About Microsoft Vista

Microsoft Vista is the latest software operating system that is meant for business and personal use on all forms of computers. The previous operating system, Windows XP, was criticized for its lack of security compared to competitors such as Apple. This led to a delay in the launch of Microsoft Vista, as spyware and security aspects of the operating system were refined. It also introduces a new interface known as Windows Aero, which does such things as upgrade search and file sharing features.

History

Work on Microsoft Vista began not long after Windows XP was launched in 2002. The time in between was the longest between any operating system release in the history of Microsoft. News of the system circulated between 2002 and 2005, though it was known as Longhorn during this time.
Bill Gates announced Vista on June 22, 2005. It was not until November 8 of the next year that the development of the system was completed. It slowly became available over the next few months, and as of January 30, 2008 it became fully available worldwide. It is currently the latest and most up-to-date Windows operating system.

Types

There are six different editions of Windows Vista that cater to individual consumers and businesses, and then are divided into subcategories under these two umbrellas. For consumers, there are the Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium systems.
They both offer the basics for operating a PC, but the premium package includes more interface controls and the ability to create multimedia projects. A version called Windows Vista Starter is also available for personal use, but it is only available to emerging third-world computer markets.
For business use there is Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, and Windows Vista Ultimate, which has all the features of the top business and home systems. Plus, it is only available in limited numbers.

Significance

There are three reasons for the significance of Microsoft Vista products. The first deals with the security offerings of the operating system. Microsoft was long known as an inferior system when it comes to security because of the ease in which it could be attacked by viruses. Vista addresses this specifically and has upgraded its security greatly.
Secondly, a cheap starter edition of Vista is available for emerging powers and markets, which makes it important in the growth of third-world business, stimulating their economy and allowing them to compete with neighboring powers.
Lastly, Vista upgrades some of the newer and popular technology out there, such as file sharing, which is used by consumers and businesses alike.

Features

There are many new features included in Microsoft Vista. First are the visual effects that are included. Top-of-the-line Vista editions include Windows Aero, which is a high graphics-oriented visual interface. It includes 3-D graphics, live animations and other implementations that make it more visually appealing and also easier to navigate. Computers linked on the same network are able to send files to and from each other faster, and advanced spyware works to keep viruses out.

Considerations

Before purchasing Microsoft Vista, it is important to consider the limitations of the operating system and the generally negative response users have had to it. This has mainly fallen into two categories: hardware requirements and cost.
It is stated that Microsoft Vista will be able to run on most PCs, and this is for the most part true. However, the premium features that make the operating system worthwhile generally require more advanced hardware than most people own.
The cost is also an issue as features generally do not make the price tag of the new operating system worthwhile, especially if it means upgrading hardware in order to use it.

Resources

• Vista Homepage