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| Summary News Requirements Compatibility Interface Installation Variants Versions Downloads Links Publisher Support Alternatives Secrets Pricing |
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Details |
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| Summary | Windows
Vista is Microsoft's replacement for Windows XP. Its main
technology changes include Areo graphics with a completely new
look and feel, Indigo a messaging technology based on Web Services, Security upgrades, Anti-Spyware, IE7, and more. There are a number of Business versions with different price points. All of the Business versions include Areo graphics and Tablet PC functions. Ultimate: Includes the features of Home Premium and Business together. This includes Media Center functions such as photo slide show, TV recording, DVD writing and synchronize files between two PCs. It also includes backup, networking, a new search engine, Fax and scanting software. |
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| News | 25-Feb-2010 Vista RTM Support has ended as of April 13, 2010 28-Apr-2009 SP2 Offically released to manufacturing. 18-Mar-2008 SP1 Officially released 24-Sep-2007 SP1 Beta in limited release. SP1 beta overview. 29-Jan-2007 Now available. 9-Nov-2006 Released to production (for OEMs), consumer release date set at January 30, 2007. 12-Sep-2006 Vista Beta 2 RC1 ships 23-May-2006 Vista Beta 2 ships 21-Mar-2006 Microsoft postpones consumer versions of Vista until January 2007. Corporate versions are still planned for November 2006. 22-Jul-2005 Microsoft announces product name - Windows Vista 27-Aug-2004 Microsoft to remove WinFS from first release to try and release Longhorn in 2006. This is a new desktop OS, planned for release in 2003 or 2004. (InfoWeek Dec 10, 2001, pg 45). |
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| Product | Windows Vista Ultimate | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Processor | Vista Capable: 800
MHz processor Vista Premium: 1 GHz processor (for Areo 3D interface) |
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| RAM | Vista Capable: 512
MB Vista Premium: 1 GB (for Areo 3D interface) |
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| Drive space | 15 GB | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Drives | DVD drive required | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Video | Vista Capable:SVGA
with DirectX capable graphics processor - 128 MB recommended Vista Premium: SVGA with 32-bit color, Pixel Shader 2.0, DirectX capable graphics processor with WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) support. 128 MB recommended (for Areo 3D interface) |
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| File systems | NTFS, FAT32 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Compatibility | Support for legacy WIn32 applications, but existing Windows apps may need to be modified to be native under Vista. Applications with drivers will need to be updated for Vista. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interface | View Vista Desktop Screenshots and more | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Installation | Requires installation into NTFS partition. For multi-boot situations, it will alter other Windows boot partitions and attempt to take control, so we recommend hiding all partitions from Vista during installation. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Variants | Windows
Starter 2007 Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Basic N (No Media Player) Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Business N (No Media Player) Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Vista Enterprise Compare features of each Variant |
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| Versions |
Windows release timeline |
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| Downloads | Vista SP2 DVD ISO | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Links | Microsoft Windows Vista Support Windows Vista Features Windows Vista Developer Page Microsoft Pressroom Sysinternals Advanced System Utilities Microsoft Technet resources for IT |
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| Books | Vista Categories: All - Using - Solutions - Fixing - Development - MCSE |
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| Publisher |
Microsoft Corporation Phone 1-206-635-7000 (support) |
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| Support | Yes. For OEM versions shipping with a new computer, OEM is responsible for support. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Alternatives | Other Vista versions, Windows XP, Linux | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Secrets | Fixing Annoyances Keyboard shortcuts Look for "Fiji" the interim SP1 release after Vista - likely for release in 2008. Click here for Microsoft codenames. |
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| Pricing | Windows Vista Ultimate $399 (for SP1 price dropped to $319) Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade - $259 (for SP1 price dropped to $219) |
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