Should You Upgrade to Windows Vista

1. Should You Upgrade to Windows Vista Presented by David F. Soll Vice President, Advanced Technology Omicron Consulting

2. Agenda • Background • What’s New • A User’s Point of View • Some Nice Stuff • Frustrations • What Choice Do You Have

3. Introduction • Presenter: David Soll • Vice President, Omicron Consulting • Working in computing for 30 years • Experience with Windows dating back to 1990 • Email: dsoll@omicron.com • This presentation can be downloaded at: • http://home.comcast.net/~soll/

4. Background • Windows Vista is Microsoft’s newest desktop operating system • Not Microsoft’s newest operating system • Windows Server 2008 is newer • Don’t Confuse Vista with Office 2007 • Office 2007 runs fine on Windows XP & 2000 • Office 2000, XP, & 2003 run fine on Vista

5. Office 2007 on XP and Vista This is Word 2007 on Windows XP This is Word 2007 on Windows Vista

6. Quick History of Windows • Windows 1.x, 2.x, /286, /386 • Never a commercial “hit” • Windows 3.0, 3.1, and 3.11 • 16 bit, ran on top of MS-DOS • Windows NT 3.1 and 3.5 • First 32 bit Windows not reliant on MS-DOS • Runs utilizing protected mode of the processor • Windows 95, 98, and ME • 16 bit, still reliant on MS-DOS • Windows 2000 • Next generation of Windows NT • Windows XP • Built from Windows 2000 • Windows Server 2003 • Server only platform built with Windows XP & 2000 base • Windows Vista • Built from Windows XP & Server 2003 • Windows Server 2008 • Server only platform built from Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista

7. Major New Features of Vista • Accessibility • BitLocker Drive Encryption • Built-in Diagnostics • DirectX 10 • Encrypting File System • Explorers • Fast Sleep and Resume • Flip and Flip 3D • Games Explorer • Instant Search • Internet Explorer 7 • Internet Explorer Dynamic Security Protection • Internet Explorer Parental Controls • Internet Explorer Protected Mode • Live Icons • Microsoft Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer • Network and Sharing Center • Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/accessibility.mspx

8. Flip 3D

9. Thumbnail Task Selection

10. Enhancements Found In Vista • Find, fix, and share photos • Organize, edit, and share your favorite photos with family and friends using Windows Photo Gallery. • Find almost anything • Find documents, e-mail, photos, and more in a snap through Instant Search. • Turn any room into a media room • Manage and enjoy digital photos, music, TV shows, and movies in your living room with Windows Media Center. • Play the way you want • Easily install, organize, and play games using Windows Game Explorer. • Make movie magic • Retain high-definition quality as you capture, edit, and publish movies from a video camcorder with Windows Movie

11. Enhancements Found In Vista • Help your kids stay safer • Help keep your children safer online with customizable Parental Controls. • Back up and restore files • Get improved backup and restore functions, including automatically scheduled backups, with Windows Backup and Restore Center. • Help safeguard sensitive data • Better protect your data against loss or theft if your mobile PC is ever lost or stolen with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption. • Guard against external threats • Help protect your PC from external threats with Windows Firewall. • Find and remove spyware • Help protect your PC by regularly scanning your computer for spyware with Windows Defender.

12. Lets Get Real • Most enhancements or new features in Vista are available to XP • Some as free downloads • Some as extra cost, third party products

13. A User’s Point of View • New Start Menu • Search for programs • In-place expansion

14. Some Nice Stuff • Gadgets • Hundreds of free gadgets are available

15. Some Nice Stuff • Aero • Provides a very attractive display • Provides infrastructure for • Flip • Flip 3D (task switch) • Thumbnail Previews

16. The Mixed Bag • Microsoft enhanced the security of Vista over all previous versions of Windows • This makes it harder for viruses and malware to install or spread • It also makes it harder for legitimate software • Lots of software will have to be upgraded • Every time you install something, you presented with annoying prompts (User Access Control) • UAC can be disabled, but you are reminded of it every time that you log in

17. Frustrations • Oh where, oh where did my options go • Can’t find “Add Remove Programs” • Now its “Programs and Features” • Wireless Networking configuration has changed • Supposed to be easier • I find it harder … it tries to read my mind and fails • But it worked in XP… • Many applications will have to be updated for Vista

18. Frustrations • Resource Utilization • Vista uses more memory than XP • Vista runs slower than XP (i.e.: it needs more CPU) • Aero Glass requires better video than XP

19. What Choice Do You Have? • After June 30, 2008, you will NOT be able to purchase a new computer with XP • See article at: http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1312&tag=nl.e539 • Mainstream support (i.e.: free) for XP is set to terminate April 2009 • Extended support for XP (free for security fixes and paid for other help) ends in 2014

20. The Bottom Line • Vista does provide a more secure, better looking user experience • Vista requires more up-to-date hardware • Vista requires more memory • Vista may require upgrading applications • Support for XP will start fading soon

21. Questions ?