Datasheet

Hover your mouse pointer over any name listed on your desktop’s taskbar,

and Vista displays a thumbnail picture of that window’s current contents,

making your window much easier to retrieve from the sea of programs.

Can My PC Still Run Vista?

If your PC already runs Windows XP well, it will probably run Vista, but not at

its best. However, upgrading your PC with a few things will help Vista run

better, a job I tackle in

Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, 7th edition.

Here’s the shopping list:

 Video: Vista requires powerful graphics for its fanciest 3D features, such

as Flip 3D (see Figure 1-4). Upgraded video cards can cost more than

$100, and they’re not available for laptops. But if your PC’s video lacks

the muscle and your wallet lacks the cash, don’t despair. Vista simply

slips into more casual clothes, letting your PC run without the 3D views.

Figure 1-4:

To see a 3D

view of your

currently

open win-

dows, press

Tab while

holding

down the

Windows

key. Press

Tab or spin

your mouse’s

scroll wheel

to flip

through the

windows

and then let

go of the

Windows

key when

your window

is on top.

Part I: Windows Vista Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know

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