After almost three years of delays, Microsoft is slated to release Windows Vista in early 2007. At the time of this writing, no definite release date has been set. In today's group meetings, I demonstrated what Windows Vista looks like, feels like and acts like on a computer system with a Pentium 4 – 2.8 Ghz processor, 768 mb of RAM (sharing 64 with the on-board video), and a 80 GB hard drive. We looked at many of the new features of Vista including:

• Picture management
• Internet Explorer 7 (available for XP users in November 2006)
• Microsoft Gadgets (sticky note application, RSS reader, slide show, clock, and more)
• Microsoft's new games and updated old ones (Vista will include a Mahjong and chess game)
• Newly designed Start menu
• New Search function
• Parental Controls
• Speech Recognition
• New "Sleep" mode for shutting down computer and conserving energy
• Not part of Vista, but we also looked at the new Microsoft Office 2007…still in Beta.
• New Security and networking features

Of all these features, NONE function as well as third party applications available now for Windows XP.

We also talked about the requirements to run Windows Vista. (Here's what Microsoft recommends ). First off, there will be FIVE (5) versions of Windows Vista . Really. Why? I have no idea…just one way for Microsoft to muddy the waters and charge varying amounts for extra features. The first link is to Microsoft's site describing the five versions. This link will take you to a site comparing what is different about the versions.

After using Vista with the above computer configuration, I would suggest the following minimum requirements (with what I think would be better in parenthesis):

• 1 gigabtye of RAM (2 or more GB)
• 100 GB Hard drive (200 GB or greater)
• High speed Internet (dial-up is not even worth having using Vista)
• 128 mb dedicated video card (256 mb or greater card)
• 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4 or Athlon processor — Do NOT try using a Celeron or Opteron processor (3.0 ghz or greater processor and preferably a dual core processor)

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Related articles:

1. Windows Vista: Is it worse than we thought?
2. Windows Vista…Day 14
3. Why no one is holding their breath for Windows Vista
4. Actual drop in computer productivity from 1986 to Today
5. I finally did it

Tags: hard drive, Internet, Internet Explorer, meeting, Microsoft, Office, review, Security, update, Windows

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 10th, 2006 at 8:08 pm and is filed under Computer User Group. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.