As a member of Windows Feedback Panel, I beta tested from Beta 2 through RC2 and made some tweaks along the way. I installed more RAM and a 256MB graphics card and checked that all the necessary drivers were either available or included with Vista. I chose an ATI graphics card because less issues existed than with nVidea.
I am now the proud owner of the free copy of Vista Ultimate Microsoft sent me for my participation in the consumer beta program and love it's features!
I thoroughly recommend Vista, but strongly suggest prospective buyers read the multiple sources available for compatible hardware and software and be prepared for the installation of Vista.
I will say that many PC manufacturers have supplied machines with Vista installed that function very poorly. They have dropped the ball, but Microsoft gets the blame.
Lay off Microsoft for a while everyone and look at the poor showing by the so called "Microsoft Partners."
WOW!!!! So much negativity. What ever happened to research? To "buyer beware"? To taking some responsibillity as to where a person disposes of their hard-earned $$$$$s?
Just because there's a "new" and/or "improved" product on the market doesn't mean that it's for everyone. For those of you who
are now the proud owners of the Vista o.s. and are in no way pleased,
I'm sorry for you. But, for those of you who are satisfied if not
totally happy, good for you, if only you too would take a few moments
to let us know that you really do exist. Let us know what you like
and why. People are all to eager to ***** but when there's kudo's
to be had nobody's moved enough to say so.
Anyhow, when a new product or service becomes available remember,
you're not a computer fast isn't everything. Sit back, read, listen,
take some time to smell the roses. Make sure they're not stinkweed.

Chowhound
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GameSpot
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