I would not recommend going to Windows Vista. There are a lot of issues with this operating system. That is why Miscrosoft is coming out with Windows 7.
Windows 7 Release Candidate is available on Microsoft.com to download as long as your copy of XP that is genuine. I have installed this on a couple PC's and it looks very promising. Hope this helps :O).
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.