Despite its big push for Vista, Microsoft is quietly allowing PC makers to offer an option that lets users "downgrade" to Windows XP, allowing customers to purchase new PCs but stick with the older operating system.
Facing a 30 June deadline to stop selling PCs with Windows XP, the world's largest computer makers are getting creative, with Dell and HP's Australian offices staying cagey about their intentions.
The federal department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has gone to market for a new PC supplier for the next three years, specifying any new hardware it buys must be ready for Windows Vista.
Owners of Vista Ultimate and Vista Enterprise that also run a non-Microsoft operating system on the same PC may not be able to install Vista Service Pack 1 without changing the boot process of their machines.
Microsoft has stopped automatically distributing a prerequisite piece of software for Windows Vista Service Pack 1, following customer complaints that it had caused system problems.
As we slowly creep closer to the launch of Windows Vista, it seems that the six different versions of Microsoft's new operating system are for the benefit of the company's PR machine rather than its customers.
The internet has been awash with rumours about Windows 7, with a pre-beta release being handed out to attendees at the Professional Developers Conference in the US this week. But how many Windows 7 versions will there be?
Not ready for a Vista laptop? Simply want to stick to good old XP? Here are your options on the market.
The Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista offer BitLocker, a new data protection feature that does volume-level encryption on your hard disk drive. BitLocker complements, and in some cases replaces, Windows EFS (Encrypting File System). Walk through the steps for enabling BitLocker with this gallery.
Windows Vista's enhanced functionality and snazzy Aero Glass visual effects will demand steeper hardware requirements for the machines you support. Check this list to make sure you cover all the bases before deciding what Vista versions those machines will be able to run.
Microsoft has released its new operating system to hardware manufacturers. Take a look at some of the features new in Windows Vista, with our photo gallery.
Don't want to take Windows Vista for a test drive until you know what it has to offer? Join Windows expert Deb Shinder for a visual tour of Beta 2 as she points out some of the more dramatic changes and shares her impressions of the new OS.
Windows Vista Ultimate is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.
A little more than one year after its release, Windows Vista will receive its first service pack update in March. Microsoft says the pack will offer better compatibility with third-party hardware, increased reliability, tighter security, and better performance. Our tests disagree.
Windows Vista Home Premium is essentially warmed-over Windows XP Home Edition. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista Home Premium is stable enough for everyday use.
Microsoft has reworked the PC assessment tool in Windows Vista after fielding complaints from hardware makers -- but the changes may not be enough to completely quell concerns.
Windows Vista Business is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.
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