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BOOT CAMP 445 (10/10/06)
Windows Vista Revisited
Windows
Vista has been a long time coming but the wait is almost over and the new
operating system goes on sale in the US in a few weeks; the European launch
follows in January. Don’t worry, it’s not going to make Windows XP obsolete
just yet but there is a fair chance that it will be on the next PC that you
buy.
We’ve been
following Vista’s progress since the earliest days, and it has never been far
from controversy. Back in 2002, when it was still known by its Microsoft
codename ‘Longhorn’, Bill Gates confidently predicted that it would be
available in late 2004 or early 2005. With hindsight that somewhat optimistic
forecast shouldn’t have come as a surprise and almost every version of Windows
has been late arriving. A last minute hitch is still possible; Microsoft has an
unresolved antitrust dispute with the EU that could set things back, but this
time is different.
Unlike the
switch from Windows 98 to Windows XP there should be fewer technical
step-changes for users to grapple with and in contrast with previous versions
of Windows, which were developed and tested mostly behind closed doors,
Longhorn and now Vista have had a very public gestation. We have known for at
least the last couple of years what the new operating system will look like,
and what it can do and if you don’t even have to wait until January to see what
all the fuss is about as fully functioning trial versions are now freely
available -- see this week’s Top Tip.
The last time we looked at Vista it was still in Beta form
and although it was quite polished it would have been a little unfair to make
too many comments. However, in September Microsoft issued Release Candidate 1
(RC1), and this is more or less the final version, so having lived with it for
a few weeks it’s time for a few observations
Overall Vista gets the thumbs up. There’s no denying that
it is very pretty to look at, especially on faster PCs with decent graphics
adaptors that supports the fancy ‘Aeroglass’ interface; needless to say this
includes the build-it-yourself Daily Telegraph Mk II PC (see Boot Camps 436 -
441).
I suspect that the 3D ‘Flip’ feature is going to sell a lot
of Vista PCs. Pressing Winkey + Tab switches the screen to a smart-looking 3D
display showing live ‘thumbnails’ of all open Windows, so you can switch
between applications. It’s not exactly a new idea and basically it does the
same thing as pressing Alt + Tab on a Windows 9x or XP computer but it is
really eye-catching.
Thumbnails pop up all over the place, even icons on the
taskbar magically transform into little pictures when you hover the mouse
pointer over them. Window colour and transparency can all be varied and you can
fill the side of the screen with little toys, called ‘gadgets’ that do
everything from tell you the time to running slideshows of your favourite
pictures.
Behind all the glitz there have been some important changes
to the way the Windows filing system works and this is a direct response to the
dramatic change in the way we use PCs nowadays. Word processing, web browsing
and emailing are still the main reason most people buy a PC but increasingly
hard disc drives are filled to overflowing with pictures, music tracks and
videos. Vista makes it easy to navigate your way around your PC and find files
though the re-designed Start menu, system-wide ‘Search’ boxes and new-look
Explorer interface, again with thumbnail previews or ‘Live icons’ playing a key
role.
Overall security is much improved, though some aspects can
be quite irritating, in particular a feature called User Account Control (UAC).
This aggressively protects Windows from unauthorised changes by continually
asking the user to obtain permission. It has been toned down a little in RC1 but
users can still expect to see a lot of annoying pop-up boxes until they have
discovered how to switch it off (see this Top
Tip). Windows Mail, the refurbished Outlook Express has a new Junk Mail
Filter and some useful anti Phishing tools. Needless to say a small army of
hackers and virus writers are already hard at work looking for chinks in
Vista’s armour; Microsoft claims it will be a tough nut to crack, we shall see…
Vista’s stunning good looks, ease of use, multimedia
facilities and plethora of toys will prove popular with home users (and really
annoy Mac fans). Microsoft may have a harder time convincing corporate users to
upgrade, though, and I wouldn’t mind betting there will be some concern over
all of the flashy distractions. There are still a few rough edges but overall
it is a worthy successor to XP, but don’t take my word for it, if you have a
Vista capable PC try it for yourself.
NEXT WEEK – Installing Linux
JARGON FILTER
BETA
Pre-release
version of a program or application, made available to testers and volunteers
on an at-their-own-risk basis, to help identify any last remaining bugs,
glitches and conflicts
PHISHING
Fraudulent
practice of sending emails, usually purporting to come from financial
institutions -- banks, building societies etc. -- requesting details of bank or
credit cards
WINDOWS
9x
Shorthand
for pre XP Windows, i.e. Windows 95, 98, SE and ME
TOP TIP
In the coming weeks Look out
for copies of Windows Vista on computer magazine front covers or you can
download it now from the Microsoft website. Before you install Vista, though, you would
be well advised to check the system requirements, as it will not work properly
on older or underpowered machines. You should also be aware that Microsoft
takes no responsibility for your PC’s well being if Vista messes it up so don’t
run it on your main PC or any ‘mission critical’ machines. Don’t get too
attached to it either as it will stop working, probably on or around June 1st
2007, and it is not still clear whether or not it will be possible to upgrade
to the commercial program from RC1. For more details about how to download and
install Vista see Boot Camp 431.
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© R. Maybury 2006, 0410
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