Even if you aren't tech-savvy, it's hard to escape the cloud of bad press that hangs over Microsoft Windows Vista. People say it's unstable, and keeps crashing. They say that it keeps asking you if you're really sure that you want to do anything. They even say that it doesn't work with their printers, games, or business software.

But you've got to switch sooner or later, right? When Microsoft makes a new version of Windows, doesn't everyone have to use it eventually? Not quite. Here are three ways to keep on computing without switching to Windows Vista. All three of them are bundled with new computers, but one of them you can put on your existing machine, in order to use it right now. Which one? Stay tuned!

Microsoft Windows XP

For many people, the last version of Windows "just worked." And if something's still working for you, then why replace it? Keep using your Windows XP computer until something breaks down, or you otherwise need to get rid of it. Microsoft has already said that they will continue to support Windows XP with security updates until 2014, so it's not like it's going to go stale any time soon. Many of the new enhancements to Windows Vista are available for Windows XP anyway, most of them for free. Paul Thurott's SuperSite for Windows lists a number of Windows XP alternatives to Windows Vista features, and an article on Computerworld has even more suggestions.

If you desperately need a new PC, but don't want one that has Windows Vista installed, don't fret. As of 2008, many computer manufacturers are still selling PCs with Windows XP. And often, their business-class systems are sold with Windows Vista installed, but with "downgrade rights" to switch back to Windows XP. Try seeing what systems the manufacturers are selling on the business sections of their websites ... these computers will probably be more reliable and have less useless "garbageware" on them, anyway. It's possible that your local computer stores will have Windows XP PCs there, too, as custom PC builders are allowed to sell Windows XP until February of 2009.

A known problem with Windows XP is that it tends to become slow and sluggish, after it's been left on your computer for a long time. And sometimes it becomes infected with spyware that's impossible to dislodge. You can get around this, however, by reinstalling Windows XP, something that many people do at least once a year. To reinstall Windows XP, follow these instructions on the PC World website. Just make sure to backup all your personal data first, by copying it to a flash drive or USB hard drive or by burning it to CD. Otherwise, you will lose it when you reinstall Windows.

Mac OS X Leopard

People are raving about "Leopard," the latest version of the Mac Operating System that comes with all new Macs for free. It's reputed to be easy to use, and to make common computing tasks simple and intuitive. If you're not sure what all the fuss is about, you can visit http://www.apple.com/macosx/ to watch a video tour, or visit your nearest Apple Store to try Leopard out in person.

Leopard comes with iTunes and the iLife software suite, programs which let you edit home movies, keep track of your music and digital photo libraries, and even create your own DVDs (if your new Mac comes with a DVD burner). It can't run Windows programs, however, unless you buy an actual copy of Windows to put on your Mac. And that means being stuck with Windows Vista anyway, unless you can find a copy of Windows XP for sale - and not an "Upgrade" copy either, as those can only be installed over an earlier version of Windows. No, you can't use the Windows XP disc that came with your old PC; Microsoft uses "Product Activation" technology to make sure that you can only run it on the PC you bought it with. It's completely unfair, but what can you do?

For starters, you can look into some of the software available for Macs. A lot of it's supposed to be pretty good, and that's if you even need anything beyond Leopard, iTunes and iLife. There are also Mac versions of a ton of PC games, and sometimes (like in World of Warcraft's case) you can even use the same discs that you used to install the game on your PC. Microsoft Office is available for the Mac, although you may find that Apple's iWork or the free NeoOffice suit your needs better. Finally, CodeWeavers makes a program called Crossover, which lets you run many Windows programs on your new Mac without actually having Windows installed. Check their compatibility list to see if the program you can't live without is supported by Crossover; otherwise, see if there's an actual Mac version of that program.

Ubuntu

Maybe you've heard of Linux, the "Open Source" operating system that people are talking about. It has shiny visual effects, it's all but immune to spyware and viruses, and it's powering Tivos and web servers everywhere.

Ubuntu calls itself "Linux for Human Beings," and they go out of their way to make it as easy as possible to use. They'll even mail you a free CD if you don't want to download it from their website. Once you get it in the mail, you can try it straight from the CD without putting anything on your computer. And if you decide that you want to keep it, you can either set aside permanent space for it (recommended) or install it just like a Windows program, complete with the option to uninstall. Either way, whenever your PC boots up you'll be able to choose either Ubuntu or Windows, whichever you need at the time.

A free version of Crossover called Wine exists for Ubuntu (and other versions of Linux), that lets you run many Windows programs without having to boot into Windows. But you may find that you don't need it, as Ubuntu includes a feature that lets you install thousands of programs for free, from games and educational software to full-featured Microsoft Office-compatible office suites. It even automatically updates them for you, so that you don't have to download and install patches.

Not all PC hardware, software and accessories are compatible with Ubuntu, and you may find that you need to tweak something in order to get it to work. A good rule of thumb is to use your favorite search engine to look for "(your hardware's make and model here) +Linux," to see what other people's experiences have been, or to search for your hardware using the search feature on http://www.ubuntuforums.org. The Ubuntu Forums are sort of like a free community support group, where Ubuntu users can help each other out. Just remember, the people on the Ubuntu forums are other users like you, and they're not being paid to listen to people who are being rude. A little politeness will go a long way.

The Upshot

Many large corporations are refusing to deploy Windows Vista on their systems - not now, and not ever - because they have decided that it is not right for them. You can make that choice, too, if you know what your options are. Don't buy something you don't need, especially when it doesn't even work better than something you already have or can get for free.

Good luck!

*Contributed by Jared Spurbeck, on Associated Content , Originally published Aug 13, 2008