I did it!! Just like millions of folks worldwide today, January 30th, day of the grand individual rollout, I installed Windows Vista all by myself. Well... more or less. What I did do by myself was stick the packaging on a shelf in my office between 2 DVDs.

It's not as if I hadn't seen Vista before. For months I have been playing with the beta versions, one after the other. I admit it; all the beta versions I toyed with were on my Mac Book Pro. The first time I did this I was flabbergasted. I literally shouted out 'wow"; it was fresh, graphically stunning and it was on my Mac. Microsoft was right: 'the 'Wow" start(ed) now! I couldn't wait to have a go at the real thing on my P.C. but I wanted the true-blue experience; I needed the official release.

Okay, granted there were some bugs in the betas; but everybody knows that there are always kinks to iron out in a new operating system and I had confidence in Vista - after all its initial versions showed potential. I almost certainly should note here that I am used to betas since I am an Apple Developer Connection Member, therefore I have also played with Leopard.

From our first encounter Vista was so seductive. It wasn't that the Operating System (OS) was that much of a revelation or eye-opener. No, rather its very familiarity was what I found so attractive. It so closely resembles Mac OS X that some would use the expression 'Rip off', not that I would ever put that in writing or anything.

Vista sells itself as the next great evolution for Microsoft. No more archaic Windows XP. No more sluggish, counter-intuitive and chunky User Interface... So promising that I just had to install it today, the first day of its official release on my tablet P.C. So promising that I braved the arctic streets of New York to search out CompUSA and purchase Windows Vista. I went to a computerdom paradise, sneezed a path through their dusty store to the Vista display. Already I felt bewildered; what a change from the clean and pure allure of Apple Store Fifth Avenue. CompUSA was a shock to my system; the shelves were in disarray, nothing was appealingly displayed, the sales people were just as befuddled as I. Spoiled by knowledgeable and responsive Apple team members I hunted down a CompUSA sales person to solicit his advice as to which version of Vista I should buy. His retort was to "read the box as he disappeared behind a 'staff only' door.

I will plead guilty to knowing exactly which version of Vista I desired but if I had been a regular Joe Schmo walking in off the streets the sales person would have sent me home.

Nonetheless I persevered. I hunted down my box of Vista Home Premium amid the 4 choices offered (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate). I didn't really covet Home Premium but Home Basic offered nothing inspiring. At the register I paid my $159.00 plus tax and blissfully made my way back to the office to start my Vista journey.

Regrettably that was the best part of my experience; those 10 minutes between purchase and installation.

Opening the box, I grinned at the cool packaging even if it is non-ecological. I pulled my tablet PC closer and inserted the CD-ROM. That was my last smile of the evening until hours later when I pondered installing Windows Vista in its box between two DVDs on a shelf in my office.

I said at the opening of this editorial that I installed Windows Vista all by myself. Almost. In fact along the way I needed the help of two people: someone from my office IT team, someone from Toshiba as well as frequent Internet searching. Vista is not simple. Vista is not 'plug and play'. Vista requires a Ph.D. at the least.

When Vista told me I had to remove this and that and then asked if I had done a back-up because all my information would be erased, that I would lose my Windows XP key and goodness knows what else... I gave up and called for assistance. I couldn't face erasing all my files; I just couldn't bring myself to push the button. My IT person snickered when I called him for help. "Do a back-up, he said. 'No, no. We're doing this like everybody else will; we're pretending we only have one computer available.' From there the adventure became steadily more nerve-wracking. All of a sudden the computer announced that I did not have a RAID driver. We installed it, we dis installed it, we compressed it, we saved it on a USB key but each time Vista told us it was missing. After an hour of trying every trick we could think of to help Vista find the driver we called for more help. Toshiba customer support expressed their confusion. The RAID driver could not be missing. We tried several tests during a very long phone conversation before someone thought of checking if there was a Windows XP specified RAID driver. An hour later everything was settled and we were on to the next issue - by now I was thinking in terms of issues regarding Vista. My head was splitting, Vista was working on its own to complete the installation and all I required was some aspirin. Vista is great in theory but in practice it is something else entirely.

My main gripes? It is expensive; especially when you factor in the change in user terms of service (such as the change in licensing and installation permissions). It so closely resembles the current Mac OS X I could forget myself and start using Mac shortcuts. Also it took too long and was too complicated; even more so now that I apprehend having to reinstall all my software, not to mention my files. My feedback to Microsoft will contain one word: Complicated. From the pricing levels (full or upgrade? Which of the four versions? How many licenses?) to the installation Microsoft has given the appearance of offering users choices; in fact they have mystified them. Seriously Microsoft: keep it simple

Bill Gates is on a worldwide tour this week promoting the launch of Vista. He knows it will sell; but he also knows that it will probably sell by default. Also it has been 5 years and over 15 million lines of code since the last full OS build from Microsoft. Watching him last night on television he played the role of the unassuming visionary nerd effortlessly. I really like him even if I don't envy his schedule. Yesterday New York, then London, Paris... Vista is out, Vista will sell… NO! Vista must sell. Microsoft's entire business model is based on their operating system and so unless Vista succeeds Microsoft is in for some very rough times. From what I have experienced, it isn't the 'Wow" that has started but a chorus of 'Ow"s from customer's pockets and psyche.

Vista disappoints. It is nothing new - at least not for Mac users. For PC only users it is colossal; but it is nothing new in the wild world of computing. Internet Explorer 7 is great but already there are reports of bugs. Microsoft fixed a lot of known bugs but in doing so seems to have produced a whole host of other problems and ignored basic details such as complying completely with standard CSS, which all other browsers fully recognize.

Vista also disappoints because a whole lot of P.C. users aren't going to be able to exploit it. Their computers either don't have enough memory, or their processor isn't up to speed or they will need a new video card or their peripherals won't work. When you run Vista advisor on your P.C. it will counsel you to purchase some component or other in order to enjoy the 'full Vista experience'. When you have just spent over a hundred dollars on Vista it is maddening to realize that you need to return to CompUSA or BestBuy or wherever and waste more money to be able to run Vista properly. Those who refuse to do so will no doubt start taking into consideration a switch to Mac. I know I am writing this on a Mac.... I love the Toshiba tablet and the Sony VAIO but Microsoft? Hasta la vista baby!