Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1645 in Software
• Brand: Microsoft
• Released on: 2007-01-30
• Platform: Windows Vista
• Format: DVD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .68 pounds

Computer Shopper
Vista is far easier to use than Windows XP

Manufacturer's Description
Windows Vista Home Premium is the preferred edition for home desktop and mobile PCs. It provides a breakthrough design that brings your world into sharper focus while delivering the productivity, entertainment, and security you need from your PC at home or on the go.Windows Vista Home Premium delivers the productivity and entertainment that you need from your PC at home or on the go. It includes Windows Media Center, which helps you more easily enjoy your digital photos, TV, movies, and music. Plus, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that your PC has a whole new level of security and reliability. All together, Windows Vista Home Premium redefines enjoyment in home computing.It starts with a breakthrough design that makes your PC easier to use every day. With Windows Aero, you'll experience dynamic reflections, smooth gliding animations, transparent glass-like menu bars, and the ability to switch between your open windows in a new three-dimensional layout. Instant desktop search capabilities, coupled with powerful new ways to organize and visualize your information, means you can instantly find and use the e-mails, documents, photos, music, and the other information you want, when you need it.Windows Vista Home Premium also helps keep your personal information, your PC, and your family computing experience safer than in previous versions of Windows. For example, Windows Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista includes automated defenses against malicious software and fraudulent websites so you can use your PC online with greater confidence. Windows Vista Home Premium also provides automatic backup of your files, such as your valuable digital photos, music, movies, documents, and other files, so you can relax and focus on the things you care about most. And, by using the built-in parental controls, parents can help ensure their children's computer use is appropriate and safer.And what about fun? A major advance in Windows Vista Home Premium is the dramatically improved digital entertainment experience. Windows Media Center makes organizing and enjoying photos, music, DVDs, recorded TV, and home movies easier and more fun. Windows Vista Home Premium makes it easier to burn your photo slide shows and home movies to a professional-looking video DVD that your friends and family can watch on a DVD player or PC whenever they like. Combined with unbeatable support for gaming and music, Windows Vista Home Premium delivers a complete home entertainment experience.If you want a PC that can keep up with you while you're on the go, then you'll appreciate how Windows Vista Home Premium helps you get the most from your mobile PC. It provides simplified power management, easier wireless networking, and streamlined ways to sync with the devices that keep you connected. Because it's incredibly flexible, you can even draw and write by hand on a Tablet PC, and enjoy all of your entertainment through Windows Media Center when you're on the road, in a coffee shop, or relaxing on the couch. Mobile computing has never been like this before.Finally, Windows Vista Home Premium makes it easier than ever to set up and maintain your new PC. There are new features that make it easier to transfer all of your data and settings from your old PC to your new one and technology that helps keep your system running quickly and reliably over time.Whether you're balancing your checkbook, studying for school on your mobile PC, watching a downloaded or recorded movie at home, or sharing your favorite photos with friends on a custom DVD, the experience is much better on a PC running Windows Vista Home Premium.

Customer Reviews

Good if over hyped OS
I decided to go for a complete Vista disk as opposed to an upgrade. When I first changed over to XP, I used an upgrade disk from Windows 98. Poor speed and errors were commonplace until I installed a full XP disk.
Determined not to make the same mistake, I used a full Vista disk.
Unlike XP you only have one format option and that is the complete format of your hard drive. Nonetheless, I was very impressed by the installation speed, had Vista up and running in just under 25 mins.

I had to download drivers for my graphic card, printer, and scanner but there were no issues there. My sound, however, was another story. Not having used a sound card, I had relied on the motherboard Soundmax controller. No drivers available for that, after days of hunting, so I went out and bought an Audigy sound card, downloaded its driver and now have better sound than I ever did when running sound off the Motherboard....
So ironically sorting out a Vista problem actually improved my setup.
I find Vista clearer and easier to use than XP. They have overdone the safety menus when it comes to wanting to delete or move files though. Three "are you sures?" are two too many!
The Desktop is an improvement on XP and I particularly like the Sidebar with its gadgets such as the clock, weather, news items, and date etc.
Aero is pretty and the 3D function for checking open windows is useful. That said it is over hyped from the be all end all that the advertising has been making it out to be.

Strongly recommend that anyone wanting to go to Vista runs the MS Upgrade Adviser compatability programme which will identify any system needs or possible software problems such as non compatability. I found it a useful pre installation tool and was able to prepare accordingly. You will need to go to the MS website to download this tool.
Be warned that virtually all Spyware and Virus programmes have yet to be made Vista ready. Some like Xoftspyse and NoAdware V.4 (as of the 21.2.7, NoAdware V.4 seems to be running normally on Vista) will run but will give erroneous information after scanning.

I think you have two considerations re Vista:
Firstly is it too soon to go over and safer to wait for the Service Packs to make it more compatable?
Secondly there is much rumbling on Web forums that Microsoft appear to be downgrading the degree of support that used to be given to XP and instead are putting this Vista's way.
I think that the latter probably slightly outweighs the first and therefore it is probably wise to make the jump. Just make sure that you have made your preparations first. Download and run that compatability tool, and see what is needed from there. Sound does seem to be the problem that rears up for most people, myself included. Otherwise now that the OS is up and running on my PC, I am getting used to it and starting to enjoy using it.

One last thing, be sure to shop around for the best deal on Vista. Price differences are startling, sometimes by over 100%....

What a Dog!
I recently bought a new high spec PC with Vista to run my video editing software. (Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects CS3).
The programmes crashed, either on start-up or when I tried to import something. I got so frustrated I nearly smashed the computer.
Reading various user blogs I discovered that Vista is basically a waste of space if you want to run this kind of programme.
Its very pretty, but that is all it has going for it.
Go back to XP professional like I did. -IT WORKS!

Please Read before You Buy
Please run the Microsoft Software Upgrade Advisor before parting with any money.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

On my 3GHz, 2048 RAM 512MB Graphics and 500GB Disk PC the hardware was declared OK with the exception of my Epson Perfection 2480 Scanner , HP Colour Printer 7150.
The Software issues were numerous predicting problems with Nero 7, Ghost 10, Acronis True Image Backup, Dragon Naturally Speaking 9, Alcohol 120% ,
Tune Up Utilities 2007, Partition Magic 10, Snagit v6 and Smartboard XP.
All of these are used constantly and I expect they will be upgraded to Vista for a price. Add that to the cost.
For the moment I will wait a while.