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Aero User Experience |
Certain versions of Vista will feature a new user interface
(GUI) named Windows Aero™, which is both efficient and
beautiful. This new interface makes it easier than ever
before to find your way around the operating system. It even
makes it easier to accomplish multiple tasks at once by
providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of
all of your open applications and documents. (note Aero also
requires certain minimum computer hardware requirements). |
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Flip 3D |
 In
addition to Windows Flip (ALT+TAB) Windows® Flip 3D utilizes
the 3D capabilities in Windows Vista™ to quickly flip
through, preview and select windows and apps. It is
activated by Windows Key + TAB.
This is a
fun and easy way to quickly preview the content in open
Windows, providing much more detail than traditional TAB
switching. |
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Windows Sidebar Widgets |
This features a transparent panel anchored to the side of
the screen where a user can place Desktop Gadgets,
which are small applets designed for a specialized purpose
(such as displaying the weather, news, stock quotes, RSS
feeds, clocks and calendars, application controls,
mini-games and puzzles, etc). The sidebar does not waste
screen real estate because you can set it to hide behind
maximized Windows. Microsoft Windows Vista comes with an
essential set of gadgets to get you started. You can easily
download more gadgets from an online
gadget gallery. |
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Windows SuperFetch |
Windows SuperFetch, a new technology in Windows Vista,
allows applications and files to load much faster than on
Windows XP-based computers. SuperFetch understands which
applications you use most, and preloads these applications
into memory, so your system is more responsive. SuperFetch
uses an intelligent prioritization scheme that understands
which applications you use most often, and can even
differentiate which applications you are likely to use at
different times, so that your computer is ready to do what
you want it to do. Windows Vista can also prioritize your
applications over background tasks, so that when you return
to your machine after leaving it idle, it's still
responsive. |
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ReadyBoost |
Windows Vista introduces a new concept in adding memory to a
system. Windows ReadyBoost is a disk caching technology lets
users use a removable flash memory device, such as a USB
thumb drive, to improve system performance without opening
the box. Windows ReadyBoost can improve system
performance because it can retrieve data kept on the flash
memory more quickly than it can retrieve data kept on the
hard disk, decreasing the time you need to wait for your PC
to respond. Combined with SuperFetch technology, this
can help drive impressive improvements in system
responsiveness. Requirements:
- The capacity of the USB
device must be at least 256 MB and no larger than 4 GB
- The USB device must
support USB 2.0
- The device must be
capable of 3.5 MB/s read speeds for 4 kB random reads
spread uniformly across the entire device and 2.5 MB/s
write speeds for 512 kB random writes spread uniformly
across the device.
- The device must have at
least 64 MB of free space
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Integrated Media Center |
 Certain
editions of Vista (Home Premium and Ultimate) will get a
fully integrated Media Center that replaces MCE 2005
Edition. You can enjoy all your favorite digital
entertainment - including live and recorded TV, movies,
music, and pictures - in one place with the easy-to-use
Windows Media Center menu system and remote control. Windows
Media Center in Windows Vista includes enhancements for
expanded support of digital and high-definition cable TV, an
improved menu system, and the ability to create a
consumer-electronics-quality living-room experience, as well
as new options for multi-room access to your entertainment
through Media Center Extenders, including Xbox 360. |
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Internet Explorer 7 |
Windows Vista enhances the Internet Explorer experience
through IE7 - t he first major web browser update in years.
The upcoming release of Internet Explorer 7 not only adds
important new security and privacy features, but makes
everyday tasks easier through features such as tabbed
browsing, inline search, and shrink-to-fit printing.
Internet Explorer 7 also provides new tools to give you
direct access to information you want, with built-in support
for web feeds (RSS). |
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Windows Backup and
Restore Center |
This handy section located under system maintenance covers a
Backup Wizard and System Restore settings. Includes The
"File and Folder Backup Wizard" which makes it easy to
select specific files that you want to backup. Select your
files, then your method of backup where you want to store
them, and you are done.
There is also a method called
"CompletePC Backup" to make a backup image of your hard
drive in case of complete hardware failure and you can
restore that backup from the new Windows Recovery
Environment (WinRE). To restore lost files or correct system
problems you can use the File and Folder Restore Wizard or
restore shadow copies of altered or accidentally deleted
files to bring them back to life (shadow copies only
available in Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate). |
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Instant Desktop Search |
Powerful indexing and user-assignable metadata make
searching for all kinds of data a lot easier - including
files, e-mails, and Web content. And if you're running Vista
on a Windows Longhorn (server) network, you can perform
searches across the network to other PCs. |
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DX10 Support |
DirectX 10 is an entirely new version, rebuilt from the
ground up, and it will be exclusive on the Vista
platform (cannot run on XP). It has legacy DirectX 9 driver
compatibility (and even this is supposed to run faster than
on XP). DirectX 10 is a new, higher performance API design
optimal for future 3D gaming systems and high level 3D
realism and animation (more realistic textures, reflections,
smoke, clouds, etc). The official Vista development team
site has more information at:
http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/articles/447226.aspx |
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