I would like to add the main issue with Vista is that you need to have a new generation computer in order to gain XP performance (with all Vista features activated) while gaining very little (negligible) novelty in terms of functionality.
What's the point of having an OS that requires 50% of your new computer power/resources to run as it should, particularly when you take into consideration that a user has CPU/RAM intensive applications along with it?
While I agree with the fact that new OS's will be more demanding in terms of CPU power/RAM amount, Vista essentially tripled those demands in comparison to XP while delivering very little in return (at least in my opinion and experience).
If Vista was a radically different OS in comparison to XP, then the extra hardware demands would have been worth it, but as it is, I just don't see the point in switching to it.
Certainly not for everyday use, gaming, work, or programs such as 3dsMax, Photoshop and the likes.
One other thing ... you would think that by now Microsoft would release an OS that doesn't need major overhauls and bug fixes right at the beginning.
Some small fixes and possibly a large overhaul a year or two down the line (or sooner to accommodate technological change).
Also why make a GUI that uses obscene amount of resources?
We can replicate the look of Vista in XP for the most part without increasing resource use at all.
If their goal is to force people to buy new computers, well, the low Vista sales shot their little plan into the water.
But now, they are forcing Vista on people by putting it as the only pre-installed option (even on desktops/laptops that really aren't suitable for running the said OS).
And even that is not working since a lot of those people are reverting back to XP.
For those of you who had a nice experience with Vista, I see no reason why you shouldn't use it if you desire it and meets your needs without a problem. And it's a nice thing to know there are good experiences with the said OS.
My sisters laptop is unsuitable for Vista because of it's specs and yet the OS came pre-installed.
*sigh*
For the most part it's working fine, but it's very slow.