This month Microsoft is launching its long-awaited operating system, Windows Vista. It’s been over five years since the launch of Windows XP, but is it time for you to upgrade? Maybe.

If you have recently purchased a Vista-capable system, and it came with an express upgrade, then for you the answer is yes. If you aren’t sure if the system is Vista-capable, look for the sticker on your PC. If you do not have a brand new, shiny PC, then you may want to consider holding off.

PCs purchased in the last six months are probably okay to upgrade, and you can run the Vista upgrade advisor to be sure your system can handle it. You can find the upgrade advisor on Microsoft’s website: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx.

If your system is older you may want to wait until you can buy a system with Vista pre-installed and ready to go. If your system is more than 36 months old, or you are running a Windows operating system older than XP, that time is now.

Why upgrade?
Windows Vista offers substantial new capabilities in security, performance, reliability, and manageability. It was built from the ground up with a focus on secure development, an enhanced user experience, and optimization around hardware advancements.

Vista is just plain cool and looks beautiful, not to mention the desktop experience is more informative, intuitive, and helpful. The visual sophistication of Vista helps streamline the computing experience by refining common elements so you can better focus on the content on the screen rather than how to access it.

When you start using Windows Vista, you will recognize familiar elements such as the Start menu, which is now faster, streamlined, and more helpful than in previous versions of Windows.