Today we look into some of the features of Windows Vista.  Whether the features we will be highlighting here will be included in its final release is still a question, since Microsoft is still waiting for the feedback from its users who tried the Windows Vista beta versions before deciding which features will ship in the final version.

Here are some of the new features of Windows Vista:

1.  AERO Glass interface delivers a new graphics engine to produce stunning new icon, 3-D animations, transparencies, menu and desktop visuals.  Vista's AERO achieves that rare feature of combining work with pleasure.  Enjoy the visual effect while you click smarter.

2.  New Vista Explorer brings the benefits of upgraded icons, toolbars and navigation structure.  You can sense all the ergonomic research that has resulted in the best ever Windows Explorer.  Appreciate the enriched file information.

3.  Virtual Folders are part directory and part the result of a file query (Search).  One recurring theme in Vista is the way that one feature enhances another.  In this case, it's only a tiny point, but the AERO displays virtual folders in blue.  Discover the knack of creating your own Virtual Folders.

4.  Program Box Super Run is a smarter version of the 'Run' command.  The idea of this dialog box is that if you type in just one letter, Vista lists all the programs beginning with that letter.  Users can thin down the list by typing a second or third letter.

5.  Task Dialogs include troubleshooters and links to help you cure the problem.  Related to Task Dialogs are a new generation of built-in diagnostics.

6.  BitLocker Drive Encryption is a new name for full-volume encryption.  Its crucial feature is that it is hardware-based.  By encrypting the entire Windows system volume, data is better protected than with XP's file and folder encryption.

7.  Flip 3D is the new way to Alt and Tab.  Windows can be stacked and rotated in 3D to provide views of all of them simultaneously.  The idea is to allow you to see Windows thumbnails with better graphics.

8.  User Account Protection (UAP) is an improved system for encouraging you to only use the minimum privileges and so making Vista more secure from rogue programs.

9.  ClickOnce combines with UAP, certificates and BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) to provide a fast, easy and secure installation experience.

10.  Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) allows hosts to discover one another. PNRP uses the Winsock 2 Namespace Provider API and could be used for applications to find and connect with each other.  Other Network Technologies that have been extended or improved:  WWAN; WLAN; VLAN; Wi-Fi.

11.  Network Access Protection (NAP) to identify and then to isolate 'unhealthy' computers.

12.  WinFX is the Vista programming interface that supersedes the Win32 API.

13.  Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), a Web services-oriented messaging system.

14.  Windows Sidebar which gives user quick access to "gadgets".   Gadgets are mini programs that can control your media player, provide a one-glance view of all your online instant messaging contacts, connect to Web services that deliver weather forecasts, traffic maps, news, and other information, run slideshow of digital photos, flash sticky notes and more.

15.  Internet Explorer 7 comes with CSS improvements, security status bar, phishing filter, group policy improvements, RSS feeds, improved AJAX support, tabbed browsing, address bar protection, URL handling security, International Domain Name anti-spoofing, Protected Mode, Parental Controls, and a lot more.

Other features are: Restart Manager, XImag and WDS, Better Event Logs, Windows Deployment Services (WDS), ADMX, Sleep mode, Superfetch, Network Map, Network Awareness, Read only Domain Controllers (RODC). supports XML Paper Specification (XPS), Windows Future Storage (WinFS), Windows Mail is going to replace Outlook Express, Microsoft Windows Update Agent (WUA), Windows Collaboration, better Media Center capabilities, Tablet PC tools, Cool Speech recognition, faster boot time, IPv6, Staged Builds, Transacted File System (TFX) and more.

Windows Vista versions: Starter Edition, Home Basic Edition, Home Premium Edition, Professional Edition, Business Editions, and Ultra Extreme Edition with Blast capacity.

Hardware Requirement: It should be a modern, Intel Pentium- or AMD Athlon-based with a dedicated graphics card featuring DirectX 9.0 support, 512 MB or more of RAM, a graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM), and at least 1.5 gigabytes of hard disk space.

Release Date: Microsoft's Jim Allchin, the man most associated with the development of Vista said that Vista is expected to ship by the end of 2006, but could not rule out delay if it does not meet quality expectations.

Overall, safety and security, improved user experience, and mobility features are the main focussed of Microsoft in Windows Vista.  Whether Vista will be successful is a question only Vista can answer - its PERFORMANCE. 

So should we upgrade to Windows Vista once it becomes available?  My answer is: let Microsoft deliver its promises first.  In other words, walk the talk and put their money where their mouth is.  Only then shall I consider using Windows Vista.

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