I read a lot of Vista hate...but honestly, I don't have a problem with it at all. It's been very stable for me (Vista Ultimate). I also disagree with the "forget a laptop" rec. The biggest issue in my opinion is most PC laptop displays are low contrast and small. However I do use a laptop for travel. It really saves my luggage cart.
I certainly agree with saving some money and putting it into lenses. They won't be obsolete as quickly!