What Will I Lose By Not Switching To Vista?

When Vista launches, expect to see and hear the usual massive hoopla paid for by Microsoft. If you don't switch, you'll certainly lose out on being part of that buzz (which may be a good thing).

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		•  XP Support Timing •  Don't Switch, Save Money •  Software And Hardware Concerns •  Vista Features Lost -- And Found

Beyond that, though, will you actually lose out on software or hardware capabilities? Will applications run more slowly, for instance? That depends.

For now, apps running on the beta of Vista don't run any faster than they do in XP -- in fact, they often run more slowly. For example, the first time you save a Microsoft Word document in the Vista beta, it saves excruciatingly slowly. Similarly, searches within Word practically creep along. When Vista ships, that should be solved, but don't expect to see a performance boost, either.

However, users with dual-core PCs may notice a performance boost with Vista when they're multitasking, because Vista can take advantage of dual cores to run separate processes, something that XP can't do. So if you have a dual-core PC and you frequently run multiple programs simultaneously, you will lose the performance improvement that Vista can bring.

Microsoft also claims that multimedia will run better in Vista than XP because Vista can give streaming audio and video priority over other processes so that they won't be interrupted. We'll have to wait for the shipping version to see whether that's the case. In addition, Vista's Media Center integrates TVs and PCs in a way that XP's Media Center edition doesn't -- it makes it easier to watch and record TV shows, and pause live shows, on PCs with TV tuner cards.

Finally, if you stick with XP, you'll lose all the new Vista features: better security; a snazzier interface; transparent windows and animations; a sidebar filled with gadgets that do things such as report on your PC performance and stream RSS feeds; and some networking capabilities not present in XP, such as collaboration. Or will you?

How Can I Get Vista Features On XP -- Today?

Vista includes hardened security, including a two-way firewall (XP's is only one-way), built-in anti-spyware and anti-phishing tools, and a safer version of Internet Explorer. You can get the same features for XP, though, without paying a penny:

Download the free version of the ZoneAlarm firewall, which offers two-way firewall protection. (There are also for-pay versions of ZoneAlarm that add such features as greater firewall configurability, anti-spyware, virus checking, Registry protection, identity theft protection, and so on. But to match Vista's firewall security, the free version will do.)

Windows Defender, Vista's anti-spyware program, can also be downloaded today for free.

There are plenty of free anti-phishing tools now available for your browser, including the Netcraft Anti-Phishing Toolbar.

As for Internet Explorer, one option is to switch to a safer browser, such as Firefox or Opera. A second option is to download the beta of Internet Explorer 7, which is essentially the same browser that's built into Vista. Note, however, that since it's still in beta, IE7 might be unstable on your system. Finally, you could try a product called GreenBorder Pro, which runs Internet Explorer 6 inside a safe "sandbox" so that malware can't touch your system while you surf. (GreenBorder Pro costs $50 for an annual subscription, but the company is currently offering the first year free.)

Security isn't the only place you can get Vista functionality right now. Like the transparent windows offered by Vista's Aero Glass? Get them on XP with the free Martin's Transparent Windows. Vista's new Task Switch feature lets you preview windows before you switch to them. But there's a free Microsoft tool that offers similar functionality for XP -- get the Microsoft Alt-Tab Replacement Power Toy. And if you want those cool gadgets that run in the Vista sidebar, you can get similar applets on XP using Yahoo's free Widgets.

Will I Feel Like A Retro Loser If I Don't Switch?

Not necessarily, although you might feel left behind by the buzz and the hype. Expect a blizzard of books and articles to be written about Vista (they're already starting). Also figure that there will be few, if any, new books written about XP, and very few articles as well.

On the other hand, you can make up for that by taunting your friends who have switched to Vista and are busy trying to deal with all the headaches and fixes that always attend the installation and use of a new operating system. While you're at it, wave your fat wallet in their faces and offer to take them to lunch.