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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCING WINDOWS VISTA
Previous Versions for Files
Windows has had restore points for quite some time. However, Vista handles this functionality dif-
ferently. Yes, you can still create a full restore point and you can restore from a restore point. If your
system experiences a major problem installing an application or performing a configuration, you
can still roll back the change. Vista adds the capability to restore just a single file. You can choose
from any of the previous versions of the file to restore just that file to a known state.
Multiple Clocks
It may seem like a small feature, but I already like this one. In previous versions of Windows, you
could see one and only one clock in the notification area of the Taskbar. Vista lets you have up to
three clocks so you can track multiple time zones. Chapter 5 discusses this feature in detail.
Should You Upgrade to Windows Vista?
Whether you should upgrade to Vista depends on your needs, how well your current version of
Windows is fulfilling them, and whether your hardware is up to the test. The decision is wholly
yours (of course), but the following sections offer some suggestions, depending on where you’re
coming from.
NOTE As of this writing, Microsoft doesn't have an upgrade plan in place for Windows XP Profes-
sional x64. Given that Microsoft knows the world is moving toward 64-bit architectures, you can
be sure that Microsoft will come up with an upgrade plan for your 64-bit version of Windows XP
at some point.
Windows 3.x, Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000
Vista requires a ton of new hardware, so if you’re using an old system that has one of these oper-
ating systems installed on it, you’ll need to start from scratch. Microsoft doesn’t offer any upgrade
path for you and it’s unlikely that your hardware will handle all of the requirements of Vista.
You have good reasons to upgrade to Vista. Microsoft has ended or is ending support for all of
these products, including fixes for problems that viruses and spyware can use to gain entry to your
system. Most new applications also require something a bit more robust than these older operating
systems can provide. The hardware you’re using will eventually give up the ghost, but you’ll prob-
ably give up on it first because you’ll want to perform the tasks that your neighbor can. These older
operating systems just don’t offer quite the functionality that Vista can provide (see the “What’s
New in Windows Vista?” section of the chapter for an overview).
Windows XP Home Edition
Interestingly enough, this version of Windows XP provides the largest number of upgrade possi-
bilities. You can upgrade to any Vista edition. There are a lot of reasons to upgrade Windows XP
Home Edition and many of you already know what they are because people have been creating
workarounds for Windows XP Home Edition shortcomings for quite some time. For most people,
the biggest reason to upgrade to Vista is the extra security it provides. It’s a lot harder to become
infested with viruses and spyware when the system is working so hard to keep itself clean. Of
course, nothing is impossible.
Home business users will gain access to a number of new features, not the least of which is the
small business support that Microsoft provides with Vista. You’ll also like features such as Game
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