Time to upgrade to Windows Vista?
Q: My computer has XP on it. Should I upgrade to the new Windows Vista?
A: This is a tough one. To be honest with you right now, based on the feedback I have heard from several people using Windows Vista, I would avoid upgrading at this time.
Since Vista’s release at the end of January, I have heard multiple complaints about compatibility problems with external hard drives, printers and software programs that no longer behave correctly. I even spoke with an employee of Microsoft who admitted to me that “Vista is good but a little ahead of its time.”
And just today I read an article that Dell is going to start letting buyers choose between Windows XP and Windows Vista when they purchase certain new machines. This is a step back from installing Vista by default on all of its new Windows based computers and is the result of 10,700 votes on Dell’s IdeaStorm web site responding to a plea titled “Don’t eliminate XP just yet.”
Another reason I would hold off upgrading is that in the techie world, it is always considered better to do a “fresh” install of an operating system rather than upgrading an existing one. What I mean by fresh is to completely wipe the hard drive and all of its contents clean and start over from scratch. This is usually more work than the average noobie wants to take on.
With all this said, if you still believe that the flashier interface and touted security benefits of Windows Vista outweigh the risk of compatibility problems, do yourself a favor and Google the phrase “windows vista upgrade advisor”. You should find a link that takes you to Microsoft’s web site where you can download a tool that will help you determine if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista.
This post was originally broadcast Friday, April 20, 2007 on Tech Talk with Noobie, a weekly radio show on WCBK 102.3 FM in Martinsville, Indiana. Tech Talk with Noobie airs every Friday between 11:30 a.m. and noon. If you have a question you would like Noobie to answer on the air, simply e-mail your question to .
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