I recently purchased a new workstation, and finally took the plunge with Windows Vista.
I don't get what all the fuss has been about. From the comments I have heard, and the impressions I read about, I expected many problems and got none.
Hardware Issues?
Not here. The workstation came with the Downgrade Rights Installed, or something like that, which means it had XP on it. When I installed Vista, I obtained a 64 bit version in order to use more RAM. I was able to obtain 64 bit drivers for all the components of my system, and I can still use the network printer. I don't think I need much more than that.
So, no Vista hardware issues (ok, its new) and no 64 bit issues.
But, the interface changed!
Bah. I hate change. But progress is change. Or maybe I have that backwards, I'm not sure. I look at some individual elements of the interface and I think Vista is progress. We should get used to it.
I happen to like some of the eye candy, but I am sure that's subjective.
A specific example of progress in usability that comes to mind is the control panel. In XP they hid it behind a nice interface. Unfortunately for me, as a power user, I could never find the individual control panel applet I knew I wanted to use, so I always switched to classic (old style) view. In the Vista control panel there are sub headings which make it easy for me to navigate, and presumably should be useful to end users since it also has the "main bullet points" complete with very pretty icons. (The people remind me of Fischer Price toys.)
I'll be sure to let you know if my opinion changes.
I haven't got all my apps running under Vista yet. The version of QuickBooks that I have licensed is so old that its not fair to even try. Right now, everything has gone smoother than expected, and as the title of the post states, I am pleased.