Why would people think to use a beta-operating system for
compatability?
In this case you are not completely crazy, but the
compatability is not the issue with a beta or "RC" release.
Most things do work (like the multi-gigabyte "Lord of the Rings"
games)
Multi-booting is not that complicated or difficult
One problem is that I used to be able to use the BIOS
to boot up on different devices but this Vista does mess with
other system's boot space.... also it seems to force using
"C:\windows" which I almost never do if I can help it.
Compatability is about 85%.
IA 64 will be the major reason to switch, as soon as a processor
comes out that supports it. X64 or X86 or whatever can address
more than 4 gigabytes but this IS NOT IA64 which defines over 200
new registers that can be operated on by various units.
If you are in Vista go to run DXDiag and then to the last tab to
the "sysinfo" program and see how many hardware IRQs you have,
another reason to upgrade from NT (wish 95 was better too)...
again support for the new hardware that's come out since about 1995
will be the reason to upgrade, and the compatablilty should be easy
to guarantee for Microsoft programmers.... assuming the software
runs properly in a "sandboxed" environment.
What you can get to run and what I can make run are two different
things, right now.
using WINE or some other Windows "wrapper" or re-mapper
you can even run Windows in Unix-Xwindows (linux) though
the speed is less (more for background or ISP-type servers,
half or so for programs)