Update Windows Vista took longer to arrive than hoped, and it might not have everything that was once planned, but Windows chief Jim Allchin maintains "It's a big deal."
And, more than five years after the debut of Windows XP, Vista is finally ready--at least, for businesses willing to buy large volumes of the operating system.
For those who have been tuning out all the Vista chatter for the last few months, here's a primer on the new Windows. The update has security improvements, some snazzy new graphics and new desktop-searching abilities, among other features.
So is Vista really here?
After months of issuing community preview versions, beta versions and release candidate versions, Microsoft has finally declared Vista soup.
Large businesses can start getting Vista through volume-licensing contracts as of today. However, consumers, small businesses and those looking to get new PCs with Vista pre-installed will have to wait until the mainstream launch on January 30th 2007.
What if I buy a new PC now? Will it still run Vista?
Microsoft is offering an "Express Upgrade" program that runs through early next year. It offers those who buy an XP machine now a free or discounted copy of Vista, once it starts shipping to consumers.
There's still the question of how Vista-ready the PC is. Microsoft is using two logos to help consumers get a sense of that. Some machines are billed as "Windows Vista Capable." A PC with that logo will be able to run Vista, but that sticker does not guarantee the computer will have enough graphics horsepower and other components needed to run all of the operating system's new features. Those who want to guarantee that should look for the shiny "Vista Premium Ready" logo.
So what's in this Vista thing?
Vista--which used to be called Longhorn--has evolved quite a bit since Microsoft first demonstrated an early version in 2003. The company has dropped plans to include its all-new WinFS file system. It has also changed the way it's implementing a new Web services architecture, known as Indigo, and a new graphics engine, dubbed Avalon.
Among the key features of Vista as it currently stands are: security enhancements, a new searching mechanism, lots of new laptop features, parental controls and better home networking. There will also be visual changes, thanks to Avalon, ranging from shiny translucent windows to icons that are tiny representations of a document itself.
On the business side, Microsoft said Vista will be easier for companies to deploy on multiple PCs and that it will save costs by reducing the number of times computers will have to be rebooted.
Vista includes antispyware tools, Internet Explorer 7, an update to its Web browser, as well as Windows Media Player 11. It also has Windows Calendar, a new systemwide tool designed to do for datebook information what Outlook Express does for e-mail in Windows XP.
Is that all?
No. Among the other features Microsoft has publicly confirmed are: broad IPv6 support, improved clientside caching of data stored on a server, whole-volume encryption, a revamped synchronization engine, the ability to support laptops with an auxiliary display, automatic hard drive optimization and a secure boot-up process that helps prevent someone from gaining access to your data if your PC is lost or stolen.
Will my PC run Vista?
That depends on how recently you bought it and just how much Vista you want. To get the basics, like the new search abilities and improved security, you'll need a PC with 512MB of memory, an 800MHz processor and a 20GB hard drive with at least 15GB of free space. But to see Vista in all its glory, particularly its new Aero graphics, you'll really need a relatively modern video card with around 128MB of dedicated graphics memory or, for a system with shared systems and graphics memory, you'll need 1GB of memory.
Will it come in the same editions as in the past--Home, Professional, Tablet and Media Center?
Microsoft announced in February that there will be six basic versions of Vista. On the consumer front, there will be a Vista Home Basic, which will lack Vista's advanced graphics or media features, and a Vista Home Premium, which will include such perks.
For businesses, there will be Vista Business as well as Vista Enterprise. The latter version will be available only to volume-licensing customers, and it will include extras like full-volume encryption and built-in Virtual PC software to run a second operating system as a virtual machine.
Vista Ultimate will put the best of the consumer and business features in one package. At the other end of the spectrum, a scaled-down Vista Starter edition will also be offered, though only on new PCs sold in emerging markets like India and Thailand.
How much will it cost?
Windows Vista Home Basic has a suggested price of AU$385 for the full product or AU$199 for those upgrading from a prior version of Windows. The higher-end Home Premium version is priced at AU$455 for the full version and AU$299 for those upgrading. Vista Business has a sticker price of AU$565 for the full version and AU$379 for the upgrade. The Ultimate edition carries a suggested price of AU$751 or AU$495 for the upgrade. Windows Vista Enterprise is available only to large businesses through volume licensing, with prices varying based on the number of licenses.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
carrot
17/02/2006 02:33 PM
My warning to all! Do not get he beta version it may leave your computer vulnerable. Also It may mess up your computer.
Report offensive content
MaddMoose
30/11/2006 11:16 PM
I have been using RC2 and all I've come to realise is that it is slow, a huge system hog. It is also full of a lot of bugs taking into account it is only RC2. It also requires conformation of everything to the point of you wanting to just shut it down. My advice is to just stick with XP.
Report offensive content
Rodney Mayhew
03/12/2006 08:53 PM
Hi all I was one of the Official Microsoft Windows Vista Beta Testers and have just received Vista Ultimate RTM and it kicks along nicely and very smooth. The only things i had to install were my sound drivers, the rest was automatic. Im also using Office Beta 2 Tech Refresh which functions perfectly and will buy the Office upgrade when released. UAC can be permanently turned off so your not constantly questioned about certain tasks, but UAC is handy for beginners as it makes them read and confirm what they are doing. WMP 11 has been tweaked and runs a lot faster as well as WMP, and Windows Media Centre as well. My web connection also runs quicker via ethernet to my modem and IE7 brings up web pages quicker than IE6. Albeit, im running Vista Ultimate on the following system: Intel Pentium D 3.2GHz Socket 775 ASUS P5N32-SLI Deluxe Nforce4 Intel Ed WD Raptor X 150GB SATA II 10,000RPM Samsung 80GB SATA 7300RPM 2 x 1GB Corsaid PC5400C4 DDR2 ASUS Nvidia Geforce 7800GTX 256MB Sony SDM-HS75P 17" LCD with Clearbrite Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Logitech Z5300E 5.1 Speakers Im never going back to XP no matter what. This is the best version of Windows ever.
Report offensive content
Kevin
04/12/2006 02:30 AM
Ridiculous pricing for what? So far there seems nothing Vista can do that XP with third party software can't. Considering that loads of third party software is either free or dirt cheap I just cannot see the value. I'll wait untill MS offer cheap licences to legalise illegal installations then I'll install an illegal copy, get a licence and laugh all the way to the bank.
Report offensive content
wasim
08/12/2006 08:47 AM
I finally got my hands on windows vista RTM and my experience was better than in xp even though i had problems with sound mostly, My present computer runs vista RTM with all possible features enabled, but i saw some bugs in photo gallery, windows media center and with 32 bit applications not full compatible, The GUI is definitely 100 times better than xp... Sleep option also has some bugs forget bugs they will be fixed but my question to microsoft is User Account Control this option is little Difficult to handle for normal users as sometimes we want to do something we need adiminstratotrs permission a simple user will definitely be confused while using in a long run, permissions become irritating after all it is nature of human beings to work without being questioned every now and then if i disable UAC i doubt my Security will become as weak as in XP so i bear with UAC again a compromise, Lets see wat Gadgets say gadgets is not major download frm galleries than we can do in xp also using konfabulator or opera or any other widget program i dont like to keep that side bar so i disable it if i compare to widgets in Leopard, in Leopard we can create widgets in Safari with so much ease i jus cant Imagine That is called innovation Gadgets didnt impress me, Windows Previous version is good But again like windows I saw Time Machine it does same this but interface is wow microsoft could have made some better GUI in applications But didnt, in short better for xp users but still not the best in bussiness as, truely I was waiting for Vista from 3 years but in the end i saw leopard prewiew fortunately ... i didnt know anything about mac as im frm india and india really doesnt have any mac market or mac is not even talked in india but when i saw leopard prewiew on internet i was amazed thinking look we have OS in world that is Better than Vista and hw come we dont know about the company who kept us blind any way my eyes are open now and i stopped waiting for vista and im waiting for Mac os x leopard then i will buy a mac
Report offensive content