A new note on Vista.

PC Magazine Reports that one of the ways you can get Vista is to download (for a purchase price fee) the whole thing from Microsoft or from any of several "Microsoft Partners," (one of whom is Circuit City).

Also reported is that if there are any problems with the installation, you will be instructed to "insert your Vista Installation DVD," which, in the case of a download you will not have.

At present, neither Microsoft nor the "Microsoft Partners" have made any arrangements to provide you with a DVD, so if you encounter any problems during installation you're in the condition familiarly known as

            S. O. L.

Advice, at least until Mickey figures out a better way is:

DO NOT BUY THE DOWNLOAD VERSION TO UPGRADE TO VISTA!

DO NOT BUY THE DOWNLOAD VERSION TO UPGRADE TO VISTA!

DO NOT BUY THE DOWNLOAD VERSION TO UPGRADE TO VISTA!

DO NOT BUY THE DOWNLOAD VERSION TO UPGRADE TO VISTA!

DO NOT BUY THE DOWNLOAD VERSION TO UPGRADE TO VISTA!

Just in case anyone has a connection that makes it feasible to download a monster that size...

John