1st off I have been waiting for this OS for years. I am one of those that buy a OS as soon as hits the shelves. And yes, sometimes that can cause me problems because I get an earlier version of the OS. So I may have issues with drivers and such. However, that is how I learn the OS. After a year when others start getting Vista, I already have a year experience using it. And using it threw it's growing pains. To me that is how you learn a OS and it's weaknesses.

I installed Windows Vista Utimate

For the record, here are my current system specs:

80 GB HD
512 MB Ram
ATI 9800 Pro
Pentium 4 Processor

Yes, out of date. Now let's start this review is to why my computer will run Vista. My ram is a low 512 MB. Recommended ram is at least gig. So, why will my computer run Vista? Notice my graphics card is a ATI 9800 Pro with has 128 memory. Low memory, the the bus is rather large, which gives me the boost I need to run Vista. But we are not talking about video cards. So let's move on.

Let's start from the beginning. After I purchased Vista and arrived home of course the 1st thing I wanted to do is install it. However, I always play it smart and ran these two checks:

http://www.drivershq.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getr...or/default.mspx

After I knew the problems I would have after I installed Vista with drivers I decided to install anyway. I really had no concerns about drivers except for one and that was my ATI 9800 Pro video card. But I thought I could get it working. All the other drivers I knew I had in the bag.

In all truth I think the hardest part about Vista was getting the dam box open. I just could not figure it out. I finally just broke the dam box and put the CD's (comes with two, a 64 bit and a 32 bit) in another case. OK, so I finally get the box open and put in the 32 bit CD (since my processor does not support 64 bit). The install process begins...............

Keep in mind I bought an upgrade version $259.00 because the Vista Ultimate stand alone was $400 bucks. As I started to install I got a message that stated something like "install process may take a few hours". Well let me say that Microsoft was not kidding. I am not sure how many hours it took to install, but it was quite some time. So if you get the upgrade version expect a long time for installation. have something else to do. trust me.

After Vista was installed and I very 1st went to my desktop I was impressed. I loved the clean, crisp, and professional sounds of Vista right off the bat. After adding the wall and such I wanted here was my desktop.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/desktopmain.jpg

The next thing I noticed was the start menu. Needless to say, I really liked it. Everything is where it should be. Now more all programs going off on the side like it used too. See pic below.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/startmenu.jpg

Vista also has basically a renamed mail system. Instead of Outlook Express now it is called Microsoft Mail. Really the only difference is the graphics and now contains a spam filter. Which is nice. See pic below.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/mail.jpg

I have to admit I really like the folders now. Everything again is where it should be. Clean and professional looking. Personally, I like it. It is the same for all folders.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/mydocumentsfolder.jpg

The my computer area is also nice and informative. Well done again.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/mycomputer.jpg

So, your tired of all those games Microsoft never updated? Well, for the 1st time they have added very nice graphics to solitaire not to mention added a few other games. All these games have decent graphics. Much improved.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/games.jpg

Also, they added a feature that lets you change your theme colors. Now, this is where things start to turn a bit. I do not think that this area was done well at all. It does not work well at all and I just can't seem to get quite the look I want unless I use the Aero theme with transparency activated using a black wallpaper. Why? Well I like dark themes. Perhaps for you, this feature will work. But I was very disappointed with the color change with Vista. In all truth, I expected a bit more. But then again. I like a dark theme.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/appearance.jpg

Another thing I did not like about Vista (at 1st) was the control panel. They re-named many things making them more vague then they were to begin with. After playing with Vista a bit I learned pretty much where everything is now. If you have plenty of XP experience you can figure this section out.

http://www.hondabikes.us/vista/controlpanel.jpg

So the question is do I think Vista was worth it? Yes, I do. Vista runs faster then XP, looks better then XP, more stable then XP, does not lock up like XP, and best of all when I click on "do not show this message again" it stays gone.

Now, Vista does have a few bad points as I had mentioned. Security is not as good as I had expected. However, I always used other programs for security so that never really mattered to me that much. But, Vista is more sercure then XP. So Microsoft at least made an attempt to create a secure OS.

If you used a program called StyleXP made by TGTsoft to skin your OS this program will no longer work. Unless TGTsoft updates StyleXP. So when you use Vista you will be using default themes. Unless you choose to use WindowBlinds.

There is a very annoying message pop-up that asks you to confirm some actions you may want to do. I understand this is for security reasons, but it is a real pain in the ass.

As I mentioned earlier the control all has been changed. making it hard to find what you want or need to do. So, don't think your going to get Vista and know how to use everything. It will take you a little time to learn a few things.

In general though, if you have used XP you can figure your way around Vista. Keep in mind your experience with Vista may be different. This is my own experience with it. As I mentioned I am happy with it. Would I purchase it again? Absolutely.

Disable desktop manager and user account management and it is much better. Go thru processes and kill the unnecessary ones and stop it from randomly calling home to all the programs you have. As far as Vista updates, allow it to check but not install. This way you can select those that apply and wait a few days and allow other users to find all the bugs.

Just my humble opinion... :)