I have been using Windows Vista since about 18 months and I am very satisfied with my experience with Windows Vista. I love open source softwares and Linux operating system but for my laptop I had no choice but to use windows based OS as I have to use laptop at my office where all other PCs have windows based products.
Its most secure, easiest and fast windows that I have ever experienced. I have core 2 duo processor(1.66 GHz, 667 MHz FSB) , 2GB RAM (2 X 1GB) and my windows vista Home Premium Edition operates quiet fast. One thing that I like most about this software is that whatever file I need I can get it in leass that 20 sec. Just press windows Key + E, Select drive and type the few alphabets of the file name and it is infront of you!!!!!
I must tell one thing- One reason why my Vista works so fast may be that I am using almost 90% softwares which are high quality portable opensource alternatives to the costly commercial softwares which requires installation. For example I am using Portable 7zip, Portable Open Office, Portable Google Chrome, Portable PDF-xchange viewer and many other portable softwares. So the only installed programs in my laptop are AVG free edition, MS Office 2007, Nokia PC Suit, Yahoo Messenger and Google Earth. For all other functions I am using portable freewares. Due to this my Vista works quiet fast.
Following are the things I like most about this product-Fast Search Ability, Side Bar, Secure, less prone to virus and malwares compared to previous editions, Sleep Mode- I never have to shutdown laptop!!!!