about Windows Vista is the ease of networking and the flexible design of the software. It also supports much faster and more powerful computer systems far better than the previous versions of Windows did. If you are looking to upgrade your system to a 64 bit chip, then buying Windows Vista is a no brainer. If you’ve got the money available, then I recommend 2GB of RAM at a minimum for Vista, otherwise you might experience slight delays in processing. Although you can find cheaper systems at the 1GB RAM range, I wouldn’t recommend going that route.

Windows Vista may have its share of skeptics and doubters, but most of that is just the resistance to change. Most people get comfortable with the way they’ve been doing things and introducing a new way to do them takes time to get used to. Still, if you use Vista for just a few months you will find that it has a wealth of new features and functionality that is overall an improvement for most users. Windows Vista has a few versions, so make sure that you buy the one that will work on your computer hardware. Most new systems have it installed already, so that shouldn’t be an issue for you. If you buy a Windows Vista machine and don’t like it, Microsoft offers the option of switching back to XP. However, I bet that 75% of Windows users will much prefer Vista to XP in the end.