The Vista Dilemma

If you should talk to a tech about Vista, most will tellYou could suddenly find that your video card is not
you to hold off for awhile. Not that there is anythingsupported. You just spent $200 on Vista and now
really wrong with Vista, but because there is ayou have to purchase new hardware.
severe lack of driver support. Many of the devicesIn fairness to Microsoft and the other manufactures,
you normally use are behind in issuing new compatiblethey have made this information available. If a little
drivers.time was spent reading about the compatibility
The problem affects many consumers because allissues, many surprises could be avoided. Microsoft
the big box stores are only selling Vista loadedmakes available on their web site a list called the
machines. It is not uncommon to get your newHardware Compatibility List or the HCL as we techies
computer home only to find out printers, scanners,call it. Just Google Microsoft Vista HCL.
cameras and other accessories will not work. We areThis list is compiled by Microsoft and only contains
also finding that Vista does not always work well inhardware that has been approved. A little time spent
mixed network situations. We have been dealing withwith this list can save a ton of grief, pain and money.
this since the January release.For those of you who don't have time for fun and
This means that your office network may not begames, XP is still available. It will be available for at
able to work with a Vista operating system. A fewleast another year, but you cannot get it at the big
clients have bought Windows XP and loaded it onbox stores. To get XP you will have to seek out
their new Vista computers in order to network withyour local computer shop (like us). They will have
the office computers. They also changed operatingRetail and OEM software and will still be able to build
systems in order to use the network printers andyou a new XP machine.
scanners already in place at their office.So, bottom line, if you have that itch to go out and
Complicating this further, Vista is a "technologyget a Vista machine. Be prepared for some of
break". This means many older accessories andaccessories not to work. If you upgrade, be
software simply will not work and the manufacturesprepared for driver and hardware issues. Most of
have no plans to update. This means you will have tothese problems can be avoided if you first do a little
buy new accessories. The situation is more critical ifhomework and check the HCL. Do this BEFORE you
you purchased Vista to upgrade an existing machine.put your money down.