By the time you read this article you may already be deep in the throes of holiday shopping. I hope I’m not too late. I hope you’ve not already run out and bought that new computer to put under the Christmas tree (whenever it gets hauled out of the attic or garage, that is), because there’s something we need to discuss.

Back in February, Microsoft spent bajillions of dollars to launch the latest version of the Windows operating system. It’s called “Windows Vista,” and it promised to “Wow” us. Unfortunately, so far the only “wow” has been: “Wow, I never knew my computer could run this slow!” and “Wow, I never knew my printer and other peripherals could make such nice paper weights!” and “Wow, I’ve never had to downgrade to the previous version of Windows just so my computer will become usable!” and “Wow, who needed all that software that I’ve used and relied on for years, anyway?”

At first when the articles began appearing that said Vista was an expensive shovelful of manure I still gave Vista the benefit of the doubt. “Surely,” I thought, “once more people get ahold of it and manufacturers get it and write new drivers for their devices and Microsoft releases a few patches, everything will be fine again. Let’s give it a few months.” Unfortunately it’s been nine months now and the consensus remains the same: Vista is garbage, at least for now. Don’t get it if you don’t have to.

That’s the most important thing you can take from today’s article, so I’m going to blow it up a bit:

You don’t have to get Windows Vista

just because you’re buying a new computer.

If you go to Best Buy and most other retail outlets, they’re going to tell you that Vista is your only choice, and it is your only choice – if you buy a computer there. Vista is your only choice for most computers that you buy “off the shelf” at most retail outlets. That’s why you need to order a computer from somewhere else. Dell continues to allow you to choose Windows XP when you purchase a new computer, and from what I understand, they’ll continue to do so as long as they’re allowed to. My favorite computer shop in Amarillo, Computer Parts USA (www.cpu.com) also continues to sell Windows XP on new PCs. Demand it! Don’t take Vista for an answer!

My recommendation as both a computer user and professional computer technician is to avoid Vista for now. Maybe they’ll fix it. Maybe they’ll make it usable on average hardware. Maybe they’ll scrap it and move onto the next good version of Windows – the Windows that the public deserves. Or maybe they’ll continue to foist mammoth loads of rot like Vista onto their captive audience until they find that the audience has given up and moved to Linux.

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[Author’s Note: “Ask the Geek” is published weekly in the Stratford Star - the penultimate reading experience for residents of Stratford, Texas, population 1,920. It is posted on WritersCafe.net for posterity. Feel free to comment, but I can’t promise you’ll make the Star.]