You've probably heard by now, some talk about Windows VISTA - the long awaited, and often delayed, replacement for the Windows XP operating system, which finally hit the marketplace at the end of January 2007.

Since Christmas, I have been working with the official 'pre-release' version - Windows Vista Ultimate, Release Candidate 1 - on my home computer (2.4 GHz Pentium-4 with 1 GB RAM).  My overall impression of Vista, thus far, is quite good.

Like previous new versions of Windows, this one represents a quantum leap in features and stability from its predecessor - and also, as has been the pattern, requires more processor power and RAM memory than prior versions.  My current configuration here, with a Pentium 4 and 1 GB of RAM, is considered the practical minimum for running Vista.  It is doing quite well with this, and I have encountered few slowdowns or snags as compared to XP Pro.  No doubt, though, some additional capacity will make it truly sing.....some extra RAM does wonders for a Windows-based system.

A 'Program Compatibility Wizard' (introduced on XP, but more easily accessible on Vista) will permit you to continue running your older software without problems.  I found, in my case, that most of my regularly-updated software took to running under Vista without a glitch.  The only program that reported incompatibility, in fact, was the Minolta DiMage Viewer software that came with my old Z-10 digicam.  Since the camera has long since died, I no longer use the software, so that wasn't a problem.  I expect those still using this software, or other camera-related software, would be able to adapt it using the wizard.

Also had little problem with Device Drivers - most adapted readily with no action needed, including the drivers for my HP printer (which is usually the first thing to give trouble).  I had to round up updated drivers for the CD Burner and DVD reader, but they needed updating anyway.

Vista does have a colorful new graphical layout, which appears in 3-D if you have a suitable Video Card.  If not (and I don't) it renders in the 2-D we're accustomed to, though with a new style and added color - so the Video Card upgrades can be considered optional for the future.

The Photos section is kind of a mixed bag - more colorful than the XP version, but it can make it harder to tell at a glance what shots you have within a multi-picture file, as it displays a stand-up file folder with photos stuck in it - as opposed to the XP method of showing a file folder with a few mini samples on it.  Individually filed photos, though, still display good thumbnail shots.

Windows Media Center is a part of Vista, which will make your Pictures (and Video) more accessible for display on other devices - such as feeding to the new HDTV, or a Video iPod, or whatever.  On the Music side, it expands on what Apple's iTunes program does - not only organizing your collection of old downloads by title, but also by album and artist.  For those tracks it can link to an album, it will gather the original album artwork online, creating an interesting photo index of your music collection.

Vista takes Security seriously - and that has reportedly been the source of the repeated delays in its introduction.  Vista incorporates a Firewall, as well as Windows Defender, an anti-spyware program.  Windows Mail (which replaces Outlook Express) incorporates a SPAM filter, routing suspect mail to a separate folder.   This eliminates three of the top four security items we routinely spend extra money on.  For the one thing not covered, Antivirus protection, you can continue to use your antivirus program of choice - and there are some free ones, such as AVG Free Edition, that are quite good.  And the Windows Security Center, which monitors all the other protections, will also monitor your antivirus software and alert you to any problems with it.

My pre-market impression: I LIKE VISTA!  It is a welcome step up from XP Pro, and I am glad to have this preview edition up and running on my home system.  Am also looking forward now to the free Vista Upgrade that will be coming for my recently purchased XP laptop, soon after they release Vista to the open market.

For those pondering whether to upgrade from XP, I say Dive On In!  Without a doubt, Vista is more 'market ready' than any prior version of Windows has been at its introduction - and I've been through them all.  I believe this will be the one to silence a lot of the 'Microsoft bashers' out there.