Microsoft owes it to its Vista customers to offer them a free upgrade to Windows 7, as Windows 7 is really just a massive Vista service patch. There are no new significant features in Windows 7. You'd think that Microsoft, which has been having one bad quarter after another, would want to be nice to its customers — but no, that's not going to happen.
So, since Microsoft won't give Windows 7 to people stuck with Vista clunkers, why doesn't a Linux vendor do it instead? Say you just send an e-mail into a Linux distributor, and they'll send you a URL to a Web site where they can download a brand-spanking new copy of a top desktop Linux for free! What a deal!
What's that? Yes, I know Linux is free, but they don't know that! If they think they're getting a bargain maybe they'll finally start giving Linux a try.
Seriously, though, I think some of the Linux vendors should consider this idea. Instead of just offering them a vanilla Linux distribution, they could put together a package that includes CodeWeavers' CrossOver Linux for Windows applications, and modify the desktop so it has a familiar Vista (say KDE 4.3) or XP (KDE 3.5.x) look.
If you'd rather not use CrossOver Linux for Windows applications, there's always Wine, Crossover's foundation. Or make a point of putting common Windows program replacements like OpenOffice for Microsoft Office and GnuCash for Quicken front and center so Vista users can easily get up to speed.
I wish there was an easy-to-use Windows-to-Linux desktop migration program, but the best of that lot, Versora Progression Desktop, has not been available since 2007, when Versora was bought out by Kaseya, an IT Managed Services Automation firm. While Kaseya promised that Versora's functionality would still be available, I couldn't find it any of Kaseya's currently shipping products — and, in any case, Kaseya's customers are businesses, not individual desktop Linux or Windows users. If there are any programmers out there who want an idea that could make a profitable little product, I think you could do well with a Windows to Linux migration tool.
Still, just throw in some basic Windows/Linux interoperability tools such as the NTFS-3G driver so Vista users could keep their existing files and directories, and I think you just find some Vista users who will be happy to become desktop Linux users. After all, since Microsoft isn't going to help them, Vista users already need all the help they can to move to a better, more reliable operating system. So, why not Linux for Vista clunkers? Think about it.
