Vista and/or 2007 - NO!

From my main website at http://www.markgillis.com/Vista___2007.html


If you are reading this (and I will admit the odds are not great, but what the hey), you probably have a computer. And I will admit, your computer probably runs a version of Windows. In all likelihood, you still use XP, but a lot of you will be using Vista. Soon, you'll be running Windows 7.

And that's fine. If it works for you, great. But before you throw more money towards Redmond, stop and consider a few things.

Why? Why do you want do that? If you are on the internet now, well, there you go.

But you want new features, you say? You want stability, security, features, and so on? I agree with you! Get those things. Here's some options for you:

If you have an older PC, and are looking to upgrade your software, you are pretty much screwed. You will be buying a new PC. Vista and "7" won't run on your old eMachines or Compaq Presario, not worth a poop, anyways. So you will buy new hardware in order to get new software. Skip down to Option B below.

Option "A" - Upgrade your software on the cheap. There is a rising class of software, called "open source", which means, there is no single owner, no company, no profit, and no cost to you. Community effort. Download and install an Open Source operating system, to replace Windows. I'd recommend the latest Ubuntu, from http://www.ubuntu.com. It works very well, comes with almost all the apps you need, including a nice "office" suite. All for free. If you use your PC for basic surfing and emailing, with the occasional document, saving your pictures, stuff like that, I'd go with Ubuntu. Keep your PC, squeeze a few more years out of it, and don't pay a dime.

Option "B" - you have accepted your fate, you are ready to pay, but you expect value and bang for your buck. You want your computer to just friggin work, thankyouverymuch. Viruses don't attack the fridge or your car, for cryin' out loud, why can't you have a computer that reliable? You can. Buy a Mac. Oh, I know, you've heard the horror stories about price, it'll cost tens of thousands of dollars, your kids will starve, your cat will become pregnant, blah blah. All lies.

Option "C" - Upgrade/Replace your PC to Vista (or "7"), and add "office" software. Prepare to shell out at least a thousand bucks. Go do the math. On the other hand, you could buy a Mac Mini, which I guarantee is more computer power than you will ever need, for less than $600. It comes with the software you need. Boom done.

I don't want you to reward the company that sold you the software you now have to replace, because it isn't secure /reliable/stable, by re-purchasing software that already isn't an improvement over the status quo. They've let you down often enough, haven't they? Take some responsibility for your computer needs, friend, it's the 21st century. Do the math, learn from history, think. I did.