Vista Unrolls the Features for All to See

Vista Unrolls the Features for All to See

Microsoft renamed all your old favourites and added a few more that will knock your socks off

Microsoft's new operating system Vista comes with a host of new bells and whistles, amazing features and of course a whole new jargon to learn, fortunately, the new language is pretty easy to remember.

The first thing we noticed was Microsoft had dropped their obsession with the word "My" in favours of a whole new terminology to sink you're teeth into. In stead of My Computer there is only Computer, how novel, maybe one day they'll go with simplicity. Many of the featured names have been dropped too, Outlook Express has now become Windows Mail as you will notice when you first try to e-mail. The majority of the new language refers to new features never seen before, but the best way to learn the new lingo is to use these hubs to learn about the new features - the terminology you'll naturally pick up the more you use it in every day business.

There have been specialized versions of Windows in the past - for example Windows XP Home and XP Professional - Vista is the full load of the segmentation of Microsoft's product line. There are four versions of Vista available on the market; Home Basic, (for users who want to upgrade but don't have PC's that run Home Premium), Home Premium (for the average user), Business (for the most businesses), and Ultimate (for the hobbyist and power user). Microsoft has also included an Enterprise version for large businesses that require special functions in their daily business operations.

In this hub, we focus very often on Home Premium, a version very popular with average users and offering the vast majority of Vista's most useful features. We also discuss the other versions in order to cover new features Home Premium doesn't include in its package.

Microsoft has included so many new and improved features that it will be easier to consider the major improvements in categories and we begin listing them below.

Security and safety for the data contained on Microsoft computers has been of great concern since Microsoft first brought out their first operating system. With Vista Microsoft has increased the security features in order to try to rid themselves of the reputation for weak security on their systems. Windows firewall makes a return appearance from Windows XP, while spyware fighter Windows Defender is now standard in Vista. Also a standard is Windows Explorer 7, which also offers beefed up security and a host of new features and capabilities. Vista's User Account Control prevents changes to your PC by prompting you for permission before Windows allows any substantial changes to the system. For the curious little ones, Parental Controls allow you to set the system up to keep prying little eyes away from the dark corners of your computer system and the Internet.

Vista is designed to allow the user to get more out of a work day with features designed with this specifically in mind. Windows Mail and Windows Calendar offer substantial upgrades from previous functionality of the programs. You can share you're event schedule with online friends, while Mail has improved security and a better interface than its predecessor, Outlook Express. Windows Meeting Space allows you to collaborate with others on your network from the comfort of home or office.

Vista comes with a new interface, Windows Aero, which is the most obvious difference when you first turn on a computer system using Vista. Windows Aero comes with many bells and whistles to entrance you, one of which is they are now partially transparent so you can see what's underneath the top window. The new Sidebar contains useful "gadgets" that allow you to put useful little tools within easy reach such as a view of upcoming events on your schedule, breaking news stories, or put notes on your screen so you never forget and new ones are being created all the time that you can downloaded from the Internet.

Microsoft has announced they will be taking computer gaming seriously with improved gaming game play elements and improved functionality. Games Explorer is a new way to categorize and browse installed games so you don't have to memorize in which file location you have put a certain game or under what name. The new DirectX 10 offers better graphics and audio output to improve the immersive ability of games.

Yes Vista does require more hardware to run quickly and efficiently but the operating system includes a host of new tools for improved performance and system stability. You can even use a memory stick to improve performance through Windows Ready Boost. Microsoft's new Self-Healing System and Shadow Copy features help keep Windows Vista running cleanly and efficiently if you forget to tweak your system. Vista even comes with Backup and Restore Center, a feature much improved from earlier such capabilities.

Microsoft has also built in some capabilities that are harder to see in action, unless you have x-ray vision. SuperFetch speeds the way Vista uses your PC's memory in order to increase the systems performance. Vista even automatically defragments your hard drives, before decreased performance reminds you of your neglect. ReadyDrive offers support for hybrid hard disks that might not normally perform well otherwise, which should offer improved reliability and performance. Vista new features keep an eye on your systems performance behind the scenes in an effort to head off trouble before you see issues and take some workload from your plate.

Vista comes with features for mobile computing like Windows SideShow, which allows compatible hardware to show information in a secondary screen on the device. Notebooks have received added attention this time, receiving better support with a new interface that allows most commonly changed notebook settings (volume, brightness, battery status, wireless networking, etc.) to be constantly monitored and changed in one location. Microsoft has included better support for tablet PC's with Vista so users can enjoy the full benefits of Vista's added features.

Well that's it for this hub. Join me tomorrow for more information on Microsoft's new operating system Vista. Happy hubbing!