2009 is upon us and computer prices are incredibly low, but if you can wait a year to buy a new computer, I would highly recommend it. Why? Microsoft plans on releasing the next version of Windows either late in 2009 or early in 2010. All indications point to the earlier release since Microsoft is anxious to bury Vista.
Last week, Microsoft extended the life of Windows XP for a fifth time! This indicates the continued reluctance (especially in the business world) to adopt Windows Vista. Currently, you can get XP installed on a new computer only through Dell’s business web site and through some independent builders. Buying a copy of Windows XP from limited vendors doesn’t help much either since so many of the new computers out there today don’t ship with or have Windows XP drivers available for video, audio, Ethernet and other hardware components.
I still firmly believe that if you don’t use any Windows specialty software and tend to use your computer only for email, Internet, digital photography, word processing, and games, you should seriously think about an Apple computer or installing Linux/Ubuntu on a new or existing computer an bypass Windows altogether. If you don’t want to follow that advice or need specialty Windows software, stay with what you have for another year until Windows 7 is released.
The beta (test) versions of Windows 7 are being released now, and I plan to install and keep up with them in the next couple of months. Keep your eye on the site for more information on Windows 7 as I learn more.
