A friend suggested I just buy one of the cheap EBay CD's and try and manage with that.

I looked on EBay, and seems you can get a (CD?) for $25 that covers a dozen Merc models. I was skeptical, but then read (in bold caps) WILL NOT WORK IN VISTA.

Listen, I hate microsoft as much as the next guy, but what gives here?

Firefox: that's the browser we tried on our last perpetually buggy XP computers (to help resist malware....not). Upgraded to the "more bugs than a tropical isle" Vista; after we donated the XP boxes.

Why would the browser type matter, assuming the data is on a disc (DVD)?

I'm glad to pay the $150, assuming this MB DVD is actually a factory technical service manual which covers the entire car in detail. Does it?

Glad to load my Vista box with firefox if thats what it takes, as long as it ain't buggy.

Whatever happened to real factory service manual books?

TIA