[Will]

Application-level software usually will not cause reboots of a computer as the result of a bug, simply because the code is too high level. Issues with drivers are far more likely as a software cause to unwanted reboots, and most likely is hardware heat issues. Yet it is strange that it would only occur for SEV.

AT may be on to something with the DirectX version. I remember there were some issues with the demo if the DirectX installation was not the absolute latest available. So that may be the root cause. I don't know if having DX9 will cause windows update to try to install DX9.0c (latest, last I heard), but give that a try. It should also have updated drivers if hardware manufacturers submit them to Microsoft.

As for Vista, I wouldn't bother getting it at launch. The major features that would have made it worth getting aren't really there anymore, and those features were mainly directed at businesses, not consumers. The only thing Vista really offers to a home user is a new graphics-intensive UI. Everything else you basically already get in Media Center Edition XP. For businesses, they don't get the new file system, they have anti-virus vendors locked out. So the new machines won't be protected under the AV solution already implemented within a company's Windows machines, meaning upgrading to Vista will probably entail: new OS, new hardware, new Office suite, redeploy anti-virus/maintain two seperate AV suites.

Anyway, I see no need to upgrade to Vista for either home or for business users. The sales of Vista for the first few months will most likely be dominated by OEM computer makers selling copies with new computers, and very few individuals personally "upgrading".