Datasheet

Chapter 1
Introducing Windows Vista
Since the advent of the personal computer, users have wanted three things in an operating system:
power, stability, and usability. Windows Vista has all these and more in abundance. It features an
indefatigable 32-bit architecture, complete with built-in networking and the capability to run almost
every piece of Windows software on the market, as well as a new interface. (You can also obtain the
64-bit version for your 64-bit machine that contains all of the same functionality, but offers better
performance, assuming you can get the correct device drivers for your system.)
What does all this mean to the consumer, the person sitting at a desk 52 weeks a year who just
wants to be a productive computer user? It means a lot. It means a fast, up-to-date operating sys-
tem with a slew of advanced features that ensure the computer will almost never crash. It means
an operating system that can host the emerging multitude of 32-bit software applications, some
of which offer amazing facilities for professional audio and video recording, editing, and broad-
casting. It means a new interface, which gives users tremendous control over how the system per-
forms its tasks and how it maintains its connections to peripherals and to other computers.
In this chapter, I’ll give you an overview of Windows Vista: what’s new, what’s different, and
what’s under the hood. I’ll compare Windows Vista with previous versions of Windows. In later
chapters, I’ll expand on most of the topics I’ll introduce in this chapter, but you’ll find a lot here to
whet your appetite.
◆ What is Windows Vista?
◆ What’s new in Windows Vista?
◆ Should you upgrade to Windows Vista?
◆ How is Windows Vista different from other operating systems?
◆ What are the features of Windows Vista architecture?
NOTE
I used Vista Ultimate edition when working on this book so I could explore everything that
Vista has to offer. However, most business users will rely on Vista Business edition, so I'll try to
point out differences whenever possible.
What Is Windows Vista?
In a nutshell, Windows Vista is the latest version of the Windows NT family of operating systems,
or OSes, which includes Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Windows Vista Business comprises a
feature set designed for business users. Microsoft has actually come out with five editions of Vista:
Ultimate This edition contains everything and is the most expensive (and hardware intensive)
edition. I can see that many gamers and higher end users will love this edition, but it’s probably
overkill for most businesses.
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