[color=blue]
> I'm 52 and didn't think that learning Vista was much of >a challenge.[/color]

For some people learning Vista is even a pleasure. Especially for those,
loving computers per se. People differ. 15 years ago I also was hungry for
learning new belles and whistles. But now i have better ways spending time.
I also believe that MS behave as they do partly because there people
thinking like you who are happy to swallow every crap MS sells them.

[color=blue]
> Are there updated versions of the software available
> that are Vista compatible?[/color]
there are for some and there is not for the others.
But why should I spend my time and money for searching, buying and
installing these new versions?

Now that I do not demand MS make their VISTA to be compatible with other MS
software. I only want the OS I use, to be available. It is made unavailable
intentionally, for commercial reason only

[color=blue]
>If not, maybe you could sell the Vista machine and
> use the money to buy a one year old laptop with XP >already on it. There[/color]
must[color=blue]
> be thousands of those available that are being traded in for new machines[/color]
with Vista.
Beautiful advice. I wish I thought of is myself ;-)