With dual/quad core systems and plenty of ddr3 ++ ram you will have no trouble with vista, believe me.
I don't believe you, because you're 100% wrong.
When I do ctrl-alt-del in XP, I get the Windows task manager immediately.
In Vista, I have to do ctrl-alt-del, then computer 'shuts its eyes' for 2 seconds, a menu comes up, and then I have to click on 'Start task manager'.
Even formerly simple tasks like navigating between file folders requires extra mouse-clicks in Vista.
Which begs the question: Why would anyone design a 'new' product that's worse - FAR worse - than the old product?
Vista is responsible for the re-emergence of Apple in the past year...which is great for the American consumer.