[Dale King]

If you've been thinking about upgrading to Microsoft's new Windows Vista OS, you might want to hold off for a few months, until all of the bugs have been worked out.

Visiting the different tech forums and blogs, I'm hearing all kinds of horror stories about Vista.

Known problems include:

Special columns don't show. The Windows explorer in Vista has changed dramatically, and one of those changes was to abandon the additional columns and introduce a new "property system". Since the property system is file type based, I'm hearing there are problems adding a column for Subversion information.

Also, exporting from a working copy only copies some empty folders. This bug is due to a change in the SHFileOperation API. Since the API doesn't work the same way anymore on Vista as it did on Win2k or XP, you may have to come up with another way to export.

When downloading software with Vista you can experience freezups and loss of connections as the webinstaller is incompatible with Vista.

There are various compatibility issues with printers not working properly.

In addition, last week Apple posted a warning on their website stating that customers using Windows Vista may experience compatibility issues with iTunes.

According to Apple, the latest version of iTunes (7.0.2) may work with Windows Vista on many typical PCs, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t work and messes up your iPod in the process. Apple advices Windows users to wait and not install Vista until after the next release of iTunes. A new version of iTunes should be released sometime this or next month. If you’ve already upgraded to Vista and are having problems with iTunes, you might want to check out a utility called iTunes Repair Tool for Vista.

Apple has already identified several Vista compatibility issues with iTunes 7.0.2 and earlier. Here are some of the most common problems the company said in a statement provided by spokesman Derick Mains:

iTunes Store purchases may not play when upgrading to Windows Vista from Windows 2000 or XP

*Cover Flow animation may be slower than expected
*Contacts and calendars will not sync with iPod
*iPod models with the “Enable Disk Use” option turned off may be unable to update or restore iPod software, and make changes to iPod settings
*iPod models configured to Auto Sync and have the “Enable Disk Use” option turned off may require being ejected and reconnected to resync
*Ejecting an iPod from the Windows System Tray using the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature may corrupt your iPod. To always safely eject an iPod, choose Eject iPod from the Controls menu within iTunes

Apple also suggests you consider the following precautions:

Users should deauthorize all iTunes Store accounts, enable Disk Use on all iPod models, uninstall iTunes and perform a clean install of Windows Vista (Highly recommended but not required).

They should then proceed to reinstall the latest version of iTunes, open iTunes and choose Authorize Computer from the Store menu in iTunes.

A customer who has upgraded to Windows Vista and is still experiencing issues playing iTunes Store purchases should download the iTunes Repair Tool from Apple.com

Microsoft quickly responded by saying, "Microsoft has a team working with Apple to make iTunes fully functional on Windows Vista," Adam Anderson, a Microsoft Windows spokesman told AP.

He also said that Microsoft has a dedicated team working with Apple on getting iTunes running smoothly on Vista, and it will keep at it "until they have the program running to the quality level they’re shooting for… We are also committed to ensuring that all partners, including Apple, receive all the resources they need to ensure that their applications work with Windows Vista."

Both Apple and Microsoft declined to comment further on the issue.

In closing, I'm sure Microsoft will eventually get the bugs worked out of Vista, like they did with Windows XP. In the meantime, you'd be prudent to hold off on Vista for a few months to assure your peace of mind.

[cube3]

yeah everytime microsoft comes out with a new product, it always so buggy.

[journeyoftheanimala]

Yeah people have asked me about vista and if they should buy it. I tell them I would not even consider buying it for at least 6 months, after all....it is Microsoft were talking about.

[rob2009]

i planned on waiting a few months anyway. i never buy stuff new...wait till the novelty wears off and then go get it after hearing reviews of my friends.

[djblacksuperman]

i wasnt planning on BUYING it anyways... ill definetly wait a few months before i check it out tho

[NeeJam]

im actually upgrading next week.