(Toronto, Ontario) (The Canadian Press) The new Vista looks mighty similar to other computer operating systems and fails to offer a compelling reason to upgrade immediately, tech observers say.
The revamped Windows interface hit store shelves last week.
Microsoft's much-hyped Vista, the long-awaited update to XP, promises a prettier graphics display, better security and a host of extras to ease everyday tasks and make the fun stuff easier to use.
But it has already received a slew of mixed reviews, and experts suggest the average computer user hold off on any upgrades until the anticipated bugs are worked out.
"I don't see any compelling reason to rush out and buy it right away," says Toronto computer consultant Richard Morochove, who nonetheless gives Vista a thumbs-up.
"There probably are some bugs in there that probably Microsoft doesn't even know about at this point that'll come out after the release. ... If you do want to be safe and have the least amount of hassle, wait a few months and in effect let other users be the guinea pigs to test things out. Then Microsoft will come out with fixes and updates and that will address the issues."
There's reason for caution. Vista has already been delayed twice, sidelined by much-publicized security holes. And with a price tag that could include a costly system upgrade to handle Vista's memory demands, computer users should consider the leap carefully, adds tech expert Rob Axelrod.
Those who do buy Vista immediately will be treated to a snazzy new interface known as Aero, featuring nifty tricks that make windows transparent so it's easier to see files behind them and allow for an angled view of the desktop to reveal what's behind the clutter, says Vista fan Jason Gibson, a computer consultant with the Best Buy-owned Geeksquad.ca.
It also offers desktop widgets offering easy access to frequently updated data like stock quotes or weather, and an improved version of Windows Media Centre to organize music, movies and photos - all changes that bear some similarity to things already on Apple's Mac OS X, agrees Gibson.
Morochove notes that one of his favourite aspects of Vista - a new fast-searching capability - can already be found on Google Desktop, which can run on Windows XP. Vista is a good step up from XP, but there's nothing groundbreaking, he says.
"I suppose there's nothing wrong from borrowing from the best; it should be flattering to other companies," says Morochove.
"Frankly, Microsoft had a lot of catching up to do because it's been many years since Windows XP had been released.... Vista sort of brings Windows up to date. I wouldn't really think that it puts it in any significant degree a leap ahead of alternative operating systems."
Many of the upgrades appear to narrow the gap between Windows and Apple's slick rival OS X - often touted as more stable, more secure and easier to use - but with Apple's newest upgrade, Leopard, set for release this spring, it's unclear how long Vista's gains will last.
Early detractors are already griping about the new folder system and basic memory requirements - at least one gig of room is recommended to run smoothly, but two gigs are probably best, says Axelrod.
"The requirements are quite heavy, so people that are using older computers and are thinking that they'll be able to upgrade to Vista probably won't be able to," he says, advising people to research carefully before buying a new computer.
"If you replace your computer and suddenly find that your scanner and your printer and whatever other peripheral things don't work because you don't have drivers that are compatible, that creates a problem."
Microsoft offers a downloadable tool on its website that can analyze hardware and tell computer users whether their machine can handle Vista. For those less computer savvy, big box retailers such as Best Buy and Future Shop will examine computers brought in to the store.
Depending on a person's computer needs, Gibson says it may be more cost-efficient to buy a new PC with Vista installed than to upgrade a machine and buy the operating system.
Axelrod warns that those who download music frequently could be in for a nasty surprise with Vista, which includes digital copyright software to prevent illegitimate MP3s from playing.
"A lot of people are going to be very upset when they find that their thousands of MP3 songs no longer play - and that also applies to anything that's media, so it's DVDs or whatever," Axelrod warns.
"There's going to be a huge backlash of people who have acquired these things without paying for them."
Vista comes in four flavors starting with the Windows Vista Home Basic ($259 for the full version, $129 for the upgrade), which doesn't include Aero. There's also Windows Vista Business ($379/$249), Windows Vista Home Premium ($299/$179) and Windows Vista Ultimate ($499/$299).
See how The Wizard faired with his upgrade (Which is working great now! -- and I LOVE it!)
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