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Windows Vista Basic isn’t as attractive as Windows Vista Aero, but there are actually

advantages to using it. For starters, it does perform better than Aero, so it’s a good

bet for lower-end computers. Notebook and Tablet PC users will notice that Vista

Basic actually provides better battery life than Aero, too. So if you’re on the road and

not connected to a power source, Vista Basic is a thriftier choice if you’re trying to

maximize runtime.

On the flipside, Windows Vista Basic has a few major if non-obvious disadvantages.

Because it uses XP-era display rendering techniques, Windows Vista Basic is not as

reliable as Aero and could thus lead to system crashes and even Blue Screen crashes

because of poorly written display drivers. Aero display drivers are typically far more

reliable, and the Aero display itself is inherently superior to that offered by Basic.