Don't want Vista but want Vista features? They're coming

Unless you've been under a computerless rock, you know by now that the corporate world in particular, and the rest of the world in general, has been avoiding Windows Vista like the plague and opting to stick with the tried, true and driver-rich Windows XP until Redmond's people pry the install disc from their cold, dead hands.

And now those XP stalwarts are about to be rewarded. According to ArsTechnica, Windows XP Service Pack 3 -- release date uncertain -- will backport a number of Vista features into the XP system.

Among them:

-- Network Access Protection, which enhances the security of corporate networks

-- The New Product Activation Module, which allows Windows installs without entering a product code

-- "Black Hole" Router Detection, which I don't understand and for which I will quote Ars:

A black hole router is a router that drops packets without returning the specified Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) response. This feature aids in detecting and protecting the end user from such a problem. Previously, according to Microsoft documents, reliable detection of a black hole router involved use of an appropriately configured "ping" command, followed by further manual commands for working around the problem.

-- Microsoft Kernel Cryptographic Module, which, judging from its name, enables the use of cryptography within the OS kernel.

It's all about security, people ... and for Microsoft, it's about admitting that customers don't want to run Vista until it's really, really ready.

And I understand that Windows users are reluctant to relearn the programs such as Office that they've been using for years. I tried out a Vista-equipped PC at the Dell kiosk the other day, and I couldn't even figure out how to save a Word document. I'm sure it's not that hard, but who wants to relearn how to use something as old and moldy as MS Word?

Microsoft doesn't want you to think this way, but for the majority of us -- at least those of us who don't want to tinker, fiddle and break stuff, it's not usually a good idea to do a major upgrade of the operating system on an older computer.

My rule: Never upgrade Windows to a wholly new version unless things are broken in your current Windows environment and you know that the new version will fix them.

Good examples: Windows 98 had better networking than Windows 95 -- and way, way better USB support. Windows 2000 made both networking and peripheral support even better and gave the OS a stability it didn't previously have. I'm not quite sure what Windows XP added to the mix, but it has become one of Microsoft's longest-lasting OSes, according to my hazy memory.

Basically, keep the OS that brung you ... until it stops working.

Warning: If your new PC comes with Windows Vista Home Basic instead of Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business, your new PC is underpowered for the Vista experience, and you'd be better off with XP. Remember, the word "Basic" means "hobbled."

At least Dell acknowledges this (and the general Vista skittishness) by offering XP on many systems. In fact, a recent national newspaper ad exclusively featured XP-equipped systems.