Demand for high-tech equipment appears to have picked up early this year after leveling off in the final quarter of 2006. Demand for computers, which was likely boosted by the introduction of the Windows Vista operating system, seems to be advancing at a healthy pace.

[B]usiness fixed investment posted a slight decline in the fourth quarter. I suspect that the decline was nothing more than normal variation, perhaps a consequence in part of firms waiting for release of the new Vista operating system from Microsoft.

Many suggested, however, that business purchases of high-tech goods were off, in part, as a result of the delay of the new Microsoft operating system.