Some notable Windows XP features and components have been replaced or removed in Windows Vista. Perhaps the most significant of these is the removal of Windows Messenger, the network Messenger Service, HyperTerminal, MSN Explorer, and the replacement of NetMeeting with Windows Meeting Space. Windows Vista also does not include the Windows XP “Luna” visual theme, or most of the classic color schemes which have been part of Windows since the Windows 3.x era.
The “Hardware profiles” startup feature has been removed as well, along with support for older motherboard technologies like the EISA bus and APM. WinHlp32.exe, used to display 32-bit .hlp files, is no longer included in Windows Vista as Microsoft considers it obsolete. This has resulted in a number of older programs not being able to display Help when running on Vista.
In addition, Microsoft prohibits software manufacturers from re-introducing it with their products. However, WinHlp32.exe can still be installed manually from Microsoft’s Download Center. Telnet.exe is no longer installed by default, but is still included as an installable feature.
Visual styles
Windows Vista has four distinct visual styles.
Windows Aero
Vista’s premier visual style is built on a new desktop composition engine called Desktop Window Manager. Windows Aero introduces support for 3D graphics (Windows Flip 3D), translucency effects (Glass), window animations and other visual effects, and is intended for mainstream and high-end graphics cards.
To enable these features, the contents of every open window is stored in video memory to facilitate tearing-free movement of windows. As such, Windows Aero has significantly higher hardware requirements than its predecessors. 64 MB of graphics memory is the minimum requirement, depending on resolution used. Windows Aero (including Windows Flip 3D) is not planned for inclusion in the Starter and Home Basic editions.
Windows Vista Standard
This mode is a variation of Windows Aero without the glass effects, window animations, and other advanced graphical effects such as Windows Flip 3D. Like Windows Aero, it uses the Desktop Window Manager, and has generally the same video hardware requirements as Windows Aero. This is the default mode for the Windows Vista Home Basic Edition. The Starter (developing markets) edition does not support this mode.
Windows Vista Basic
Windows Classic
An option for corporate deployments and upgrades, Windows Classic has the look and feel of Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, does not use the Desktop Window Manager and does not require a WDDM driver. As with prior versions of Windows, this theme supports “Color schemes” which are a collection of color settings. Windows Vista includes six classic color schemes, comprised of four high-contrast color schemes, as well as the default colour schemes from Windows 95 and Windows 2000.
Windows Vista Capable stickerAccording to Microsoft, computers capable of running Windows Vista are classified as Vista Capable and Vista Premium Ready. A Vista Capable or equivalent PC needs to have at minimum an 800 MHz processor, 512 MB RAM and a DirectX 9 class graphics card. A computer that meets these requirements will be capable of running all editions of Windows Vista although some of the special features and high end graphics options may require additional or more advanced hardware.
A Vista Premium Ready PC will take advantage of Vista’s “high-end” features but will need at least a 1.0 GHz processor, 1 GB main memory, and an Aero-compatible graphics card with at least 128 MB graphics memory and supporting the new Windows Display Driver Model. The company also offers Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from its Web site to determine the ability of a PC to run Vista in its various guises. The utility runs on Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Microsoft lists some Vista capable hardware on their web site. The “Vista Premium Ready” laptops they specify have Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 or above CPUs and 1 GB memory.
Windows Vista’s “Basic” and “Classic” interfaces will work with virtually any graphics hardware that supports Windows XP or 2000; accordingly, most discussion around Vista’s graphics requirements centers on those for the Windows Aero interface. As of Windows Vista Beta 2, the NVIDIA GeForce FX family and later, the ATI Radeon 9500 and later, Intel’s GMA 950 integrated graphics, and a handful of VIA chipsets and S3 Graphics discrete chips are supported. Though some XGI Technology Volari chips were DirectX 9 (including the Volari V3XT which was available in PCI cards), with XGI’s exit from the graphics card business it appears none of its chips are supported as of Vista Beta 2.
Microsoft has not specifically stated whether an AGP or PCI Express (PCIe) video card is a requirement for Windows Aero, but they recommend PCIe video due to their greater bandwidth.There are some PCI cards available that are compatible with Windows Vista as well.
Windows Vista system requirements Vista Capable Vista Premium Ready Processor 800 MHz 1 GHz Memory 512 MB RAM 1 GB RAM Graphics card DirectX 9 capable DirectX 9 capable GPU with Hardware Pixel Shader v2.0 and WDDM driver support Graphics memory N/A 128 MB RAM supports up to 2,756,000 total pixels (e.g. 1920 × 1200) or 512 MB+ for greater resolutions such as 2560×1600 HDD capacity 20 GB 40 GB HDD free space 15 GB 15 GB Other drives CD-ROM or DVD-ROM DVD-RW
Editions and pricing
Windows Vista OEM System Builder Kit German 23 January 2007Windows Vista will ship in six editions. All editions will support both processor architectures, 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64), except Windows Vista Starter which will only be available for 32-bit architectures. Microsoft maintains a detailed product guide that describes the various editions of Windows Vista, including detailed comparison charts of all features.
On September 5, 2006, USD pricing was announced for the four editions they plan on making available through retail channels. New license and upgrade license SKUs of each edition will be made available.
All retail editions of Windows Vista will come packaged in a clear, hard-plastic case. According to Microsoft, the case is “designed to be user-friendly,and the new packaging is a small, hard, plastic container that will protect the software inside for life-long use”. The case will open sideways to reveal the Windows Vista DVD suspended in a clear plastic case. The Windows Vista disc itself uses a holographic design similar to the discs that Microsoft has produced since Windows 2000.
Various UK sites (including PC World and Amazon.co.uk) have prices up for Vista, for pre-order. Those prices are included below.
Windows Vista Starter
Windows Vista Home Basic ($199.00)
Similar to Windows XP Home Edition, Home Basic is intended for budget users not requiring advanced media support for home use. The Windows Aero theme with translucent effects will not be included with this edition. 64-bit Home Basic will support up to 8 GB of physical memory, and will be supported until 2012.
Windows Vista Home Premium ($239.00)
This edition is comparable to Windows XP Media Center Edition. 64-bit Home Premium will support up to 16 GB of physical memory, and will be supported until 2012.
Windows Vista Business ($299.00)
Includes the IIS web server, fax support, Rights Management Services (RMS) Client, file system encryption, dual processor (two sockets) support, system image backup and recovery, offline file support, a full version of Remote Desktop, ad-hoc P2P collaboration capabilities, Previous Versions (Windows ShadowCopy), and several other business features not in Home Premium. 64-bit Business supports 128 GB of memory.
Mainstream support for Business ends on 4/10/2012; extended support ends on 4/11/2017.
Windows Vista Enterprise
This edition is aimed at the enterprise segment of the market, and is a superset of the Business edition. Additional features include multilingual user interface support, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and UNIX application support. This edition will not be available through retail or OEM channels, but through Microsoft Software Assurance. Since Enterprise is a benefit of Software Assurance (SA), it will include several SA-only benefits, including a license allowing for multiple virtual machines to be run, access to Virtual PC Express, and activation via VLK. 64-bit Enterprise supports 128 GB of memory.
Mainstream support for Enterprise ends on 4/10/2012; extended support ends on 4/11/2017. Part of Software Assurance enterprise licensing N/A
Windows Vista Ultimate ($399.00)
On January 7, 2007, at CES, Microsoft began to announce what some of these Ultimate Extras will be. When Vista launches to consumers on January 30, Microsoft will immediately make the following Extras available for Ultimate users: “Dream Scene”, a utility that will allow for full-motion video desktop backgrounds; “Hold’Em”, a Vista-customized version of the Texas Hold’Em poker game; Multi-user interface language packs, designed to allow individuals fluent in different languages to share the same PC; BitLocker Online Secure Key Storage, where Ultimate customers will be offered a secure place to store their BitLocker encryption keys in the Online Vista Marketplace; and “Digital publications,” a collection of tips and tricks, blog links and other resources for getting the most out of Ultimate. After that, many more are expected to be announced through 2007, including a photo editing and merging tool shown at CES called “GroupShot”.
More detailed information regarding some of these extras can be read at the Vista Ultimate website here The Ultimate edition is aimed at high-end PC users, gamers, multimedia professionals, and PC enthusiasts. 64-bit Ultimate supports 128 GB of memory.
Mainstream support for Ultimate ends on 4/10/2012; extended support ends on 4/11/2017. Another upgrade variant of Windows Vista Ultimate is the Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade Limited Numbered Signature Edition, a limited, numbered edition of Windows Vista Ultimate that features Bill Gates’ signature on the front of the packaging along with its unique number.
Notes:
- Windows Vista will also be available for purchase and download directly from Microsoft, through their Windows Marketplace web site. Digital locker technology will be used to secure the download.
- “Home Basic N” and “Business N” editions of Windows Vista will additionally be available in the European Union. These editions will ship without Windows Media Player, according to the EU sanctions brought against Microsoft for violating anti-trust laws.
- Due to a 2005 anti-trust ruling by the Fair Trade Commission in South Korea, a set of “K” and “KN” editions of Windows Vista will be sold that contain some changes from the standard release. Links to competing instant messaging and media player software will be included with the operating system, and in the case of the “KN” editions, Windows Media Player will not be included at all.
- An “Express Upgrade” program is available for providing free or low-cost upgrades for people who purchase computers with Windows XP between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007. The precise costs vary between OEM manufacturers; Dell, for example, will charge $25 USD plus applicable taxes/fees to upgrade Windows XP Professional to Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Windows Vista Home Premium, while upgrades from Windows XP Home to Windows Vista Home Basic will cost $45 USD plus $25USD plus applicable taxes/fees.
- Customers in Canada and the United States who purchase the Ultimate Edition (full or upgrade) before June 30, 2007 will be able to purchase additional licenses of Vista Home Premium at a cost of $49.99. These licenses will be sold online through Microsoft’s web site.
- There are four different Vista DVDs available in non-emerging markets: Retail/OEM 32-bit, Retail/OEM 64-bit, VL (Volume Licensing) 32-bit and VL 64-bit. All editions of Windows Vista except Starter and Enterprise are available from a Retail/OEM DVD. It is the license key purchased that determines which version will be installed; the VL DVD can only install Business or Enterprise edition. The features of the Home Premium and Ultimate editions may be “unlocked” at any time by purchasing a one-time upgrade license through a Control Panel tool called Windows Anytime Upgrade. The Business edition will also be upgradable to Ultimate. Such licenses will be sold by Microsoft’s partners and OEMs, but not directly by Microsoft.
Criticisms of Windows Vista include protracted development time, more restrictive licensing terms, the inclusion of a number of technologies aimed at restricting the copying of protected digital media, and the usability of the new User Account Control security technology. Reviewers have also noted similarities between Vista’s Aero interface and that of Apple’s Mac OS X operating system, particularly around the use of transition effects. Moreover, some concerns have been raised about many PCs meeting “Vista Premium Ready” hardware requirements and Vista’s pricing.
Licensing
The introduction of license restrictions on retail buyers legally transferring their copy of Vista was criticized heavily and has since changed. Before, the licensing terms for Vista only allowed buyers of retail copies of Vista to transfer their software to a new machine one time. If a user wanted to move their software a second time, he or she would have to contact Microsoft via phone, proving they hold a valid license, to get a code to allow the move.
Since then, Microsoft has responded to the complaints and has modified the EULA to read: “You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.” As with Windows XP, separate rules will apply to OEM versions of Vista installed on new PCs; these are not legally transferrable.
The cost of Windows Vista has also been criticised by some for being too high. A majority of users in a poll said that the prices of various Windows Vista editions posted on the Microsoft Canada website in August 2006 make the product too expensive.
Digital Rights Management
Another common criticism concerns the integration of new forms of Digital Rights Management into the operating system, specifically the introduction of the Protected Video Path. This architecture is designed such that “premium content” from HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs may mandate that the connections between PC components are encrypted. Devices such as graphic cards must be approved by Microsoft.
Depending on what the content demands, the devices may not pass premium content over non-encrypted outputs, or they must artificially degrade the quality of the signal on such outputs or not display it all. There is also a revocation mechanism that allows Microsoft to disable drivers of compromised devices in end-user PCs over the Internet. Peter Gutmann, security researcher and author of the open source cryptlib library, claims that these mechanisms violate fundamental rights of the user (such as fair use), unnecessarily increase the cost of hardware, and make systems less reliable and vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks.
Proponents have pointed out that Microsoft had no choice but to follow the demands of the movie studios, and that the technology will not actually be enabled until after 2010; Microsoft also noted that content protection mechanisms have existed in Windows as far back as Windows Me, and that the new protections will not apply to any existing content.
User Account Control
Concerns have been raised about the new User Account Control security technology. While Yankee Group analyst Andrew Jaquith believes that critical security vulnerabilities may be “reduced by as much as 80%,” he also noted that “while the new security system shows promise, it is far too chatty and annoying”. Kernel Patch Protection
The Kernel Patch Protection feature (also known as “Patchguard”) on 64-bit versions of Vista that locks down the OS kernel has been criticized by computer security company McAfee who claim that since PatchGuard also prevents third-party security companies from getting inside the OS, they cannot activate crucial security measures in their software to protect the OS from intruders. Microsoft’s argument is that this will keep miscreants out of the OS and prevent the incidence of attacks, and it is something for which customers have been asking.
Security vendor Kaspersky Lab claims that it is not more difficult in Vista for anti-virus software to work, and that it would not make sense for Microsoft to stop working with security companies because it would make their system more vulnerable to attacks. Sophos adds that Microsoft does not need to open PatchGuard for third party developers, instead, they should use the programming interfaces Microsoft supplies them.
Similarity with Mac OS X
Another criticism is a claim by some that Windows Vista emulates specific features in Apple Inc.’s Mac OS X. Long-time Mac columnist and book author John Rizzo noted in an eWeek article that Vista incorporated features which OS X has had for some time such as fast searching, seen in the “Spotlight” feature on the Mac,
Smart Folders functionality already available in the Mac Finder, and that the icons, terminology and visual appearance mimic those of OS X. Others have come to a similar conclusion that Aero is an imitation of Aqua. In Vista’s defense, Paul Thurrott argues that many of the features that have OS X counterparts or similarities (such as Windows Search to OS X’s Spotlight) have been in early alpha versions of Vista or demonstrated in prototypes more than a year before Apple included the features in Mac OS X v10.4.
Hardware Requirements
Some controversy and concerns have arisen over how the increase in hardware specifications required to take advantage of many of Vista’s new features may impact both personal and business users.
While most PCs purchased after 2002 will be able to meet Vista’s minimum “Windows Vista Capable” requirements, many laptops and low-end to midrange desktops with integrated graphics will not be able to meet “Windows Vista Premium Ready” requirements and will therefore not be able to run advanced features such as the Aero Glass interface.