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Will the New Operating System Change PCs As We Know Them?

By: Eric Durrand

After five years in development and two names, Microsoft had finally released a preview version, First Release Candidate version of Windows Vista (used to be: Longhorn). Windows Vista RC1 reveals an almost complete makeover of the Windows operating system, which promises to change the way we work with our PCs, when the final version is made public, early 2007.

The first rumors of “Longhorn”; an all powerful, three-dimensional, ultra-secure, and easily searchable operating system were floating around the Microsoft sphere since 2001, even before the launch of Microsoft’s Windows XP. Set originally to be launched by 2003, the system is now 5 years in development, which gave Microsoft plenty of time to develop a series of transforming technologies that make the new system truly different from what PC users are accustomed to.

But does the new system deliver what it promises?

Search Your Computer – Windows Vista allows you to search all the files and folders on your computer, using a super-fast built-in search engine, a feature that Mac OS users have had for a long time already. Now in Windows too, if you forget where you saved a document, you can find it in a snap, as long as you remember some word that appeared in it, or some part of the filename. Windows allows you to save keywords for every file – including images and videos, allowing you to find them faster as well.

 Better Information Security – The information security in Windows Vista had seen a major overhaul, with the new Windows Security Center defending against viruses, spyware, and other potentially harmful software. It also provides parental control over web sites and documents, better management of multiple users on a single system, and a new version of Windows Firewall to defend against hackers.

· Built-In Backup and Restore – Windows Vista comes with integrated “backup and restore” management. The new Windows Backup can backup specific files or the entire computer, to help make sure that you never have to lose your important files and information.

· Improved Fax Handling – The new Windows Vista treats faxes just like e-mails, allowing you to quickly organize, review, save, and reply directly from your PC. New enhancements offer more complete document handling and communications capability, integrated with improved scanning capability—which supports one-click scanning of documents from locally connected scanners, network-connected scanners, and multifunction print/scan/fax devices.

New Visualizing Tools – The new graphic user interface of Windows Vista is called Aero, and it brings a wealth of stunning graphical effects to your desktop. From 3D windows to glass-like menus, the new Vista looks more like Apple’s MacOS than ever before. The system also includes visual tools that will help users visualize information, and developers make richer web sites and applications.

Windows Meeting Space – A great new feature for businesses, Windows Meeting Space uses Wi-Fi wireless networking, to connect up to 10 people sitting in the same conference room or office. It allows you to "project" your desktop or application to other participants or to any Windows Vista compliant Network Projector, share a file with a group in a common work area, and jointly edit the file. Even if a network connection is not available, you can collaborate with others, using an ad-hoc mode.

 Better Handling of Proprietary Formats – Many proprietary formats, including CAD files, can now be converted into a universal 3D object format that anyone with Windows Vista would be able to view. This solves the problem of many businesses in sharing engineering information, plans, and maps.

With the official launch planned for early 2007, Microsoft has already revealed the suggested retail prices for Windows Vista: $399 for Windows Vista Ultimate, $299 for Windows Vista Business, $239 for Windows Vista Home Premium, and $199 for Windows Vista Home Basic. Upgrades are also available: To Windows Vista from XP are $259 for Windows Vista Ultimate, $199 for Windows Vista Home Premium, and $99 for Windows Vista Home Basic.

Who should upgrade? This question is especially complex, because the price of the operating system may be compounded by the price of new hardware required. The newer models will generally support Windows Vista, though even they might require a better graphics card, or additional memory. Luckily – Microsoft made the evaluation easy, by providing the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, a free software tool that checks all your hardware and lists the necessary adjustments or upgrades you might need to make.

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For the first months after the launch, upgrades should probably be reserved for cases where the benefit is very concrete: Managers who need to be more productive in meetings, engineers who need better sharing and design features, and information workers who need a better way to store, locate, and backup their information.

What is recommended, however, is to keep Windows Vista in mind. In your purchase of PCs for the business, you should probably ask for a “Windows Vista Capable” PC, and if buying a Microsoft operating system very shortly before the launch, ask about a free-upgrade to Windows Vista.

While critics and cynics may deny the importance of the new operating system, warning customers not to expect too much of Microsoft, who has a reputation for unstable and sometimes buggy products – the new operating system shows a solid promise of new and useful features, better security, and improved usability design. As the most popular operating system for PCs, a new version of Windows is bound to have a huge impact on the way we work, play, and learn.