I have now been using Windows Vista for a few months now along side of my Windows XP computer. I have been looking for new and clever things that Vista can do over its XP predecessor. I have looked into Vista in depth.

What’s does Vista offer that XP doesn’t?

Vista is very similar to XP in so many ways. Vista has a nicer user interface, and a sidebar which you are likely to turn off towards the start of your Vista experience. A few settings are easier to find as the operating system is organised a little better. For Windows Mobile users, there is the Windows Mobile Device Center which is effectively ActiveSync with a nicer interface.

Everything I am able to do in Vista, I was able to do in Windows XP. A few features of XP which were not highly promoted such as offline files, have been made more obvious with the Sync Center. We are used to the ways of XP, so learning the new ways of Vista is another learning curve in itself.

When it comes to compatibility, all programs and games that I have tried to run on Vista have worked fine, after I ensured the latest graphics drivers were installed. I cannot find anything else worth commenting on.

So should most people upgrade to Vista? Not for the sake of it. I believe most people will prefer it to XP but that is mostly due to nicer graphics. Wait until you get a new computer and upgrade then. You are not missing out on anything in the meantime.