Posted on 05/18/2006 12:27:12 PM PDT by Mr. Blonde
On Thursday, the company kicked off a campaign aimed at helping customers prepare for the new operating system, which is set for a mainstream launch in January. As expected, Microsoft gave details of two programs. The "Vista-capable" program allows machines that meet a minimum set of requirements to tout themselves as able to run the new Windows. Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as "Premium Ready," indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics. "There's really no reason to wait until the launch of Windows Vista to start shopping for a PC that can deliver a great Windows Vista experience or to start thinking about upgrading your current PC to windows Vista," product manager Greg Amrofell said in a telephone interview. Microsoft also launched on Thursday a "Get Ready" Web site, which includes an Upgrade Advisor tool to help people determine just how Vista-ready an existing PC is. The downloadable program is designed to tell people which features and versions of Vista their PC is able to run, thereby abstracting some of the complex requirements of Vista. For example, Aero graphics require a certain amount of memory bandwidth--a measurement of PC performance that few people are likely to know about in their machine. The advisor tool will simply say whether a PC will work out or not, rather than focus on specific requirements. That way, customers "don't have to spend time in the footnotes of complex system requirements," said Mike Burk, the PR Manager, Windows Client. That said, Microsoft did publish official minimum requirements for Vista on Thursday, largely matching the Vista-capable specifications. Systems need an 800 MHz processor, 512MB of memory, a 20GB hard drive with 15GB of free space and a CD-ROM drive. That guarantees access to Vista's core features, but not Aero and other premium features. To be classified as Vista-capable, a computer needs an 800MHz processor, 512MB of memory and a DirectX 9-capable graphics card. Premium Ready machines need a 1GHz processor, 128MB of graphics memory, 1GB of system memory, a 40GB hard drive and an internal or external DVD-ROM drive. While Microsoft has provided some clarity on checking a PC for Vista, it's not a straightforward process, said Michael Cherry, an analyst at market research firm Directions on Microsoft. "I don't understand why it has to be this complex," he said. "Why can't this be written up on a one-page piece of paper in a manner that you don't have to be an electrical engineer to understand?" Most shipping PCs should be Vista-capable, Microsoft said. For example, all systems introduced by Dell this year are Vista-capable. The majority of Dell's Vista-capable machines will support Aero graphics and more than three-fourths of its models can be configured to run the fancier graphics. Dell is also offering 17 custom-configured systems that are designed to support Aero. "Our sense is that the vast majority of PCs do meet the requirements for the Vista-capable logo," Amrofell said. As for Premium Ready, he said that "a good number of PCs do meet the bar, and that's going to grow over the next few months." The marketing programs and upgrade tool are designed to ease some of the uncertainty around Vista well ahead of the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, the two biggest PC selling times of the year. Vista had long been expected to arrive by the 2006 holidays, but Microsoft said in March that it would not arrive on store shelves until January. Kevin Johnson, head of the business unit that includes Windows, said in an interview with CNET News.com this week that Microsoft is likely to have some kind of discount or upgrade program to help those who buy a PC this holiday season upgrade to Vista. "Yeah, there's likely to be something," Johnson said, without giving specifics.
I had no idea people were still getting those. Haven't seen one since 1995 or there abouts. And with Windows 2000 Pro and now Windows XP Pro, I've had nothing but smooth and clear sailing.
Wow...I'd better get my glasses checked...
Now the red screen of death (RSOD) under Vista.
The count for me is six since four weeks ago -- two on my laptop and four on my desktop system. The desktop system has been retired, the laptop is a brand new Dell.
Then you ought to go spend some time in Vegas, cause you are one lucky guy. :)
Boy, are you lucky. I used to be a professional, am certified on Win2000 still, I think, at least I have the certs to prove it and I have gotten the blue screen of death quite often with 2000. I quit using XP, both home and pro because of the problems with dialup internet problems(not just on my computer but many customers) and went back to 98 and retired from the business. I use linux also and find far fewer problems with it then I have have had with windows of any version. I am not even running a new version of Linux and still find it superior as far as reliability to windows. User friendly no, reliability, yes. Just MHO.
I only get BSOD when there is a bad hardware. If others are getting them then they need to clean up thier PC's or try using real software :-)
I've had pretty good luck with XP. It is quite a bit faster than 2000 and runs well on a small Pentium II laptop.
But I still have and use a very stable version of ME for anything serious. I build my systems to separate the user data (email, documents, etc) from the OS stuff, so even if I have to format and reinstall, no biggie.
If you've ever experienced your computer restarting for no apparent reason, you have had a BSOD that was supressed by a configuration setting.
Paragraphs are our friends
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Old eyes need micro-rests of white space between paragraphs.
Masses of text are virtually painful.
If history has taught us any lesson, it's: "Wait until you can buy a system with the latest Windows pre-loaded!"
The XP-to-Vista upgrade process is certain to be fraught with peril.
That's not always true. sometimes the hardware will go caput on you...like if your CPU overheats. It will just turn off without even telling the OS.
I like the way 2003 handles that though. It at least tells you your computer was shutdown unexpectantly when you reboot.
er, no thanks. i'll set aside the $500 Microsoft extorsion fee to more useful purposes - like a MoBo and processor upgrade to 64 bit dual core...
but its not BLUE any more! try 'red screen of death' or 'chartreuse screen of death' or the 'sea foam green screen of death'
Yeah right! Sound of me falling off my chair laughing . . . .
Nope. Not had one . . . not since 98SE.
I've used Windows since 3.1. Usually have three machines packed with stuff which should choke a horse, even the one Bill Gates rides on. :-)
The only problems I've had are associated with that lame Windows Media Player 10.
Nope.
That's a turn off. A hidden BSOD is a restart, just as if you'd hit a hard reset button.
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