More views on Vista

We're all going to be seeing plenty about Vista, Microsoft's new (some say last) Windows operating system, as its January 31 release dates nears. I promise I won't link you to all of it - just the highlights. I mentioned New York Times columnist Seth Schiesel's comment that Vista's parental controls are basically the only reason to upgrade right now (unless you're a gamer). Here's the bottom line from Wall Street Journal tech columnist Walt Mossberg: "For most users who want Vista, I strongly recommend buying a new PC with the new operating system preloaded. I wouldn't even consider trying to upgrade a computer older than 18 months, and even some [newer ones] may be unsuitable candidates." He links to Microsoft's free "Upgrade Adviser" download, which will tell you if Vista will work on your PC. There are a lot of other reasons to read this review too. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that, for the first time, Microsoft is making a Windows upgrade available for sale and download online. I joined a briefing about Vista's new parental controls this week, and I was impressed with how extensive they are, with filtering, monitoring, time limits, gaming and other software controls, etc. For families with kids and pre-teens, they may be worth the investment of a new family PC. Here's CNET on Microsoft's Vista marketing, including special offers.