What is an Operating System?

An Operating System is the part of your PC that manages the relationship between the hardware and software resources of your computer and you wouldn’t be able to do anything on your PC without one. For instance, if you have more than one program running on your PC, your Operating System will prioritise multiple tasks and manages your saved files. In short, the Operating System you choose effects the general day to day working of your PC without you even knowing it. It provides a foundation that determines how your computer functions.

Microsoft are Operating System experts. A large proportion of UK PCs are run and organised by a Microsoft Windows edition. Vista has been one of the most long awaited of them all. More than five years after the release of its predecessor, Windows XP, it’s been the longest time span between major releases of Windows.

Bringing Clarity to your world...

Windows Vista introduces a breakthrough user experience and is designed to help you feel confident in your ability to view, find and organise information and to control your computing experience.
The visual sophistication of Windows Vista helps bring new tools to enable clarity to the information on your computer, so you can see what your files contain without the need to open them. You can also find applications and files instantly, navigate efficiently among open windows and use wizards and dialog boxes more confidently.

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Windows Mail and Calendar

Sending e-mail is one of the most important things done on a computer today. Windows Mail includes features that help you reduce the risks, which enjoying the many benefits of e-mail.
Windows Mail includes:

• A built in Quick Search box that lets you search all of your e-mail messages almost instantaneously.
• A junk mail filter which automatically screens emails to identify and separate out the junk. Unlike other filters that require you to ‘train’ the filter to correctly identify junk, Windows Mail automatically identifies it from the first use.
• A phishing filter that analyses e-mail to help detect fraudulent links and help protect you from online scams. Phishing is a type of fraud designed to steal your identity. In phishing scams, scam artists try to get you to disclose valuable personal data – like credit card numbers, passwords, account data or other information.

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Windows Photo Gallery

The Windows Photo Gallery gives all the tools needed to organise, find and view your photos and videos, as well as to edit, print and share them. The Windows Photo Gallery also supports various formats and devices, including new support for wireless cameras. You can adjust colour and exposure, crop and remove red-eye. Basic video trimming can also be done in the Windows Photo Gallery. Enhanced HD support allows you to increase your preview pane without losing resolution – you can even preview HD content in full screen view at full HD resolution (if your hardware supports it). Using the power of your computer’s modern Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) allows Windows Movie Maker to render HD quality for a smoother overall performance, adjusting the size and resolution to deliver the best quality possible for your hardware.

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Security

The effect of malicious software can range from mere annoyance to significant problems and can result in display of unwanted advertising, deceased PC performance and disclosure of personal information. Windows Vista contains new features that prevent malware from installing, and helps remove malware already installed. All new Windows Firewall, Windows Update, User Account Control, Internet Explorer 7 Protected Mode and all new Windows Defender (for protection from spyware and potentially unwanted software) is now included.

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Windows Media Centre in Windows Vista

You will be able to experience all you digital entertainment not only on your computer, but also on up to five other PCs or televisions using Media Center Extenders. The Xbox 360 has a Windows Media Centre Extender built into it, so you can power a whole new entertainment experience over your home network using the same Windows Media Centre menus.
Next generation Windows Media Centre Extenders allow you to leave the PC in the office and enjoy your music, photos, movies and TV anywhere in the house using the enhanced Media Centre menus.

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Easy access to all your games

Windows Vista has enhancements that make it easier for you to access, play and manage your games. The Game Folder is listed right on the Start menu. It gives you a convenient list of all games currently stored on your PC. Thumbnail graphics for each game provide easy access to the games you want to play and also display detailed information such as the game publisher and developer, when you last played and which version of the game you own.

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Which Version?

There are in fact 12 different version of Vista being released, however you are only likely to ever really hear about 4.

Each Vista install disc comes with all the versions on it, which version installs is determined by the product key you are supplied with on purchase. If you wish to upgrade to a new version in the future, you simply buy and enter a new key, rather than have to buy a new disc and start all over again.

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Windows Vista Home Basic - For basic home needs such as e-mail and internet access

Windows Vista Home Basic is the entry level operating system. It will have all of the security, reliability and organisation enhancements in Windows Vista, plus some additional features. However it will not include many of the most exciting new features or support scenarios that depend on additional hardware. It is really meant for first time buyers, people who are very price sensitive and people who are reluctant to adopt of any kind.

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Windows Vista Home Premium – For the best home computing and entertainment

Windows Vista Home Premium is the ideal version of Windows for productivity and entertainment at home and on the go. It is meant for the majority of Windows users, supporting digital imaging, TV, movies, music, games, communications and productivity scenarios better than Windows Vista Home Basic.
With Windows Vista Home Premium you get additional features such as Windows Backup and full System recovery, Encrypting file system, Dual Core CPU support and Media Centre built in as part of the premium system.

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Windows Vista Business – For small and mid-sized organisations

Windows Vista Business is the operating system for oganisations of all sizes, designed to keep computers running smoothly and securely, to provide users with powerful new ways to find their information and to easily connect to people, PCs and devices. Featuring a New user interface: Windows Aero, Integrated search and new ways to organise information. Windows Vista Business also includes optimisation for mobile PC and laptops, as well as key features from Windows Tablet PC. This adds to the core business features such as Domain join, Group Policy, EFS and many other small business focused features making Windows Vista Business a great package.

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Windows Vista Ultimate – For work, entertainment; for everything!

The best version of the new Windows Vista operating system, combining the power and security of Windows Vista Business with the entertainment and ease of Windows Vista Home Premium. The essence of Ultimate is no compromise.
Windows Vista Ultimate includes Domain Networking and everything available in all other versions of Vista, like Media Centre and Bit Locker Encryption for the Ultimate Data Security. Combining all the business connectivity and security features with personal productivity and entertainment features such as DVD movie authoring and enjoying TV and movies on your PC.
Everything you need to work from home, with the confidence that it includes all the software and management features that may be required to connect to a company network. Ultimate had file and full volume encryption (bit locker) to protect your data better than any other consumer version. Microsoft will also continue to offer valuable downloads exclusively to Ultimate customers.

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The 64-bit question

When you buy any edition of Windows Vista you will have a choice between two versions: the standard 32-bit version and the 64-bit or X64 version.
If you have a computer capable of running it, the 64-bit seems the obvious choice and is inherently better; however for the vast majority of home users the 32-bit option is far preferable.
In theory, 64-bit Vista allows for a higher specification PC by allowing – in the case of the Ultimate edition – up to a whopping 128GB of system RAM. In practice that’s a moot point for all but a tiny percentage of present day PC users. As it is, all 32-bit versions of Vista will allow for up to 4GB of RAM, which will be more than sufficient for several years to come.
Once everyday applications do start hitting the 4GB limit, hardware and software manufacturers will naturally move to develop 64-bit hardware drivers and applications as a preference; however as many of these need to be custom written, for now and it the medium term, manufacturers will concentrate on producing 32-bit compatible products fist.
Believe it or not, there is still a significant amount of 16-bit software around, particularly in things such as installation routines, and Vista X64 won’t run 16-bit code at all meaning going through many compatibility headaches.
In addition, the X64 edition doesn’t allow ‘unsigned’ device drivers to be installed and run – they all need to be approved and digitally certified by Microsoft, Many drivers aren’t signed and certified, particularly for low price3 hardware, simply because the process costs time and money, and wasn’t really relevant before. For the average home user this means that many device drivers for everyday hardware, like you low-end but perfectly useable scanner, for instance, will refuse to install on X64 and thus be rendered obsolete.

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What do I need to run Windows Vista Home Basic?

Windows Vista Basic capable PC includes at least:
• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 512 MB of system memory
• 20GB Hard Drive capacity + 15GB Free Space
• A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable

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What do I need to run Windows Vista Home Premium/Business/Ultimate?

To get an even better Windows Vista experience, including the Windows Aero user experience, ask for a Windows Vista Capable PC that is designated Premium Ready, or choose a PC that meets or exceeds the Premium Ready requirements described below. Features available in specific premium editions of Windows Vista, such as the ability to watch and record live TV, may require additional hardware
A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:
• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of system memory
• 40GB Hard Drive capacity + 15 GB free space
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with a WDDM driver, 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)2, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel

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Can I upgrade?

Despite some of the hysteria surrounding the hardware requirements for Vista, if your computer runs Windows XP without problems, it is almost certain to run Vista without issue too. However the one obstacle that may let you down is RAM (memory) – while XP may scrape by on 512MB or less, Vista benefits hugely from 1GB or more. Aside from memory, a reasonably powerful graphics card is required to take advantage of the Aero interface (discussed earlier). Both these elements are easily upgraded.
A simple was to check that your hardware is capable of running Vista and, if so, which version it can run successfully, is to use the Free Vista Upgrade Advisor., which you can download from:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

After installing and launching the tool, click the Start Scan link to analyse your hardware and software. Once the scan if complete, click the See Details button and use the button relating to the different versions of Vista to the left of the screen to see if your computer will be capable of running that version. The advisor details any hardware shortfalls which may cause a problem, as well as listing software that may not be compatible with Vista.

If you would rather RHCC help you with an assessment and advice on upgrading to Vista, please call 07771 588 577 for a Vista Compatibility visit at a special price of just £15.00, or you can simply take the option to save a copy of the report and email* us for a no obligation upgrade quote.

 *In order to email the report to us, please save a copy, open it, copy and paste the entire contents into an email (the simplest way to do this is Edit Menu >Select All, Edit Menu >Copy, open new email and Paste) and send together with your personal contact details. Do not send the report as an attachment as it may well be rejected as spam. Many thanks.

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RHCC have been testing VISTA since the Beta version first came out. See our report on VISTA and what we think of the new Microsoft operating system in our VISTA Report.