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Windows Vista is now on the shelves of retail stores, Microsoft’s marketing machine is functioning at maximum capacity and Bill Gates seems determined to go around the world with Windows Vista in his arms. At a first glance, a perfect release. Something is missing though, to make it perfect: enthusiasm.

Ok, Windows Vista is not PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii to lead fans into hysterics at its launch, but statistics unanimously accepted indicate that 90 per cent of PC users have a Windows operating system.

What then? Why aren’t there endless queues? Why aren’t there floods of news about how Windows Vista stocks are running out of copies while people are subscribing to waiting lists in order to get an Ultimate or Home Edition?

This is Windows Vista we are talking about, an OS you will have to get used to over the following years because Windows XP’s life is running short. Unless you decide to migrate to Linux or Mac in the meantime.

I admit it is difficult to become enthusiastic over a product that you have been waiting for these past five years, that Microsoft has presented to consumers inside out and that has been talked about in the press almost as much (if not even more) as the Brangelina couple.

And yet? Where are the fans? I for one think the fans are confused. First of all, with all the effort Microsoft and its partners have put into this, the portrait of the perfect PC to run Windows Vista is far from being clearly sketched out for all to see.

1 GB of RAM and 256 MB video memory at least, says Microsoft. 2 GB of RAM, (even 4 if you can afford it), a hard disc as big as possible and a video card as advanced as possible, say those who have already traveled in the world of Windows Vista.

Lost in this controversy, the common user, the person that doesn’t check the latest technology news on a daily basis, is not exactly sure what to ask for at the IT store.

At least if this was all. But unlike Windows XP, where the Home and Professional editions stated from the very start the line between those wishing business and those looking for fun, this time around Microsoft has brought Windows Vista Business and four other editions for consumers. Couldn’t be clearer, strategy makers at Redmond probably said when they approved this marketing maneuver.

A user now has to choose between Windows Home Basic, Home Premium or Ultimate. So after spending several days in search for the ideal computer, the consumer must start all over again and investigate which Windows version is best for his/her personal use.

This without any kind of guarantee that there will be Windows Vista drivers for any component, that all programs running on XP will function on the new OS.

After this difficult migration what does Windows Vista offer that is new? One eye-catching element is the new graphical interface, dubbed Aero. It is remarkable first for its semi- transparent windows. Transparent windows are also available in Apple's Mac OS X and with various Linux versions.

Microsoft went one step further, however, with its Flip 3D function. This positions all opened windows one behind another, slightly offset. Switching between the individual windows is somewhat easier than with XP, because the windows can be paged through using the scroll wheel, for example.

The desktop search is certain to be a major convenience. It finds objects not just based on folder or file names, but based on the contents of a document itself. The Sidebar is intended to provide a quick overview. It is a collection of little programs that - presuming an internet connection is available - retrieve specific information in real time. That can be weather reports, stock quotes or sports scores, for example. These programs, known as widgets, are available for free download from Microsoft. Vista comes with Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11 and the anti spyware software Windows Defender.