Windows 7 vs. Vista: Should we hold off on buying a new computer?

I'm helping a friend who's new to computers. She wants to buy a new computer. I have a question about new OS's that are on the cusp of being released to the mass public, as it pertains to buying a new computer with the paramount goal of the OS operating at top notch effieciency:

All of us know that if you buy a computer today it comes pre-loaded from a factory in China with Vista already installed on it. I don't know what that pre-load circumstance is called. I'll wait for someone to come along and tell us what the proper geek terminology is for that specific circumstance. For now I'll just call that condition 'pre-loaded.'

With the same scenario in mind, if you buy a computer today in September 2009, Windows will let you 'upgrade' to Windows 7 (upgrade online without the CD I think) when Windows releases it to the public in late October 2009.

I've overhead snippets of conversation where people claim that if you do an online upgrade that that type of OS installation is vastly or somewhat inferior to an OS that comes pre-loaded straight from the factory. Is that fact, or fiction? Cause my friend was wondering if she should hold her horses and wait until next month to buy a computer that comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 as opposed to buying one today with Windows Vista. Advantages? Disadvantages? Your thoughts, please.

 

I don't think any form of upgrade has to be inferior, some people had problems, some hadn't.

I'd say, if you want to buy a laptop, wait for Win7.

You don't have to possibly deal with drivers (because the manufacturer doesn't want you to use WIn7 or whatever) - you get the full Win7 support from your manufacturer (even it that can be less useful than NBR here )
and you also get new laptops once Win7 is released, the autumn refresh - so either you could get a new Win7 machine, or you may be able to get a cheap Vista one.

If you can hold off, I'd say wait and buy a Win7 machine.

 

I strongly second that advice.

 

I third it...

Wait for the Win 7 release.

 

telling the truth

 

Agreed. Windows 7 FTW!
Wait for Windows 7!

 

I did not know that. How do you figure?

 

My laptop says "made in Japan".

I doubt they shipped it to China for the instal.

But the components possibly come from China...

(Wi-Fi, RAM etc.)

 

Because they don't sell computers with Linux, Mac OSX or Windows XP. Duh.

 

If you need a need a laptop now (ie. for school), then get one now. If you don't, then wait. New tech/models/software come out every month, you can wait forever if you want the next best thing.

 

yes if you can wait. vista compared to Win 7 is like night and day.