You probably already hate me for defending Microsoft’s much-maligned operating system.

Gosh, that sounds kind of weepy, doesn't it? Don't worry, I'm not expecting you to join me in Microsoft nostalgia. It doesn't take a whole lot of us to beat the drum slowly, play the fife lowly, and play the dead march as we carry Vista along. Just enough to make sure the other guys keep watching their backs.

In the meantime, go ahead and send the hate mail. My little Vista laptop can handle it just fine. Really.