Vista

As many people may know, there is a new Windows based operating system out on the market today known as Vista. While Microsoft has worked diligently to create this flag ship operating system, there are a few things that the average consumer should be aware of before purchasing a new PC with Vista.

Check with the manufacturers of any proprietary software or any software older than a few months. Just as an example, older versions of Quickbooks and Quicken are not listed as being compatible with Vista, so too are anti-virus products older than about 6 months.

As far as with printers, some newer printers install relatively easy, where as some printers require advanced configuration, while some older printers do not work at all. Some digital cameras and their software do not work correctly if at all with Vista. You'll want to check for compatibility with the manufacturers of all your peripherals before purchasing a Vista machine.

Don't get me wrong, Vista does have its place. The graphics are amazing and Microsoft has done a wonderful job in trying to make it user friendly. One day this WILL be their flag ship operating system. As a standard, we always suggest that consumers wait until the first service pack has been realeased before choosing to purchase the new OS. These are some of the reasons why all the computers we inventory and sell are still preloaded with XP.