Windows Vista upgrade ... or new computer?

For the record, I don't want to do either.

Currently my "big" computer, which is less than a year old, runs XP Media Center Edition.

I have a new program that I "need" that will NOT properly run on XP MCE.

So, I need advice. Please.

Do I upgrade to Vista Home (or Ultimate...) and hope everything works & I can get all my patches and nothing blows up

OR

Do I go out and get a new computer and not worry about upgrading drivers, etc.?

For what it's worth, I understood 98SE pretty good (until the end, when all my 98SE machines stopped functioning to the point of becoming door stops and paperweights... but that is a post for another area). I still struggle with XP.

I currently have one known program that the version I have will NOT work on Vista but since it works on XP that will not be an issue. Eventually I'll be forced to upgrade ($) it anyway...

Any and all advice will be most appreciated.

 

Hi Steve,

SmartDesigner X3. It adds to the functionality of CorelDraw X3 and is specific to my new business "adventure ".

While CorelDraw will work, there are "missing pieces" of XP in the Media Center Edition version which cause Smart Designer not to work properly. "Tech support" says that Smart Designer now works on Vista... as of 4 days ago!

Since you asked if I can afford a new computer I'm guessing that is your recomendation, which is the way I'm leaning anyway. "Upgrade" and the little sticker on this computer that says "Windows Vista Capable" scare me.

 

You may want to check exactly which restrictions of MCE you have with your software to verify that Vista Home can support it. Does your software work with XP Professional? If so, it is probably a restriction that requires domain authentication, or some other option that only XP Pro has to offer over XP Home.
If that is the case, then you may want to obtain Vista Business / Enterprise or Ultimate.