Windows Vista, the new upgrade to the Windows operating system 5 years in the making, will be available to consumers January 30th (corporations got it the end of last year).

Here's my advice:

• Don't bother upgrading an existing computer to Vista unless you're a techie and it's a new, high-end machine. It's just not worth the hassle.
• If you're buying a new computer, skip the low-end machines and get a mid-range or better that can run the full Vista at a reasonable speed.
• If you need another computer and don't care about having the latest and greatest, this will be a great time to go on eBay and buy a used one as all the techies dump their old computers that can't handle Vista. Just make sure it includes Windows XP CDs, completely wipe it out and re-install. Get your offspring or the kid down the street to do it for you.
• Keep your existing computer and just download Internet Explorer 7, and you'll have the biggest upgrade in Vista, anyway.
• Check that all of your critical software, like your point-of-sale system, is supporting Vista. Nothing is more annoying than to call your software vendor with a problem and have them say, "Vista? We haven't really tried that yet."
• Check out Walt Mossberg's column for more pros and cons on going with Vista.

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