Michael Desmond at PC World gives his list of reasons to buy Windows Vista. While you should read the article to get actual details, here’s the short list:
- Security, including User Account Protection
- IE7, with Protected Mode exclusive to Vista
- Eye candy
- Desktop search (searches local and intranets, and doesn’t kill performance like current solutions)
- Better Windows Update, including that it doesn’t use the web browser anymore
- Media applications, like Media Player 11, Photo Gallery and DVD Maker
- Parental controls
- Better backup software
- Windows Collaboration for P2P shared workspaces
- Quick (15 minutes) install
As a bonus, five reasons to think twice:
- Price – is any of this worth $100 or more to you?
- No antivirus (OneCare costs extra)
- Vista needs powerful hardware
- Learning curve
- Some old stuff hasn’t been changed much
My response to the caveats: The security in Vista is worth the price alone; Vista is more secure than XP, and if you haven’t been paying for AntiVirus you are a fool; Vista actually runs faster on a lot of system (although some features, like Aero, will tax the system and are optional); if you can’t handle the learning curve, go live in a nursing home; the examples listed are better in Vista, and practically no one complains that Notepad hasn’t changed in over a decade, do they?
Some of my additional reasons for buying Vista:
- Media Center in Vista is looking better and better
- CableCard support
- Windows SideShow is going to make laptop users VERY happy
- Instant start-up, assuming it works and starts shipping on new PCs immediately
- Windows Calendar
- Games Explorer
- Mobility Center
Sure, any one feature might not be enough for you, but in aggregate, can you find $90-150 of value in there? I can.
Nathan Weinberg writes the popular InsideGoogle blog, offering the latest news and insights about Google and search engines.
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