5 reasons to love & hate Windows Vista

Microsoft finally launches the long-awaited Windows Vista, promising better security and improved search and claiming it will be the fastest ever adopted operating system it has released.

But some users have already questioned the business benefits of upgrading to Vista, citing the relative stability and security of Windows XP and a lack of compelling features in Vista.

Based on using the second beta version of Vista here are the five things to get excited about Vista for--and the five things you'll hate it for.

Five things to love about Windows Vista

Search or create virtual files. Microsoft has integrated search throughout its new operating system. You can search for all documents authored by John Doe, then save the search as a virtual file folder for later reference without having to physically relocate or make copies of all those files.

Gadgets. In Windows Vista, Microsoft allows you to drag and drop Gadgets to tell the time, calculate currency or tackle any trivial task you perform regularly that would be handier if it were always on top of your current screen.

Built-in diagnostics. Programs refusing to run, operating system crashes--Microsoft says these will be things of the past with Vista.

Need more oomph?. Vista will find it for you. Need more RAM? How about borrowing some from that 256MB or greater USB drive? In Windows Vista, the new Windows ReadyBoost feature can swap flash memory with any large USB device.

Enhanced help. Help used to be limited to a few pithy sentences about the task you want to perform. Windows Vista changes all that. There are more options available within Help inside Vista.

Five things you'll hate about Windows Vista

Your current hardware won't fully run Vista. Although many computers in use today will be able to update and run the new operating system, they'll only be able to run it in what Microsoft slyly calls 'Windows Vista Basic'. In this mode, you'll have the ability to search files but you won't have 3D Aero graphics, live animation along the Taskbar or smooth streaming graphics on your desktop.

Vista's Aero graphics eat laptop battery power. If you're used to your laptop lasting on a long journey, you might want to reconsider upgrading to Windows Vista.

User Account Protection. In order to perform basic tasks, such as install or remove an application, even administrator account users must answer a series of pop-up messages, adding time to the process.

Missing drivers and incompatible applications. Not having all the necessary drivers or not having software compliant with a new operating system is to be expected in the beta of a new OS but even after several months of developer testing.

Troubled sleep. Instant Off, a new option on the Start menu, allows Windows Vista to take a quick snapshot of your system, then shut down completely, thus eliminating the occurrence of a hot laptop inside your backpack. After experiencing several false starts--literally, I was unable to resume my Windows Vista session as I'd left it.

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