To most end users, who know little about the new operating system, Vista can look like nothing more than a few visual improvements. You get the new Sidebar, the transparent windows and an improved Start Menu. The thing is, most users do not realise that there are a host of other improvements under the hood, including beefed up security, updated kernel, more advanced networking and more.

However, there is the problem of software support. If you’ve already upgraded to Vista, you’ll realise that there are a number of apps that simply will not work, without an upgrade. When you find the upgrade is merely no more than ‘support for Vista’, you quickly feel cheated. If you’re a business and want to upgrade a number of workstations to support the latest operating system, you may find that this costs you thousands of pounds in software upgrades.

Vista Transformation Pack is a suite of add-ons and enhancements designed specifically for Windows XP to give it that Vista look-and-feel. You’ll receive some of the visual elements that you’ll see on the face of Vista, including a version of the Sidebar, Vista-type windows and a similar Start Menu. Do remember though that the Vista Transformation Pack is a collection of hacks and add-ons, so you may find a few incompatibility issues with installed software.