This is a very common question among people who are not computer wizes. The basic reasoning behind is the fact that it will cost more than $150 no matter where you go. If you acquire it illegally, you know you will get into some trouble when you have bugs that can't be blamed on Microsoft. Weighing all the factors involved in installing Vista, you can tell for yourself, if you really need to upgrade.

First, you have to analyze your computer. Do you know if all your hardware can run with Vista? Have the providers of the hardware come up with a new driver that will allow it to work properly? If you don't know the answer to that, then you might want to think twice before making the leap. If you do know that everything will work fine, then by all means, go for it. One neat tool that Microsoft devised allows you to check if your system will run Vista. The URl is, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx. Download the software and see if your machine will run on Vista.

Secondly, you have to ask yourself, what you use your computer for. Basically, if all you do is serf the web and type reports, then sure, you can get Vista. This is basically up to you. There are not too many new features that require anyone to get it. Vista does not come equipped with a new standard of any available program on the market.

Some of the really interesting features are visual. The transparent windows, cool graphics, and new icons. Also, there are some features that can be useful for people in business like the collaborative desktop sharing. This allows up to 10 computers to share a single space. You can work together on a project for school or work and so forth. Still, if you own a business, then you still might want to hold off on the upgrade because you might risk crashes and other bugs which could hurt productivity.

The choice is all up to you now. It all depends on your computer and what you do with it. If your computer can handle the operating system, go for the upgrade and see all the visuals and other great features added. If you are not so excited about the new features that stick with what you have until they come out with a more stable version in about 6 months to a year.

George Christodoulou If you are still saying, "Do I need Microsoft Vista?" please visit, http://download-microsoft-vista.com for more information and resources about Vista.