I couldn't get myself to read the full thread, so please skip the points I mention that already have been mentioned before ;-)
In this world we're living in a computer is something with a Microsoft Windows 'Operating System'. Atleast, that's what the majority believes. Sure, more people seem to like Apple's OS (I'm using 9.2 here at the moment) every year but most people use MS's Windows. And only God knows why!
I've got myself some computing experience in the past 18 year or so and it were those years that computing took a serious flight, mainly started by Amiga. So all the flashing knobs, screeming whistles and shaking keyboards were introduced to me over a nice long period in time allowing me to get used to it. Due to my work I had to use DOS, Windows3.11, Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, OpenVMS, various Linuxes and privatly I added Apple's 9.2 and X as well. So I've came across a lot of odds and weirds in all those OS-es but luckiliy for me, not all at once!
Try to imagine the hopeless individual who just has bought his/her first ever PC with WindowsXP. Try to imagine all the hairs he/she is pulling out of his/her head when he/she [from now on HE, if you feel offended read SHE instead] tries to get the machine on the internet. Imagine the fight he has to put up just to try and create those nice picture-effect things he saw in the advertising. Sure, he can take the invitational tour of XP but does that really teach him anything? We know our ways through the system but just imagine you've never used a computer.... All I can say I'm glad I got involved during the Amiga-hype. If I had to step in NOW, I'd probably repack the machine within the hour and try to trade it for a type-writer, a bucket-load of enveloppes, stamps, a deck of cards and a good book!
Microsoft is sure to sell a sh*t-load of Vistas and I'm pretty sure quite some of us here will have a go at it. I'm pretty sure I've got to as I'm planning on gettinga a AMD powered laptop. But I doubt it will stay on it. I simply find it hard to believe that an Operating System can only run in 2GB of memory with 2+ GHz of processor power. It's an Operating System! It's only purpose should be establishing communication between all kinds of hardware (Video card, Sound Card, DVD-player, Harddisk, etc...) and let me know the outcome of that communication. And if I feel I've got to do something with that outcome it should let me into the communication as well. No-one can convince me that for that communication 2 GHz of processorpower and 2GB of memory is needed!
So, that's my rant against Vista!
And Amiga? It will last and last and last and last....