I have used all major versions of Windows starting with version 1.0. Versions 1 and 2 not much use except for playing Reversi. The first computer I owned came with DOS 4.01 and Windows 3.0 and eventually upgraded to DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.l1. Used NT 3.54, NT 4 and Windows 2000 at work. Purchased 2nd computer with Windows 95 which was upgraded to Windows 98. Built computer and installed Windows 98 upgraded to XP SP2 only after end of Microsoft support. Fixed problems with father-in-laws ME machine. Using Dell notebook with XP SP2 installed. Of the 3 PCs I currently own only two are capable of running Vista and then only Home Basic without extensive hardware and memory upgrades. By the time I do this and pay for the operating system might as well have purchased new computer.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. I have a new PC with Vista and it prompted me to buy Vista for my laptop. I have grown tired of XP and wanted something new.

I can't believe that sme people would rather buy a Mac OS than Vista. Wake up people, it is the new MS OS, get used to it.

I have XP on my computer, and it does everything I need. I've heard that Vista is much more visually pleasing, and that may be true - but I'm not about to spend the outrageous price for an OS just because it's "prettier." If the day ever comes where Vista does something I need that XP doesn't, then I'll switch. I don't see that day coming any time soon.

This Vista vs XP debate is beginning to resemble the Blu-ray vs standard DVD issue - one's prettier and sharper but the other does the same things without the 'wow' effects and at a lower cost. I think MS probably made XP 'too good' since what would really drive an exodus from XP would be some new technology that could not be supported by XP - but, alas, there's no such thing at the moment. At least until DirectX 10 becomes mainstream that is...

I predict that if DirectX 10 ever gets mainstream there will be a service pack (authorized, or not) for XP.

I have a new comp with Vista and am quite happy with it, despite some occasional crashes that never seemed to happen on my older XP machine. However, I see no great improvements with vista, other than the nice interface and the ability to view and switch between windows easily. Since I like to play games,the biggest advantage of Vista was supposed to be DX10. However, this is useless now unless you have a 250.00 video card, since almost any game that runs acceptably in my computer using DX9 will basically not run on DX10 due to the slow framerate. (I have what I would consider a midrange machine, E4500 and HD2600 pro video card.)
I think it is OK for microsoft to stop selling XP, as those that have it now will be still able to use it if they hate vista so much.
I feel that the biggest unfairness is if windows 7 replaces Vista as soon as rumored, because it seems that with the high cost of the OS and the high hardware requirements, Vista be state of the art for a long time.

Much depends on how critical it is to operate the software involved without hangups or crashes. XP when tweaked properly is faultless and easily maintainable. It just keeps running. If ya'll have the time to tweak and refine Vista to your requirements and occasional hangups or crashes are not a problem then do so. If you're doing a network install then either way you can make up a standard and install the archived system at your discretion. If time allows setup one of each and then determine by observation ( at least on one of each XP & Vista) which outperforms the other over a reasonable period of time. Because you have a refined system of either in archive you can always install the other easily.