Not For Everyone

I've been using Windows Vista for about one year, and found it to be somewhat of a step forward and somewhat of a step backwards from its predecessor, Windows XP.

The new built in technology within Vista makes the operating the most secure version of Windows yet. With features like "User Account Control," it makes securing settings and system data easier. It is not the most reliable operating system, as it requires a lot more resources than its predecessor.

If you do plan to upgrade, make sure you have a video card that is Vista compatible, and has Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) available. A lot of hardware is not directly compatible with Windows Vista, so most users who choose to upgrade, will likely run into some hardware compatibility issues. I strongly advise anybody considering to upgrade, to at least run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor (which can be found on Microsoft's website for free). The lack of hardware compatibility has been a problem, and is one of the most disappointing and frustrating things with this operating system.

Overall, I am quite satisfied with Windows Vista. It has plenty of new features that help me find things and get tasks done quicker. There is additional and improved security. Unfortunately, there is less hardware compatibility and a higher demand for resources. The reason is because the OS installs a lot of features most users will not use.