Windows Vista: New and improved

Filesystem changes
Although the relational filesystem WinFS was dropped early on in the Vista project, there are still big changes in the way files are handled. Partly in response to user feedback, the structure and naming of some key folders has been modified.

Long names containing spaces, such as ‘Documents and settings’ have been shortened to ‘Documents’ in this case.

Folders such as Pictures, Music and Videos are now peers of the Documents folder, rather than sub-folders, and new user folders have been added, including Saved Games, Downloads and Searches. This latter folder stores preset and user-saved search terms to help you find items quickly – recently changed and recent emails are two presets.

Additionally, in the Business, Enterprise and Ultimate editions, versioning of files is supported, so you can roll back a data file to any previous version.

Mobile computing
The Mobility Center gathers together in one place many controls commonly used by mobile users. Instead of having to click on multiple control panel items to adjust properties such as power settings, wireless connectivity and screen brightness, these are all in a single user interface, which can be augmented by manufacturers to include items specific to their hardware.

Also included are external display controls, synchronisation, and screen rotation for Tablet PCs. A new addition is the Presentation Settings control; when you’re giving a presentation, you don’t want screensavers, system and instant messaging pop-ups or comedy desktop wallpaper to distract you and your audience.

The new control allows you to turn off these distractions. They are automatically re-enabled when you disconnect your PC from the projector or external monitor.

Connecting and configuring external monitors has been simplified, with easy-to-use dialogues and network projectors now supported natively at the operating system level (except in Vista Home Basic).

A new Sync Center deals with all mobile device synchronisation, removing the need for using Active Sync for Pocket PC/Windows Mobile PDAs or smartphones.

Energy saving
The new Sleep power state in Vista is a hybrid of the existing standby and hibernate modes, and is automatically enabled if your PC supports it. Putting your PC to sleep places it rapidly in standby; if the battery then runs low it will automatically save your work to hard disk and turn off the computer.

Waking and sleeping in Windows Vista is also much faster than in Windows XP – partly due to the ability of Superfetch to make intelligent guesses as to which areas of memory to save and restore.

Speech recognition
A new built-in speech recognition engine allows sophisticated voice control of your PC, either for dictation or keyboard and program control. The tutorial doubles as an initial training session, so you can get up and running as quickly as possible.

Colour management
Sophisticated colour management is introduced with the Windows Color System. It goes way beyond the power of ICC colour profiles and allows native support of high bit-depth, camera Raw files and high dynamic range images, as well as printers that use more than four ink colours.

Compatibility with existing ICC formats is retained, while increasing the operating system‘s ability to deal with advanced colour imaging features.