Many people were surprised to find that their new computers which were supposed to be "Windows Vista Capable", are only able to run a handicapped version of the operating system, missing many of the bells and whistles that are supposed to make Windows Vista superior to its predecessor, Windows XP.  If you're buying a new computer with Vista, make sure you get enough horsepower- Vista can be painfully slow if your computer is too weak to handle it.

A judge has ruled that a trial against Microsoft can proceed to decide whether they misled people with their "Vista Capable" advertising campaign. Two PC buyers have started a class action, and are arguing that they bought machines that weren't capable of running Aero, even though they were marked as "Vista Capable."

Vista Capable: Did Microsoft Deceive With 'Vista Capable'? - Gizmodo

On making the move to Windows Vista:

Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows Vista OS has finally hit retails stores in the region this month. You've probably heard a fair bit about the new OS, but do you know enough to determine if you should move your business to it?

ITP.net {Features: Make the move}

Okay, so most of us non-geeks aren't using Windows Vista yet, but you will be eventually- I promise.  One of the more interesting additions to Windows Vista is a built-in speech recognition program that lets you control your computer with voice commands.  Having tried it, I can say that it works pretty well, but who needs it?  Read David Pogue's article on the subject if you're interested:
Telling Your Computer What to Do - Pogue's Posts - Technology - New York Times Blog

Today is the official launch of Windows Vista, the successor to Windows XP, which runs on the vast majority of PC's in the world today.  Microsoft is kicking off the venture with loads of events and advertising… Bill Gates gave a speech in Times Square, and I even heard something about a "human billboard"?

First the Wait for Microsoft Vista; Now the Marketing Barrage - New York Times

A First Look at Windows Vista - TIME

For those of your who are still wondering what the deal is with Windows Vista, Microsoft's new operating system which will be released in a matter of days- here's a great article in Time magazine which sums up what Vista really means for the average computer user.

Vista Wins on Looks. As for Lacks … - New York Times

Okay, I know, I should rename this blog to the "Help With a Smile Windows Vista for Non-Geeks Blog".  But, hey, this is important stuff, everybody.  As David Pogue, one of the most respected technology columnists in the industry, points out, sooner or later, all of us PC users are going to be running Windows Vista whether we like it or not.  I couldn't agree more, and he gives an excellent summary of the good, the bad, and the ugly in Microsoft's upcoming operating system.

Vista Is Ready. Are You? - New York Times

Not to kill this topic to death, but Vista is seriously going to force you to think about your computer in 2007.

With the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft will also be releasing the 2007 version of Microsoft Office.  In the past, upgrades to Office have not affected people who still use the older versions of Office.  This time, however, Microsoft is changing the file formats around, and you won't be able to open Office 2007 documents properly in older versions of Office.

Luckily, Microsoft is making a free utility available that will make your existing version of MS Office capable of opening the new Office 2007 files.  You should absolutely install this if you are an MS Office user and people are frequently sending you Word, Excel, or Powerpoint documents.

Download the Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Pack

Yesterday, Microsoft officially released Windows Vista for business users.  That basically means that only huge companies who have volume-license deals with Microsoft are eligible to purchase Vista right now.  The rest of us can expect to wait until January 30th, when Vista hits retail shelves.

For more about Windows Vista and what you need to do to get ready, see my blog posting about Getting Ready for Windows Vista.

It's been over 5 years since the last time Microsoft released a new version of Windows. In early 2007, the world will begin to switch from the current version (Windows XP) to the new version, called Windows Vista. It is going to look a lot different, and require a lot of computing power to run. If you're in the market for a new computer, it's a good idea to review Microsoft's suggestions on how to best prepare for windows vista.