If Microsoft’s plans go accordingly, the “next-generation” operating system – Windows Vista will officially launch to users by the end of this year. So, what will this OS rely on to continue attracting users like previous versions of Windows?
Just a little observation shows that Microsoft has made significant efforts in marketing this operating system, which is considered a “breakthrough”. At first glance, it is hard to see the new features of Windows Vista apart from its visually appealing interface and some upgraded security features. However, upon closer inspection, this new operating system has many features that users should pay attention to and explore.
1. Security
As a timeless topic that is endlessly discussed regarding Microsoft products, particularly the Windows operating system, security features have always been a point of criticism in tech forums. However, this reality may change with Vista – an operating system that Microsoft has put a lot of effort into improving a long-standing weakness.
In fact, the security features in Vista have changed significantly from previous Windows versions. Specifically, Vista is equipped with bidirectional information filtering (incoming and outgoing) to prevent attacks on background processes. Vista also provides the ability to encrypt all data on the hard drive, helping to prevent unauthorized access to data, even if the computer is stolen.
The most significant change in security is perhaps the implementation of the User Account Protection (UAP) mechanism, which allows administrators to set specific permissions for accounts on the system. UAP is streamlined but does not lose its power; this feature only allows other accounts to perform limited tasks on the system unless permitted by the administrator.
2. Internet Explorer 7
The IE browser has been equipped with many features that users have been anticipating, such as tabbed browsing and improved personal information management. IE 7.0 includes a color-coded address bar mechanism that indicates the safety status of a website when accessed. This is the latest anti-phishing feature that Microsoft has integrated into IE 7.0 to prevent personal information theft from users.
Windows XP will also get anti-phishing features using IE 7.0, but with less safety than Vista. According to Microsoft, Vista’s IE will run in a “safe mode,” only allowing restricted permissions to prevent third-party malicious code from infiltrating the system.
3. Eye-catching Graphics
This is the first time Microsoft has built special graphic effects for Windows. The Aero Glass interface in Vista will provide 3D effects, animations, and clarity in the visuals of displayed objects. Icons, program windows, etc., not only look smooth and attractive, but also have depth in imagery.
4. Enhanced Search Functionality
People often associate previous Windows versions with weak information search capabilities. However, everything has changed with Vista, as Microsoft is determined to compete with Google and Yahoo regarding the ability to search for information on the computer’s hard drive. The powerful indexing capabilities along with user metadata assignment technology help Vista search for all types of data on the system, including files, emails, web content, etc.
5. Better Upgrades
Vista uses the IE browser to access Windows Update instead of a new application to keep the system updated. The upgrade results will be faster and smoother; in particular, the information tracking mechanism will quickly display notifications about the upgrade installation process.
6. More Media Managers
For many years, one of the main reasons many users upgrade to a new Windows version is the free media utilities; and Vista is no exception. The Windows Media Player (WMP) handles MP3 libraries very efficiently, with an attractive and appealing interface. Windows Photo Gallery has finally added photo library management functions so users can organize and sort photos, adding attributes (meta tags, titles, ratings, etc.) to images. DVD Maker, although still “basic,” promises to provide convenient movie-making capabilities. Lastly, there are games with many new and exciting titles.
7. Parental Controls
Families, schools, and libraries will appreciate the access control features for children in Windows Vista. The web filtering function will help block specified websites, filter screen content, and lock the download function to the computer. Users can also restrict computer usage time (daily, weekly) for each account in the system.
8. Improved Backup
Remember when Windows 95 was released, hard drives at that time typically had a capacity of only 300MB. Today, desktop hard drives have reached 300GB or 400GB. Along with this rapid change, there have been very few improvements in Windows data backup methods over the past decade. Windows Vista comes equipped with a comprehensive backup program, helping users significantly avoid data loss during incidents. Microsoft has also improved the System Restore feature, allowing users to restore the system to its original state.
9. Community Collaboration
The Windows Collaboration module uses peer-to-peer technology so Vista users can collaborate in a shared space, which is very convenient. You can set up group programming and share work on a document, presentation, etc.
10. Quick Installation
Windows Vista promises to provide quick installation capabilities – in about 15 minutes. Previous versions of Windows took approximately 60 minutes or more to complete the installation process.
