Windows: Buy now. Don't wait.

Walt's founding premise for waiting on Windows has to do with the very real problems associated with upgrading an operating system and his apparent belief that most of you will want to update right at launch.

Let's look back at the biggest Microsoft Windows launch so far: If Vista were to double those numbers, only one out of ten of you would be on Vista by the end of April. And the majority of users installing the upgrade would have done it on an existing system and not through a new PC.

In fact, most folks probably won't be on Vista by this time next year, let alone by the end of January. But, eventually, most of you will in fact move and probably move on existing hardware.

Unlike Apple, there is no real desire for Windows OEMs to release new hardware early next year, they know that the fourth quarter is the hot quarter and will do everything they can to bring their new stuff out then. CES, which runs at the same time with MacWorld, is, with some exceptions, actually a show for Fall 2007 products - and not, as some might imagine for Winter 2006/2007 and not even Spring 2007 products.

So, if the hardware won't be changed, wouldn't a (in some cases) free upgrade now be better than a forced upgrade in January so that you could migrate when you wanted to migrate? Think about it, if you wait until late January and buy a Vista PC you'll have to migrate then and you probably won't be ready to move yet. For several months, application vendors and peripheral vendors will be cranking out new stuff to run on Vista but, at launch, a lot of that simply won't be done.

Assuming you were already planning on getting a new PC this quarter, why would you change your plans based on a new operating system you probably won't be using for some time yet? Getting a free upgrade is just icing on the cake and actually makes current machines more valuable rather less valuable as Walt's advice would seem to imply.

So, I actually think it is better to hold off on buying an Apple until after MacWorld 2007 but that buying a new PC in the Fall of 2006 isn't a bad idea at all.

Looking for the right Vista box

We are in the process of testing Vista branded PCs and would recommend that, if you plan to move to Vista early and are buying in the next few months, that you specifically look for those that are branded "Vista Premium Ready" to ensure you get a good initial experience. While all of the Vista branded PCs should be ready at Vista launch, only the "Vista Premium Ready" machines are testing well with Release Candidate 2 now and that means these represent the lowest risk of problems in the first few weeks after the launch.

Good Hunting!