PUBLICATION CENTER

Microsoft is closing in on its release date for its new Windows version, Vista. There has been much speculation about the impact of the new OS, and when, exactly, it will actually deliver as its delivery dates have been repeatedly postponed.

Word on the street (or virtual street, as the case may be) is a Nov. 30 release for businesses that have an operating agreement, and Jan. 30 for everyone else. Search the Web and you're sure to find the usual round of pre-release negativity, as well as postings from true believers.

However it shakes out, the best advice for anyone ready to upgrade is… Wait. If anything has been learned from past OS updates, whether Windows, Mac, or any other platform, it's this simple axiom.

For wide-format printing companies this is especially important since waiting allows printer and software manufacturers to fix any problems associated with the switch. Rest assured, engineers and developers are busily working out the kinks right now. However, they cannot possibly fix everything that users will run into as Vista rolls out.

So, wait, and consult with your vendors before, during, and after any installation of a new OS. No one likes surprises when they have a color-critical job that prints off-target due to an unseen glitch in the operating system.