Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Vista is just about to be released, even though skeptics (myself included) don't see much value in upgrading to the new operating system for our uses, yet, anyway. What will make Windows Vista popular -- initially -- is the fact that it will come pre-installed on million of new computers this year. That fact alone will start the transition to Vista more than anything.

After five years of development, the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg says that many of the boldest plans for Microsoft's new operating system were discarded in that lengthy process (very true) and that what's left is a worthy, but largely unexciting, product. To that, I agree. I've used a few "Release Candidates" of Windows Vista and find that its uses are -- for me and all like me -- covered in WindowsXP Media Center addition. So, why upgrade?

For starters, many consumer-level machines will start shipping with Windows Vista this year. In fact, probably all the PC manufacturers will ship Vista Basic on all new PCs meant for consumer consumption. For business users, the choice to use older WindowsXP versions will of course, stay intact for now. Even though Mossberg says that Windows Vista is much prettier than previous versions of Windows -- and that Vista is the best version of Windows that Microsoft has produced -- the operating system isn't a breakthrough in ease of use.

So, Windows Vista works pretty much the same way as WindowsXP for most of us. Will you be buying it?