A whole new view with Vista

We take a look at Vista, the new version of Windows. How could you benefit and is it essential?

It may be hard to believe, but it is now more than five years since Windows XP was launched. Although numerous patches and updates have been released for the operating system, other areas of computing technology have moved on in that time.

Computing is now more dependent on the internet for downloads of tools, products and, of course, music and video. Windows Vista has been on the cards for some time now. It is finally complete and due to hit the shelves. But what will it really mean for you?

In many ways, Vista isn’t all that different from previous versions of Windows, so anyone who has used XP for any length of time should feel immediately at home. Delve beneath the surface and the differences between XP and Vista are significant. A range of new features and tools aim to make computing faster, easier and more fun, while other developments have been designed to make Windows not only more intuitive, but also more secure.

Much has been made of the fact that there are so many versions of Vista being released – a staggering eight editions in total – but some of these will only be available to large companies or in specific countries. In reality, there is a choice of three editions, which will offer different sets of tools as well as special effects.

For UK consumers, the choice will be between Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium, which can be compared with Windows XP Home Edition. More demanding users can choose Vista Ultimate, which is similar to Windows XP Professional Edition. To find out more about the various editions of Vista and their cost, take a look at the section 'Vista versions and prices’ on page 4 and look out for our comparative review of these versions in the reviews section of the next issue.

A new view
Take a look at Vista and you can’t help but notice the new design. Gone is the blue taskbar, replaced with a black one, and there is the option to use transparency effects if you have a suitably powerful graphics card. Gone also is the familiar Start button, replaced with a round button featuring the Windows logo. Click this button and the redesigned Start menu is revealed.

Efficiency is the name of the game here, and every effort has been made to reduce the size of the menu. What this means in practice is that sub-menus have been all but eliminated. Now when All Programs is clicked, there is no fly-out menu but the left-hand side of the Start menu changes to display the contents of the All Programs group. Similarly, clicking one of the sub-folders, such as Accessories, expands the contents of that folder in the same space.

To the right-hand side of the Start menu are links to frequently used locations such as Documents and Computer (the ‘My’ has been dropped), and rather than displaying an icon next to each of these items, a single icon at the top of this section changes in accordance with the option currently selected. While these changes are not dramatic departures from the familiar Start menu, they do take a little getting used to, but in time prove to be excellent enhancements.

Just as web searches have been integrated into web browsers, such as Firefox and Internet Explorer 7, so searching has been more tightly integrated into the Start menu. Just above the Start button is a search box. As you type into this, Vista scours your hard disk for files, program shortcuts and websites you have visited that match the term being typed in. The results are displayed within the Start menu itself.

More advanced searches can be performed by clicking the Search button in the Start menu, and from here it is possible to search for filenames, files containing text, files of a particular type (including emails), while applying filters to sort results according to the size of the files found and the last time they were changed. As you use the computer, Vista constantly updates its index of the hard disk to speed up searches.

What awaits you
The first time Vista is run you are greeted by the Welcome Center, which offers to guide you through the process of configuring the computer – tasks such as transferring files from another computer and setting up User Accounts. After this, additional settings can be changed from the greatly enhanced Control Panel – in Vista Ultimate, there are a staggering 51 main options to choose from.

New additions include Parental Controls, which can be used to place time limits on when younger family members are able to use the computer. Parents also have the option to block access to certain programs, monitor which applications have been used, record websites that have been visited, block access to certain websites or even prevent downloads for that user altogether.

To cater for a new breed of notebook PCs that feature a second small display on the lid, Windows Sideshow enables you to choose what should be displayed on this screen. You can choose between showing the inbox, what is currently playing in Windows Media Player or use a Gadget (a small program that adds a specific feature to Vista) to display other information. Manufacturers are showing early products now, so be prepared for a wait before you can buy a computer that uses this.

Many of the Control Panel options have been renamed in the transition from Windows XP, with Display Properties redubbed as Personalization. As is the case with most multi-choice windows in Vista, the Personalization option does away with the tabs familiar in XP and instead uses highlighted text links to provide access to settings in different sections.

Vista sees the addition of a number of new tools, while some familiar favourites receive a well-deserved update. Outlook Express has been given the chop, although its replacement, Windows Mail, is identical in all but looks. Fans of Microsoft Outlook will be pleased to see that Windows now has its own calendar and contact manager in the form of Windows Calendar and Windows Contacts. Both are fairly simple affairs, but are welcome additions.

XP’s Picture and Fax Viewer has been transformed into Windows Photo Gallery. This tool is not only used to view image and video files, but also to organise and edit them. Files can be added to categories and have tags assigned to them to aid future searches, while the Fix option makes it possible to perform basic image-editing tasks such as colour adjustment, cropping and red-eye fixing.

Navigating Vista folders
One aspect of Vista, which may take some time to get used to, is the way folders display their contents. By default, the menus familiar from XP windows, such as File, Edit, Favourites and the like, are no longer displayed; however, pressing the Alt key will temporarily bring them into view.

Instead of XP’s File and Folder Tasks, Vista displays links that provide access to frequently used tools. The precise option on display depends on the type of files contained within the folder.

At the top of every folder, the Address bar shows the location of the currently selected folder. For example, open the Windows folder on the C: drive and the address bar will show Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Windows.

As well as using the Tree structure to the left of the screen to navigate between folders, each of the individual components listed in the Address bar (such as ‘Computer’ or ‘Local Disk (C:)’) can be reached by clicking on it. Similarly, clicking any of the arrows displayed between locations in the Address bar makes it possible to jump to sub-folders in a couple of clicks.

Windows XP allowed for the creation of basic CDs, but Vista ups the ante by adding support for DVD creation. This not only means that files can be backed up to DVD, but by turning to Windows DVD Maker, it is possible to create DVD player-compatible discs comprising photos, videos and music, complete with a full menu system.

It’s good to see that DVD support has been included with the Backup And Restore Center, making it a useful as well as fun inclusion. Importantly, this provides a means of safeguarding data by backing up an entire hard disk across several discs ready for restoration when needed. Note though that the DVD creation tool is one of several that are not available in Windows Home Basic edition.

Speech recognition is something of a holy grail in computing and Vista sees a very good implementation. While ‘speech to text’ voice recognition used to be taken care of by the likes of Office, Windows makes it possible to all but do away with the mouse and instead use voice commands to access menu items and perform various file actions.

The voice-recognition tool can also be used to dictate documents to save having to type. As with all speech control tools, it’s not 100 per cent accurate, but the Vista version proved to be surprisingly good.

Security is probably the key selling point of Vista. Internet Explorer 7, with its anti-phishing filter and a variety of other security options, takes care of the web browsing side of things, but Vista has plenty more to offer.

Whenever an important system file or setting is accessed, Windows will display a confirmation dialogue box before the action can continue. This not only helps to prevent accidental changes that could lead to problems, but also thwarts the effects of malicious software. Not that this should be a problem as Vista, like XP, includes a firewall as well as Windows Defender to detect spyware and other harmful software.

As part of Defender, Vista makes it easy to find out which programs are configured to run at startup and provides the option of terminating any suspicious programs and processes.

Beyond skin-deep
Much of the attention on Vista has focused on the new look. While these are easily dismissed as mere cosmetics, many of the new features are practical as well as attractive. Transparency of title bars when using the Aero theme certainly looks great, but serves little purpose.

However, the enhanced program switching (accessed by pressing Alt and Tab simultaneously) makes it much easier to flick between open windows. The thumbnail preview, which is displayed when cycling between windows and programs along with a description, makes it easier to distinguish between, say, two instances of Word or two Internet Explorer windows.

The Flip 3D feature (accessed by pressing the Windows and Tab keys simultaneously) serves the same purpose, but the much larger window preview differentiates between open items very clearly. This is not available in Vista Home Basic.

Another handy program navigation feature is Taskbar Thumbnails, which helps to overcome the problem of differentiating between Windows from the same program. Hover the cursor over a taskbar button, and a small pop-up window will display a preview of the program to aid identification.

Three key performance-enhancing features of Vista are SuperFetch, ReadyBoost and ReadyDrive. SuperFetch is an evolved version of an existing Windows XP feature, which monitors the programs used most frequently and preloads the files they require to improve loading times.

Most computer users know that one of the easiest ways to improve performance is to add more memory, but in many cases this may not be possible. ReadyBoost enables you to use a USB memory key to extend the amount of memory available to Windows. While this doesn’t have the same impact on performance as installing extra memory, it still makes a noticeable difference.

ReadyDrive is a feature aimed at notebook PCs equipped with hybrid hard disks. As well as standard storage space, such drives include faster Flash memory to boost performance. Vista can use this extra memory to store files that are in use, which not only helps to speed up things, but also saves wear on the hard disk and improves battery life.

If you decide to make the jump to Vista, there are two options – buy a new computer with Vista pre-installed, or buy an upgrade. Before rushing out and buying an upgrade edition, it is important to check that your computer is up to the task.

Take a look at the section ‘Is your PC ready for Vista?’ on page 4 for details about the Vista Upgrade Advisor, which can analyse your system and advise if any components will need upgrading. The tool can also identify software that may not be compatible with Vista. If any programs are highlighted as being incompatible, now is the time to see if there is an update available or a completely new edition.

Many Windows users are going to spend a good deal of time deliberating over which version of Vista to go for, with the concern being that certain missing features will be needed at a later date. To quell such fears, Microsoft has created the Windows Anytime Upgrade program. This upgrade option is available in Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium and Vista Business. Home Basic buyers have the option to upgrade to Home Premium or Ultimate at any time, while Home Premium users can upgrade to Vista Ultimate.

Performing such an upgrade will not require a trip to the shop to buy a new disc, as the DVD containing Vista includes all of the various editions. All that is needed is to pay for a new product key to unlock the additional features of the associated version.

A number of computer manufacturers have sold PCs with Windows XP installed and a voucher offering an Express Upgrade to Vista. Although the upgrade process from XP to Vista should be painless, it is still a good idea to create a backup of any important data. See our guide to making the Vista upgrade in the workshop

A new dawn
Although Vista has received criticism, it seems that it’s been worth the wait. Some detractors point out that many of Vista’s new features can be added to XP free of charge, but there is still much to look forward to. Vista is a worthy upgrade, if only for the advanced security features, and it’s also easier to use than XP and is highly customisable.

You can expect to find a comparative review of three versions of Windows Vista in the next issue of Computeractive, but in the meantime, you can find out more about the new operating system by visiting www.microsoft.com/windowsvista. We would also like to know what you think of Vista. Email your thoughts to letters@computeractive.co.uk

Vista versions and prices
Windows Vista is available in four versions: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. A Starter edition will be available in some countries, and businesses can access the Enterprise edition.

Home Basic lacks some features such as the Aero effects, taskbar previews, DVD Maker tool and Media Center. These features are included in Home Premium, along with support for scheduled backups, Flip 3D and support for up to two processors.

The top package is Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. This version includes all the features of Home Premium apart from parental controls and media tools (although Windows Media Player is included). You also get drive encryption using Windows BitLocker, a range of networking tools and access to Windows Ultimate Extras – a range of downloadable programs and services only available to users of Vista Ultimate.

All versions of Vista are available in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. The 64-bit version of Vista Home Basic supports up to 8GB of Ram, Home Premium supports up to 16GB, while the others support up to 128GB.Costs depend on whether you buy a new version or upgrade from XP. Upgrades to Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate cost £100, £150 and £250 respectively, with new versions costing £180, £220 or £370.

Is your PC ready for Vista?
Anyone buying a new computer that has Vista pre-installed will have no worries about whether the PC is up to the task in hand. But those who have no desire to buy a new PC just now need to check that their hardware is up to running Vista and, if so, which version the PC can run.

Microsoft has released the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, which can be downloaded free of charge.

After installing and launching the tool, click the Start Scan link to analyse your hardware and software. Once the scan is complete, click the See Details button and use the button relating the different versions of Vista to the left of the screen to see if your computer will be capable of running that version. The advisor details any hardware shortfalls – such as insufficient memory – which may cause problems, as well as listing software that may not be compatible with Vista.

Aside from memory, a reasonably powerful graphics card is required to take advantage of the Aero interface, and both of these components can be easily upgraded if necessary.

Service packs and updates
A few years ago Microsoft caused headaches for PC users across the world when it launched Service Pack 2 for Windows XP.

The hefty download, which varied in size depending on how many smaller updates hadbeen installed via WindowsUpdate.com, was a nightmare for those using dial-up internet connections. So will Vista need such a major upgrade in the near future?

The only answer available for the time being is that updates will be required because the threats facing computers – and Windows in particular – evolve quickly. Windows’ widespread availability makes it a prime target for those who want to use malware for criminal or nuisance ends.

The company insists that revised security measures in Vista will make such a significant upgrade like Service Pack 2 unnecessary, providing that critical security updates are downloaded from Microsoft (this can be done automatically). But the truth is that we just don’t know. Should it be, then hopefully the widespread availability of broadband willtake the sting out of the experience.

See our workshop on how to install Windows Vista