If it were me I would buy now. I don't know if I'll ever upgrade to vista but I would never upgrade my windows os until at least one and preferably two service packs come out (a year or two). I've never had any problem upgrading when I got around to it, just put the disc in the drive and follow directions.

Like Bob I would buy without regard for Vista. But then, I am not in any big rush to install Vista at all.

Take a look at the link and scroll down about a third of the way to 'Hidden Costs of Vista Upgrade Coupon' and read that short article, it is very interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hidden costs of Vista upgrade

When XP came out I installed it and had 4 pages of problems. The main problem was the DVD burner, it's software was not compatible. Sony had instructions how to prep my computer, but couldn't understand the instructions even if I had known about it.

If you buy now, most computer companies have a free upgrade to Vista when it becomes available. But, like others have mentioned, I would not be in a big rush to install Vista. Too many bugs and other problems when OS's first come out. Wait at least until the first service pack

Because Vista is at least two years behind schedule, doesn't mean the Microsoft will delay the discontinuance of XP.

XP has been around for quite a while and even I find myself lulled into believing that XP will be here forever.

Vista is going to be a mess when it comes out. Microsoft has taken a lot of liberties in the past with their software as far as pushing sales over quality. But if IE7 is an indication of what is to come...wow! They will really have to change their name to "Half-Baked".

The big problem is that Microsoft's projected revenue is off and has been every quarter that Vista has been delayed.
They are really going to push sales, and they always have the option of discontinuing XP, at any time, in order to spur sales of Vista. Anything can happen.

As far as a computer, you might have better prices in about a month, then again its hard to say because everything is changing...and changing fast in the world of computers.

I think the after Christmas/Februrary Computer sales should be good. Wait a little.

marf

Marthapartha said: "Vista is going to be a mess when it comes out." Please do pay attention to this.

I have little doubt that Vista will eventually be the best OS from MS to date -- as XP has been -- AFTER a 6-12 month shake out. Remember when XP was new? All the updates even before SP1? Vista will be worse. They transparently upped their last proposed intro date of early 2007 in order to capture some of the Christmas buying season. I'll very interested to read about the disasters of early-adopters in the Jan/Feb trade magazines.

If you want to buy a new box, DO get "Vista Capable." Do NOT install Vista until its shaken out by the poor schmucks who unwillingly volunteered to be MS's unpaid beta-testers.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I think I will buy the new computer now, and will get one that is Vista-compatible, just in case I want to upgrade.

Just a word of advice for all y'all folks being conned by the MS "Vista" PR onslaught.

I would not even think about installing "Vista" or buying a "Vista" loaded PC until the OS is out "in the wild" for at the least, 2 full business quarters.
best/smartest
As for the "Vista" ready stuff..... LOL, y'all better make sure that you are buying hardware that will run a version higher up the dollar chain than the "bargain" basic at $199.99. Something like the full pro version. You are not going to be able to do much using "Vista" otherwise. And what you casn do, you'll be doing pretty slowly.

Now, for those of you who always have lots of wonderful MS words to share.... How many of you ran the beta's or the RC's? What did you run it on? Oh, you didn't..............

Better plan on at least 2gb's RAM, and you are gonna need a 256mb video card too, (a 128mb card will do if you do NOTHING anywhere even remotely considered "graphics intensive") unless you want to see all your applications start "downgrading" w/o your doing.

And the promises of a secure system are all already full of holes and there will (and are already!!) lots of security bypasses and hacks that are awaiting your installation.

And then there are the driver and software compatibilty issues, and there are LOTS of them!

Oh yeah, and all you gamer types who regularly mistake and confuse gaming knowledge for IT/CS savvy,(and NOT the CS/IT savvy types who game1) you are aware that "Vista" on the same hardware vs.XP offers you a 15% - 20% performance reduction over XP, aren't you? Even MS has had to admit to this....

I personally wouldn't even consider an OS that requires more horsepower to run than ANY of the software you use. What for? 'Cause Dell and MS tell you that's what you need?

You would do much better to do a few simple and minor upgrades, especially RAM, and run a modern and competently maintained OS like a Linux, or, a BSD distribution. Sorry but you won't be needing any of that >"Vista" requires it but it may not work no matter who it comes fromEither that, or do what most PC users would best be and have been advised to do for years....that would be that the smartest/best thing for non-geek just a user type could ever do, is to get a Mac.

Big ditto of spundbondwarrior about Macs.

I switched about six months ago. It's been quite wonderful compared with my more than a decade with Windows. (XP home last) Thing just sits there and runs. No maintenance chores at all.

Now that I can run XP on a Mac (need windows for work), I'm going back to a Mac (or Linux). I have no need for a bloated OS like Vista and from what I can tell, I really don't want it. And this crap about having to get permission to install new hardware, EXCUSE ME, if I want to modify my computer I will, MS be damned/kiss my butt.

I was looking at laptops yesterday and think it might be better to wait until the computers come with Vista. My thinking is that if it has problems, at least it will be covered by the manufacturer warranty.
I don't know what the right answer is, but I think if you are going to stick with Windows, you will wind up with Vista anyway.

Jane