5 ways to customize Windows Vista

ComputerWorld includes an interesting and practical article for new Windows
Vista users on how to customize the operating system to make it feel more your
own. 

The techniques included are

Add gadgets to Windows Sidebar
Add anti-virus software
Change file and folder defaults
Speed things up with ReadyBoost
Customize the desktop

I think this kind of information is really important in helping people get over
the hump with Windows Vista. A lot of what appears initially after a new release
is a highlight on what the product can do under optimum conditions, but these
are normal everyday types of issues that new users can try to really see how
Windows Vista is different.

For some reason on 2 of my computers, when I enable speed boost, the system
boots really slow, I remove the usb stick with speed boost and in an instant she
speeds up.

Me, too.

I pay a boot-time penalty for a welcome performance increase later.

I don't find this particularly mysterious, but it can become somewhat annoying
in one respect.

Live OneCare sometimes does not initialize correctly, seemingly because my IC
takes its time loading. My hunch is that load order is the trick. Once I confirm
this, I'll post back.

Waggler, the author of your article, Peter Gralla, has an O'Reilly book, Windows
Vista in a Nutshell, which I've found helpful. Ogden2k was looking for a cmd
reference, and Gralla has a brief section on new, Vista-specific commands.

Thats an interesting article, thanks for sharing.  

I haven't tried Readyboost yet, but hopefully I will get around to it soon. 
When I was testing Vista I really couldn't stand the Sidebar, but I have grown
to like it actually.  Maybe it's because I was using a regular monitor and it
took up too much real estate.  Now with a widescreen it fits in real nice.

I have been using Windowblinds 5.5 to change the visual style around from Aero. 
It's working well and I can't wait until it gets released!