Everything is swell when you’re a monopoly; you have the run of your playground, and plenty of minions to look up to you. In Microsoft’s case, Google is the monopoly running an adjacent playground, and threatening to come over and take control, because Google will be more profitable than Microsoft Windows within one year.

Vista a resource hungry operating system that could cause your system to crawl when running heavy duty applications may get kicked to the curb once Windows 7 arrives. Yes, you heard it right according to Bill Gates they plan on making Windows 7 much more efficient.

There’s no way around it: the vast majority of consumers and businesses are in a full-on funk as to what to do with Windows. Do they stick with the tried and true Windows XP, grudgingly adopt Vista with the knowledge that Windows 7 might be no better, or play the waiting game for Microsoft’s “apology” OS, Windows 7, hits the market? A Microsoft memo grants these insights: Windows 7 will probably be the embodiment of what Microsoft intended to do with Vista and more, but don’t hold your breath, because you’ll be waiting for Windows 7 until 2010.

With early betas and RC versions of Vista SP1 some users saw their systems go into endless reboot cycles and now the same thing is happening with certain systems that are upgraded to Windows XP SP3.

DirectX 10 was supposed to be the "holy grail" of Vista that would bring gamers in by the droves but this did not happen.  It seems some marginal gains in effects isn’t enough to overcome the headaches of Vista.

Windows Vista is more susceptible to malware vulnerabilities than its eight-year-old predecessor Windows 2000, according to a recent independent study conducted by PC Tools.

With the public re-release of Vista Service Pack 1 comes a host of new updates including the retirement of the Reduced Functionality Mode.

Selling Windows Vista isn’t just about glassy interfaces, optimizing performance, and let’s not forgot those “gadgets.” Productivity software is just as important to consumers as a “modern” interface, and doing things like overhauling and reinventing applications like Outlook could have just be the key to getting consumers on board with Windows Vista, and might be the cause of some consumers’ dissatisfaction.

After compatibility issues last week many of you may already be aware that Vista SP1 and XP SP3 were delayed. They are now back with a vengeance, available for download since last night. I know just how excited you guys are to download these service packs which will greatly enhance your operating system adding much needed fixes, with a side of glitches in Vista SP1’s case.

Sometimes having the most used operating system in the world still isn’t enough to get buyers to to adopt a system that isn’t catching good vibes from the media. Microsoft seems to be having that very problem with Windows Vista, but there are still a few tricks it can pull in hopes of increasing popularity.

Users testing out the new service pack 1 for Vista are reporting issues when using Windows Update for the latest sound drivers, experiencing problems with no audio after the update. This issue mainly seems to affect users with Sigmatel or now known as IDT high def sounds, which are used quite a bit on Dell’s PCs (mine included).

Microsoft announced their plans to retire Windows XP licensing to OEMs and via retail chains by June 30, 2008. However, according to ARN Net some top PC vendors such as Dell are planning on using a loop-hole to get PCs out the door to businesses with XP pre-installed on them rather than Vista. What’s the loop-hole you may ask? The loop-hole is a clause in Vista Ultimate and Vista Business that allows one to downgrade their operating system if the customer wishes to do so.

Though many consumers aren’t suffering the woes of being forced to upgrade to Windows Vista, what with a very suitable XP SP3 readily available, businesses are in an altogether different position. Analysts believe that Microsoft’s halt on distribution of XP to retailers and manufacturers will force businesses to upgrade to Vista, whether they like it or not.

Now that Cuba is out of the control of Fidel Castro and is in the hands of Raul Castro, some things are definitely changing; one of those things is a lift on the ban of computers. Though it’s probably very exciting for Cubans, there’s only 1 model of PC being sold, and its just a bit more than underwhelming.

Skip Vista, and stick with XP? That’s what one reviewer has sugggested after extensive beta testing both service pack 1 for Vista and service pack 3 for XP.