As the time nears to purchase a new laptop, I am struggling to get the full picture of the changes to expect with Vista, the performance issues/solutions that others have experienced, and something I've read at least once about incompatibility between XP-generated documents and the Vista OS and vice verse. Any links out there that are particularly useful for educating myself on these topics (and any other useful advice)? Thanks!

Check out Paul Thurrott's excellent site:

http://www.winsupersite.com/vista/

I am using Vista business edition.My main problem was getting a sound driver for my motherboard.I now have a good one,that works fine.Beware at this very early stage of migrating to Vista from XP.I have MS Office 2003 working in Vista,so far,but I'm just waiting for the first "hiccup".
I have also disabled Windows Firewall,and using PC Tools Firewall Pro.Works great in my edition,and updates without fuss.Dont rely on Windows Defender,as your only protection software (built into Vista).Check out many forums,and see what is best.SuperAntiSpyware,Adaware Second Edition,AVG,CCleaner,and Auslogics disc defragmenter,are all now installed upon my desktop,and work fine.
If your really unsure,and XP has no issues for you,I'd advise you to stay with it,until Redmond release Vista Service Pack 1,rumoured to be around July (ish) 07.

Thanks for the link and thanks for the advice. Both are helpful.

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Originally Posted by Nez

Check out Paul Thurrott's excellent site:

http://www.winsupersite.com/vista/

I am using Vista business edition.My main problem was getting a sound driver for my motherboard.I now have a good one,that works fine.Beware at this very early stage of migrating to Vista from XP.I have MS Office 2003 working in Vista,so far,but I'm just waiting for the first "hiccup".
I have also disabled Windows Firewall,and using PC Tools Firewall Pro.Works great in my edition,and updates without fuss.Dont rely on Windows Defender,as your only protection software (built into Vista).Check out many forums,and see what is best.SuperAntiSpyware,Adaware Second Edition,AVG,CCleaner,and Auslogics disc defragmenter,are all now installed upon my desktop,and work fine.
If your really unsure,and XP has no issues for you,I'd advise you to stay with it,untill Redmond release Vista Service Pack 1,rumoured to be around July (ish) 07.

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Here's another interesting "feature" in Vista.At least it is in my business edition.Go to Windows update,in IE7
- Click on change settings (on the left).
- Check "never check for updates."
- Remove any other checks (Recommended update and any other).
Then go back and run the Updates again.

I found (today),that before I'd done the above,there were no updates to install.Afterwards,there were five updates to download.

Hmnn. :confused:


The reason for doing the above,is for extra security.You decide when you want to update,and not your PC.

Here's another tip,for all versions of Vista.

By default,the Power button,is set to sleep.I wanted it to simply switch-off.So here are the links to follow,to make it do just that:

right click on the desktop-personalize,then click screen saver-change power settings-change plan settings-
Change advance power settings-power button and lid-power button action-setting-

Change to shutdown-click OK.

Now your Power Button,should look slightly red in colour,and will shut down your PC when pressed.

Nez,
About the Updates issue: when Windows is set to auto check for updates it only looks for critical updates. It's possible that the ones you found afterwards were Optional updates.

I've been using Vista on a desktop for a couple of months. I've had no problems with opening office docs created in previous versions of Office. I go back and forth between using Office 2007 and 2003 to work with those docs with no problem.

ANY new OS will have some glitches. But Vista appears to be the most stable launch yet.

Thanks guys.

Need,I think your right,about optional updates.I must get my eyes tested. :D

Scott,my MS Office 2003 is working fine.I agree,that any new OS will have glitches.Hopefully,Service Pack 1,will sort any issues out.

Totally agree with you,about it being the most stable Windows version yet.I was apprehensive when I walked out of a well known store with my "box",but so far,so good.

Just came across this link:
Macworld: News: Contest winner: Vista more secure than Mac OS

Vista more secure than Mac.What do others think?

I cannot comment,as I don't run Mac OS X,but I know family members who do.