Vista, XP x64 Pro or XP Pro... that is the question.

hi!

I'm a web and graphic deisgner who's been "getting by" with XP Home now for
a long time but as I already have a 64-bit laptop, I'm thinking I made the
leap to something more powerful... especially as I've just set up a server
with domain control that XP Home can't log-in to!

Thing is, I'm wondering what to go for... get an OEM XP x64 Pro, wait for
Vista x64 (when is vista due for general release by the way? and why is it
taking so long for XP x64 Pro to go retail?) or just upgrade to XP Pro.

If someone could let me know the advantages.disadvantages, costs, wait
times, reliability etc. I'd be very grateful. Thanks

My laptop is:

Compaq R3479ea
AMD Athlon 64 3400+ 2.2Ghz Processor
80GB HDD
512Mb Ram (soon to be 1GB)
NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go 64M

 

My personal views are (and much in the same situation as you describe in
gist if not by specifics)

Q: 64 bit OS
A: Vista

What development is there on the cards for XP 64 bit drivers if Vista 64
bit should command attention of the public?

Q: application software
A: I think this will be a natural consequence after Vista 64 bit becomes
retailable

Q: why 64 bit OS
A: it has to happen sooner or later and my guess is that it will take 64
bit OSs into an even faster evolutionary cycle as external devices
become more complex (in function if not in user interface)

Q: what about the future
A: interesting! (I'm glad you asked that question )
If the next Mac OS lives up to some of the rumours on an intel platform
it looks as if it will become a bit of a major challenge and appealing
to computer savvy people

Q: what next
A: possibly a stronger separation of "home" users and "savvy" users
where the discriminant is: I don't mind getting in there and sorting it out?

 

Addendum:

I think it is one reason why I'd rather "hire" an OS than "buy" an OS.

For example I'd rather the OS informed me something along the lines of:
Your usage patterns suggest the following components are advisable
downloads...

Rather than a finished retail product I think an OS should be
evolutionary without undue consequence (gone are the days when all one
wants is a stable platform for an office suite?)

 

There's just one little problem with that. You can't start a computer
without an OS. So what is the first OS you hire?

 

A good question!

I think the days of a one-size fits all OS are gone, dead, expired and
zilched.

User patterns require different ranges of functionality and packing 100%
of that into a DVD seems a waste of time (to me).

The OS has to be operationable or it isn't an OS?