Vista warning
I’m not nearly the open-source, freedom loving zealot I used to be, but the crap that’s in Vista is astounding. Before I would advise people to buy Windows computers only if necessary for a business or other technical function, but now be ware that your own computer can turn against you.
That’s not overblown hyperbole, read some more about it here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6319845.stm
Anyway, go buy a mac, they’re better value for your money and the DRM isn’t so noxious. They actually listen to customers when there are concerns about what’s in the EULA and they update it. If you want to save some money, buy a “white-box” computer and install Ubuntu, or find one of the many that come preloaded. Other Linux’s aren’t so bad, but Ubuntu is the easiest to manage and probably the friendliest to use.