Microsoft Windows Vista Review

At first glance the new Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, with the use of a new user interface, looks fresh and appealing. However, will its reputation live up to the long-standing anticipation?

The layout is very much geared to being user friendly on the graphics front, with various desktop easy-access icon options, including a graphical clock, calendar and picture slide show, as well as an easy-access run command box -if you want to get a bit 'techie'.

The navigation has altered slightly, so be prepared to spend a bit of time getting used to finding things again. The storage system is quite interesting, however. Choosing how you store and view files will keep you amused for hours- if you’re anything like me.

With a few improved performance enhancements -including Sleep (better hibernation) and SuperFetch (anayses how you use your system and preloads programs ready for use) -it looks like Microsoft has created an intuitive and innovative operating system. On the entertainment front there are new games to be played, including Chess and Texas Hold ‘em, and the Windows Media Centre is definitely worth a browse, with lots of cool new features to make you smile (compatible to sync straight to your Xbox 360). And with new voice recognition capabilities, you should be talking to yourself in no time.

As far as I can see, the security seems to be better (however I never had any problems with XP, so time will have to tell).

On the down side, Microsoft Windows Vista has very much the feeling of XP, which is slightly disappointing as I had anticipated something new and exciting. Also expect a few of your drivers not to work yet, but- for the record- I personally have had no problems so far. You may be quick to blame Microsoft for the driver issue, however it could to be down to the hardware suppliers not writing the code quickly enough.

David Weeks, Windows client marketing manager for Microsoft, says that Vista has been designed to isolate drivers, changing the way the operating system interacts with them. The idea is that this creates an operating system that crashes less often (I hear you all cheer).

In conclusion, this is a very interesting new system and should keep you busy exploring for the best part of a weekend. If you can afford it, it’s probably worth investing in (unless you’re a business user) and the advantage of doing that over the next 18 months is that everything will start to be built to Vista specs. In most cases, it’s probably not worth the additional investment just yet, but if you did splash out, you'd certainly show you’re at the cutting edge of technology…..