Since the initial release of Windows XP five years ago, Microsoft has been able to increase its security significantly by releasing updates such as Service Pack 2. However, enormous changes in security features require significant changes in system architecture hence the need for the development of Microsoft’s latest Operating System:- Windows Vista. According to Microsoft, the Beta version for Windows Vista is only available to Developers and IT Professionals.
The scheduled release date for businesses is November 2006 and the release date for the consumer market is January 2007.
New Features
Aero: Windows
Vista has a completely restructured user interface. Aero is an acronym for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective and Open. This new user interface is intended to be more user friendly not to mention more appealing to the consumer in that it adds support for 3D graphics, translucency, animation and other visual effects. Also, the Start Menu has changed and the word "Start" has simply been replaced by a blue Windows symbol similar to the Windows key on a keyboard.
Internet Explorer 7(IE7): IE7 is Windows Vista’s upgraded version of internet explorer. It is predicted to be equipped with anti-spoofing technology making it more secure for the user to go online.
Windows Defender: Miscrosoft’s famous anti-spyware software has been incorprated into this latest version of windows which previously wasn’t the case in Windows XP and older versions. Microsoft anti-spyware has proven to be veyr effective in protecting against spyware and other threats.
Speech Recognition: This is another useful feature that is fully embedded into Windows Vista. It has the capability to understand a user’s voice, to activate commands in any windows application and to enable voice dictation.
Windows DVD Maker: This feature enables the user to create video DVD’s based on their content.
User Account Control: This is a new security feature that enables a user to enter an administrator password (without being logged in as an administrator ) when an action requiring administrative rights is required. Non-administrator user accounts in the previous Windows versions proved to be too restrictive and you had to be logged in as an administrator to be able to download software for example.
Some XP Features Removed: Some noticeable XP features such as Windows Messenger, Net Meeting, MSN Explorer have also been eliminated from this new version.
What Happens to businesses currently using Windows NT, 2000 and XP desktops?
Microsoft is using a large number of features such as the WIM image Format ( a file based disk image format specifically developed for the Windows Vista OS). WIM files contain a copy of
Vista and businesses can maintain and patch their older verisons wihtout having to rebuild new images. The WIM files can be obtained from the Windows Vista installation DVD.
What are ths system requirements for installing Windows
Vista ?
Windows Vista requires atleast 512 megabytes of physical memory, atleast 3 gigabytes of hard drive space for installation files or possibly more depending on the edition of Windows Vista. In additon, it also requires a modern processor Central Processing Unit (CPU) as well as a Graphics card that has a DirectX 9 class graphics processor.
Different Versions of Windows
Vista
Unlike Windows XP that only had two versions notably XP Pro and XP Home Edition, five variations of the new Windows Vista Operating Sytem will be available. These are Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise (designed to meet the requirements for massive global organizations), Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate and lastly Windows Vista Home Basic (for everyday basic use at home such as checking email).
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