Q. What is Windows Vista? A. Windows Vista is a new PC operating system developed over the past five years by Microsoft. It is being launched on Tuesday. Q. What does Vista do that Windows XP doesn’t? A. Vista is designed to be more stable and secure than Windows XP and comes with many new features, including expanded search capabilities and Aero, a sleek and sophisticated new user interface that makes it easier to find your way around. Q. What has Microsoft done to make Vista safer and more secure? A. Vista supports automatic security updates and comes with “firewall” features that help protect users’ PCs from internet threats. Vista also includes “Windows Defender”, which helps protect users against spyware and other potentially unwanted software. It also includes the “Malicious Software Removal Tool”, which periodically scans your PC looking for known prevalent viruses. Q. If Vista comes with improved security features, do I still need to run third-party security applications? A. Yes. Security experts, and indeed Microsoft itself, agree that a “layered” security approach is best. Most importantly, Vista users should also install antivirus software.
Q. Will my old software (and peripherals such as printers) work with Vista? A. Most Windows XP applications will run perfectly well. Most leading software vendors have already updated their packages to work with Vista. Similarly, most hardware “add-ons” such as printers will work with Vista, but some may require users to download new “drivers”. Q. Is Windows Vista worth buying and should I upgrade my existing PC, or buy a new one? A. The key question. If your PC is two years old or more, it is almost certainly not worth trying to upgrade because of the combined hardware/software costs. If your PC is less than one year old, it probably is worth upgrading. Enthusiasts can add many of Vista’s features by installing free or low-cost software. Q. What is the easiest way to get Vista? A. Buy a new PC with Vista pre-installed. This also ensures that the computer will have more than the minimum requirements needed to run the new operating system. Q. What are these “minimum requirements”? A. The PC must have an 800Mhz processor, a graphics chip capable of displaying 800x600 resolution, at least 512Mb of system memory and 15Gb of free space on a hard drive. Q. How can I tell if my PC is capable of running Vista without opening up the case? A. You can download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, a free program that scans an existing set-up and makes a recommendation on which version of Vista will run on the PC. It does not work on Windows 2000 or Windows 98 PCs, which suggests Microsoft does not consider such older PCs upgrade-able.
The program reports on the processor, graphics card and system memory and says whether devices such as scanners, webcams, monitors and printers will work properly with Vista.
It also advises on compatible software and can warn that certain programs will have to be reinstalled to work with Vista. Q. How many versions of Vista are there? A. Four main versions: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate editions.
Home Basic lacks the Aero desktop with 3D navigation and the built-in Windows Media Center software that comes with Premium and Ultimate. Business and Ultimate feature advanced data back-up features and the ability to control the computer from a remote PC. Ultimate also includes Bitlocker Drive Encryption to protect data against loss or theft. Q. How much is Vista going to cost me? A. Upgrade retail prices for Vista in the US are $99 for Home Basic, $159 for Home Premium, $199 for Business and $259 for Ultimate. Pricing in other regions has not yet been disclosed.
