There are many new features and benefits as of part of the Windows Vista experience which apply to a whole host of users from consumers to business, including Windows ReadyBoost, Windows ReadyDrive and Windows Backup. Further information on these can be found at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista
We have listed below the top four features which really differentiate Windows Vista.
Improve Security - minimise security threats and system vulnerabilities:
- Enhanced online securitywith Windows Vista browser protected mode and anti-phishing helps protect people's identities and data. Plus, safety-enhanced browsing in Windows Internet explorer 7 protected mode mitigates threats from malicious software such as viruses, spyware and root kits. Also the Windows Vista User Account Control (UAC) feature makes it easier to implement standard user privileges on a PC.
- New imaging technology that allows companies to deploy a single operating system image to different types of computer hardware and to people with different language requirements which produces a dramatic reduction in IT costs.
- software updating improvements that result in fewer reboots
- Virtualisation capabilities that help ensure older but still critical applications continue to run.
Find Information and Improve Productivity - Increase user productivity by simplifying the way people organise and search for files and information:
- Powerful, integrated search capabilities save people time by helping them quickly find just about anything on their PCs. Search Folders that provide a quick, convenient way to organise documents based on their contents no matter where they are stored on a computer.
- Tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer 7 that makes it easier to manage multiple browser windows. This allows people to view thumbnail images of all their open tabs in one quick glance and to retrieve multiple sites with a single click.
- Windows Sidebar boosts user productivity by providing instant access to gadgets, which are customisable mini applications that offer useful information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools.
Boosting Performance:
- Windows Vista is designed to make people more productive on their PC throughout the day with new features like Sleep, Windows Superfetch, Windows ReadyBoost, and Windows ReadyDrive. With Windows Vista, when your ready to work, so is your system.
- Superfetch helps manage memory to get the most out of available Ram while Windows ReadyBoost helps make PCs more responsive by using flash memory devices (like USB thumb drives) to boost performance. ReadyDrive takes advantage of new hybrid hard disks with integrated flash memory to help improve battery life, performance and reliability.
- Windows Vista introduces a new power state called Sleep. The new sleep state combines the speed of standby with the data protection features and low power consumtion of Hibernate. Resuming use when your PC is in sleep state takes just two to three seconds. You can shut down and restart your computer less often by using the new sleep state, a simple one click on and off experience which not only reduces power consumption but also helps protect your data.
Improved User Experience & Interface:
A new user interface (Windows Aero) provides better stability, improved user experience, richer visualisation and easier navigation.
Windows Vista provides two distinct user interfaces - the basic version is provided with entry level systems and a more visually dynamic Windows Aero with the more advanced versions. Both offer a new and intuitive way of navigating on the desktop, helping users find and organise applications and files more easily.
To maximise the Vista aero interface you may wish to choose a widescreen ultrasharp monitor.
The Aero Interface
Windows Aero comes with the Premium or Business editions of Windows Vista. The PC needs to have suitable graphics capability as well.
There are a number of new features that set Aero apart from previous Windows interfaces. Glass is described as providing a 'translucent' experience. Glass windows aim to focus users on your content rather than on the surrounding interface. It gives Vista a more polished look and feel.
The Dynamic Windows in Vista are dynamic so that when minimized, they will subtly animate to a speific location on the taskbar making it easier to locate when you need it later. Taskbar thumbnails show you the contents of the windows that are currently open, in the background, or minimized in the taskbar. When you pause your mouse over a window tile on the taskbar you see the thumbnail of the live contentsof that window without having to bring it to the forefrontof your screen.
Windows Flip is an update of the feature known as ALT+TAB in previous versions of Windows. With Aero, Windows flip shows you live thumbnails of your open windows instead of generic icons making it easier to identify the window you are looking for, it even lets you instantly minimise all the windows on your desktop.
Windows Flip 3D meanwhile, creates a view of your open windows in a 3 dimensional stack on your desktop. Using the Windows logo+TAB keys, you can flip through the open windows to quickly locateand select the window you want.
You also get a much smoother window performance with Aero, open windows glide smoothly on the screen when moved or resized. There are none of the redraw artifacts, latency, or tearing effects that you sometimes see with XP, particularly in windows that display dynamic content such as video.
If you would like to use the features available in Vista prior to purchase feel free to give us a call and we will invite you into our new demo room featuring all the major releases from Microsoft.
