If you've been running Windows Vista before launch, you've no doubt struggled with the sometimes patchy quality of early device drivers. During the past few weeks, I've found myself frequently checking key vendors' Web sites looking for new updated drivers...but few have been coming. The vendors say that final, certified public drivers will be up on their Web sites on 30 January. This begs the question of what drivers are on all those brand-new Vista PCs that are on store shelves. After all, those machines were likely assembled and loaded up several weeks ago. Will a buyer of a new machine be forced to immediately connect to Windows Update or scour all the component suppliers' Web sites to download the "real" drivers for their brand-new system?

Although this is standard practice for many enthusiasts, most consumers would find this unacceptable. The good news is that it shouldn't be necessary. In most cases, PC manufacturers get drivers that are different from the public ones posted online at a component supplier's site. Typically, these drivers are jointly developed and are pared down for specific requirements. They also don't need as much regression testing, because they are going into a well-known, tightly controlled package. The PC on the shelf should be a fully certified and functioning Vista machine out of the box. However, there are a couple of caveats.

Once you get a new machine, you should connect to Windows Update to get security updates, even if no driver updates are required. You should also familiarize yourself with whatever facility the PC manufacturer provides for driver updates and see if they have any updates.

At least initially, using drivers directly from a component supplier's Web site might actually downgrade capabilities from the pre-installed drivers. You should stick to the PC manufacturer's Web site for the first few months for any driver updates.

The bottom line is that, with Vista, as with any new platform, early buyers of new Vista machines should expect that there will be a few rough spots to be worked through during the next few weeks, and they will need to stay connected to both Microsoft and their PC maker.