Microsoft decided a while ago that we all needed a new version of Windows. I am not sure why this compulsive behavior exists on their part, but it seems to happen every few years like lemmings going to the cliffs. The problem is: WE are the lemmings, not them! The new version is called Vista - I don't know why, but it's just as consistent (or inconsistent, as the case may be) as their prior product name choices. I think the impact of Vista on the Southport area is going to be a big yawn, but we will have to see how it plays out.
Vista should be available in time to be shipped with holiday PCs this year, and you will probably be able to buy just the software to upgrade your current PC. The question, of course, is "Should you?"
If you buy a new PC, you probably won't get the option. Microsoft rules the land with a heavy hand, and it's doubtful that it would let vendors ship an old version of Windows. So, enjoy that new PC and don't look back. Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve.
If you have a burning desire to upgrade, step lightly and carefully. First of all, you have to look at your hardware and see if it meets the Vista requirements. At one point in time, the word on the street was "probably not", but Microsoft has been dropping features from Vista so it can meet schedules and this may mollify hardware requirements. Given the price of new PCs these days, I would certainly think long and hard about upgrading your current PC to support Vista - just go out and buy a new one. A RAM upgrade might not cost much, but if you figure $100 to upgrade the RAM and $100 (a guess) to buy the Vista upgrade, you are already $200 into it. If you have to upgrade your processor and motherboard, forget about it!
But the really salient question is: What if I have to buy a new PC right now? Should I wait? This one is hard to call, but my gut instinct is that you should go ahead and buy if you need it. Many people don't recommend using a new Microsoft OS until the first fix release (Service Pack) and that certainly won't be before next spring (unless Vista is REALLY bad!) and so it will be a year before the issue comes up again.
So what will Vista mean to you? It is supposed to be prettier, with a new graphic interface. OK. It will support High Definition (HD) video, but this feature will almost certainly require you to buy new hardware to enable the DRM (Digital Rights Management) built into Vista.
One of the foundation points of Vista is supposed to be "confidence", and it's about time! Vista is going to be more resistive to virus and other infestations, and it is going to monitor your hardware more thoroughly and alert you to pending hardware problems. Good stuff, if it works.
There is going to be a new version of Internet Explorer - 7. But many of the features being added are just catch-up with recent browsers available, such as Firefox. A new Windows Media Player is coming that is supposed to be easier to use - but again I believe the prime reason for the update is to implement more DRM.
Microsoft was also going to offer a new file system (the way bits are organized on your hard drive) called WinFS. Implementation troubles and very confused testers seemed to doom that one, at least for now.
So - my advice: Don't sweat it. There will not be a compelling reason (or reasonable cost) to upgrade your current system. Your current stuff will continue to run, and you will probably be able to run most new programs that are introduced into the marketplace.
(Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport - Oak Island area. You can visit his Website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail questions or column ideas to him at bsc@bobseidel.com. For specific inquiries, please call Bob Seidel Consulting, LLC at 278-1007.)