Windows Vista in stores soon
By Kim Komando
Microsoft's Windows Vista is almost here. Businesses with volume license agreements can get it Nov. 30; home users have to wait until Jan. 30. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare. This is particularly true if you're buying a new computer.
Upgrading to Vista is sure to be confusing. So here are some things you need to know.
With Windows XP, it was easy to decide which version to buy because there were only two choices, Home and Professional. But Vista will have five versions. This is confusing, so you may need to read this twice.
Upgrading can save you $100 or more, but only Windows 2000 or Windows XP can be upgraded. That's not surprising. Computers with earlier Windows versions are likely to be overwhelmed by Vista.
Microsoft makes two distinctions for hardware requirements: Vista Capable and Vista Premium Ready PCs. With new PCs, you will notice the Vista-ready labels.
A Vista Capable machine must have at least an 800MHz processor. It also needs at least 512 megabytes of memory and a DirectX9 capable graphics processor.
A Vista Premium Ready PC will have at least a 1-gigahertz processor and 1 gigabyte of memory. It must have a DirectX9 graphics card with a Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). It also requires 128MB of graphics memory.
If you're not buying a new machine, check the Vista Upgrade Advisor at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/get ready/upgradeadvisor. It scans your machine for known issues.
Connect your printer, scanner and other gadgets before proceeding. It will check their compatibility. It also checks your basic system resources and software.
If you buy a new machine, look for the Vista-ready stickers. And pay attention to the XP version installed on the machine.
Contact Kim Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.
