Hey Bobbi,
I tell you what, you send me a private email with an address that will accept mail to/for you and I will burn and test 5 Linux distro's
LinuxMint
SimplyMepis7.0
PCLinuxOS
ZenWalk
VectorLinux
and maybe one or two others too, Sabayon and DreamLinux or ???
and mail the CDs to whatever address you desire. Or pick out one of the CD distributors somewhere and talk to them and tell them that somebody will buy you 5 Linux distros but you don't want them to have your address and just tell me which vendor you chose and I'll see to it that they are sent to you for me.
And I'll email you 40 or 50 forum/help/WIKI sites that will help to insure your success too.....


Dang...Where to start....

>>> "To pay a premium for a computer that does not support programs intended for machines with an O/S by MS makes no sense. It's a rip-off." <<<
No, it is not a "rip off"!(well it is, but not for the reasons you claim as true)!
The "premium" you paid for was
A) not for a computer per se, other than the bloated hardware requirements that the OS of your choice required anyway
B) was for the Operating System itself, and that's all
C) the manufacturer and configuration of the hardware is completely separate and distinct from OperatingSystem you choose to purchase and click "I Agree" to.
D) NOT to "support programs intended for machines with >>>>an<<<< O/S by MS makes" but rather to "support programs intended for machines with" >>>>"MSVista"<<<< specifically. There is a big difference and too many people confuse the issues.

>>> "I'd like to see it that when "allegedly" newer, better, improved platforms are forced on everyone that they must also function with "backward" compatability - or so that software continues to function (as designed)." <<<
Nothing was forced on anybody. You voluntarily chose to purchase or use a system that had MSVista preinstalled. The minute you clicked on "I Agree" you completed your voluntary acceptance of the MS EULA terms and conditions. Whether you read it or not doesn't matter at all. You made a clear and legally binding choice.
You want "backwards compatability"? A 1952 Chevy can be made to run on 2007 pointless ignition and fuel injection systems, but it takes a lot of work, and money too. And, everything else will continue to function "as designed" once you get all the kinks ironed out.

>>> "This is the track, however, I was asking about . All the millions of people who have had no probs. whatsoever running software applications purchased - until, getting a new 'puter and the only option offered is: VISTA." <<<
Whenever anyone purchases any software from anyone, it is only professed to work on the Operating System(s) that are listed as compatible. Not an undetermined and as of now yet to be designed and engineered system that comes down the pike at some as of yet to be determined date. You had the right to and could have refused to click on "I Agree" and demanded your Operating System costs be refunded. What the "millions" purchased was software designed specifically to run on one system only, as above, getting/installing anything else was a personal choice, and who was it clicked "I Agree" anyway.....
As for options, At least 6 BSD variants, several hundred Linux variants, Solaris variants and there are quite a few others too. The CHOICE to buy a PC preloaded with MSVista and to then click on the "I Agree" was 100% the purchasers!


>>> "I upgraded my PC as the laptop was unreliable, and chose Vista Premium. It is very good, with new features and helpful things." <<<
Very good stuff huh? That would explain why: "I specified that I wanted to be able to download analogue video from my camera. So they put in a video card."
I have no idea why a new modern PC with 2Gb RAM would need a video card for such a simple process unless it was running MSVista. A decent motherboard even with shared memory for video is more than sufficient for anything non graphics intensive, which "to be able to download analogue video from my camera" is certainly not. All the modern chipsets and boards are more than sufficient for such demands.
"So I had to take the PC back to get a Vista certified sound card installed (the one they had put in wasn't certified-they just assumed it was OK as no-one else had complained). And then the audio pickup was fine."
I wouldn't consider a sound card as a requirement for any modern system period, unless you are a serious audiophile. It just plain isn't necessary, onboard sound is very good now-a-days, and has been for a while now.....

And, all y'all need to be aware that:
>>> "In time, I suspect, MS will have all this "stuff" ironed-out. For now, however, if someone has a computer that is working perfectly fine with XP, my suggestion is: don't install VISTA at this time. Let MS get the "kinks" worked out first." <<<
Oh yeah, now we're really off to dreamland. MS has already announced a permanent fix for all MSVista issues, sometime in late 2009 you will be expected to shell out another +$200 for MSWindows7.......pretty good fix, eh?

Now the biggie:
>>> "There is, in actuality, no option but to run the programs in VISTA mode, that is, if the programs will even install." <<<
Yes there is..... W.I.N.E. (a Linux "MSWin compatibility "layer") can and will run most any MSWinXP software without issue, and what issues there are, are fewer every day.
And there is Cedega as well, and more if you look around too.
Why one of the online PCmags last week even claimed that their testing shows that games written for MSWin systems actually perform better running on W.I.N.E. under Linux than the same games do under MSWin/Vista.....
Oh yeah, W.I.N.E. is free too, and MS is not happy about Linux users running MSWin stuff without issues and without having to pay for MSWin/Vista. Oh well..........

Caveat Emptor
From Wex, everyone's resource for law learning:
Latin for "Let the buyer beware." The idea that buyers take responsibility for the condition of the items they purchase and should examine them before purchase. This is especially true for items that are not covered under a strict warranty.
See, e.g. SEC v. Zandford, 535 U.S. 813 (2002).