On Januari 30, 2007, after six years of development, Microsoft released its latest Operating System: Windows Vista. Soon, PC manufacturers started shipping Vista exclusively with their new computers, which where touted to be 'Vista Compatible'. That was when the proverbial Shit Hit The Fan.

Many PC's turned out not to be so Vista Compatible after all. Complaints started to come in about Vista being extremely slow, even on newly bought hardware. Old hardware didn't work under Vista anymore. Hardware which had been standard for years ceased functioning. Network connections suddenly died.

Normally, when one buys a product and isn't satisfied with it, either because it doesn't work as advertised, is faulty or simply isn't what you expected of it, you can return it. This isn't the case with so called OEM software; software which comes with your PC when you buy it. Unless you're willing to jump through several hoops, you're stuck with Vista; a product you payed anywhere between €60,- to €100,- for, and which is slower, buggier, requires more memory, is less secure, restricts what you can do with it and doesn't even contain any useful new features!

That's why both consumer rights organisations and we recommend the following: