Views on Vista

For family PC owners wondering about whether or not to upgrade to the new Vista operating system, here are multiple perspectives on the subject – from smart people who have been following Microsoft developments for years. The bottom line from SafeKids.com's Larry Magid, writing in the New York Times is: "Even if your PC is Vista-ready, that doesn’t mean you should buy the upgrade kit. For most users, especially those whose hardware isn’t quite up to speed, it might make sense to wait until it’s time for a new PC" (after January 30). PBS tech pundit Robert X. Cringely echoes that thought with a bit more bite: "Will people upgrade their existing systems? Of course not. Microsoft operating systems are always designed for future PC's, not for the installed base. Part of the plan is to make Vista work poorly on current computers so we'll all have to buy new ones." CNET looks at whether the PC security component of Vista is a privacy intrusion, and the Associated Press and the whole picture of Vista security.