Upgrade your operating system — without Vista

If you’re not inclined to plunk down $100 or more for Windows Vista, you can give your XP-based system an overhaul easily and without spending a penny:

Download Internet Explorer 7. This version of Microsoft’s browser adds tabs to your searches. More importantly, it addresses several security issues with features like a phishing filter and malware protection. You can pick it up free here.

Grab the latest Windows Media Player. Vista places a lot of emphasis on creating, storing and organizing your photos, videos, TV shows, and music. You can set up a simplified media library with Version 11 of Windows Media Player. Download it free from here. 

Knock out spyware. Windows Defender comes with Vista, but you can download it free for XP and IE7. It will scan for and remove spyware; Microsoft also claims if provides real-time spyware protection, meaning it looks for certain behaviors and modifications of your system that could be caused by spyware. Here’s where you can download Windows Defender. 

Get gadgets and a sidebar. Vista adds a sidebar to your Desktop, where you can organize gadgets (applets like weather reports, newsfeeds, clocks, live Webcams, and more). You can create a similar set-up using Google Desktop or Yahoo Widgets.

Do universal searches. You can search your e-mails, call up a Control Panel application by typing a keyword in a search box, find an item on your Desktop, and perform a variety of other searches all from one search box in Vista. You get much the same functionality using Google Desktop.

— Donna Tapellini

Comments

[Jeff Enslow]

ignorance is bliss : I don't own a Mac either. They are rather pricey, however, they don't become obsolete as fast as PC"S either. I say anyone who believes Macintosh is any less of a machine than from what you own, check one out for yourself. Fry's, Best Buy, or The Apple Store have them on display to try. I've seen the G4 open & play 5 different movies at once & never missed a beat. Never had to close any of them before opening Safari & internet was smooth surfing. Do that with your PC!

[Skye]

Tabbed browsing and a slightly more secure environment in Internet Explorer 7 (though its already had a few security issues)? WOW!!!

Tabbed browsing has been available in other browsers for years now. Mozilla's Firefox, Opera (and Apple's Safari browser) offer more features and have been consistently more secure than Internet Explorer. Why are you recommending that piece of trash?

Also, "Steve Jobs": Mac's marketshare has very little to do with their functionality. They're a bit more expensive, and there's some stigma on Mac's that they don't work with common applications, and that they require a lot of relearning to use, neither of which is really true. They're (generally) well built, rarely crash, are far more secure. And, for the record, I don't own a Mac.

[Justin]

Ubuntu new os fiesty fawn is very easy to use. Works one most any computer. Mac or PC. If you want you can add beryl
and to keep windows go with vmware.

[Steve Jobs]

If Mac's are so great, how come they only have 5% of marketshare. lol

[Bill Gates]

You can also get all the features of Vista that actually work by buying a Mac.

[Aaron Cermak]

Here is the corrected link.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/desktopsearch/addresources/conversions.mspx
Interesting how Windows Desktop search requires XP sp2 or 2000 sp4. I still prefer using XP sp1a.

[josh]

you can also download the vista transition pack for free. i downloaded the transition pack and my computer looks entirely like it is a windows vista. just make sure you meet the same ram requirements as the windows vista or the computer will freeze.
http://www.download3k.com/Desktop-Enhancements/Other-enhancements/Download-Vista-Transformation-Pack.html

[Zian]

You can also get universal search abilities using Windows Desktop Search (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/desktopsearch/addresources/conversions.mspx).