Windows Aero

One of the features of Windows Vista is Windows Aero, a new user interface and visual style.

Microsoft product screen shot reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation

Windows Aero is the new interface and visual style used in Windows Vista when the computer meets certain hardware requirements

Windows Aero is the new user interface and visual style used in Windows Vista. With Aero, Windows is intended to be both easier to use and more pleasant to look at.

Some of the interesting visual effects of Windows Aero are semi-transparent windows, Flip 3D, and live thumbnails. The semi-transparent windows allow you to see what’s behind the active window. Flip 3D is similar to tabbing through open windows, but it displays images of the open programs in a 3D-like view. Live thumbnails let you see the contents of a file without opening it.

Windows Aero is available in all but the most inexpensive of the Windows Vista editions, Home Basic. However, Windows Vista delivers a user interface and style appropriate to the computer’s hardware, as the advanced effects in Windows Aero would overwhelm some computers. As a result, not all computers in use today can support Windows Aero. Only Vista Premium Ready PCs, not Capable PCs, can display Windows Aero.

Windows Vista features and applications

The newest version of Microsoft Windows, Windows Vista, has many new features and applications. Whether you’re interested in security, performance, Windows Aero, or entertaining and useful applications, this collection of resources will let you see what Windows Vista has to offer you.Information on the editions available, prices, and ways to upgrade should help you if you’re consider upgrading. Once you’ve made the switch, links to tutorials will help you get the most out of Windows Vista.

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Windows Aero	Instant Search	Windows Explorer	Windows Vista Security Enhancements
Windows Sidebar and Gadgets	Windows Vista Performance Improvements	Speech Recognition	Internet Explorer 7
Media and Entertainment Applications	Productivity & Mobility Applications	Windows Vista Requirements	How to Buy Windows Vista

All about Windows Vista

Windows Vista Overview :

Microsoft Windows Vista is an upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 2000 users. Windows Vista contains a dramatic new look for users used to previous versions of Microsoft Windows that has been designed to help create an overall better experience.

Some of the key new features of Window Vista Include:

• Windows Aero, a completely new GUI and unlike any previous version of Windows.
• Basic file backup and restore.
• Improved DVD support with the ability to easily create custom DVD movies.
• Easy transfer, a feature that allows you to easily transfer files from an older computer to the new computer.
• File encryption.
• Instant search available through all Explorer windows.
• Support for DirectX 10.
• Self-healing, the ability to automatically detect and correct problems that may be encountered on the computer.
• Shadow copy, a feature that allows you to recover deleted files.
• Improved photo gallery and control of photographs.
• Windows Sidebar and gadgets that allows you to add an almost endless list of different gadgets.
• More parental control.
• Improved Windows Calendar, with the ability to set tasks and appointments.

Some Other Specifications :
Windows Vista Released January 30, 2007

Vista-Capable Requirements:- (Vista without Aero)

Computer:	100% IBM Compatible
Processor:	800 MHz Intel-compatible
Memory:	512MB RAM
Drives:	20GB disk space DVD Drive
Sound:	Standard Sound card for sound capability.
Video:	DirectX 9.0 compatible video card.
Controls:	100% compatible Microsoft Keyboard / Mouse.
Operating System:	Windows 2000 / XP to upgrade.

Vista Premium-Ready PCs:-

Computer:	100% IBM Compatible
Processor:	1GHz Intel-compatible
Memory:	1GB RAM
Drives:	40GB disk space DVD Drive
Sound:	Standard Sound card for sound capability.
Video:	DirectX 9.0 compatible video card. 64MB of Video RAM (1440×900) 128MB of Video RAM (1920×1200 / Dual monitor support) 256MB of Video RAM (>1920×1200)
Controls:	100% compatible Microsoft Keyboard  / Mouse.
Operating System:	Windows 2000 / XP to upgrade.

Microsoft Windows XP

Codenamed Whistler, Microsoft Windows XP is short for Windows Experienced and is the convergence of the two major Microsoft operating systems into one.

Windows XP is available in the below versions:

Home Edition – Full / Upgrade
Professional – Full / Upgrade

Windows XP is designed more for users who may not be familiar with all of Windows features and has several new abilities to make the Windows experience more easy for those users.

Windows XP includes various new features not found in previous versions of Microsoft Windows. Below is a listing of some of these new features.

• New interface – a completely new look and ability to change the look.
• Updates – new feature that automatically obtains updates from the Internet.
• Internet Explorer 6 – Includes Internet explorer 6 and new IM.
• Multilingual support – added support for different languages.

In addition to the above features, Windows XP does increase reliability when compared to earlier versions of Microsoft Windows.

Windows XP Home / Professional
REQUIREMENTS
October 25, 2001

Computer:	100% IBM Compatible
Processor:	233 MHz  or faster processor
Memory:	64MB RAM Recommend 128MB
Drives:	1.5GB Hard Disk space CD-ROM or DVD Drive
Sound:	Sound Card recommended
Video:	SVGA Video Card
Controls:	Keyboard / Mouse
operating system:	Upgrade requires Windows 98, 98 SE, or ME.
DirectX:	DirectX 8.1 Included.
Other:	- DVD requires DVD decoder with 8MB video RAM. - Video capture feature requires 400 MHz or faster processor.
Price:	Upgrade = $90 – $110.00 Professional = $290 – $310.00

All about MS Windows ME

Windows Millennium, also known as Windows ME, was introduced September 14, 2000 to the general public as the upgrade for Windows 95 and Windows 98 users and is designed for end-users. Overall, Windows ME has the look and feel of Windows 98 with some additional fixes and features not available in previous operating systems.

While Windows ME includes some of the latest fixes and updates and some enticing new features, we recommend this update only for users that may find or want some of the new features listed below or for users who are purchasing a new computer with this operating system included.

New features of Windows ME

• Some of the most noticeable new features include:
• Revert back to backup of computer – Windows Me allows the user to automatically restore an old backup in case files are corrupted or deleted.
• Protect important system files – Windows Me allows the user to protect important system files and will not allow these files to be modified by any type of other software.
• Movie editor – Allows users to edit and or combine Microsoft movie files. Importing movies requires additional hardware.
• Windows Media Player – Includes Media Player 7, which enables users a more advanced way of listening and organizing their media files.

Windows ME Released 09/14/2000

Computer:	100% IBM Compatible
Processor:	Intel Pentium 150 MHz or faster. Intel Pentium 300 MHz or faster for users who wish to use the Windows Media Player
Memory:	32 MB RAM 64 MB RAM for Windows Media Player.
Drives:	At least 270 MB can take up to 410MB of hard disk space CD-ROM / DVD-ROM drive
Sound:	Sound Card with Speakers recommended.
Video:	Monitor with VGA or higher resolution.
Controls:	Keyboard / Mouse
operating system:	Requires Windows 98 for Windows ME upgrade.
Other:
Price:	Upgrade: $70.00 – $100.00 Full: $150.00 – $190.00

Windows 2000 Server & Advanced Server

Windows 2000 Server

Some of the significant features of Windows 2000 Server are :

• Active Directory improves manageability, enables security, and extends interoperability with other operating systems.
• Provides high-level interfaces for database access and Active Directory services.
• Lets you use COM+ to run component-based applications, integrated Web applications and message-queuing services.
• Transaction Services feature makes it easier to develop and deploy server-centric applications.
• Microsoft BackOffice is fully integrated into Windows 2000 Server.

Windows2000 SERVER REQUIREMENTS Released 2/2000

Computer:	IBM or 100% compatible
Processor:	Intel Pentium 133 MHz or equivalent 4 CPUs Supported
Memory:	256 MB
Drives:	1.0 GB Disk space
Sound:
Video:	VGA or higher monitor
Controls:	Mouse / keyboard or compatible
operating system:	Requires Windows NT Server 3.5 or 4.0
DirectX:
Other:
Price:	Upgrade: $500 and higher Full: $900 and higher Prices are based off amount of clients beginning price is 5-client edition

Windows 2000 Advanced Server

Some of the significant features of Windows 2000 Advanced Server are :

• The server operating system for e-commerce and line-of-business applications.
• Includes all the features of Windows 2000 Server, with additional scalability and clustering support.
• Increased reliability–ensure your business-critical applications are online when your customers need them
• Easier to use and manage clusters, applications, and updates
• Supports 8-way symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and up to 8 GB of memory (RAM).

Windows 2000 ADVANCED SERVER REQUIREMENTS Released 2/2000

Computer:	IBM or 100% compatible
Processor:	Intel Pentium 133 MHz or equivalent 8 CPUs Supported
Memory:	256 MB
Drives:	1.0 GB Disk space CD-ROM / DVD drive
Sound:
Video:	VGA or higher
Controls:	Microsoft mouse / keyboard or compatible
operating system:
DirectX:
Other:
Price:	Upgrade: $3,200.00 and higher Full: $3,600.00 and higher Prices are based off amount of clients beginning price is 25-client edition

Windows 2000 Professional : Overview

Windows 2000 is based of the Windows NT Kernel and is sometimes referred to as Windows NT 5.0. Windows 2000 contains over 29 Million lines of code, mainly written in C++. 8 Million of those lines alone are written for drivers. Currently, Windows 2000 is by far one of the largest commercial projects ever built.

Some of the significant features of Windows 2000 Professional are:

• Support for FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS.

• Increased uptime of the system and significantly fewer Operating System reboot scenarios.

• Windows Installer tracks applications and recognizes and replaces missing components.

• Protects memory of individual apps and processes to avoid a single app bringing the system down.

• Encrypted File Systems protects sensitive data.

• Secure Virtual Private Networking (VPN) supports tunneling in to private LAN over public Internet.

• Personalized menus adapt to the way you work.

• Multilingual version allows for User Interface and help to switch, based on logon.

• Includes broader support for high-speed networking devices, including Native ATM and cable modems.

• Supports Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 for greater bandwidth devices.

Windows2000 PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS Released 2/2000

Computer:	IBM or 100% compatible
Processor:	Intel Pentium 133 MHz or equivalent
Memory:	32 MB
Drives:	650 MB Disk space CD-ROM / DVD drive
Sound:
Video:	VGA or higher
Controls:	Microsoft mouse / keyboard or compatible
operating system:	Requires Windows 95, 98 NT 3.5 or 4.0 for upgrade.
DirectX:	DirectX 7.0
Other:	NIC required for network installation
Price:	Upgrade: $200.00 – $220.00 Full:  $300.00 – $320.00