Is Windows Vista going to be the fastest-moving operating system ever? Well, not much stands in its way. Let's in fact be fare about this. Only Windows XP stands in its way. In this context, the adoption rate of Windows Vista has to be larger than that of Windows XP, and the latest operating system from Microsoft will prove to be a success. The Redmond Company is planning a Vista 20% adoption rate in just the first year. This is twice as much as XP. In fact, Microsoft wants not only to outperform XP with Vista, it wants to crush XP.

Only time will tell if Vista will succeed to outpace XP. But there are more and more supporters of Vista's forthcoming popularity. David Mitchell, the software practice leader at Ovum has forecasted that Windows Vista will find its way onto 15% of desktops in the first year. XP only managed a 12 to 14% adoption in its debut year. "That would make it the fastest-moving operating system ever," said Mitchell. On the consumer side, there has been a bit of pent-up demand. Just look at the beta adoption in the consumer space - it's very high." He added that the 2007 Office System will have a less fortunate adoption rate.

The perspective is understandable as Windows XP is the only operating system rivaling Windows Vista. Microsoft will undoubtedly kill XP in order to breathe life into Vista and it will do so by educating the consumer mentality. Vista will be marketed as the only comprehensive upgrade alternative for an operating system. XP will be pushed to the back, and - in time - it will turn obsolete and expire.