I personally do not run Vista, but I do have several customers that do, so I am always on the lookout for articles and tips that can increase the performance.
The following download is from Microsoft, and if you are new to computers and Vista, this is a good place to start.
This is a .docx file, so if you are using pre-Office 2007, you are going to need the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack".
Good luck, and if you need more help, give us a call!
- Andrew