I am a computer professional and I am hard-pressed to understand any compelling reason for anyone to move from WinXP to Vista - other than strong-arm tactics from MS.
This is bad news for MS. I remember long ago when, as an early-on Mac owner, I first recognized that Apple was in trouble with it's Mac strategy. I was walking through a computer store looking at PCs and Macs and the software offerings for both as well as the interfaces. I thought to myself, "I can't think of a good reason to get a Mac - and I already own one!" My next thought was "Apple is in big trouble if I, someone who loves my Mac, can't think of a good reason to get another one."
I see this Vista thing the same way.
Microsoft understands this and, quite frankly, doesn't care. They know that when the average consumer buys a new system, they'll take whatever OEM OS and software is bundled with it. That is how Microsoft corners the market and that is how they assure their anti-competitive practices will remain intact.
Windows Vista will make it into your home. The only variable in the equation is when. And you can bet that it will precisely coincide with your next PC purchase. Microsoft has seen to that.
I agree entirely. When Vista was first announced there were supposed to be a lot of very cool new features in it, like the new file system they were crowing about. One by one these features were dropped until all that's left is eye candy and some under the hood networking and searching improvements. After running the beta for about a month I went back to XP and have no current plans to change again.
What strong arm tactics? You can buy either, a Mac may even be better, but it will still cost you more, and comes with just as much copy protection.
I see this Vista thing the same way.
If Microsoft can secure Vista from all the haters and viruses then it will be a success. They are apparently willing to sacrifice the users associated with pirating etc as part of that process.