Tech Features
Vista Blitz: Part 1
By Steve Ragan Jan 31, 2007, 18:34 GMT
A South Korean model poses for photographers with the new Microsoft operating system Windows Vista in a special pavilion at Coex Mega box in Seoul, South Korea. Wednesday 31 January 2007. EPA/HAN MYUNG-GU
‘Vista Blitz’ is the name given to the most recent Microsoft operating system release. The mass media is buzzing with information surrounding Microsoft’s newest toy, Windows Vista.
By now, there are reports all over the web. Some people are truly excited, and other people didn’t give it a second glance. Some will call Windows Vista the newest Windows ME, meaning an upgrade that really offers nothing serious to the computer user. Others will call it the greatest thing to hit the tech world since those elite 28.8bps modems of yesteryear.
The Vista Blitz is to give you an in-depth look at Windows Vista and all it entails. The coverage will include a general overview, features overview, security overview, and business overview, with a little bit more. So let’s get started.
The Basics: Vista at a glance
Windows Vista will come in several flavors to meet both the consumer need, and the budget need for anyone who wants to upgrade. As with all windows products you can get either an upgrade version or a full version of the product. Depending on what version you want you will need to keep some things in mind. The more memory you have the better. 512MB is the bare bones minimum Windows Vista will allow. You will also need a DirectX 9 capable video card. Windows Vista is seriously graphic intensive, if you want the full effect you will need to make sure the video card can support it.
For the home user, you will have a choice: Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium. The major difference between these two is basic; if you have 512MB of RAM then you will want only Windows Vista Basic. Basic edition is aimed at the low-end market. The computers that run this version are older, and will likely have 512MB or maybe 1024MB of RAM on the system max. The loss of ‘Aero,’ the stylistic visual engine that gives Vista a “crisp and art like” feel, is missing from this version. The graphics on the Basic edition are great, but not stunning as they are on systems with ‘Aero’ running.
If you want Vista Basic, you need an 800MHz CPU on the computer as well as 512MB of RAM. The cost will be $199.00 for the full version or $99.95 for the upgrade.
Windows Vista Home Premium is exactly like its Basic cousin. The added part here is ‘Aero” the graphic enhancement that so many are talking about. You will have access to the Windows Media Center, as well as DVD burning integration. There is support for Tablet PC’s too. Most new computers sold after the release of Vista will have this installed if they are mid-range or high-end computers. The reason is the minimum of a 1024MB of RAM and a CPU of at least 1GHz. The cost is $239.00 for the full version or $159.00 for the upgrade.
Windows Vista Ultimate Edition is the last on the options for the home user. This version takes all of the other two and even some perks form the Business edition and combines them all in to one. Part two of the Vista Blitz will cover these features. Aside from the cost, there is no difference in this version than on Premium in regards to minimum system needs. You will still need a 1GHZ CPU and 1024MB of RAM. The cost is $399.00 for the full version and $259.00 for the upgrade. This version of Windows Vista is the ‘power user’ edition and is likely the upgrade of choice when anyone buys a new PC.
No matter what version you pick. It is a stressing point from Microsoft that in order for you to gain the full experience you must have a PC that will handle the operating system. While this portion of Vista Blitz covered the basics, and the CPU and RAM specs it should be noted that you would also need the hard drive space. 40GB with at least half of that free for the Premium and Ultimate editions, and 20GB with at least 15GB free for Basic.
