Windows Vista Overview

New Features:

Windows Aero: Vista features new look to the Windows environment.  It includes a transparent look to the menus, enhanced graphic capabilities, and new 3D feature to toggle between windows. The video requirements for Aero are much more restrictive.  Check with the Vista Hardware Compatibility List, or with thehardware manufacturer to confirm that it meets all requirements for Aero.

Windows Sidebar: Windows Vista has a dashboard on the side of the screen that offers different windows gadgets.  Vista has many built in to the install, or there are many more available at Microsoft.com.  Typical gadgets offered include:  clocks, calendar, weather, slideshows, etc.  Be aware that these gadgets can take up some significant resources so use these gadgets sparingly.

Windows Search: Microsoft has significantly improved there searching feature in Windows Vista.  The Windows search function in Vista will perform a "real time" search.  The search results list will populate as you enter the criteria.  It will not wait until you select search.  Therefore you will only need to enter as much information to narrow the results as necessary. 

Enjoy better security
Windows Vista has introduced several new security functions in Windows Vista.  A few of the new features includes:

• Parental Controls: Parental Controls that allows you to set limitations on access to specific websites, access times, and blocking access to certain applications.

• Windows Vista User Account Control (UAC): UAC is a new security feature that was designed to prevent unautorized changes to your computer.  When functions that could potentially affect your computer's operation are made, UAC will prompt for permission or an administrator's password before continuing with the task.
• Windows Firewall: Windows Vista has two different firewalls: the original firewall from Windows XP, and an advanced firewall that includes several more advanced filters.
• BitLocker Drive Encryption, this full disk encrytion feature is available in the professional editions of Windows Vista.

An improved user experience

• The new Start menu: The Start menu displays all programs and applets within a single window.  This avoids the layers of cascading menus.
• Improved folders: Windows has renamed the following system folders: My Documents, My Music, My Videos.  They have been simplified to simply as Documents, Music, Videos.
• Live Icons:  In Windows Vista, when an application has been minimized, you can hover over an application to see a preview to the program that is running.