Installing Windows Vista as the only operating system. Windows Vista history and OS changes When Vista came out

There were a lot of preconditions for Vista’s failure into oblivion, as well as factors influencing this failure. In particular…

...absolutely all the problems of this system grow due to its system requirements, which at that time were incredibly high, for example: a processor with a frequency of 800 megahertz, 512 megabytes of RAM (this, by the way, is the officially declared minimum) and, for a second, was required , 15 gigabytes of free hard drive space! Old-timers remember how overwhelming these requirements were by the standards of PCs of that time. Especially compared to XP, which required ten times less disk space.

It also turned out to be a complete success for working in an office environment. There was no new functionality even close to this - it was possible to make signs and print papers on other OSes.

Those who were waiting for innovations and revolutions also missed the tuna. The speed of Windows Vista was more reminiscent of a pirated piece of shit than an official licensed system. What kind of gadgets are there if you can’t even open the Start menu normally?

Gamers were also upset, because Vista had consumed all the potential of their hardware, and all this against the backdrop of the release of a new generation of consoles and the graphics card was about to be updated.

The majors are indignant. Because of a trifle, it would seem, but nevertheless. Windows Vista began measuring the performance index in parrots, which cannot be more than 5.9. IP is, let us remind you, the minimum rating for any feature, and even the most powerful ones on Vista have an index of 5.9, because it is affected by Windows Aero, which no one uses.

The compatibility of previous vital (and not so vital) programs with Vista is another failure. As it turned out, almost none of them work, which again hints at a piece of shit. Well, for those that do work, the speed is known.
...by the way, about IE - all the bugs and errors associated with it originate with Windows Vista.

The final kick in the ass was copying. We say Vista - we mean DRM, we say DRM - we mean Vista. To please the copyists, the multimedia internals of this system (in comparison with the same XP) have been radically redesigned. First of all, this concerns the DirectShow subsystem. Any video stream in this system on the way from the disk to the monitor is encrypted and decrypted a hundred times, and the kernel checks the video card for bugs before displaying each frame. All this creates an incredible load on the processor and memory, which is often visible even to the naked eye. There is a circular that slipped out of Microsoft’s internal document flow, in which it is written in plain English that unsigned HD video and audio must be thoroughly damaged during playback in order to avoid involvement with illegal content.

But enough copy-paste. There was some good stuff there, and at least today, when the hardware parameters are much higher than the requirements of Vista, launching it no longer makes you want to pull out the cord and squeeze out the glass.

Windows Vista is a well-known operating system for personal computers and laptops from Microsoft, which replaced the popular Windows XP. The development process of some programs is strikingly reminiscent of a combination of a spy thriller and an intricate detective story. Probably the reason for this is the high competition in the digital software market and industrial espionage, which has become more popular than ever, forcing developers to become extremely careful.

Creating an operating system Windows Vista- a typical example of this: when development started, its only name was the code word "Longhorn".

The greatest outpouring of indignation was caused by the stated system requirements of the operating system. At the same time, the developers tried to take this into account and as a result released several editions that differed in the requirements for PC hardware.

Windows Vista editions:

• Starter: Widely used as an operating system for underdeveloped countries. Installed on demonstration stands and low-power computers for the purpose of a basic demonstration of its capabilities;
• Home Basic: limited version that supports up to 8 GB of RAM (for the 64 bit version) and no more than 4 GB for 32-bit systems. This version does not support Windows Aero, there are significant limitations when configuring local security policies;
• Home Premium: advanced home version with expanded functionality (backup, support for Windows Aero, network connections from 10 devices via the SMB protocol, support for touch screens), but does not have the ability to join a domain, and also contains a number of other restrictions;
• Business: designed for installation and use in small businesses (no parental controls, limited multimedia and entertainment potential). There is support for working in a domain, a centralized security policy is enabled, etc.;
• Enterprise: extended Business version;.
• Ultimate: the recommended version of Windows Vista, which contains all the available features in the field of security policy, excellent support for the graphics subsystem, extensive multimedia capabilities, and allows you to change the system interface from one language to another;
• Ultimate Upgrade Limited Numbered Signature Edition: Exclusive limited edition with Bill Gates details.

The less resource-demanding version was called Vista Capable, which featured limited functionality and had a basic set of system services. At the same time, it did not allow the full potential of the computer’s graphics subsystem to be realized, because the requirements in this case would have increased by an order of magnitude.

Wherein, more demanding version Vist allowed you to experience all the innovations and advantages, but I didn’t like it either, because the system requirements at that time were quite high. Note that You can download Windows Vista in Russian for free from the official website of the developer (link at the bottom of the article).

It is noteworthy that this was not what the developers themselves feared. The creators had doubts about the correct operation of the video card in OpenGL and Direct3D mode, which could significantly reduce performance even on modern computers. The WinFS system was conceived, but was not implemented, since it reduced performance and had to be abandoned with regret - but abandoned.

But the positive thing was that users still noticed the significantly expanded functionality of Windows Vista, and its tools became much more attractive, because there were quite a lot of innovations compared to Windows XP.

First of all, the hibernation mode attracted attention: it is in it that the device goes into a state of maximum energy saving and at the same time all applications are saved - all open documents and programs, and you can return to normal operating mode in a matter of seconds. This feature is extremely useful when working on a laptop. The new Windows Aero interface did not go unnoticed - the developers spent a lot of time on it, but the result more than justified the costs.

The breadth of user settings impressed even critics: the desktop became three-dimensional, windows became translucent, and textures became much more beautiful.

There was an opportunity to customize the right sidebar, where users could not only add the necessary programs (widgets), but also provide themselves with additional comfort by installing currency rates, weather news and other usual useful things on the sidebar.

We were also pleased with the improvements in the built-in search system: it used the principle of indexing, which significantly saved users’ precious time.
A new user account management system has also appeared in Vista - User Account Control. Among its advantages is a warning before installing new programs or before launching certain applications. In principle, this allows you to install even malicious software in a safe mode - if the user gives the go-ahead for this, but it still allows you to protect the system from unwanted software.

At the same time, the protection itself, both from this malware and from viruses or unauthorized access, has grown quite significantly, and the reason for this is Windows Defender. What makes it different is its remarkably high efficiency for embedded software. Previously, such attention to improving security has not been observed, but it is better to act proactively than to clean up the consequences of a virus attack.

Changed for the better and approach to restoring the operating system to its normal operation: If you need to return to the previous state of your PC (for example, a week ago), this can be done using system restore points. This mechanism made it possible to return to a previously created backup copy of the operating system in case it was damaged or completely failed. And although the version is considered outdated, user interest in its releases has not subsided to this day, so we offer to download Windows Vista for free with Russian language support.

If not everyone, then at least many have heard about Windows Vista. Rumors about this operating system began to circulate back in 2001, when Windows XP was introduced. At that time, the new version of "windows" was codenamed Longhorn and very little was known about it. There was talk of adding a special panel where additional information would be located (a panel with gadgets), a new WinFS file system (it was expected that it would be possible to make search queries against it, similar to working with a database), and a new Aero user interface (using 3D acceleration).

A couple of years later, the official name of the new product was announced: Windows Vista. At the same time, it became known that Microsoft decided to abandon the inclusion of the WinFS file system in Vista. At the same time, every six months there were regular delays in the release of the final version. “We will release Windows Vista when it is ready” – such statements could be heard every now and then from the mouths of representatives of the software giant. In general, this approach is correct. It is better to release a later but stable product than to introduce a new OS that is impossible to work with.

Apparently, for the same reason it was decided to abandon WinFS. Microsoft simply wouldn't have had time to make Vista reliable enough to run while also introducing a new file system along with it. Its inclusion in the standard lineup would require significantly more testing and beta testing, which would result in a loss of money and time, and Vista was already long delayed. But all the other “charms” have been preserved.

As a result, Windows Vista was introduced on November 30, 2006. However, for two months it was only available to Microsoft partners by special order. The new OS went on sale at retail on January 30, 2007.

Why are there so many of you?

It was good 10 years ago. There was nothing better than Windows 95 OSR2 and everyone was happy (well, those who were not happy on Windows were happy on Mac OS, Linux, Unix, etc.). Then, one after another, new user versions of “windows” appeared: Windows 98, 98SE and ME. Along with them, Windows NT 5.0 was released, later called Windows 2000.

This same Windows 2000 became a transitional version from the old Windows, which grew out of DOS, to the more progressive NT kernel. Windows NT 4.0 was very similar to Windows 95, but NT didn't run many programs. Windows 2000 largely solved the compatibility issue. At the same time, the operating systems of the NT family were already divided into several modifications: for servers and desktop computers.

Windows XP was the first consumer OS from Microsoft, released in several versions. XP Home and XP Professional were introduced. The second is somewhat superior to the first in its functions, but overall the differences are small. Later these were added by XP Media Center Edition (MCE for short), XP TabletPC Edition and XP Embeded Edition for Embedded Systems. With Windows Vista, Microsoft went even further. Six (!) different versions for user computers were presented. And a year later, a series of server Longhorns will be released. In general, the freedom of choice is enormous.

Let's look at all versions of Windows Vista in more detail:

• Windows Vista Starter;
• Windows Vista Home Basic;
• Windows Vista Home Premium;
• Windows Vista Business;
• Windows Vista Enterprise;
• Windows Vista Ultimate.

The list of Vista options is compiled in order of their “heaviness” in terms of functionality and cost. The first two OS will be the most accessible. They will include all the new functions of the NT 6.0 kernel (related to security, parental controls, new search and others), as well as a slightly updated interface. However, the Aero interface, which uses 3D acceleration of video cards, will not be supported. Perhaps this will be the most significant external difference between Starter and Home Basic from the rest.

Windows Vista Home Premium will include special programs for creating multimedia content (menus for DVDs, video editing programs, photo albums), Windows Media Center (currently available only with Windows XP MCE), as well as a three-dimensional Aero interface.

For small businesses, Microsoft has prepared Windows Vista Business. This variant of the new OS is Home Basic with some Home Premium features. In particular, it will support Aero, as well as several other features. Vista Business may be a better option for some users who want to be able to work with all the beauties of the new OS, but do not need additional software for working with multimedia.

Windows Vista Enterprise will be sold under a volume license only. Microsoft is positioning it as a solution for large and medium-sized businesses. This OS is an enhanced version of Vista Business with disk encryption (BitLocker), multilingual interface, VirtualPC Express and others.

If you are in doubt about which Vista to choose, then you can buy Vista Ultimate, which has not just everything, but “everything-all-everything”. This version includes all Premium and Enterprise features. Not surprisingly, they ask for the most money for it, and on the hard drive it takes up 6 GB of space, which is serious for the OS.

Well, a little about segmentation. In our description of Windows Vista delivery options, we touched on this issue a little. Now let's look at it in more detail:

Of course, everyone is free to use any of the listed versions of Vista on their computer. This sign is more of a Microsoft recommendation for potential users of the new OS. But before you buy any of them, it's worth finding out if your computer meets the minimum system requirements.

Find someone worthy

I remember back in 2000, the author tried to install the then brand new Windows ME on a computer with a Pentium 133 MHz. About halfway through the installation process, the installer reported that this OS requires a Pentium 150 MHz processor or higher. Six and a half years have passed. Let's see what the latest generation Windows needs to at least run:

• processor – any x86-compatible with a frequency of 800 MHz or more;
• RAM – from 512 MB;
• video card – DirectX 9 compatible;

And this is just the official minimum. We did not try to install the OS in question on a weaker configuration. But Microsoft is unlikely to prevent Vista from being installed on slower computers. Of course, it is unlikely to be able to run it on completely antique PCs. At the same time, you won’t be able to see any of the beauties of the Aero interface. And in order to be able to participate in the work of this OS, and even with complete comfort, your computer should look like this:

• processor – any x86-compatible (or 64-bit based on AMD64 or EM64T) with a frequency of 1 GHz or more;
• RAM – from 1 GB;
• video card – DirectX 9 compatible (DirectX 10 compatible recommended) with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 and 128 MB of video memory (to run the Aero interface);
• free hard disk space – 15 GB.

Although video cards supporting Pixel Shader 2.0 are no longer uncommon, and there are already second-generation accelerators on sale that are even compatible with Pixel Shader 3.0, some users continue to use the older generation of video cards that do not have such support (all models up to GeForce FX and Radeon 9500/ 9700). It often happens that the processor and amount of RAM allow you to run all the delights of Vista, but the video card does not. In particular, one of the authors of the article launched Windows Vista on his own home PC with the following configuration:

• processor – AMD Duron [email protected] GHz (11 x 166 MHz);
• RAM – 768 MB;
• video card – ELSA Synergy III (NVIDIA Quadro MXR 32 MB),

The new OS worked quite well, although without the Aero interface. So if you are the “lucky” owner of an old video card and want to run Windows Vista, then you can choose the Home Basic option, saving on the cost of the OS (of course, if you buy a licensed copy), and you will also need less RAM for normal operation . But you can also buy a more functional version of Vista with an eye toward growth. If you update your computer, you will later be able to take advantage of all the features of the new OS.

If you are not sure whether your PC has enough power to fully use Windows Vista, you can use a special utility to determine the performance of your system. As soon as you insert the Vista disc into the optical drive, a program will launch that will offer to install a new OS, or determine the speed of your system. More precisely, go to the download page for a utility that can do this.

The utility is called Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor and takes up about 6.5 MB, which can be downloaded in 20-30 minutes on a good modem connection, or even faster if you use faster Internet access.

To start scanning your system, click Start Scan.

The scanning process will take a few minutes. During it, you are invited to familiarize yourself with the main features of various versions of Vista.

Upon completion of the scan, recommendations for optimizing your system will be displayed, some of which are required to be followed in order to install Windows Vista.

I would like to note that Upgrade Advisor incorrectly identified the system configuration where the above screenshots were taken. The computer has an AMD Athlon XP processor, while the utility insisted that this PC came with "Duron Inside".

Another coming

Installation of Windows Vista is even more simplified than that of Windows XP. Gone are the days of Windows 95/98, when we could choose for ourselves which system components to install and which not. Now you can choose from several options for the OS itself (Basic, Premium, Business, etc.). But this is only a distant semblance of the flexibility provided to the user before.

Now all you need to do is insert the disc into the optical drive, configure it to boot from it, and specify a few installation options.

You are immediately asked to specify the OS interface language (for now only English is available) and regional settings. Afterwards you need to select a keyboard layout.

By clicking Next you will be prompted to begin the installation.

In the third step, you will need to enter your registration key. Here you can set activation parameters. The latter will need to be done within a month, otherwise Windows Vista will stop working until you activate it.

Apparently, when buying a more expensive (and, therefore, more functionally rich version of Windows Vista), you will be offered to install simpler versions of the OS. We received a disc with Vista Ultimate, so the list contains everything except Enterprise, which will only be distributed under a corporate license.

As always, it is suggested to update your existing OS. This can only be done for Windows XP. However, in our case, we are installing Windows Vista on a blank hard drive.

The seventh step asks you to select a location for installation. A map of your HDD appears on the screen. If necessary, you can format the hard drive, delete the partition, partition it, and also download the driver. The latter can be copied from any medium (floppy disk, disk, flash drive), and not just from a floppy disk, as was the case before.

The process of copying and installing files takes about 10-15 minutes. After this, a reboot will occur and you will have to perform the initial OS setup.

ScreendownloadsWindows Vista

The picture displayed when Windows Vista boots is more than very modest. The above screenshot speaks for itself.

The first step to personalizing the new OS for yourself is to enter the main user name, password and hint to remember the password, as well as avatars.

In the second step, you will be asked to enter the name of your computer and also select a wallpaper for your desktop.

The last step is to set the date and time, as well as your time zone.

Afterwards you will be told "Thank you" and the process of determining the performance of your computer will begin, during which it will tell you what is new and good in Vista.

EntranceVWindows Vista

That's all. You can enter your password and get started. More precisely, further configuration and installation of the necessary programs;).

As mentioned above, the installation process for Windows Vista has been further simplified compared to Windows XP. Microsoft has finally abandoned the text-based installation mode, replacing it with a graphical one. It should be noted that this has been present in Mac OS almost from the very first versions. So the software giant has finally caught up with its “fruit” competitor in this matter.

Beauty will save the world...

This is exactly what Microsoft is confident of. To say that special attention was paid to the user interface in Windows Vista is to say nothing. Let us venture to express our point of view on this matter. Vista's new look is what will primarily attract users to migrate from other OSes.

Of course, people who use PCs primarily for work will not rush headlong to install a new operating system with dubious compatibility with old software just for the sake of beautiful windows and three-dimensional effects of switching them. But home users who spend their leisure time at the computer can at least take the risk of looking at the new bells and whistles of Vista. And we believe that most of them will prefer to admire them longer.

Indirect evidence of this statement can be found in numerous messages on our forum asking for help finding a Vista driver for a particular device. But there will also be problems with drivers. They will have to be updated. The trick where drivers from Windows 2000 were suitable for Windows XP will not work with Vista. And most manufacturers are unlikely to release updates for older devices that may still be in use. These include old modems, TV tuners, scanners, printers (5 years old or more) and so on. Some drivers will be found in the standard Vista package, but obviously not for all. So you will have to either update this or that device if you want to continue to use it, or not switch to the new OS.

But we digress. Windows Vista will support three interfaces:

• classical;
• standard;
• Aero.

As you can see, the classic theme in Vista looks a bit ridiculous. Classic "square" buttons, text fields, drop-down lists are no different from their counterparts in XP. But Microsoft has made many improvements to the interface to make it more user-friendly. As a result, when you turn off the default theme, things don't look as good.

StandardsubjectVWindows Vista

When Windows XP came out, many of its new users liked the new bright theme. Windows Vista, in turn, offers a further development of this idea. The standard theme will come with all versions of Vista except Starter Edition. The screenshots above show what it looks like. The window surrounds are lighter, but we think the window headers look more deserted. And, in the author’s subjective opinion, the standard theme from Windows XP is more attractive.

But Aero is a completely different matter. When enabled, windows that are not maximized to full screen become translucent, smooth animation is added, the ability to switch windows in three dimensions, and so on. But all this comes at a price. First with money (for a more expensive version of Windows Vista and a more powerful video card), and then with megabytes of RAM.

Immediately after installing Windows Vista with the Aero interface enabled, it consumed more than 400 MB of RAM. In addition, increased demands are placed on the video card. To run Aero, your computer must have an accelerator that supports pixel shaders version 2.0 and higher. At the same time, for normal operation, increased requirements are placed on video memory. For a resolution of 1280x1024, 64 MB is required, for 1920x1200 (this resolution is found today in 17-inch laptops and 24-inch desktop monitors) - 128 MB, and for even higher resolutions (for example, 2560x1600) - 256 MB. But until now, not every game required such crazy volumes. Now a powerful video card is required for a regular windowed interface.

Let's take a closer look at the interface elements of the new OS. Let's start with the desktop.

Desktops of graphical operating systems usually have minimal differences. All free space is allocated for placing shortcut icons, and on the borders you can often find various panels for calling programs and other operations. This principle has not changed in Windows Vista. As you can see from the screenshots, the Vista desktop is almost exactly the same as that used in Windows XP. It has just become possible to place gadgets on a special sidebar on the right or left.

GadgetsVWindows Vista

Gadgets are small programs whose main purpose is to provide some information. This information could be the weather, exchange rates, CPU usage percentage, RSS feed update messages, a calculator, and so on.

This idea was first implemented by Apple in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, introduced more than two years ago. Only there they are called widgets, and are placed not on the desktop, but when calling a special Dashboard program. Usually its launch is assigned to the F12 key.

The Sidebar panel has very few settings. You can set it to automatically load along with the OS, its location on top of all windows or not, the monitor on which it will be displayed (if you use two or more monitors), as well as its location on the screen (right or left).

Immediately after installing the OS, only 11 gadgets are available to you. Adding them is extremely simple - you just need to drag the gadget you need onto the Sidebar. If you want to increase their number, then at the bottom right of the gadget adding window there is a link that leads to a special page from where you can download the required gadget. True, their number is still very small. Microsoft alone will not be able to develop enough variety of these mini-programs. Like Apple, it relies on third-party developers. We believe that the latter will not be long in coming, as Windows Vista will eventually displace previous versions of Windows from the software market.

One of the new features of the Aero interface is three-dimensional switching between windows. It was implemented in the first beta versions of this OS. This is one of the “beauties” that can attract new users. It is called either by a button on the taskbar next to the Start menu, or by the hotkey combination Win+Tab. This switching looks very impressive: all the windows are lined up one after the other. Moreover, each of them is visible as if from an angle. Undoubtedly, this effect uses the 3D acceleration of the video card. This turns on various anti-aliasing modes, since all the lines of the windows and the text inside them look more or less clear and distinguishable.

A similar principle for switching has been used in the Mac OS X operating system since version 10.3. It is implemented using the Expose program. By pressing the F9 key, all non-minimized program windows are displayed on one screen. True, they are all placed on the same plane, and not in space, as is done in Vista. The result is that the entire contents of each window are visible (just slightly smaller), and no 3D acceleration is required.

If you press F10, all windows of the active application will be displayed. There is still F11, which removes all windows, giving access to the desktop. By pressing it again, all windows will return to their original position. In Vista, you can also quickly clear your desktop by selecting the appropriate "window", which looks like a wallpaper with shortcuts on it. However, unlike Mac OS, it is no longer possible to restore the previous arrangement of windows with one click.

The more familiar switching between windows using Alt+Tab has not gone away. But it looks different - the panel that appears during this operation has become translucent, and instead of the usual program icons there is a reduced image of the contents of each window. Moreover, if you hover the mouse cursor over any of the windows, the selection focus will be transferred to it, after which you can left-click or release Alt and the selected window will appear. A similar principle has been used in Mac OS X for a long time. So this will only be new to Windows users.

Windows ExplorerWindows XP

Windows ExplorerWindows Vista

Finder inMac OS X

Windows Explorer, a program for navigating the hard drive and other media, has undergone quite significant changes. In Vista, this program lost its window menu. It has been replaced with an expanded version of the regular toolbar. Other controls have partially changed. Let's compare them with those used in Windows XP and Mac OS X (in this OS the Finder program is used for navigation).

AddresslineVWindows Vista

The new appearance of the address bar immediately catches your eye. Before Vista, this element in Windows Explorer displayed the path to the folder where you are currently located. If you wish, you can enter your own address and by pressing Enter the transition will occur if everything was entered correctly.

In Windows Vista everything is much more interesting. Each folder in the path is displayed as a button, next to which there is an arrow that opens a menu with a list of folders in it. This way, you can not only quickly go back (by clicking not on the arrow, but on the name with the folder, you will immediately go to it), but also go to a directory located on another level. We think this is a great decision by the interface designers at Microsoft.

It is also possible to enter your own path. To do this, you need to click on the path, after which the address bar will take the same form as its counterpart in Windows XP.

FieldsearchVWindows Explorer (Vista)

FieldsearchVFinder (Mac OS X)

A search field has appeared to the right of the address bar, very similar to what is present in Finder windows from Mac OS X.

PaneltoolsVWindows Explorer (XP)

PaneltoolsVWindows Explorer (Vista)

As we said above, the menu has been replaced by a toolbar, some of the buttons of which are a drop-down list. But if desired, the menu can be returned.

PanelFavorites inWindows Explorer (Vista)

PanelFavorites inFinder (Mac OS X)

Since Windows 98, Microsoft has started designing folders like web pages. A special area appeared on the left side of Windows Explorer windows, providing additional information about the selected element, and also allowing you to quickly navigate to any partition of the hard drive. Windows Vista took this idea further.

If in XP it was possible to go to such sections as My Computer, Network Neighborhood and Control Panel, then in Vista so-called “favorite” folders appeared there, which included a directory with documents, music, pictures, and so on. If you wish, you can drag any other folder from the window. But this idea cannot be called new. All this has been possible for a long time with Mac OS X. The similarity of these two solutions is obvious.

LinestateVWindows Explorer (Vista)

The status bar has also changed. It now provides more complete information about files than its Windows XP counterpart.

IconsVWindows Vista

IconsVMac OS X

In Windows Vista, Microsoft raised the quality requirements for icons. If previously their maximum size was 32x32 pixels, now it is 256x256 pixels. The increased quality can be seen in the screenshot above. Even in Mac OS X this bar does not exceed 128x128 pixels. True, in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard they promise to increase the resolution of icons to 512x512 pixels.

MenuStart (XP)

MenuStart (Vista)

The Start menu has also undergone some changes (Start in the Russian version of Windows). The first one is the search field located directly above the Start button. In Windows Vista, Microsoft has focused significantly more on search than in previous versions.

Spotlight - searchVMac OS X

Apple did something similar in Mac OS X, when releasing version 10.4 of its OS. There, the global search is called Spotlight and can be accessed through a panel located at the top of the desktop.

List of all programs in the menuStart (XP)

Frequently called folders are stored on the right side of the Start menu, and frequently called programs are stored on the left. But the entire list of recent ones is not displayed in a separate menu, as in Windows XP, but in the same place, that is, on the right. Moreover, the entrance to subfolders is now made not as a submenu, but as a tree.

Well, let's say a few words about the games that come with Windows Vista. Their number and rules have remained virtually unchanged since Windows XP, but Microsoft has finally changed their appearance:

Solitaire(XP)

Solitaire(Vista)

Impressive, I must say. Microsoft did a very good job on the appearance of older games. As, indeed, over the appearance of the entire Windows Vista.

All at once

One of the features of Windows Vista Ultimate is that it comes with a set of special programs, some of which are designed for working with multimedia data. Windows XP provided standard tools only for playing the latter. In turn, Mac OS X has long been supplied with the iLife software package, the purpose of which is to work with photos, web pages (their creation), videos and music. There is an opinion that Microsoft equipped its new OS with very similar software specifically in order to more adequately confront Apple. Let's try to figure out whether this really is so.

One of the new programs introduced in Windows Vista is Windows Calendar. It is used to plan the working day, week, month, etc. user. I must say that its similarity to iCal from Mac OS X is quite significant. It is noticeable in the location of the main controls, as well as in the design.

AddressbookVWindows XP

AddressbookVWindows Vista

AddressbookVMac OS X

Quite significant changes have been made to the address book. It is not surprising that it was brought “to the top”, closer to the user. Its Windows XP counterpart was quite simple. The Windows Vista version of this program (called Contacts) has a nicer appearance and more features. In part, it is somewhat reminiscent of Address Book from Mac OS X. But the latter, in our opinion, is still more convenient.

The Windows Photo Gallery program is designed to create an electronic photo album. iPhoto from Mac OS X performs the same function. A quick glance reveals many similarities, although Photo Gallery is designed in the style of Windows Media Player 11.

Quite a lot of similarities can be found between Windows Movie Maker and iMovie HD. Both are designed for editing video clips, applying various effects to them, and so on. The same can be said about programs for creating DVD Video discs:

The appearance is very similar.

It’s unlikely that anyone will doubt that Microsoft copied some of the ideas from Mac OS X. Of course, the designers could have come up with some of them themselves, but not all of them, right? There are few coincidences in our world, especially such obvious ones. So we can state the fact that Microsoft now offers an OS with a software package similar to iLife from Mac OS X.

About management

Quite significant changes have been made to the configuration of Windows Vista. The control panel has been reorganized once again, and new features have been added to the standard ones. Let's look at some of them.

"Classic" Control Panel in Windows XP

"Classic" Control Panel in Windows Vista

All old icons have been replaced in the Windows Vista Control Panel and new ones have been added. Although the general principle of structuring remained unchanged compared to Windows XP.

One of the new features is the ability to create a backup copy of your hard drive. You can backup both individual files and all data on your computer. Here they can be restored. This feature was also present in Windows 2000/XP, but Microsoft did not include it in the control panel. We would venture to assume that the main reason for this is the insufficient functionality of the old version of the program, as well as its not very convenient use.

BitLocker DriveEncryption

BitLocker has been added for data encryption. Previously, information could be encrypted using the NTFS file system, but BitLocker provides more reliable protection. However, for this, a special TPM module must be installed in your computer. These are often found on business laptops. Previously, third-party software was used to use such a module, but now its support has appeared at the OS level.

The design and interface of the date and time settings window have changed. Some parameters were moved to other places, and the watch became prettier.

Setting up startup programs has been added as a separate item. In this section, you can set both the list of programs that start when the OS boots, and the autorun parameters when inserting a CD. The latter could not be configured at all in earlier versions of Windows. Only if using third-party software or directly through the registry.

We have already written about the advanced search function in Windows Vista. Especially for this, a separate section regarding indexing has appeared in the control panel. Here you can specify the folders (or partitions) on your hard drive that should be indexed first. Indexing will speed up searching through files several times if it is configured correctly.

WindowsMobility Center

Another “amenity” for laptop owners. All basic operations when working with a mobile PC can be managed through Windows Mobility Center. The latter include sound volume, battery level, wireless networking, connecting an external monitor, synchronizing with another computer, and presentation.

To better use your computer, Windows Vista can measure its performance, after which it is rated. It can be viewed in the Performance Information section. The overall rating is not the average of all measurement parameters, but the lowest of them. In our case, the “weak link” was the memory and video card. However, Vista still launched the Aero interface.

All appearance settings have been grouped into a separate “Personalize” section. In Windows XP there is also such a grouping, but the main part of setting the theme, desktop background, screen saver, window decoration and resolution are located in one window with many tabs, whereas in Windows Vista they are spread across different windows. But the number of parameters available for change has not changed.

Energy saving profiles are also configured in a separate Power Options item. Their configuration and creation has become more visual and convenient compared to Windows XP.

In Windows Vista, Microsoft added voice capabilities. Now the operating system can read electronic text and also recognize voice. Something similar has long been implemented by third-party software developers, just as Microsoft itself introduced voice recognition functions into the MS Office suite several years ago. Interestingly, an almost similar item is present in the Mac OS X control panel. Moreover, it has been there for quite a long time. Therefore, there is no point in saying that Microsoft has come up with something new.

The operating system user account settings have undergone changes. Now from the User Accounts section you can change not only passwords and access rights, but also disable or enable the User Account Control function, which may simply irritate some new Vista users.

This concludes our brief examination of Windows Vista settings and moves on to its administrative capabilities.

Connection with the people

The Windows Vista networking subsystem has undergone significant changes since the previous version of the operating system. The developers paid more attention to mobile users, modern Internet access technologies and security. You may notice some complication and division of one task into several and some restructuring of settings and objects.

Let's look at the "Network Neighborhood" folder, which has been familiar to everyone since the first versions of Windows.

Network (XP)

Network (Vista)

At first glance, nothing new has appeared, but if there are devices on the network such as ADSL modems, various routers, then they will also be displayed along with all the familiar computers. We also couldn't find anything similar to working groups. All computers are in one big list and the only way to navigate through them is to search.

In Windows Vista, management of network settings and devices has been slightly redesigned. From now on, the main place where all network options are available is the Network and Sharing Center.

The developers really paid attention to the network security of the operating system, making the computer invisible on the network by default. All settings related to network activity management are neatly grouped and well documented. Let's look at each of them.

Network Discovery

This option determines whether the computer will search for network devices and groups on the local network or not.

By enabling this option, the user will be able to open access to folders from the network. In previous versions of the Windows operating system this option was enabled by default, but again for security reasons it has become advisable to allow the option to be configured manually.

The option allows you to access shared folders on your computer. It has three parameters:

• access is open to everyone, read only
• access open to everyone for reading and writing
• disable access for everyone except the accounts registered on the computer.

The corresponding setting determines whether your printers will be accessible from the network.

Determines whether local accounts will be used to verify the user when accessing a computer from the network (only if the computer is not a domain member).

Password protected sharing

And the last, not new, but extremely interesting option Media Sharing controls whether your media files are accessible over the network. A similar function has been implemented for a long time and is popular among users of the iTunes player in the Mac OS X operating system.

There is a clear increase in functionality, but the biggest changes affected the depths of the network subsystem. To support modern technologies, and in particular the IPv6 protocol, programmers had to work hard on a new implementation of working with the network. Instead of adding to the old modules used in Windows XP, it was decided to write everything from scratch, guided by the latest advances in engineering. Many experts consider this action somewhat reckless, but the need outweighed the danger of discovering new vulnerabilities.

To complete the comparison with Windows XP, let's look at the folder that was previously called "Network Connections"

Network connections (XP)

Network connections (Vista)

At first glance, you can only notice the absence of a network connection wizard, which is now located in the “Network and Sharing Center” and is called “Set up connection or network”. Let's immediately talk about its main changes.

The first and most significant change is the appearance.

New Connection Wizard (XP)

New Connection Wizard (Vista)

It is now possible to create connections to a wireless network, which previously had to be configured from a separate utility. I was pleasantly surprised by the simplification of the procedure for creating connections, which is accompanied by good tips. When creating a connection, the wizard may show a warning that the computer is already connected.

Let's briefly look at the most interesting aspects of the new Network Connection Wizard. Along the path "Connect to the Internet" -> "Wireless" a wizard for connecting to hot-spots (wireless public Internet access points), which are often installed at airports, train stations and cafes, is available.

In this way, you can create several connections and use them as needed, activating the one you need in each specific situation. In other words, this is a fairly convenient implementation of network profiles.

By following the path "Connect to the Internet" -> "Broadvand (PPPOE)" you can configure a connection using the PPPOE protocol, which is used by many providers as an alternative to the resource-intensive PPTP (VPN). Considering the specifics of connecting to the Internet in our countries, it would be logical to add VPN to the same point as PPPOE, and not take it outside the “confines of the Internet”. It’s somewhat disappointing that the available options when creating a PPPOE connection have not changed at all since the days of Windows XP, although in practice sometimes you have to specify additional parameters and third-party developments will again be required for these purposes.

The wizard's somewhat ambiguous item is "Set up wireless router or access point". This section is intended to help you configure the found wireless devices within your range and build a secure wireless network based on them. After configuring the access point via the web interface, the wizard will prompt you to specify a few more security settings and insert a USB drive to save the settings.

Entering a phrase forWPA-encryption

Saving settings toUSB-storage

Creating an Internet connection via modem and VPN is practically no different from a similar procedure in Windows XP, so we will not focus our attention on them. I would only like to note that in PPPOE connections the network services “Client for Microsoft Networks” and “File and Printer Access Service” are automatically disabled, which generated unnecessary Netbios traffic on the Internet connection and contributed to the spread of the notorious msblast class viruses that used for its distribution, a hole in the RPC server. It is possible that with the release of Windows Vista this will not become the object of close attention of hackers.

It’s not clear why in VPN everything remains the same in this regard. Let's take a look at what has changed in the depths of network settings. The network connection properties window has now become modal and you can no longer open the properties of other network adapters.

In addition to the standard set of installed services and protocols since Windows XP, several new ones have appeared: Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver and Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder. Based on the names, they are now tasked with identifying network devices and setting up the computer to work effectively on the network.

XP)

Local Area Connection Properties (Vista)

Let us recall that in Windows XP the IPv6 protocol was a kind of add-on to network services and appeared only for the sake of decency. In Vista, this is a ready-made, well-functioning mechanism that gets along well with the fourth version of TCP/IP. Its presence is now more of a fashion than a necessity, since IPv6 support is not yet implemented everywhere. However, in the future, this will make it possible to abandon NAT technology, significantly secure and solve problems associated with the emerging shortcomings of IPv4.

SettingsIPv4

SettingsIPv6

The changes also affected the lower level - routing of network packets. Many people know that back in Windows XP it was impossible to split traffic between interfaces using the operating system. This led to the fact that packets from other network devices could be freely transferred from interface to interface; in other words, forwarding between interfaces was enabled by default. Windows Vista does not have this drawback, which may not be to the taste of some users.

Let's take a closer look at the implementation of working with wireless networks. Vista paid special attention to them, and now the system has advanced functions for working with 802.11 standard devices.

XP)

Wireless network management (Vista)

Setting up security on wireless networks (Vista)

It is worth paying attention to the safety features. The system automatically recognizes all available encryption and authentication options on your wireless network and tries to select the strongest algorithms.

We had Windows Vista Ultimate in our hands, so we were able to test its performance in a domain running Windows 2003 Server. Let's say right away that no significant changes were noticed either when adding a computer to a domain or when working on a computer, in comparison with Windows XP.

The Add Wizard completed its work successfully and asked to reboot. After this, the login window changed in Windows XP, which we were not able to detect in Vista. The only thing that caused criticism was the inability to select the authorization method (domain or local computer) in the drop-down list, as it was before. By default, domain login is set and in order to log into the local computer, you must manually specify its name. In our example, this is BUGZdolphinik.

After joining a domain, previously hidden capabilities opened up in some parts of the system. For example, a Search Active Directory button has appeared in the Network folder, with which you can find the desired person, printer or computer.

Having “desecrated” Windows XP Service Pack 2 with some kind of firewall, the developers raised the issue of improving it radically, which gave good results in Vista. It cannot be said that it has become a full-fledged analogue of the best third-party developments, but the necessary basic functionality is present.

Configuring protection settings (XP)

Configuring protection settings (Vista)

Settings

Settings

In addition to blocking traffic by ports, protocols and directions, it is possible to specify a ban on access to the network for individual applications and services. The default list of predefined rules contains 27 entries that describe permissions for local Windows applications. No other predefined ports could be found.

Externally, the firewall configuration utility has remained virtually unchanged since Windows XP, but you can manage protection functions not only from it. An mmc snap-in called “Windows Firewall with Advanced Security” was created for administrators.

New control equipmentFirewall

Kernel settingsFirewall

TabFirewall, dedicated to the protocoliPsec

SettingsIPsec

Of all the things that immediately catches your eye, I would like to note the emergence of the ability to import and export rules. Exported settings are stored in XML format in a file with the wfw extension.

The mmc snap-in allows you to use built-in wizards to create the necessary Firewall rules relating to one or another aspect of system protection.

Instead of a long and unnecessary description of the capabilities of setting up a firewall using the mmc snap-in, we will provide screenshots of it.

The Monitoring section displays the effect of the rules and the presence of potential holes in the computer’s protection.

Condition monitoringFirewall

The developers did not deceive us when they said that it was this part of the system that would undergo fundamental changes. Among the entire set of functions, I would like to note the setup wizard, the presence of audit tools, and the ability to export and import templates. In Windows Vista, Windows Firewall is truly a good system protector and will certainly help you avoid many of the problems known since Windows XP.

Summing up the overall result of the network subsystem, I would like to note the following: the developers did a great job on its implementation, leaving the necessary functionality in the so-called userspace (user space) and taking everything else beyond the reach of the mind of the average person. Thus, a Windows XP user can easily find all the necessary functions, discover a number of pleasant innovations, and administrators will notice a clear increase in customization options and a simplification of the already familiar actions of setting up a computer.

The implementation of the IPv6 protocol in the near future may cause many users to switch to this version of the operating system. Some modification of the main components of network configuration may at first cause inconvenience, but you quickly get used to it and you will notice that much less time is spent on performing some network operations and the process itself has become much more enjoyable.

Combine incompatible

On the eve of the release of Windows Vista, many users are concerned with the question: “Will my programs that worked so well on Windows XP also work in the new OS?” In this section of the article we will try to answer it.

So, what difficulties might the program encounter when running under Windows Vista? In various sequences, User Account Control (UAC), Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA), Windows Aero Interface, Windows Defender (WD), Windows Firewall (WF) windows, as well as dialog boxes of the operating system itself, which usually report inability to start the program (after which the application launch is interrupted). A bit much, isn't it? And if you also take into account that there can be several PCA windows per program launch, then it’s not at all sweet...

What will Windows Vista offer us if the program we need so much is “not entirely compatible” with this OS? Compared to Windows XP, the situation with Windows Defender (WD) and Windows Firewall (WF) has not changed. These utilities pop up only once (if the answer is positive or negative) when you first start the program.

Let's consider the situation with UAC. Its window in most cases appears before the program installation starts. It is at this stage that you allow the installation process to use full administrator rights and continue with the installation. The only way to get rid of this window is by disabling UAC itself, which Microsoft does not recommend doing.

Note that if Windows Vista “knows” the program, then the UAC window will have the title “A program needs your permission to continue”, and if not, then the title will be “An unidentified program want access to your computer”.

The situation with PCA is a little more complicated. PCA windows are divided into two types: with the installation continuation available and with the inaccessible one. Sometimes PCA may suggest restarting the program/installation with changed parameters (let's say right away - sometimes this helps). It should be noted that in PCA windows with the option to continue running there is a “Don”t show this message again” checkbox, which simplifies the situation a little.

Sometimes the program may not support the Aero interface. This is due to the specifics of its internal implementation (the programmer implemented “his” windows in his program, and did not use ready-made constructors, etc.). In this case, while the program is running, Windows Vista will switch the graphical interface to “normal” mode, and after finishing the application that caused the switch, it will return your beautiful windows to their place. Unfortunately, we do not know the reason why Vista cannot tolerate the proximity of shader comrades to such a program.

So, now we can make a preliminary conclusion - despite the global changes in Windows Vista regarding security policy, Microsoft programmers have done everything to ensure that your applications start and work correctly.

It would be imprudent not to do a little testing to run various applications. We deliberately used not the latest versions of some programs. Let's get started.

After specifying the tabular data, let's move on to a more detailed description. Let’s make a reservation in advance that we will not describe programs whose work has not caused any complaints.

Nero 6.6.0.14

"Good old friend" Nero 6.6.0.14, which performed well in Windows XP. This is the latest version of this package from the 6th series, which was distinguished by its "lightness". When installing on Windows Vista, the PCA window appears:

When I launch Nero Burning ROM (nero.exe), the PCA pops up again.

In this case, the “Don’t show...” checkbox and the “Run program” button come to the rescue.

When you start Nero Express (nero.exe /w) the PCA pops up like this.

At first glance, the solution is obvious, but after continuing to launch the program, another window pops up, informing the user that it is impossible to continue running the program. This looks a little strange, given the fact that Nero Express is the same Nero Burning ROM, with the only difference being that nero.exe is launched with the /w parameter.

The "features" of Nero don't end there. When uninstalling the program, PCA reports that it is impossible to remove ImageDrive.exe, but the uninstallation process is not interrupted and successfully completes. Out of curiosity, we also looked into the folder where Nero was previously installed. There really was a file called ImageDrive.exe along with a dll file, which Explorer deleted without any problems.

CyberLink PowerDVD 6.0.0.11

DrWeb 4.33.2.04140

When launched, the PCA window appears with the option to continue the program:

As for functionality, there are no complaints about the Dr.Web scanner, but as for Spider Guard, there are minor complaints. Previously, in Windows XP, after loading the OS, it showed about a hundred scanned files. Under Windows Vista this number is zero. Moreover, no matter what operations the user performs, this counter does not change. It's logical to assume that Spider Guard simply doesn't work. This may be due to the fact that it is implemented as a service.

Alcohol 120% 1.9.5.4212 and Alcohol 120% 1.9.5.3823

This program is one of the few that did not install despite all our tricks. After starting the installation, the same window always appeared

In Windows XP, such a window appears only if any other applications are installed without rebooting before installing Alcohol.

Bad Copy Pro 3.75

Despite the fact that the program installed normally, after launching its process hangs in memory, but the interface does not load.

Total Uninstall 3.61

When you start the program, a UAC window appears. Regardless of the user’s choice, the result will be the same - the program will not start. If the answer is positive, the user will be able to see a message in the UAC window

The Bat! 3.80.06

UAC only after PCA has started. In this program, the cart goes before the horse - during installation, the PCA window appears before the UAC.

When you launch the installed program, the PCA window appears again, which can still be hidden for subsequent launches

QIP 7997

Despite the fact that this program does not open any “extra” windows when launched, when closed, the PCA window appears:

Some programs may experience the same errors when working under Windows Vista:

1. inability to save your settings (WinUHA 2.0 RC1)

1. Incorrect placement and rendering of controls in the window titlebar (ZipMagic 4.0, Nero CD DVD Speed)

1. incorrect operation of services (Spider Guard)

CCleaner 1.35

Despite the fact that no operating system system messages pop up when starting the program, the program itself did not start, displaying the following message:

There are problems with the components used to develop the program.

CD Roller 6.40

When starting, a message appears:

Hide-IP Platinum 3.2

Despite the fact that no artifacts were observed in the program, when closing it the following window pops up:

KillWatcher 1.52

The program works correctly. The only program (from the tested list) that correctly reported its “problem” upon exit.

BlindWrite 5.2.24.163

The first launch of this program in the operating system is accompanied by the installation of its own driver. Looking at how some programs work with settings files and services, and taking into account the fact that the further correct operation of the program is ensured by the driver, we have doubts about its functionality. But all our fears were in vain. After a positive answer to the question about the need to install the driver (see screenshot), the launch was successful. Moreover, during subsequent launches no annoying windows pop up.

As a conclusion to this section, let’s summarize some statistics:

• 49 programs work exactly the same as Windows XP;
• 6 programs worked with limited functionality or with minor “surprises”;
• 6 programs could not start under Windows Vista.

A total of 61 programs were tested.

What Russian doesn't like driving fast?

A beautiful interface, many new functions, additional software and support for the latest network standards - all this is offered to potential users by Windows Vista. But the question arises, how will this affect performance? Everyone has seen the system requirements of the new OS from Microsoft. They are impressive to say the least. But won't the speed of previously released programs, including games, decrease? We will try to answer this question in this subsection.

Let's immediately make a reservation that at the time the test results were taken, neither ATI (AMD) nor NVIDIA had presented the final versions of their drivers for Vista. Therefore, it is possible that many bugs will be fixed in future releases, as well as performance improvements.

All testing was carried out on a computer with the following configuration:

• processor – AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (Socket AM2, 2.2 GHz, 2 x 512 KB L2);
• motherboard – MSI K9N Platinum (Socket AM2, nForce 590 SLI);
• RAM – 2 x 512 DDR2-667 Apacer;
• video card – PowerColor Radeon X1650 Pro (256 MB);
• OS:
• Windows Vista Ultimate;
• Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.
• drivers:
• Vista standard driver;
• ATI Catalyst 8.21 Beta;
• ATI Catalyst 6.11.

Before moving on to the results, I would like to note that some of the tests refused to run or install. For example, PCMark 2005 “hinted” that it doesn’t know anything other than Windows XP and doesn’t want to know. The same can be said about the younger 3DMark. The WinBench package for testing performance in office applications also refused to work.

results

With ATI video cards, Windows Vista works great with its own driver. We decided to check whether the situation would change significantly if we installed the ATI driver, so the diagrams for Vista contain two graphs: with the standard driver and the ATI Catalyst driver.

Let's start with pure mathematics. The difference in tests is minimal. Only in ScienceMark 2.0's Primordia test was Windows XP slower than Vista. Apparently, the latter was able to more effectively distribute the load between the processor cores. In the rendering task included in CINEBENCH, all operating systems showed the same result.

The memory controller built into the Athlon 64 X2 processor is used more efficiently in Windows XP. True, the difference is quite insignificant and does not exceed 1%.

And here are the first "oddities". WinRAR inexplicably runs half as slow with the standard Vista graphics driver as it does when Catalyst is installed. Still, archiving is primarily a load on the processor and memory. Perhaps the standard driver loads more of these two components during its operation. Windows XP shows the best results. True, they are only slightly better.

With the exception of the processor test in 3DMark 2005, all graphs lined up one after another with a small gap. The first is Windows XP, the second is Vista with Catalyst, and the third is Vista with the standard driver. As for 3DMark 2005, it is likely that Vista was again able to load the two processor cores more efficiently, which was the reason for this operating system to come out ahead. 3DMark 2006, as you know, uses a different test, which itself heavily loads the processor. For this reason, OS help was simply not needed there.

Something unimaginable happens in games. Performance in OpenGL games is missing as a class. There is an obvious flaw in the OpenGL driver. In the rest, Windows XP is also ahead, although not by such a significant margin.

The situation with OpenGL acceleration is confirmed by the CINEBENCH test. In Cinema 4D, which uses only processor resources to accelerate graphics, the results are identical for both Vista and XP. But where 3D acceleration is enabled, performance drops, whereas in Windows XP it increases by an order of magnitude.

Based on our test results, we wouldn't recommend upgrading to Windows Vista, especially if you're a gamer. Overall, performance in 3D applications dropped slightly. And Microsoft, ATI and NVIDIA programmers clearly have more work to do on OpenGL. In addition, until now, not a single final version of the driver has been released that supports DirectX 10. This is despite the fact that GPUs compatible with the new version of this API already exist (GeForce 8).

A curtain

We've come to the end. Having briefly looked through the vast expanses of Windows Vista, we cannot recommend purchasing it in the form in which it came to us. The main reason for this is multiple shortcomings, as well as increased requirements for computer configuration.

We believe that choosing the best Windows Vista option for you from the six offered will not be very difficult. But the prospect of upgrading your computer because of new beautiful little things is unlikely to attract the average user. But that's half the trouble. Much more important is the problem of compatibility with older programs. Windows XP was famous for the fact that it ran all the programs from old Windows. In the case of Vista, the opposite is true: some programs either do not work at all or work incompletely. Although, of course, supported products will eventually gain the necessary compatibility.

Overall, system performance has decreased slightly. This is confirmed by our tests, not to mention OpenGL, which will continue to be improved for some time.

One of the positive aspects is the good implementation of the network component of the system. Full support for IPv6 has been added, the built-in FireWall has been improved, and security against hacking has been increased. For this, the programmers from Microsoft can only be praised. Otherwise, Windows Vista at the end of January 2007 is a crude product that requires improvement. If you are going to switch to it, we would advise you to wait at least six months.

Quite often we ask the questions “What new in Vista?", "What is there that is not in XP?" Many, very many simply scold it, the way they sometimes scold books without even reading them.

Attention! The article was written many years ago
so it's time to study

Yes, Vista is demanding of resources, and it requires a lot of both RAM and disk space for installation. Let's see what knowledgeable people say (already said :-)):

1. Aero Glass interface. What does it look like and
What are the PC requirements for Aero Glass?

The new interface is a new way to graphically display the various dialogs and windows that the user sees on the monitor screen when working in Windows Vista.

Aero provides users with quite beautiful transparency and blur effects. Applications or other active windows are positioned so that each subsequent window is visible.

The depth (degree) of transparency can be easily changed, so you can adjust it to suit you, as is more convenient. Many people are interested in the technical requirements.

All the beauties fall almost entirely on the video card. In order for the Aero interface to be fully used, the cards must have a large amount of built-in memory, ranging from a minimum of 64 Mb to the recommended 128 Mb (although THIS WILL ALSO BE NOT ENOUGH).

I can say for sure that a volume of 64Mb will be extremely ineffective for the Aero interface. The card should also fully support DirectX 9. New wallpapers, cursors and other decorations harmoniously complement Aero Glass.

I will say that it looks quite attractive. In general, Windows Vista supports four user interface designs:

Windows Aero- this is an original design style with transparent multi-color window frames, used by default for computers with more than 512 Mb of RAM and a video adapter that meets the “Vista Ready” specification (DirectX-9c support is required, DirectX-10 is preferable).

Available on Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business and higher editions.

Windows Standard- Windows Aero with some features disabled (such as window transparency and Windows Flip 3D). System requirements are the same as Windows Aero. Available on Windows Vista Home Basic.

Windows Vista Basic- this is the original design style used by default for computers that for some reason are not ready to run Windows Aero. This style is also used when running applications in compatibility mode.

Classical- minimum system requirements, window design in the style of the “classic” Windows XP theme. Various color schemes are available, particularly those similar to Windows 98; the user can create his own color schemes

Windows Aero style

"Windows Vista Basic" style

"Windows Standard" and "Windows Classic" style

Moreover, many users do not even suspect that Vista is not the same, but has different functionality assemblies.

So, here are the MAJOR editions of Windows Vista:

Starter: distributed by Microsoft only in certain emerging markets in poor countries; has a symbolic price and many functional limitations, such as 250 gigabytes of maximum allowed disk space.

Home Basic: support for 1 processor (with unlimited number of cores) with 8 gigabytes of maximum RAM for the 64-bit version (contains 64x (64-bit) and 86x (32-bit) platforms) and 4 gigabytes for the x86 platform (32-bit ), read-only version of MeetingSpace, 5 connections via SMB, no Windows Aero interface, no ability to join a domain, no group and local policy editor, no EFS support.

Home Premium: support for up to 2 processors with 16 gigabytes of maximum RAM, HDTV, video DVD recording, 10 SMB connections, touch screen support, automatic backup, Windows Aero interface, no ability to join a domain, group editor and local policies, no support for EFS, support for Microsoft Anna - a function that allows the computer to automatically read specified text information (in English, there is no similar version for reading Russian texts yet).

Business: no parental controls, support for up to 2 processors, the multimedia part is reduced and entertainment applications are removed, the Windows Aero interface. This version of Vista supports domain work, policies and the EFS encrypted file system.

Enterprise: multilingual interface, Microsoft Windows services for UNIX, corporate multi-user licenses, BitLocker drive encryptor, reduced multimedia part.

Ultimate: includes all the features of Enterprise and Home Premuim, plus additional Ultimate Extras, a well-developed multimedia part, support for animated desktop wallpapers, and support for this multilingual user interface allows you to change the language of the operating system user interface at will.

Ultimate Upgrade Limited Numbered Signature Edition: Each copy is numbered and signed by Bill Gates. Produced in limited edition. Probably a VERY COOL thing (approx. A.D.).

2.Windows Sidebar

Sidebar is an environment for arranging gadgets - small applications that perform a specific role, for example, displaying the weather. Standard gadgets include a clock, displaying weather, stock quotes, exchange rates and RSS headlines, a processor load indicator, and a calendar, but the number of gadgets is growing every day.

Including, I think third-party programmers will supplement their number. The main thing Microsoft points out is convenient access to information in real time.

Windows Sidebar is another useful innovation, but for it to be truly useful and not, on the contrary, make it difficult to perceive information, you need a monitor of at least 19 inches.

3. Improved search engine

A) One of the merits of Windows Vista is the presence
improved search engine.

The changes simplify the search procedure as much as possible.

As everyone knows, to open the search application in Windows XP, you need to click on the Start button and then on the Search icon. After the search window appears, you will need to specify the search criteria and click on the Search button.

Total of four steps. IN Windows Vista you simply click the Start button and start typing the file name in the search box. As soon as you type the first letter, the search tool will immediately begin bringing up a list of apps, folders, and documents that start with that letter and display them in a categorized list at the top left of the Start menu.

As you continue to enter letters, the list will continue to be selected according to what you enter. If you select one of the items in the list, Windows Vista will download that file or open that folder.

If you choose to search the Internet, Windows Vista passes the task to MSN Search, which immediately begins the search and displays the results in the Internet Explorer 7 window.

B) Secondary Search Tool

If you select Search from the Start menu, a window will load in which the search results will contain matches, both in text fragments and in file names.
ШIt is possible to manage further search criteria.

For example, you can click on the Add filter button and select any of those that will be offered by the program.

If you want to add other filtering methods, you will simply need to click the Add filter button again. If that's not enough, Windows Vista's search tool can suggest Boolean operators.

To do this, you just need to click on the arrow next to the Add filter button and specify the logical operators AND and OR in the expanded menu.

B) Indexing

Vista has an Indexing Service that is designed to scan files ahead of time to ensure search results are returned as quickly as possible.

It runs once in the background and, for more efficient operation, does not index all external hard drives, but only certain areas of them.

4. Security

The main task of Microsoft developers when creating Windows Vista was to ensure maximum security and it is worth saying that Microsoft succeeded. Even if it’s not 100%, it’s several steps forward compared to XP.

A central role in providing protection is played by UAC - User Account Control technology, designed to protect the contents of the computer from unauthorized changes (a rather annoying service, I hope there will be more flexible settings over time).

The second DEP technology is Data Execution Prevention, a technology to prevent data execution. DEP is designed to help antiviruses prevent malicious code from running.

Another innovation is the Windows Defender application, which has received the status of a built-in application. The application fights spyware and adware. I will also note the protected mode of Internet Explorer, in which a virtual area is created in which Internet Explorer data is executed.

In this way, you can avoid the negative impact of various malicious codes. And of course PatchGuard (used only in x64 versions of the OS), which protects the system kernel from changes by other applications. As we can see, the virus danger has not passed the company by, which is good news.

5. Flip 3D

Live Taskbar - a miniature image of an open system window that pops up on the taskbar. This method of switching windows is most obvious when the user is working with Windows Vista. Along with this, the new OS retained the method of switching windows, which is activated using the ALT TAB key combination.

Windows Flip technology allows you to see a smaller image of each running application and switch between them. It all looks pretty good. At the top is the name of the current document or, if it is an application, its name. Below is the actual smaller, still image of the open issues.

You can either move the mouse cursor and click on the desired image. Or press ALT TAB, which will allow you to go to the previous window without accessing Windows Flip. Since Vista squeezes resources out of graphics subsystems, task switching performance in Windows Flip is high.

Flip 3D is a new technology in Windows Vista (only supported when Aero Glass is enabled). Flip 3D is activated by the Windows TAB key combination.

Flip 3D technology works the same way as Windows Flip, except that the thumbnail image shows each window "as is", that is, if there is any movement and change of image in the window (for example, playing a movie), it will be visible in a reduced form. These windows are much larger than those offered in Windows Flip, and are located at a slight angle, allowing for easy viewing.

If you are in Flip 3D mode, you can switch between open windows by scrolling the mouse wheel. You can also use the left and right direction keys on the keyboard to switch windows.

To exit Flip 3D, just release the Windows key and select the window that remains on top. By the way, among all the open windows displayed in Flip 3D (and Windows Flip), you can now find the desktop. This means you can switch to the desktop directly from these modes. The item is definitely convenient.

6. Parental controls

It is used for the purpose of controlling how children use the computer. Parental Controls are accessed from the Control Panel. Only the administrator and only ordinary users can set restrictions.

From the main window, you can select the user to whom you want to apply restrictions. It is impossible to impose restrictions on the administrator. Parental Control features are conveniently sorted and divided into the following sections: web, time limits, games, applications and viewing logs.

A) Web

Here you can limit the user according to many criteria, and the settings apply not only to IE, but also to other browsers (honor and praise to the small ones).

The very first option is whether you want to enable web filtering at all. If the answer is yes, the remaining settings become available (block of specific sites, degree of filtering (very strict, strict, medium, etc.).

You can manually select the elements that you want to prohibit (alcohol, porn, chats, etc.). You can even block sites whose status Parental Controls cannot check. You can also prevent downloading of any files.

B) Time limit

Here you can prevent the user from working during the desired hours. By coloring the green squares (allowed use) with white (not allowed use), you thereby prohibit the user from using them during the corresponding hours.

In games

In this item, you can set restrictions on the use of games according to the ESRB rating (Entertainment Software Rating Board, an organization that rates games depending on the presence of violence, sex 8-), etc.) or prohibit the launch of specific installed games (those available in the Game Explorer database).

You can ban games altogether. You can also set a ban on launching unrated games and limit games by content (quite a large list).

D) Applications

In the applications section, you can allow the user to launch all applications, or only selected ones. Everything is clear here too. If the program you need is not in the list, you can add it manually.

D) Logs

In the log viewing section, there are records of attempts to change settings and other information.

In mode limited by parental controls, there is no way to remove the protection. A lock icon is visible in the tray, indicating that the user is subject to restrictions. When you attempt a prohibited action, a message is displayed stating that this action is prohibited by parental control.

Prohibited applications and games are displayed as a lock and cannot be launched.

The parental control function is convenient and intuitive, its setup is simple and straightforward.

7. Speech recognition

Allows you to control computer functions using your voice. You can open applications, menus - everything you're used to doing with a mouse and keyboard.

Unfortunately, this function is available in only a few languages, and Russian is not included in this group. And I don’t have a microphone, so I can’t speak about the accuracy of recognition.

8. Technologies Ready boost, ReadyDrive, SuperFetch.

A) SuperFetch is a new memory management technology in Windows Vista that helps increase the speed of your computer by tracking the most used applications and speeding up their work by preloading into memory. In other words, your apps will start loading faster.

B) ReadyBoost - technology allows you to use most modern USB drives as a system cache and, as a result, gives a significant performance increase to the entire memory subsystem

C) ReadyDrive - this technology can speed up the OS boot process on a computer that uses a hybrid hard drive, as well as speed up recovery from sleep mode, and help save energy consumption from power batteries.

Hybrid hard drives are a new type of storage that combines traditional hard drives with non-volatile flash memory modules that can retain information when the power is turned off.

9. New DirectX 10 graphics API

DirectX10 promises a new level of realism and physics in games. Several games based on the new API have already been announced. The only “but” is that DirectX10 can only be installed in Vista; in Windows XP there is no such option and there will not be.

So if you are a gamer and want to play games with a new level of graphics, you will have to upgrade to Vista. I won’t write any more about DX10, as this would amount to nothing more than the same article.

10.I/O priority

In Windows Vista, applications and processes running in the background may have lower I/O priority. At the same time, active applications have more resources at their disposal.

For example, scheduled automatic defragmentation will be given low I/O priority so that it does not interfere with your active applications.

11. Redesigned network stack

First of all, this innovation will please gamers, because it will provide a lower ping when playing online. You can practically forget about slowdowns.

12. And a few words about small applications

1) Windows Meeting Space - designed to provide the ability to collaborate on documents and help conduct presentations over a local network.

2) Snipping tool - a small application that allows you to take screenshots, both full-screen snapshots and snapshots of windows or free-form areas.

3) Fax and Scan - an application for sending, receiving fax applications via the Internet. Allows you to scan.

4) Information backup - a tool for performing backups. Allows you to perform scheduled copies. But IMHO Acronis True Image 10 is the best tool for data backup.

5). Games - Vista has received redesigned games, and also received several new ones: chess and mahjong. Games Explorer is an applet that brings together all the games installed on the system and allows (using parental controls, see A.6) to configure a set of games that children are allowed to play.

6) DVD maker - application for burning discs. It has become more functional compared to the tools that were used in Windows XP.

7) Windows Easy Transfer - the application allows you to transfer files and settings from one computer to another (I haven’t used it).

8) Welcome Center - an application that appears when the OS first starts (and if you do not uncheck the box, it will continue to load automatically). Displays useful information about the characteristics of the computer, allows for a “quick start” - setting up user accounts, connecting to the Internet, plus links to useful resources from Microsoft itself.

9) WIM image format - the new image format is primarily designed to make life easier for network administrators who need to install Windows hundreds of times on the computers of company employees.

10) Mobile Device Center - the application replaces ActiveSync (an application for synchronizing with mobile devices based on Windows Mobile). Allows you to install new applications on mobile devices, copy music and documents.

11) Mobility Center - the second application is designed for quick access to the functions of a mobile computer (laptop, tablet PC), including muting the sound, enabling/disabling wireless adapters, changing the device’s power consumption mode.

12) Photo Gallery - a new application with library functions images. Allows you to view images and perform basic image editing.

13) Windows Calendar is a small, but no less useful application that performs the functions of an organizer.

Sooner or later you will still have to switch to Vista. And we won't have a choice. Everything (firewood, games, programs and hardware) that will now be released will be oriented for use in Vista.

And users of the “ancient” XP will only have to wonder whether this or that program (game) will run under XP, whether there is firewood for the new video card on XP. And I don’t want to leave the debugged and studied XP.

It's a pity that so far all 3D is limited to Flip3D. The main thing is that fairly strict security parameters are initially set.

Moreover, the main feature, in terms of security, is available ONLY in the new OS. Also the release of Vista = a new era in computer games (see DX10). And again, you can’t install DX10 on XP. So, friends, you and I can’t escape it.

Moreover, Microsoft Corporation, sparing no expense, is conducting a large-scale advertising campaign in support of Windows Vista operating system.

Give preference to Mac and abandon Windows - opinions

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Secrets and subtleties of working on a computer

You've probably heard stories about the different versions of Windows Vista and how difficult it is to choose. In truth, choosing the right version of Vista is not that difficult...

The company has created a couple of versions for home and corporate users and one more - “Ultimate”, which combines the capabilities of other versions. Other versions of Windows are just specialized versions that regular users can simply ignore. For example, "Starter Edition" is the equivalent of a version of Windows XP with the same name. A version, it should be said, with a very limited set of functions, but also with an appropriate price. The main market for this version is developing countries. There are also versions "Home N" and "Business N", from which, according to the decision of the European Antitrust Commission, Windows Media Player 11 is excluded.

As a result, there are six versions of Vista, of which only four will be available to ordinary users. These versions have a significant difference in price, but not every user understands what causes this difference. On the Microsoft website there is a special section Windows Vista Versions, which is designed to help with choosing the right version, but still this is nothing more than a marketing ploy, and not an independent review of versions. But today we will finally determine what lies behind each version of Vista, and which version is right for you.

Windows Vista versions

So, there are six versions of Windows Vista. In this article we will not consider the Starter Edition, because there is nothing to say: there is no information on prices, you will not find it on store shelves, you will not be able to order it in OEM supply. This version is intended for large institutions in developing countries and is available for purchase by developing country governments. Since this option is not suitable for users, we decided not to pay attention to it. This leaves us with five versions of Vista:

This table reflects the main differences in the versions of the new Windows. There are also less significant differences, but this table illustrates the differences in the features that users typically use on a day-to-day basis. It is almost impossible to note all the existing differences, so let’s move on to a detailed examination of each version.

Windows Vista Home Basic and Premium - for home users

There are two versions of Vista, designed, so to speak, for home use. And they are called very logically - “Home Basic” and “Home Premium”. Both versions have a solid arsenal that may encourage you to use Vista. Both versions have a set of standard features to ensure system security: a new version of Internet Explorer 7 with a super-protected operating mode - "protected mode", a radically improved firewall and Windows Defender anti-spyware software. But don't confuse anti-spyware with anti-virus software—neither version of Vista comes with an anti-virus application. Both versions offer the Superfetch caching system, which loads files into RAM based on system trends to reduce hard drive access and speed up application loading times. There is also ReadyBoost, which, in conjunction with a fast USB drive, can also speed up the system.

Both versions provide support for processors with an unlimited number of cores. If Intel can release an 8-core processor in the next two years, there's nothing stopping you from using it. If you plan to use a computer with multiple physical processors rather than logical processors, any version of Vista except Home Basic will work. Home Basic is also limited to using a maximum of 8GB of RAM in its 64-bit version, while the Premium version supports the full 16GB. But in the next couple of years this is unlikely to become a determining factor when choosing a version of Vista. All 32-bit versions of Vista are limited to a maximum memory size of 4GB.

But if you look at the list of built-in applications, you can find differences between the two versions of Vista. Speech recognition is present in every version of Vista and it is quite a convenient thing, although many simply don’t get around to trying it. Photo Gallery and Media Player 11 are also present in both versions. Editing home videos and saving them to DVD is the prerogative of the Premium version, unless, of course, you turn your eyes to third-party products. Premium games, including Chess or the children's Purble Palace, are included in the Premium version.

The versions also differ in terms of convenience and interface. Both versions include a new search engine that returns results as you type. Information can also be backed up and restored. Windows Sideshow is a technology that allows Vista to send information to a remote device or additional screen - it is not supported in the Basic version. There is also no Tablet PC functionality. By the way, despite the fact that in both versions you can backup and restore information, in Vista Basic it is impossible to do scheduled backups. The Remote Desktop feature is limited to incoming connection support. Meeting Space is an application for organizing collaboration, but in the Basic version you can only view, but not take part in, a “virtual meeting”. To become a full member, you will need at least Vista Premium.

Many will be disappointed by the lack of a beautiful Aero interface and Windows Media Center functionality in Windows Vista Home Basic. The Aero Glass interface is a stunning interface with transparency, smooth animation, glare and blur effects. Without it, Windows windows seem too plain and the OS loses a lot. But the need for Windows Media Center is not so obvious - in fact, these are applications that allow you to listen to music, watch videos, record television programs, etc. This application is available exclusively in Premium and Ultimate versions.

Here's a reasonable question: how did the difference of $60 arise between the cost of the upgrade versions of Home Basic and Home Premium, if the difference between the full versions is only $40?

Windows Vista Business and Enterprise - for those who work

While many of you are choosing between the two versions Home and Ultimate, there are users who should turn their attention towards the business versions of the OS. But, unfortunately, migration is more painful for corporate users than for ordinary users: the company, as a rule, allocates money for a new computer only after a couple of years have passed after employees began to complain about outdated equipment.

Vista Business costs slightly more than Home Premium, and the cost per copy of Vista Enterprise is generally difficult to calculate. The Enterprise version is available only through volume licensing, which means you will never see this version on store shelves. Both versions have the standard set of security features and Aero UI. Instant Search, Firewall with Windows Defender, User Account Control, Aero UI, IE7 with Protected Mode, SuperFetch, Media Player 11 and Photo Gallery - all this is available in both versions.

Both versions are very similar to the Home Premium model, except for the lack of Media Center, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows DVD Maker. This, in fact, lies the difference between the home and business versions of the OS.
However, business versions have something to interest potential buyers. Like Home Premium, both versions support up to two physical CPUs and as many logical CPUs (aka cores) as desired. But the 64-bit versions of Business and Enterprise boast support for as much as 128GB of RAM. Please note that the OSes are not intended for use on servers - new generation server OSes will appear somewhat later and will support more processors and, possibly, more RAM.

One of the most interesting technologies implemented in the Business and Enterprise versions is Volume Shadow Copy. This technology was first included in Windows XP, but was extremely limited in its capabilities. The version used in Vista is a copy of that from Windows Server 2003. The idea is that when a file changes, the system takes “snapshots” and stores the original copy of the file. Now, when you right-click on a file and select Properties, you can restore the previous version of the file. This is written in detail on the Microsoft website. Volume Shadow Copy allows you to take snapshots of even currently open files, but it is especially useful if you accidentally saved a modified document under a new name or other similar errors. Scanning and faxing capabilities can also be useful in the office.

These versions of Vista include Rights Management Services, which were designed for office use. RMS is DRM (Digital Rights Management) for corporate email, documents and web pages located on the corporate network. The services will help you encrypt information and assign rights to who can decrypt what. Administrators can restrict certain features such as copy, delete, and print. Other technologies used are more related to client/server relationships, including IIS7 Web Server and offline file/folder support.
Another interesting technology present in the Enterprise version (not present in Business) is an entire hard drive encryption technology called BitLocker. The technology requires a “Trusted Platform Module” hardware module or a special USB key and is designed for use in large companies where conventional password protection is not enough to ensure information security.

Windows Vista Ultimate and choosing the right version

The flagship of the Vista line, Windows Vista Ultimate, has at its disposal everything that other versions could boast of. All the multimedia features of Home Premium, such as Media Center and Windows Movie Maker, coupled with BitLocker, Volume Shadow Copy, Rights Management Services and a full-featured Meeting Space, give the user everything you can dream of. Ultimate has one thing that none of the other versions have. Its name is Windows Ultimate Extras.

What are "Ultimate Extras?" If you're a proud owner of Vista Ultimate, you'll see Ultimate Extras in the Windows Update applet. Microsoft itself describes them as "apps, services and tips" designed exclusively for Vista Ultimate users. Unfortunately, in all previous beta releases of Vista and even in the RTM version, this online repository is empty. But today it is already known what will be included in the composition.

So where does it stop? We sincerely recommend that you stop using the Home Basic version. It's a shame to lose the 3D-accelerated Aero UI and Media Center, even if you don't plan on purchasing a TV tuner. If you're considering Home Basic only because you're worried your computer is too weak for Vista, you might want to stick with Windows XP.

For most home users, the Home Premium version will be the ideal option. It also has a new Aero interface and rich multimedia capabilities.

The Business and Enterprise versions are great for office work. It's sort of like Home Premium plus some useful office add-ons minus Media Center. If the Business version had Media Center, then this version could be an excellent alternative for experienced home users. On the other hand, there are too few new features for the home user to pay extra money for.

Ultimate is the best option, but its price is steep! Of course, all prices mentioned are indicative and they should be slightly lower. The boxed full version of Windows XP Home costs $199 or $99 for the upgrade version. Windows XP Professional costs $100 more. There are no such prices in the real world, so you can expect Vista to not cost as much as previously stated. $259 for the upgrade and $400 for the full version is too expensive. What it does for average home users doesn't explain the huge price difference over Home Premium. The only significant difference between Ultimate and the business version is the presence of Media Center.

How much does Vista Ultimate Extras affect the price? If Microsoft manages to popularize this idea with some useful applications and services, Ultimate will probably become wildly popular. If not, many will opt for Home Premium.

Buy Windows XP Today: Upgrade Coupons

Microsoft is also offering coupons for a free upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista when you purchase Windows XP today. Well, let’s say it’s relatively free, because you need to pay the cost of shipping and packaging. However, this option will cost users much less than purchasing even the upgrade version.
If you buy a computer today with Windows XP installed, many computer manufacturers will be able to offer you a free upgrade. If you purchase your computer from a reseller, this is also not a problem. The main thing is to get a serial number or ID. If you buy the boxed version of XP, it makes it even easier to get the Express Update.

However, there is a problem with OEM versions of Windows XP. These versions can be purchased from some stores, but these stores must be authorized to sell Windows. In such stores, you also receive a serial number along with your copy of Windows XP.

Most of these resellers will happily sell you Windows XP with some hardware, such as a hard drive, motherboard, or CPU. This is where the problems begin. The Vista Upgrade Coupon states: "...the purpose of this coupon is to allow customers who purchased a fully assembled computer with Windows XP installed to upgrade to Windows Vista at a special offer."

Pay attention to the phrase “a fully assembled computer with Windows XP installed.” That is, the offer does not apply to those who decide to buy the OEM version of Windows XP with a motherboard or other system component. So do not expect to receive a free upgrade when purchasing the OEM version Windows XP from some reseller.