by Dante Ranieri

Created on: March 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

To make it simple, you will only truly be happy with Vista if
you have 1 GB of RAM and a CPU faster than 2.0 Ghz that is *not*
Celeron in your current computer.
Even then, consider staying with XP if your hardware is
more than six months old. You will be happier.

Vista Premium edition and above come with all the nice features that
Vista offers like Flip 3D (which
allows you a sidewards 'flipping' through open tasks onscreen by

pressing the Windows Key+Tab) and Aero Glass theme.

Keep in mind that Vista Basic edition is missing *a lot* of the cool features of the
other editions of Vista (like Flip 3D, DVD burning, etc) so don't be fooled.
Vista Basic is not worth migrating from Windows XP for.

Take a look at the comparisons here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windo wsvista/editions/choose.mspx

Now, if you are running Windows XP and still want to upgrade, really only the video card in this case would be the real hard part of things to check for Vista, specifically if there is a WDDM driver for it. The Upgrade Advisor can tell you for certain, but you'll need atleast 512 MB RAM, ability to run at 85 Mhz or higher resolution on your display, and atleast 1024x768 resolution just to be able to do the Flip 3D effect even if you have the driver. Even if you have these and only a
XDDM driver, Vista will not do the Flip 3D effect. Consider sticking with XP.

Now specifically to Vista itself, do not believe the hype about the memory checker, it has failed four times for me versus Memtest 1.68 when detecting bad ram on a system. OneLive has been voted PC Magazine's worst AV program (March, 2007) and pretty much the rest of Vista is just a pretty box with too much hype. The best parts of Vista are the Internet Search Box (ala Mac OSX) and Flip 3D in my opinion. Everything else is glitz. Really consider sticking with XP with older hardware.

A final note when it comes to upgrading Windows XP to Vista. You do forfeit
your Windows XP license if you do this. This means if you take the plunge to Vista and verify your license for Vista, you can't go back to XP or sell your old license.
There are workarounds to this claimed online, but keep this in mind.

New hardware will need it, but don't go to Vista unless you're buying a new PC.
If you are buying a new computer, use the Windows Key+Tab to make sure the system can do Flip 3D, a quick way when salesreps are hyping a computer. Also, use the Welcome Center (found under the Start Menu) to show you the ratings.
I have found that most places skimp on the RAM (512) and put in a cheap
hardrive (Hitachi or no-name) and put in a high powered video card.
This become evident when you see the ratings.

For Mac Users that wish to Bootcamp Windows Vista or run it under Parallels, it does work great. You may have an initial problem with the license key validating so you may wish to install and activate afterwards.

In sum, you can tell your PC can run Vista if it is designed for, not "Vista Compatible" which would be new hardware.

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