There is no need to go in to extreme detail about all this but if you read my previous blog you'll know that the man who employs me in my non-PCPP hours demanded I make the move to Vista as he was doing the same. While I mentioned my reservations from a gamer's perspective I did not mention to you that I also cautioned my boss quite strongly against moving to Vista so early in its lifespan. "Wait," I warned, "Let a couple of service packs come out first, give software designers time to update the tools we use, wait until all driver issues are resolved." However the man was resolute and, to bastardise the words of Banjo Patterson, he turned away the old OS that served him many days.

Now the boss man didn't go the cautious route I took and basically did a 'from scratch' installation. He seemed happy with it until he rang me explaining he needed the installation CD back (No dodgy piracy here folks, we have a multiple license copy). Turns out the tax department had told him to install a new Java runtime for one of their software applications which promptly borked his Vista installation.

Several days later and the boss is still having issues. Now he wants to go back to XP. He also wants me to go back too (in terms of which OS I'm using during my work day).

But here is the problem. I quite like Vista for my work day operations now I've been forced to use it. Sure it is still in its early days but for a guy who doesn't know his DRM from his UAC (Hey! I write about games alright!) it has made for a pleasant change from the drudgery caused from a severe case of over-familiarity with Windows XP.

First off I like gadgets. Sure OS X has had widgets for ages but I don't have a Mac so the point is moot. Vista has them and I like them. I speak with contacts in New Zealand quite a lot and now I can just look at my desktop to know what time it is there, no mental number juggling required.

Furthermore the 3D windows flip is an absolute godsend for people like me who have a billion windows open at once with many windows being from the same program. Seeing at a glance which window contains the work I need to focus on makes life so much easier.

Hell, I even dig the visual design of Aero. It is sexy with a capital SEX. I can be something of a visual whore from time to time and the Aero theme caters to this in a most unashamed way.

So why don't I still use Vista? Well because for all the joys dual booting brings it still requires a computer restart. If my day to day work isn't forcing me to use Vista anymore and I would always be returning to XP for the most stable game performance it is just easier to sit on my arse and keep belting away at boring old XP.

So while I can smile smugly at my boss next time we meet face to face and discuss the folly of not listening to my advice to hold off on Vista there is a part of me inside that will be weeping silently. My dalliance with the beautiful yet fickle OS has made me hunger for more but I'm just far too lazy to do anything about it.