Michael Desmond, writing for PCWorld.com, has come up with ten reasons why you might want to buy the next version of Windows and five why you might want to stick with what you've got. The piece - a Yahoo News exclusive - is based on hands-on with the Build 5270 beta version of Vista.
It would be a little ungracious to list here all 15 of the reasons - you might not read the original - so we summarise below the first five pros and a couple of the antis.
On the plus side, he says:
Here's what to be excited
about:
1. Security, security, security: Windows XP Service Pack 2 patched a lot of holes, but Vista takes security to the next level.
2. Internet Explorer 7: IE gets a much-needed, Firefox-inspired makeover, complete with tabbed pages and better privacy management.
3. Righteous eye candy: For the first time, Microsoft is building high-end graphics effects into Windows. The touted Aero Glass interface features visually engaging 3D rendering, animation, and transparencies.
4. Desktop search: Microsoft has been getting its lunch handed to it by Google and Yahoo on the desktop, but Vista could change all that. The new OS tightly integrates instant desktop search, doing away with the glacially slow and inadequate search function in XP.
5. Better updates: Vista does away with using Internet Explorer to access Windows Update, instead utilizing a new application to handle the chore of keeping your system patched and up-to-date.
- SNIP -
1. Security, security, security: Windows XP Service Pack 2 patched a lot of holes, but Vista takes security to the next level.
2. Internet Explorer 7: IE gets a much-needed, Firefox-inspired makeover, complete with tabbed pages and better privacy management.
3. Righteous eye candy: For the first time, Microsoft is building high-end graphics effects into Windows. The touted Aero Glass interface features visually engaging 3D rendering, animation, and transparencies.
4. Desktop search: Microsoft has been getting its lunch handed to it by Google and Yahoo on the desktop, but Vista could change all that. The new OS tightly integrates instant desktop search, doing away with the glacially slow and inadequate search function in XP.
5. Better updates: Vista does away with using Internet Explorer to access Windows Update, instead utilizing a new application to handle the chore of keeping your system patched and up-to-date.
- SNIP -
On the downside, he points out that:
1/ It'll cost $100 or more
to make the switch. Unless you're buying a new PC and starting from
scratch, you may be better off saving the money for something else.
2/ For all the hype about security in Windows Vista, users may be disappointed to learn that antivirus software will not be part of the package.
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2/ For all the hype about security in Windows Vista, users may be disappointed to learn that antivirus software will not be part of the package.
- SNIP -
Check out the full details of Michael's musings and let us have your take over in the HEXUS.community. Comments especially welcome from people who've had hands-on with a Vista beta.
