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{{Infobox OS version
| name = Windows Vista
| family = Microsoft Windows
| logo = Windows Vista logo.svg
| screenshot = Windows Aero.png
| caption = Screenshot of Windows Vista Ultimate
| developer = Microsoft
| website = [http://www.microsoft.com/vista Windows Vista: Homepage]
| source_model = [[Closed source]] / [[Shared source]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/windowslp.mspx|title=Windows Licensing Programs|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref>
| license = [[Software license agreement|MS-EULA]]
| kernel_type = [[Hybrid kernel]]
| supported_platforms = [[x86]], [[x86-64]]
| updatemodel = [[Windows Update]], [[Windows Server Update Services]], [[System Center Configuration Manager|SCCM]]
| release_version = 6.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) (Build 6001)<br /> (6001.18063.080425-1930<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/18/upgrade-windows-vista-to-600118063080425-1930-with-kb952709-update |title=Upgrade Windows Vista to 6001.18063.080425-1930 with KB952709 Update |accessdate=2008-07-19 |format= |work= }}</ref>)
| release_date = <br />{{release date and age|2008|04|25}}
| release_url = http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/02/04/announcing-the-rtm-of-windows-vista-sp1.aspx
| first_release_date = <!-- Leave this date alone -- November 8, 2006 is the correct release date. -->
'''RTM: '''November 8, 2006; <br />'''Vol. Lic.: '''November 30, 2006; <br />'''Retail: '''January 30, 2007
| first_release_url = http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/nov06/11-08VistaRTM.mspx
| preview_version = 6.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) v.113 (Build 6002) (CPP Beta) (6.0.6002.16497<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winfuture-forum.de/index.php?showtopic=154691&st=15 |title=Vista Sp2 Beta WinFuture-Forum.de |accessdate=2008-12-05 |format= |work= }}</ref>)
| preview_date = {{release date and age|2008|12|04}}
| preview_url = http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/dd262148.aspx
| support_status = Mainstream support
| other_articles =
<ul>
* [[Development of Windows Vista]]
* [[Features new to Windows Vista]]
* [[Management features new to Windows Vista]]
* [[Security and safety features new to Windows Vista]]
* [[Technical features new to Windows Vista]]
* [[Windows Vista I/O technologies]]
* [[Windows Vista networking technologies]]
* [[Features removed from Windows Vista]]
* [[Windows Vista editions]]
* [[Criticism of Windows Vista]]
</ul>
}}

'''Windows Vista''' is a line of [[operating system]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vista-a-6-Billion-Dollars-Operating-System-44096.shtml |title=Vista - a $6 Billion Dollars Operating System - The best billions Bill Gates has ever spent - Softpedia |publisher=News.softpedia.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> developed by [[Microsoft]] for use on [[personal computer]]s, including home and business [[Desktop computer|desktops]], [[laptop]]s, [[Tablet PC]]s, and [[media center]] PCs. Prior to its announcement on July 22, 2005, Windows Vista was known by its [[List of Microsoft codenames|codename]] '''Longhorn'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jul05/07-22LHMA.mspx|title=Media Alert: Microsoft Unveils Official Name for "Longhorn" and Sets Date for First Beta Targeted at Developers and IT Professionals|author=Microsoft|accessdate=2007-01-02|date=2005-07-22}}</ref> Development was completed on November 8, 2006; over the following three months it was released in stages to computer hardware and software manufacturers, business customers, and retail channels. On January 30, 2007, it was released worldwide,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/nz/presscentre/articles/2007/jan07_windowsvistalaunch.mspx
| title = Microsoft Launches Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System to Consumers
| date=2007-01-30
| accessdate = 2007-01-30
| work = PressCentre
| publisher = Microsoft New Zealand
}}</ref> and was made available for purchase and download from Microsoft's website.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=390&tabid=1
| title = Windows Marketplace: Windows Vista Upgrade Editions: Get Started
| date=2007-01-30
| accessdate = 2007-01-30
| work = Windows Marketplace
| publisher = Microsoft
}}</ref> The release of Windows Vista came more than five years after the introduction of its predecessor, [[Windows XP]], the longest time span between successive releases of [[Microsoft Windows]].

Windows Vista contains [[Features new to Windows Vista|many changes and new features]], including an updated [[graphical user interface]] and [[Skin (computing)|visual style]] dubbed [[Windows Aero]], improved [[Windows Search|searching]] features, new multimedia creation tools such as [[Windows DVD Maker]], and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a [[home network]], using [[peer-to-peer]] technology to simplify sharing [[computer file|files]] and [[digital media]] between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes version 3.0 of the [[.NET Framework]], which aims to make it significantly easier for [[software developer]]s to write applications than with the traditional [[Windows API]].

Microsoft's primary stated objective with Windows Vista, however, has been to improve the state of security in the Windows operating system.<ref name="gatesrsa">{{cite web
| url=http://informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=180201580
| title = Gates Says Security Is Job One For Vista
| date=2006-02-14
| accessdate = 2006-08-13
| first = Aaron
| last = Ricadela
| publisher = InformationWeek News
}}</ref> One common [[criticism of Windows XP]] and its predecessors has been their commonly exploited [[Vulnerability (computing)|security vulnerabilities]] and overall susceptibility to [[malware]], [[computer virus|viruses]] and [[buffer overflow]]s. In light of this, Microsoft chairman [[Bill Gates]] announced in early 2002 a company-wide "[[Trustworthy Computing]] initiative" which aims to incorporate security work into every aspect of software development at the company. Microsoft stated that it prioritized improving the security of Windows XP and [[Windows Server 2003]] above finishing Windows Vista, thus delaying its completion.<ref name="winxpdevpriority">{{cite web
| url = http://news.com.com/Microsoft+Longhorn+beta+unlikely+this+year/2100-1008_3-5183385.html
| title = Microsoft: Longhorn beta unlikely this year
| date=2004-06-01
| accessdate = 2006-08-12
| first = Mike
| last = Ricciuti
| publisher = CNet News
}}</ref>

While these new features and security improvements have garnered positive reviews, Vista has also been the target of much criticism and negative press. [[Criticism of Windows Vista]] has targeted its high system requirements, its more restrictive licensing terms, the inclusion of a number of new [[digital rights management]] technologies aimed at restricting the copying of protected digital media, lack of compatibility with some pre-Vista hardware and software, and the number of authorization prompts for [[User Account Control]]. As a result of these and other issues, Windows Vista has seen adoption and satisfaction rates lower than Windows XP.<ref name="computerworld1">[http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9072218&source=NLT_AM&nlid=1 Leopard drubs Vista in corporate satisfaction]</ref>

==Development==
{{main|Development of Windows Vista}}

[[Image:Windows Longhorn logo.svg|thumb|left|The Windows Vista Codename (Longhorn) logo]]

Microsoft began work on Windows Vista, known at the time by its codename Longhorn in May 2001,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,113701,00.asp
| title = Pushing Forward &ndash; the next version of Windows
| first = Peter
| last = Galli
| date=2001-07-30
| accessdate = 2006-07-07
| publisher = [[eWeek]]
}}</ref> five months before the release of Windows XP. It was originally expected to ship sometime late in 2003 as a minor step between Windows XP and Blackcomb, which was planned to be the company's next major operating system release. Gradually, "Longhorn" assimilated many of the important new features and technologies slated for Blackcomb, resulting in the release date being pushed back several times. Many of Microsoft's developers were also re-tasked to build updates to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to strengthen security.<ref name="winxpdevpriority">{{cite web
| url = http://news.com.com/Microsoft+Longhorn+beta+unlikely+this+year/2100-1008_3-5183385.html
| title = Microsoft: Longhorn beta unlikely this year
| date=2004-06-01
| accessdate = 2006-08-12
| first = Mike
| last = Ricciuti
| publisher = CNet News
}}</ref> Faced with ongoing delays and concerns about [[feature creep]], Microsoft announced on August 27, 2004 that it had revised its plans. The original Longhorn, based on the [[Windows XP]] source code, was scrapped, and Longhorn's development started anew, building on the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 codebase, and re-incorporating only the features that would be intended for an actual operating system release. Some previously announced features such as [[WinFS]] were dropped or postponed, and a new software development methodology called the [[Security Development Lifecycle]] was incorporated in an effort to address concerns with the security of the Windows codebase.<ref name="sdl">{{cite web
| author = Steve Lipner, Michael Howard
| title = The Trustworthy Computing Security Development Lifecycle
| publisher = Microsoft Developer Network
| month = March
| year = 2005
| url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/security/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnsecure/html/sdl.asp
| accessdate = 2006-08-09
}}</ref>

After Longhorn was named Windows Vista in July 2005, an unprecedented [[Development stage|beta-test]] program was started, involving hundreds of thousands of volunteers and companies. In September of that year, Microsoft started releasing regular [[Community Technology Preview]]s (CTP) to beta testers. The first of these was distributed at the 2005 Microsoft [[Professional Developers Conference]], and was subsequently released to beta testers and [[Microsoft Developer Network]] subscribers. The builds that followed incorporated most of the planned features for the final product, as well as a number of changes to the user interface, based largely on feedback from beta testers. Windows Vista was deemed feature-complete with the release of the "February CTP", released on February 22, 2006, and much of the remainder of work between that build and the final release of the product focused on stability, performance, application and driver compatibility, and documentation. Beta 2, released in late May, was the first build to be made available to the general public through Microsoft's Customer Preview Program. It was downloaded by over five million people. Two release candidates followed in September and October, both of which were made available to a large number of users.<ref>{{cite web | first=Paul | last=Thurrott | url=http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_roadtogold_07.asp | title=Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Road to Gold: The Long Road to Windows Vista Part 7: July 2006 &ndash; Present | publisher=SuperSite for Windows | date=[[2006-11-05]] | accessdate=2007-12-25 }}</ref>

While Microsoft had originally hoped to have the consumer versions of the operating system available worldwide in time for Christmas 2006, it was announced in March 2006 that the release date would be pushed back to January 2007, in order to give the company – and the hardware and software companies which Microsoft depends on for providing [[device driver]]s – additional time to prepare. Through much of 2006, analysts and bloggers had speculated that Windows Vista would be delayed further, owing to anti-trust concerns raised by the European Commission and South Korea, and due to a perceived lack of progress with the beta releases. However, with the November 8, 2006 announcement of the completion of Windows Vista, Microsoft's lengthiest operating system development project came to an end.<ref>{{cite news | first=Nick | last=White | url=http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/11/08/windows-vista-releases-to-manufacturing.aspx | title=Windows Vista releases to manufacturing | publisher=Windows Vista team blog | date=[[2006-11-08]] | accessdate=2006-11-08 }}</ref>

Windows Vista cost 6 billion dollars to develop, according to Microsoft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vista-a-6-Billion-Dollars-Operating-System-44096.shtml |title=Vista - a $6 Billion Dollars Operating System - The best billions Bill Gates has ever spent - Softpedia |publisher=News.softpedia.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref>

==New or changed features==
{{main | Features new to Windows Vista}}

===End-user features===
[[Image:Windows Explorer Vista.png|thumb|Windows Explorer in Windows Vista]]
* '''[[Windows Aero]]:''' The new hardware-based graphical user interface is named ''Windows Aero,'' which [[Jim Allchin]] has said is an acronym for ''Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, and Open''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/11/09/the-sounds-of-windows-vista.aspx|title=The Sounds of Windows|author="JimAll", links to page identifying him as Jim Allchin, Co-President, Platform and Services Division|accessdate=2007-12-31|date=2006-11-09|publisher=Windows Vista Team Blog}}</ref> The new interface is intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than those of previous Windows versions, including new transparencies, live thumbnails, live icons, and animations, thus providing a new level of [[attractiveness|eye candy]]. [[Laptop]] users report, however, that battery life is shortened with the feature enabled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/vistas-aero-interface-blamed-for-truncated-battery-life/|title=Vista's Aero interface blamed for truncated battery life|author=Darren Murph|publisher=[[Engadget]]|date=May 3, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/coding4fun/archive/2007/05/06/2452864.aspx|title=Vista Battery Fix?|date=May 6, 2007|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref>
* '''[[Windows Shell]]:''' The new Windows shell is significantly different from Windows XP, offering a new range of organization, navigation, and search capabilities. [[Windows Explorer]]'s task pane has been removed, integrating the relevant task options into the toolbar. A "Favorite links" pane has been added, enabling one-click access to common directories. The address bar has been replaced with a [[Breadcrumb (navigation)|breadcrumb navigation]] system. The preview pane allows users to see thumbnails of various files and view the contents of documents. The details pane shows information such as file size and type, and allows viewing and editing of [[Tag (metadata)|embedded tags]] in supported file formats. The [[Start menu]] has changed as well; it no longer uses ever-expanding boxes when navigating through Programs. The word "Start" itself has been removed in favor of a blue Windows Pearl.
* '''[[Instant Search]]''' (also known as ''[[Incremental find|search as you type]]'') : Windows Vista features a new way of searching called Instant Search, which is significantly faster and more in-depth (content-based) than the search features found in any of the previous versions of Windows.<ref>{{cite web
| year = 2006
| publisher = National Instruments
| url = http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/5604
| title = A Closer Look at Windows Vista Part II: Enhanced Search
}}</ref>

* '''[[Windows Sidebar]]:''' A transparent panel anchored to the side of the screen where a user can place [[Desktop Gadgets]], which are small applets designed for a specialized purpose (such as displaying the weather or sports scores). Gadgets can also be placed on other parts of the desktop.
* '''[[Internet Explorer 7|Windows Internet Explorer 7]]:''' New user interface, [[tabbed browsing]], [[RSS (file format)|RSS]], a search box, improved printing,<ref name="ieprint">Windows Internet Explorer, Printing Advances [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/ie7printing.mspx Printing in IE7].</ref> Page Zoom, Quick Tabs (thumbnails of all open tabs), Anti-Phishing filter, a number of new security protection features, Internationalized Domain Name support (IDN), and improved web standards support. IE7 in Windows Vista runs in isolation from other applications in the operating system (protected mode); exploits and malicious software are restricted from writing to any location beyond Temporary Internet Files without explicit user consent.

[[Image:Windows Media Player 11 Vista.png|thumb|[[Windows Media Player]] 11]]

* '''[[Windows Media Player|Windows Media Player 11]]''', a major revamp of Microsoft's program for playing and organizing music and video. New features in this version include word wheeling (or "search as you type"), a new [[GUI]] for the media library, photo display and organization, the ability to share music libraries over a network with other Windows Vista machines, [[Xbox 360]] integration, and support for other [[Windows Media Center Extender|Media Center Extenders]].
* '''[[Backup and Restore Center]]:''' Includes a backup and restore application that gives users the ability to schedule periodic backups of files on their computer, as well as recovery from previous backups. Backups are incremental, storing only the changes each time, minimizing disk usage. It also features Complete PC Backup (available only in Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise versions) which backs up an entire computer as an image onto a hard disk or DVD. Complete PC Backup can automatically recreate a machine setup onto new hardware or hard disk in case of any hardware failures. Complete PC Restore can be initiated from within Windows Vista or from the Windows Vista installation CD in the event the PC is so corrupt that it cannot start up normally from the hard disk.
* '''[[Windows Mail]]:''' A replacement for Outlook Express that includes a new mail store that improves stability,<ref name="winmail">Windows Mail Features Explained, See Reliability Section [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/mail.mspx Windows Mail].</ref> and features integrated Instant Search. It has the Phishing Filter like IE7 and [[spam filter|Junk mail filtering]] that is enhanced through regular updates via Windows Update.<ref name="windowsmail">Windows Mail was demonstrated by the development team in [http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=116711 this Channel 9 video].</ref>
* '''[[Windows Calendar]]''' is a new calendar and task application.
* '''[[Windows Photo Gallery]]''', a photo and movie library management application. It can import from digital cameras, tag and rate individual items, adjust colors and exposure, create and display slideshows (with pan and fade effects) and burn slideshows to DVD.
* '''[[Windows DVD Maker]]''', a companion program to [[Windows Movie Maker]] that provides the ability to create video DVDs based on a user's content. Users can design a DVD with title, menu, video, soundtrack, pan and zoom motion effects on pictures or slides.
* '''[[Windows Media Center]]''', which was previously exclusively bundled in a separate version of Windows XP, known as [[Windows XP Media Center Edition]], has been incorporated into the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista.
* '''Games and [[Windows Vista Games Explorer|Games Explorer]]:''' Games included with Windows have been modified to showcase Vista's graphics capabilities. New games are [[Chess Titans]], [[Mahjong Titans]] and [[Purble Place]]. A new Games Explorer special folder holds shortcuts and information to all games on the user's computer.

[[Image:Windows Mobility Center screenshot.png|thumb|[[Windows Mobility Center]].]]

* '''[[Windows Mobility Center]]''' is a control panel that centralizes the most relevant information related to mobile computing (brightness, sound, battery level / power scheme selection, wireless network, screen orientation, presentation settings, etc.).
* '''[[Windows Meeting Space]]''' replaces [[NetMeeting]]. Users can share applications (or their entire desktop) with other users on the local network, or over the Internet using peer-to-peer technology (higher versions than Starter and Home Basic can take advantage of hosting capabilities, Starter and Home Basic editions are limited to "join" mode only)
* '''[[Shadow Copy]]''' automatically creates daily backup copies of files and folders. Users can also create "shadow copies" by setting a System Protection Point using the System Protection tab in the System control panel. The user can be presented multiple versions of a file throughout a limited history and be allowed to restore, delete, or copy those versions. This feature is available only in the Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista and is inherited from [[Windows Server 2003]].<ref>{{cite web
| year = 2006
| publisher = Microsoft
| accessdate = 2006-08-24
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/4ac505e6-dd8b-4ae7-80fa-b9d77cd8104d.mspx
| title = Selected Scenarios for Maintaining Data Integrity with Windows Vista
}}</ref>
[[Image:Windows Update Vista.png|thumb|[[Windows Update]] with [[Windows Ultimate Extras]]]]

* '''[[Windows Update]]:''' Software and security updates have been simplified,<ref name="winupdate">Windows Update, Easier and Less Disruptive [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/windowsupdate.mspx Windows Update in Windows Vista].</ref> now operating solely via a control panel instead of as a [[web application]]. Windows Mail's spam filter and Windows Defender's definitions are updated automatically via Windows Update. Users who choose the recommended setting for Automatic Updates will have the latest drivers installed and available when they add a new device.
* '''[[Parental controls]]:''' Allows administrators to control which websites, programs and games each standard user can use and install. This feature is not included in the Business or Enterprise editions of Vista.
* '''[[Windows SideShow]]:''' Enables the auxiliary displays on newer laptops or on supported Windows Mobile devices. It is meant to be used to display device gadgets while the computer is on or off.
* '''[[Windows Speech Recognition|Speech recognition]]''' is integrated into Vista.<ref name="winspeech">Windows Vista, SAPI [http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/01/speechinWindowsVista/ Talking Windows]</ref> It features a redesigned user interface and configurable command-and-control commands. Unlike the Office 2003 version, which works only in Office and WordPad, Speech Recognition in Windows Vista works for any accessible application. In addition, it currently supports several languages: British and American English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) and Japanese.
* New [[font]]s, including several designed for screen reading, and improved Chinese (Yahei, JhengHei), Japanese (Meiryo) and Korean (Malgun) fonts. [[ClearType]] has also been enhanced and enabled by default.
* '''[[Problem Reports and Solutions]]''', a control panel which allows users to view previously sent problems and any solutions or additional information that is available.
* Improved audio controls allow the system-wide volume or volume of individual audio devices and even individual applications to be controlled separately. New audio functionalities such as Room Correction, Bass Management, Speaker Fill and Headphone virtualization have also been incorporated.
* '''[[Windows System Assessment Tool]]''' is a tool used to benchmark system performance. Software such as games can retrieve this rating and modify its own behavior at runtime to improve performance. The benchmark tests [[CPU]], [[RAM]], 2-D and 3-D graphics acceleration, graphics memory and hard disk space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/8/f/98f3fe47-dfc3-4e74-92a3-088782200fe7/TWAR05002_WinHEC05.ppt|title=TWAR05002_WinHEC05.ppt at download.microsoft.com|accessdate=2007-01-25}}</ref><ref name="winsat">Windows Vista, The System Assessment Tool [http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/vista/winsat.mspx WinSat].</ref>
* '''[[Windows Ultimate Extras]]''': The Ultimate edition of Windows Vista provides, via Windows Update, access to some additional features. These are a collection of additional [[Multilingual User Interface|MUI]] language packs, Texas Hold 'Em (a Poker game) and Microsoft Tinker (a strategy game where the character is a robot), [[BitLocker Drive Encryption|BitLocker]] and [[Encrypting File System|EFS]] enhancements which allow users to backup their encryption [[key (cryptography)|key]] online in a ''Digital Locker'', and [[Windows Dreamscene]], which enables the use of videos in [[Moving Picture Experts Group|MPEG]] and [[Windows Media Video|WMV]] formats as the desktop background. On April 21, 2008, Microsoft launched two more Ultimate Extras; three new Windows sound schemes, and a content pack for Dreamscene. Various DreamScene Content Packs have been released since the final version of DreamScene was released.
* '''Reliability and Performance Monitor''' includes various tools for tuning and monitoring system performance and resources activities of [[Central processing unit|CPU]], disks, network, memory and other resources. It shows the operations on files, the opened connections, etc.
* '''Disk Management''': The [[Logical Disk Manager]] in Windows Vista supports shrinking and expanding volumes on-the-fly.

===Core technologies===
{{Refimprovesect|date=December 2007}}
{{main|Technical features new to Windows Vista}}
Windows Vista is intended to be a technology-based release, to provide a base to include advanced technologies, many of which are related to how the system functions and thus not readily visible to the user. An example is the complete restructuring of the architecture of the audio, print, display, and networking subsystems; although the results of this work are visible to software developers, end-users will only see what appear to be evolutionary changes in the user interface.

Vista includes technologies such as [[ReadyBoost]] and [[Windows Vista I/O technologies#ReadyDrive|ReadyDrive]] which employ fast [[flash memory]] (located on [[USB drive]]s and [[hybrid drive|hybrid hard disk drive]]s) to improve system performance by caching commonly used programs and data. This manifests itself in improved battery life on notebook computers as well, since a hybrid drive can be spun down when not in use. Another new technology called [[Windows Vista I/O technologies#SuperFetch|SuperFetch]] utilizes [[machine learning]] techniques to analyze usage patterns to allow Windows Vista to make intelligent decisions about what content should be present in system memory at any given time. It uses almost all the extra RAM as [[Page cache|disk cache]]. In conjunction with SuperFetch, an automatic built-in [[Windows Disk Defragmenter]] makes sure that those applications are strategically positioned on the hard disk where they can be loaded into memory very quickly with the least amount of physical movement of the hard disk’s read-write heads. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=735 |title=Understand how SuperFetch uses RAM to enhance system performance &#124; Microsoft Windows &#124; TechRepublic.com |publisher=Blogs.techrepublic.com.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref>

As part of the redesign of the networking architecture, [[IPv6]] has been fully incorporated into the operating system and a number of performance improvements have been introduced, such as [[TCP window scale option|TCP window scaling]]. Earlier versions of Windows typically needed third-party wireless networking software to work properly, but this is not the case with Vista, which includes more comprehensive wireless networking support.

For graphics, Vista introduces a new [[Windows Display Driver Model]] and a major revision to [[Direct3D]]. The new driver model facilitates the new [[Desktop Window Manager]], which provides the [[page tearing|tearing]]-free desktop and special effects that are the cornerstones of Windows Aero. Direct3D 10, developed in conjunction with major display driver manufacturers, is a new architecture with more advanced [[shader]] support, and allows the [[graphics processing unit]] to render more complex scenes without assistance from the CPU. It features improved load balancing between CPU and GPU and also optimizes data transfer between them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/articles/447226.aspx|title=blogs.technet.com|accessdate=2007-01-25}}</ref>

At the core of the [[operating system]], many improvements have been made to the memory manager, process scheduler and I/O scheduler. The Heap Manager implements additional features such as integrity checking in order to improve robustness and defend against [[buffer overflow]] security [[exploit (computer security)|exploits]], although this comes at the price of breaking backward compatibility with some legacy applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/c/5/9c5b2167-8017-4bae-9fde-d599bac8184a/kernel-en.doc|title=Kernel Enhancements for Windows Vista and Windows Server Longhorn|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=May 9, 2006|accessdate=2008-03-13}}</ref> A [[Kernel Transaction Manager]] has been implemented that enables applications to work with the [[file system]] and [[Windows Registry|Registry]] using [[Atomicity (database systems)|atomic transaction]] operations.

===Security-related technologies===
{{Refimprovesect|date=December 2007}}
[[Image:User Account Control.png|thumb|A User Account Control consent dialog]]
{{main|Security and safety features new to Windows Vista}}
Improved security was a primary design goal for Vista.<ref name="gatesrsa" /> Microsoft's [[Trustworthy Computing]] initiative, which aims to improve public trust in its products, has had a direct effect on its development. This effort has resulted in a number of new security and safety features.

[[User Account Control]] is perhaps the most significant and visible of these changes. User Account Control is a security technology that makes it possible for users to use their computer with fewer privileges by default, with a view to stopping malware from making unauthorized changes to the system. This was often difficult in previous versions of Windows, as the previous "limited" user accounts proved too restrictive and incompatible with a large proportion of application software, and even prevented some basic operations such as looking at the calendar from the notification tray. In Windows Vista, when an action requiring administrative rights—such as installing/uninstalling software or making system-wide configuration changes—is performed, the user is first prompted for an administrator name and password; in cases where the user is already an administrator, the user is still prompted to confirm the pending privileged action. Regular use of the computer such as running programs, printing, or surfing the Internet does not trigger UAC prompts. User Account Control asks for credentials in a Secure Desktop mode, in which the entire screen is blacked out, temporarily disabled, and only the authorization window is active and highlighted. The intent is to stop a malicious program misleading the user by interfering with the authorization window, and to hint to the user the importance of the prompt.

[[Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer 7]]'s new security and safety features include a [[phishing]] filter, [[Internationalized domain name|IDN]] with anti-spoofing capabilities, and integration with system-wide parental controls. For added security, [[ActiveX]] controls are disabled by default. Also, Internet Explorer operates in a protected mode, which operates with lower permissions than the user and runs in isolation from other applications in the operating system, preventing it from accessing or modifying anything besides the Temporary Internet Files directory.<ref name="protectedmodeie"> Protected Mode IE has been described in detail at the Internet Explorer team blog: [http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/02/09/528963.aspx Protected Mode in Vista IE7] and [http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2005/09/20/471975.aspx More details on Protected Mode IE in Windows Vista].</ref> Microsoft's anti-spyware product, ''[[Windows Defender]]'', has been incorporated into Windows, providing protection against malware and other threats. Changes to various system configuration settings (such as new auto-starting applications) are blocked unless the user gives consent.

Whereas prior releases of Windows supported per-file encryption using [[Encrypting File System]], the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Vista include [[BitLocker Drive Encryption]] which can protect entire [[volume (computing)|volumes]], notably the operating system volume. However, BitLocker requires approximately a 1.5-gigabyte partition to be permanently unencrypted and to contain system files in order for Windows to boot. In normal circumstances, the only time this partition is accessed is when the computer is booting, or when there is a Windows update that changes files in this area which is a legitimate reason to access this section of the drive. The area can be a potential security issue, because a hexadecimal editor (such as dskprobe.exe), or malicious software running with administrator and/or kernel level privilages would be able to write to this "Ghost Partition" and allow a piece of malicious software to comprimize the system, or disable the enctryption. BitLocker can work in conjunction with a [[Trusted Platform Module]] (TPM) [[cryptoprocessor]] (version 1.2) embedded in a computer's [[motherboard]], or with a USB key.<ref name="exec-overview">{{cite web
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/security/bitexec.mspx#EQB
| title = BitLocker Drive Encryption: Executive Overview
| accessdate = 2007-06-19
| date=2006-04-05
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
}}</ref> However, as with other [[full disk encryption]] technologies, BitLocker is vulnerable to a [[cold boot attack]], especially where TPM is used as a [[key (cryptography)|key]] protector without a boot [[personal identification number|PIN]] being required too.<ref name="ColdBoot">{{cite paper|url=http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/|title=Lest We Remember: Cold Boot Attacks on Encryption Keys|author=J. Alex Halderman, [[Seth Schoen|Seth D. Schoen]], Nadia Heninger, William Clarkson, William Paul, Joseph A. Calandrino, Ariel J. Feldman, [[Jacob Appelbaum]], and [[Edward Felten|Edward W. Felten]]|publisher=[[Princeton University]]|date=February 21, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref>

A variety of other privilege-restriction techniques are also built into Vista. An example is the concept of "integrity levels" in user processes, whereby a process with a lower integrity level cannot interact with processes of a higher integrity level and cannot perform DLL–injection to a processes of a higher integrity level. The security restrictions of [[Windows service]]s are more fine-grained, so that services (especially those listening on the network) have no ability to interact with parts of the operating system they do not need to. [[Obfuscation]] techniques such as [[address space layout randomization]] are used to increase the amount of effort required of [[malware]] before successful infiltration of a system. Code Integrity verifies that system binaries haven’t been tampered with by malicious code.

As part of the redesign of the network stack, [[Windows Firewall]] has been upgraded, with new support for filtering both incoming and outgoing traffic. Advanced packet filter rules can be created which can grant or deny communications to specific services.

The 64-bit versions of Vista <!--Please do not list XP x64's features (PatchGuard, DEP) here. This section is for *new* features.-->require that all device drivers be digitally signed, so that the creator of the driver can be identified.<ref>[http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_ff_x64.asp Windows Vista Feature Focus: 64-Bit (x64) Support]</ref>

===Business technologies===
{{main|Management features new to Windows Vista}}
While much of the focus of Vista's new capabilities has been on the new user interface, security technologies, and improvements to the core operating system, Microsoft is also adding new deployment and maintenance features.

* The [[Windows Imaging Format]] (WIM) is the cornerstone of Microsoft's new deployment and packaging system. WIM files, which contain a [[Hardware Abstraction Layer|HAL]]-independent image of Windows Vista, can be maintained and patched without having to rebuild new images. Windows Images can be delivered via [[Systems Management Server]] or '''Business Desktop Deployment''' technologies. Images can be customized and configured with applications then deployed to corporate client personal computers using little to no touch by a system administrator. [[ImageX]] is the Microsoft tool used to create and customize images.
* [[Windows Deployment Services]] replaces [[Remote Installation Services]] for deploying Vista and prior versions of Windows.
* Approximately 700 new [[Group Policy]] settings have been added, covering most aspects of the new features in the operating system, as well as significantly expanding the configurability of wireless networks, removable storage devices, and user desktop experience. Vista also introduced an XML based format (ADMX) to display registry-based policy settings, making it easier to manage networks that span geographic locations and different languages.<ref name="gp">{{cite web
| url=http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/gpol/a8366c42-6373-48cd-9d11-2510580e4817.mspx?mfr=true
| title = What's New in Group Policy in Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn"
| accessdate = 2006-05-18
| work = TechNet
| publisher = Microsoft
}}</ref>

* [[Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX|Services for UNIX]] has been renamed "Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications," and is included with the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Vista. [[Network File System (protocol)|Network File System]] (NFS) client support is also included.
* [[MUI|Multilingual User Interface]] &ndash; Unlike previous version of Windows which required language packs to be loaded to provide local language support, Windows Vista Ultimate and Enterprise editions support the ability to dynamically change languages based on the logged on user's preference. It is not possible to change the language, even for all users, in Windows Vista Home. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}
* Wireless Projector support

===Developer technologies===

Windows Vista includes a large number of new application programming interfaces. Chief among them is the inclusion of [[.NET Framework 3.0|version 3.0]] of the [[.NET Framework]], which consists of a [[class library]] and [[Common Language Runtime]]. Version 3.0 includes four new major components:<ref>[http://msdn.microsoft.com/winfx/technologies/ .NET Framework 3.0 Technologies], [[Microsoft]]</ref>

* '''[[Windows Presentation Foundation]]''' is a [[user interface]] subsystem and framework based [[vector graphics]], which makes use of [[3D computer graphics]] hardware and [[Direct3D]] technologies. It provides the foundation for building applications and blending together application UI, documents, and media content. It is the successor to [[Windows Forms]].
* '''[[Windows Communication Foundation]]''' is a service-oriented messaging subsystem which enables applications and systems to interoperate locally or remotely using [[Web service]]s.
* '''[[Windows Workflow Foundation]]''' provides task automation and integrated transactions using [[workflow]]s. It is the programming model, engine and tools for building workflow-enabled applications on Windows.
* '''[[Windows CardSpace]]''' is a component which securely stores digital identities of a person, and provides a unified interface for choosing the identity for a particular transaction, such as logging into a website.

These technologies are also available for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to facilitate their introduction to and usage by developers and end users.

There are also significant new development APIs in the core of the operating system, notably the completely re-architected audio, networking, print, and video interfaces, major changes to the security infrastructure, improvements to the deployment and installation of applications ("[[ClickOnce]]" and [[Windows Installer]] 4.0) , new device driver development model ("[[Windows Driver Foundation]]") , [[Transactional NTFS#Transactional NTFS|Transactional NTFS]], mobile computing API advancements (power management, [[Tablet PC]] Ink support, [[Windows SideShow|SideShow]]) and major updates to (or complete replacements of) many core subsystems such as [[Winlogon]] and [[Cryptographic Application Programming Interface|CAPI]].

There are some issues for software developers using some of the graphics APIs in Vista. Games or programs which are built solely on the Windows Vista-exclusive version of [[DirectX]], version 10, cannot work on prior versions of Windows, as [[DirectX 10]] is not available for previous Windows versions. Also, games which require the features of D3D9Ex, the updated implementation of DirectX 9 in Windows Vista are also incompatible with previous Windows versions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/article.asp?CIID=24636 | title=DirectX 10: More harm than good for graphics? | first=Logan | last=Booker | publisher=Maximum Power Computing Atomic |date=2005-09-15 | accessdate=2006-05-28}}</ref> According to a Microsoft blog, there are three choices for [[OpenGL]] implementation on Vista. An application can use the default implementation, which translates OpenGL calls into the Direct3D API and is frozen at OpenGL version 1.4, or an application can use an Installable Client [[device driver|Driver]] (ICD) , which comes in two flavors: legacy and Vista-compatible. A legacy ICD disables the [[Desktop Window Manager]], a Vista-compatible ICD takes advantage of a new API, and is fully compatible with the Desktop Window Manager.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/kamvedbrat/archive/2006/02/22/537624.aspx | title=more comments... | first=Kam | last=VedBrat | publisher=MSDN Blogs |date=2006-02-22 | accessdate=2006-05-28}}</ref> At least two primary vendors, [[ATI Technologies|ATI]] and [[NVIDIA]] provided full Vista-compatible ICDs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.khronos.org/developers/library/siggraph2006/OpenGL_BOF/<!-- NVIDIA_-_OpenGL_on_Vista.ppt --> | title=OpenGL on Vista | first=Neil | last=Trevett | publisher = Khronos Group |year=2006 |accessdate=2006-11-09}}</ref> However, [[hardware overlay]] is not supported, because it is considered as an obsolete feature in Vista. ATI and NVIDIA strongly recommend using compositing desktop/[[Framebuffer Object]]s for same functionality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3760|title=OpenGL Now Natively Supported in Windows Vista|accessdate=2007-01-25|last=Nguyen|first=Tuan}}</ref>

==Removed features==
{{main | Features removed from Windows Vista}}
Some notable Windows XP features and components have been replaced or removed in Windows Vista, including [[Windows Messenger]], the network [[Messenger Service]], [[HyperACCESS|HyperTerminal]], [[MSN Explorer]], [[Active Desktop]], and the replacement of [[NetMeeting]] with [[Windows Meeting Space]]. Windows Vista also does not include the Windows XP "[[Luna (theme)|Luna]]" visual theme, or most of the classic color schemes which have been part of Windows since the Windows 3.x era. The "Hardware profiles" startup feature has also been removed, along with support for older motherboard technologies like the [[Extended Industry Standard Architecture|EISA]] bus, [[Advanced Power Management|APM]] and [[Game port]] support (though [[game port]] support can be enabled by applying an older driver).<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=Vista&message.id=13336
| title = Enable Game port on vista
| date=2004-12-08
| accessdate = 2007-06-22
| publisher = [[Creative Technology|Creative]]
}}</ref> IP over [[FireWire]] (TCP/IP over IEEE 1394) has been removed as well.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/bus/1394/IP_1394.mspx
| title = Discontinued Support for IP over 1394
| date=2004-12-08
| accessdate = 2007-06-22
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
}}</ref> The IPX/SPX Protocol has also been removed, although it can be enabled by a third-party plugin.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.starbase01.com/site/index.php?id=22,87,0,0,1,0
| title = IPX/SPX Protocol in Vista (32bit)
| date=2008-05-05
| accessdate = 2008-05-05
| publisher = Starbase.com
}}</ref>

==Editions==
{{main|Windows Vista editions}}
Windows Vista ships in six editions.<ref name="versionsannouncement">{{cite press release
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/feb06/02-26WinVistaProductsPR.mspx
| title = Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista Product Lineup
| date=2006-02-26
| accessdate = 2006-10-31
| work = PressPass
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
}}</ref> These are roughly divided into two target markets, consumer and business, with editions varying to cater for specific sub-markets. For consumers, there are four editions, with three available for developed countries. Windows Vista Starter edition is limited to [[emerging markets]]. Windows Vista Home Basic is intended for budget users with low needs. Windows Vista Home Premium covers the majority of the consumer market, and contains applications for creating and using multimedia. The home editions cannot join a [[Windows Server domain]]. For businesses, there are two editions. Windows Vista Business is specifically designed for [[small and medium enterprises|small and medium-sized businesses]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/business/default.mspx|title=Windows Vista Business}}</ref> while Windows Vista Enterprise<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/enterprise/default.mspx|title=Windows Vista Enterprise}}</ref> is only available to customers participating in Microsoft's [[Microsoft Software Assurance|Software Assurance]] program. Windows Vista Ultimate contains the complete feature-set of both the Home and Business (combination of both Home Premium and Enterprise) editions, as well as a set of [[Windows Ultimate Extras]], and is aimed at enthusiasts.

All editions except Windows Vista Starter support both [[32-bit]] ([[x86]]) and [[64-bit]] ([[x64]]) processor architectures.

In the [[European Union]], Home Basic N and Business N versions are also available. These come without Windows Media Player, due to EU sanctions brought against Microsoft for [[European Union Microsoft antitrust case|violating anti-trust laws]]. Similar sanctions exist in [[South Korea]].

Dell and Microsoft partnered up to support [[(PRODUCT) RED]]. Microsoft released the Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED that exclusively will come together with Dell (PRODUCT) RED Computers.

==Visual styles==
Windows Vista has four distinct visual styles.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/b/9/5b97017b-e28a-4bae-ba48-174cf47d23cd/PRI017_WH06.ppt
| first = Kam
| last = VedBrat
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
| title = Desktop And Presentation Impact On Hardware Design (Powerpoint presentation)
| accessdate = 2006-09-01
}}</ref>

; Windows Aero:
: Vista's premier visual style, [[Windows Aero]], is built on a new desktop composition engine called [[Desktop Window Manager]]. Windows Aero introduces support for 3D graphics (Windows Flip 3D), [[Transparency (optics)|translucency]] effects (Glass), live thumbnails, window animations, and other visual effects, and is intended for mainstream and high-end video cards. To enable these features, the contents of every open window are stored in video memory to facilitate [[Page tearing|tearing]]-free movement of windows. As such, Windows Aero has significantly higher hardware requirements than its predecessors. The minimum requirement is for 128&nbsp;MB of graphics memory, depending on resolution used.<ref name="TechNet Vista Requirements">{{cite web
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/vistarpc.mspx
| title = Windows Vista Enterprise Hardware Planning Guidance
| year = 2006
| accessdate = 2006-10-26
| work = TechNet
| publisher = Microsoft
}}</ref> Windows Aero (including Windows Flip 3D) is not included in the Starter and Home Basic editions.

; Windows Vista Standard: This mode is a variation of Windows Aero without the glass effects, window animations, and other advanced graphical effects such as Windows Flip 3D. Like Windows Aero, it uses the Desktop Window Manager, and has generally the same video hardware requirements as Windows Aero. This is the default mode for the Windows Vista Home Basic Edition. The Starter Edition does not support this mode.
; Windows Vista Basic: This mode has aspects that are similar to Windows XP's visual style with the addition of subtle animations such as those found on [[progress bar]]s. It does not employ the Desktop Window Manager(DWM); as such, it does not feature transparency or translucency, window animation, Windows Flip 3D or any of the functions provided by the DWM. The Basic mode does not require the new [[Windows Display Driver Model]] (WDDM) for display drivers, and has similar video card requirements to Windows XP. For computers with video cards that are not powerful enough to support Windows Aero, this is the default graphics mode.
; Windows Classic: Windows Classic resembles Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, does not use the Desktop Window Manager, and does not require a WDDM driver. As with previous versions of Windows, this visual style supports color schemes, which are collections of color settings. Windows Vista includes six classic color schemes, comprised of four high-contrast color schemes and the default color schemes from [[Windows 98]] and [[Windows 2000]]/[[Windows Me]].

==Hardware requirements==
Computers capable of running Windows Vista are classified as ''Vista Capable'' and ''Vista Premium Ready''.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/may06/05-18GetReadyPR.mspx
| title = Microsoft and PC Manufacturers Make It Easier for Customers to Get Ready for Windows Vista
| date=2006-05-18
| accessdate = 2006-05-18
| work = PressPass
| publisher = Microsoft
}}</ref> A ''Vista Capable'' or equivalent PC is capable of running all editions of Windows Vista although some of the special features and high-end graphics options may require additional or more advanced hardware. A ''Vista Premium Ready'' PC can take advantage of Vista's high-end features.<ref name="microsoft1">{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx | title=Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor | accessdate=2006-06-25}}</ref>

Windows Vista's Basic and Classic interfaces work with virtually any graphics hardware that supports Windows XP or 2000; accordingly, most discussion around Vista's graphics requirements centers on those for the Windows Aero interface. As of Windows Vista Beta 2, the NVIDIA [[GeForce 6]] series and later, the ATI [[Radeon 9500]] and later, Intel's [[GMA 950]] and later integrated graphics, and a handful of VIA chipsets and S3 Graphics discrete chips are supported. Although originally supported, the GeForce FX 5 series has been dropped from newer drivers from NVIDIA. The last driver from NVIDIA to support the GeForce FX series on Vista was 96.85.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_96.85_2.html |title=ForceWare Release 95 |publisher=Nvidia.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msbetas.org/wiki/index.php/Vista_Ready_GPUs|title=MsBetas' List of Vista Ready GPUs|accessdate=2007-07-30}}</ref> Microsoft offers a tool called the ''Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor''<ref name="microsoft1"/> to assist Windows XP and Vista users in determining what versions of Windows their machine is capable of running. Although the installation media included in retail packages is a 32-bit DVD, customers needing a CD-ROM or customers who wish for a 64-bit install media are able to acquire this media through the Windows Vista Alternate Media program.<ref>name="Windows Vista system requirements"{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx | title=Windows Vista Alternate Media| accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref> The Ultimate edition includes both 32-bit and 64-bit media.<ref> [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx Windows Vista 64-bit Editions] </ref> The digitally downloaded version of Ultimate includes only one version, either 32-bit or 64-bit, from Windows Marketplace.

{| align="center" class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center;"
|+ <big>Windows Vista system requirements</big><ref name="TechNet Vista Requirements" />
|-
! style="background:#ecfcf0;width:120px;height:35px;" |
! style = "background:#ecfcf0;width:200px;" align="center" valign="middle" | Vista Capable
! style="background:#ecfcf0;height:28px;" align="center" valign="middle" | Vista Premium Ready
|-
![[Central processing unit|Processor]]
| 800&nbsp;MHz<ref>Windows Vista minimum supported system requirements {{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx|title=Windows Vista: Recommended System Requirements|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|accessdate=2008-03-13}}</ref> || 1&nbsp;GHz
|-
![[Random Access Memory|Memory]]
| 512&nbsp;MB || 1&nbsp;GB
|-
!Graphics card
| [[DirectX]] 9.0 capable || [[DirectX]] 9.0 capable and [[Windows Display Driver Model|WDDM]] 1.0 driver support
|-
!Graphics memory
| 32 MB || 128&nbsp;MB supports up to 2,756,000 total pixels (e.g. 1920 × 1200) or<br/>512&nbsp;MB for greater [[display resolution|resolutions]] such as 2560x1600<ref>64&nbsp;MB RAM supports [[Windows Aero|Aero]] with up to 1,310,720 total pixels (e.g. 1280 × 1024), but is not Premium Ready [http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/evaluate/hardware/vistarpc.mspx]</ref>
|-
![[Hard disk drive|HDD]] capacity
| 20&nbsp;GB || 40&nbsp;GB
|-
!HDD free space
|colspan = "2" | 15&nbsp;GB
|-
!Other drives
|colspan = "2" | [[DVD-ROM]]
|-
!Audio
|colspan = "2" | [[Sound|Audio output]]
|}

==Service packs==
Microsoft occasionally releases [[service pack]]s for its Windows operating systems to fix bugs and add new features.
===Service Pack 1===
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on February 4, 2008 alongside [[Windows Server 2008]] to [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]] partners, after a five-month beta test period. The initial deployment of the service pack caused a number of machines to continually reboot, rendering the machines unusable. <ref>{{cite news
| url = http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1197
| publisher = [[Zdnet]]
| title = No update from Microsoft on Vista SP1, Media Center problems
| date = 2008-02-18
| accessdate = 2008-10-08
}}</ref> This caused Microsoft to temporarily suspend automatic deployment of the service pack until the problem was resolved. The synchronized release date of the two operating systems reflected the merging of the workstation and server [[kernel (computer science)|kernels]] back into a single [[source code|code base]] for the first time since [[Windows 2000]]. [[Microsoft Developer Network|MSDN]] subscribers were able to download SP1 on February 15, 2008. SP1 became available to current Windows Vista users on [[Windows Update]] and the Download Center on March 18, 2008.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/02/04/announcing-the-rtm-of-windows-vista-sp1.aspx
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
| title = Announcing the RTM of Windows Vista SP1
| date = 2008-02-04
| accessdate = 2008-02-04
}}</ref><ref name = "sp1whitepaper">{{cite news
| url = http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/pages/windows-vista-service-pack-1-beta-whitepaper.aspx
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
| title = Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta White Paper
| date = 2007-08-29
| accessdate = 2007-08-29
| pages = 1
}}</ref><ref name="Fried">{{cite news
| url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142054-c,vistalonghorn/article.html
| title = Feb. Launch Now Set for Windows Vista SP1
| date = 2008-01-31
| accessdate = 2008-01-31
| publisher = [[PC World (magazine)|PC World]] Magazine
}}</ref> Initially, the service pack only supported 5 languages, English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese. Support for the remaining 31 languages was released on April 14, 2008.<ref> [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f559842a-9c9b-4579-b64a-09146a0ba746&displaylang=en Download Details: Windows Vista SP1 All Language Standalone (KB936330)]</ref>

A whitepaper published by Microsoft near the end of August 2007 outlined the scope and intent of the service pack, identifying three major areas of improvement: reliability and performance, administration experience, and support for newer hardware and standards.

One area of particular note is performance. Areas of improvement include file copy operations, hibernation, logging off on domain-joined machines, JavaScript parsing in Internet Explorer, network file share browsing,<ref name="sp1whitepaper" /> Windows Explorer ZIP file handling,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2007/08/07/1715181.aspx
| title = The Case of the Failed File Compression
| author = Mark Russinovich
| authorlink = Mark Russinovich
| date = August 7, 2007
| work = Mark's Blog
| publisher = MSDN Blogs
}}</ref> and [[Windows Disk Defragmenter]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2007/01/26/don-t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover-why-windows-vista-defrag-is-cool.aspx
| title = Don’t judge a book by its cover – why Windows Vista Defrag is cool
| date = January 26, 2007
| accessdate = 2007-04-06
| work = The Filing Cabinet
| publisher = MSDN Blogs
}}</ref> The ability to choose individual drives to defragment is being reintroduced as well.<ref name="sp1whitepaper" />

Service Pack 1 introduces support for some new hardware and software standards, notably the [[exFAT]] file system,<ref name="sp1whitepaper" /> [[802.11n]] wireless networking,<ref name="SP1APIChanges">{{cite web
| url = http://www.istartedsomething.com/20070722/vista-sp1-api-msdn-library/
| title = Collection of published Vista SP1 API changes from MSDN
| first = Long
| last = Zheng
| date=2007-07-22
| accessdate=2007-07-23}}</ref> IPv6 over [[VPN]] connections,<ref name="SP1APIChanges" /> and the [[Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol]]. Booting a system using [[Extensible Firmware Interface]] on [[x64]] systems is also being introduced;<ref name="sp1whitepaper" /> this feature had originally been slated for the initial release of Vista but was delayed due to a lack of compatible hardware at the time.

Two areas have seen changes in SP1 that have come as the result of concerns from software vendors. One of these is desktop search; users will be able to change the default [[desktop search]] program to one provided by a third party instead of the Microsoft desktop search program that comes with Windows Vista, and desktop search programs will be able to seamlessly tie in their services into the operating system.<ref name="Fried" /> These changes come in part due to complaints from [[Google]], whose [[Google Desktop Search]] application was hindered by the presence of Vista's built-in desktop search. In June 2007, Google claimed that the changes being introduced for SP1 "are a step in the right direction, but they should be improved further to give consumers greater access to alternate desktop search providers".<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070621-google-says-vista-search-changes-not-enough.html
| title = Google says Vista search changes not enough
| author = Ken Fisher
| publisher = [[Ars Technica]]
| date = June 21, 2007
| accessdate = 2007-10-20
}}</ref> The other area of note is a set of new security [[Application programming interface|API]]s being introduced for the benefit of [[antivirus software]] that currently relies on the unsupported practice of patching the kernel (''see [[Kernel Patch Protection]]'').<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.betanews.com/article/Vista_SP1_to_Include_Common_Security_APIs_for_Partners/1161305514
| title = Vista SP1 to Include Common Security APIs for Partners
| date=2006-10-19
| accessdate = 2007-06-12
| author = Fulton, Scott M., III
| publisher = BetaNews
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4C7561E6-6F9D-4125-8A8C-AEAF8E3342B9&displaylang=en
| title = Kernel Patch Protection Criteria Evaluation Document
| date=2006-12-19
| accessdate = 2007-06-12
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
}}</ref>

An update to DirectX 10, named DirectX 10.1,<ref name="sp1whitepaper" /> makes mandatory several features which were previously optional in Direct3D 10 hardware. Graphics cards will be required to support DirectX 10.1.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2007/08/09/microsoft-releases-information-on-upcoming-dx10-1-update
| title = Microsoft releases information on upcoming D3D 10.1 update
| first = Joel
| last = Hruska
| date=2007-08-09
| accessdate = 2008-08-10
}}</ref> SP1 includes a kernel (6001) that matches the version shipped with Windows Server 2008.

The [[Group Policy]] Management Console (GPMC) is being replaced by the Group Policy Object Editor. An updated downloadable version of the Group Policy Management Console was released soon after the service pack.

SP1 enables support for hotpatching, a reboot-reduction servicing technology designed to maximize uptime. It works by allowing Windows components to be updated (or "patched") while they are still in use by a running process. Hotpatch-enabled update packages are installed via the same methods as traditional update packages, and will not trigger a system reboot.<ref name="technetnotablesp1">{{cite web
|url=http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/005f921e-f706-401e-abb5-eec42ea0a03e1033.mspx?mfr=true
|title=Notable Changes in Vista Service Pack 1
|accessdate=2008-05-02
|publisher=[[Microsoft]]
}}</ref>



===Service Pack 2===
{{future software}}
Service Pack 2 is currently under development,<ref name="sp2_coming">{{cite web|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/20/vista_sp2_beta_coming_soon/|title=Vista SP2 beta could land within next four weeks|author=Kelly Fiveash|date=2008-10-20|accessdate=2008-10-21|publisher=[[The Register]]}}</ref> and a beta was released to a small group of Technology Adoption Program customers on 29 October 2008. The final release date will be dependent on feedback from the beta testing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/24/windows-vista-service-pack-2-beta.aspx|date=2008-10-24|title=Windows Vista Team Blog : Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta|accessdate=2008-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948465|title=Information about Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=2008-10-02|accessdate=2008-10-17}}</ref>
The press has reported that the next Windows Vista service pack will be released before [[Windows 7]] in order to lessen confusion for customers who are undecided whether to deploy Vista or wait for Windows 7.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1643|date=2008-10-15|title=Microsoft aiming to deliver Vista SP2 before Windows 7|publisher=[[ZDNet]]|accessdate=2008-10-19}}</ref> On 2 December 2008, Microsoft announced that the Service Pack 2 Beta would be made available to everyone through a Customer Preview Program (CPP) from 4 December.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/12/02/announcing-the-windows-vista-and-windows-server-2008-service-pack-2-customer-preview-program-cpp.aspx|date=2008-12-02|title=Windows Vista Team Blog : WAnnouncing the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Customer Preview Program (CPP)|accessdate=2008-12-02}}</ref>

The following features will be added in Vista SP2:<ref name="Nash">{{cite news|url=http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/10/24/windows-vista-service-pack-2-beta.aspx|date=2008-10-24|title=Windows Vista Team Blog : Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta|author=Mike Nash|accessdate=2008-10-24}}</ref>
*[[Windows Search#Windows Search 4.0|Windows Search 4.0]] for faster and improved relevancy in searches (currently available for SP1 systems as a standalone update).
*[[Bluetooth#Bluetooth_2.1|Bluetooth 2.1]] Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
*Ability to record data on to [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] media natively in Windows Vista.
*[[Windows_Rally#Windows_Connect_Now|Windows Connect Now (WCN)]] to simplify [[Wi-Fi]] Configuration.
*Improved support for resuming with active Wi-Fi connections.
*Enables the [[exFAT]] [[file system]] to support [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.
*Support for ICCD/CCID smart cards.
*Support for VIA 64-bit CPUs.

Unlike previous Windows service packs, SP2 cannot be installed unless SP1 is installed first,<ref name="Allee">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.technet.com/springboard/archive/2008/10/24/first-look-windows-vista-service-pack-2.aspx|title=First Look: Windows Vista Service Pack 2|author=Celine Allee|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=2008-10-24|accessdate=2008-10-28}}</ref> while Windows Vista and [[Windows Server 2008]] will also share a single service pack binary.<ref name="Nash"/>

==Criticism==
{{main|Criticism of Windows Vista}}
Windows Vista has received a number of negative assessments. Criticism targets include protracted development time, more restrictive licensing terms, the inclusion of a number of technologies aimed at restricting the copying of protected digital media,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://badvista.fsf.org/what-s-wrong-with-microsoft-windows-vista|title=What's wrong with Microsoft Windows Vista?|date=2007-03-06|accessdate=2007-03-24|last=Sullivan|first=John|publisher=Bad Vista}}</ref> and the usability of the new [[User Account Control]] security technology. Reviewers have also noted some similarities between Vista's Aero interface and that of [[Apple Computer|Apple's]] [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]] interface for the [[Mac OS X]] operating system. Moreover, some concerns have been raised about many PCs meeting "Vista Premium Ready" hardware requirements and Vista's pricing. When asked by [[Gizmodo]] at [[Consumer Electronics Show#2008|CES 2008]] what Microsoft product could have used more polish before release, Microsoft founder [[Bill Gates]] himself replied, "Ask me after we ship the next version of Windows. Then I'll be more open to give you a blunt answer."<ref>[http://www.osnews.com/story/19140/Gates_Wishes_More_Polish_Had_Gone_Into_Vista_Sort_of Gates Wishes More Polish Had Gone Into Vista, Sort of] Accessed February 23, 2008.</ref>

; Hardware requirements: While Microsoft claimed "nearly all PCs on the market today <nowiki>[2005]</nowiki> will run Windows Vista",<ref name="Hwreqts2";>{{cite web
| url = http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1843945,00.asp
| title = Will Your PC Run Windows Vista?
| year = 2005-08-05
| accessdate = 2006-08-15
| author = Spooner, John G.
| coatuhors = Foley, Mary Jo
| publisher = eweek.com
}}</ref> the higher requirements of some of the "premium" features, such as the Aero interface, have impacted many upgraders. According to the UK newspaper ''[[The Times]]'' in May 2006, the full set of features "would be available to less than 5 percent of Britain’s PC market", however, this prediction was made several months before Vista was released.<ref name="Judge1">{{cite web
| url = http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-2188681,00.html
| title = Windows revamp 'too advanced for most PCs'
| date=2006-05-20
| accessdate = 2006-08-15
| first = Elizabeth
| last = Judge
| publisher = ''The Times''
}}</ref> This continuing lack of clarity eventually led to a class action against Microsoft as people found themselves with new computers that were unable to use the new software to its full potential despite the assurance of "Vista Capable" designations.<ref>Gregg Keizer (November 26, 2007).[http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,139961-pg,1/article.html Lawyers: Even Microsoft Confused Over Vista Marketing]</ref> The court case has made public internal Microsoft communications that indicate that senior executives have also had difficulty with this issue. For example, his laptop's lack of an appropriate graphics chip so hobbled Vista features that vice president Mike Nash commented "I now have a $2,100 e-mail machine."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/business/09digi.html "They Criticized Vista. And They Should Know."], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 9, 2008.</ref>

; Licensing and cost:Criticism of upgrade [[Software licensing|licenses]] pertaining to Windows Vista Starter through Home Premium was expressed by [[Ars Technica]]'s Ken Fisher, who noted that the new requirement of having a prior operating system already installed was going to cause irritation for users who reinstall Windows on a regular basis.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070128-8717.html
| title = Vista "upgrade" drops compliance checking, requires old OS to install
| date=2007-01-28
| accessdate = 2007-01-28
| last = Fisher
| first = Ken
| publisher = [[Ars Technica]]
}}</ref> It has been revealed that an Upgrade copy of Windows Vista can be installed clean without first installing a previous version of Windows. On the first install, Windows will refuse to activate. The user must then reinstall that same copy of Vista. Vista will then activate on the reinstall, thus allowing a user to install an Upgrade of Windows Vista without owning a previous operating system.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_upgrade_clean.asp
| title = How to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Media
| date=2007-02-03
| accessdate = 2007-02-05
| last = Thurrott
| first = Paul
| authorlink = Paul Thurrott
| publisher = [[Paul Thurrott]]
}}</ref> As with Windows XP, separate rules still apply to OEM versions of Vista installed on new PCs: Microsoft asserts that these versions are not legally transferable (although whether this conflicts with the [[right of first sale]] has yet to be decided clearly legally).<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://news.com.com/Microsoft+limits+Vista+transfers/2100-1016_3-6126379.html?tag=newsmap
| title = Microsoft limits Vista transfers
| date=2006-10-16
| accessdate = 2006-10-19
| last = Fried
| first = Ina
| publisher = CNET News.com
}}</ref>

:The cost of Windows Vista has also been a source of concern and commentary. A majority of users in a poll said that the prices of various Windows Vista editions posted on the Microsoft Canada website in August 2006 make the product too expensive.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/5450/53/
| title = Windows Vista too expensive says users
| date=2006-08-30
| accessdate = 2006-10-19
| last = Beer
| first = Stan
| publisher = ITWire.com
}}</ref> A BBC News report on the day of Vista's release suggested that, "there may be a backlash from consumers over its pricing plans—with the cost of Vista versions in the US roughly half the price of equivalent versions in the UK."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6309651.stm
| title = Microsoft starts Vista hard sell
| date=2007-01-30
| accessdate = 2007-01-30
| work = Technology
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
}}</ref>

; Digital rights management: Windows Vista supports additional forms of [[digital rights management]] protections. One aspect of this is the [[Protected Video Path]], which is designed so that "premium content" from [[HD DVD]] or [[Blu-ray Disc]]s may mandate that the connections between PC components be encrypted. Depending on what the content demands, the devices may not pass premium content over non-encrypted outputs, or they must artificially degrade the quality of the signal on such outputs or not display it all. Drivers for such hardware must be approved by Microsoft; a revocation mechanism is also included which allows Microsoft to disable drivers of devices in end-user PCs over the Internet.<ref name="Microsoft-ocp">{{cite web
| url = http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/stream/output_protect.mspx
| title = Output Content Protection and Windows Vista
| date=2005-04-27
| accessdate = 2007-01-08
| work = WHDC
| publisher = [[Microsoft]]
}}</ref> [[Peter Gutmann (computer scientist)|Peter Gutmann]], security researcher and author of the [[open source]] [[cryptlib]] library, claims that these mechanisms violate fundamental rights of the user (such as [[fair use]]), unnecessarily increase the cost of hardware, and make systems less reliable (the "tilt bit" being a particular worry; if triggered, the entire graphic subsystem performs a reset) and vulnerable to [[denial-of-service attacks]].<ref name="gutmann">{{cite web
| url = http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.html
| title = A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection
| last = Gutmann
| first = Peter
| authorlink = Peter Gutmann (computer scientist)
| publisher =
| date=2007-01-27
| accessdate = 2007-01-27
}} Also available: [http://max-sievers.name/vista_cost.pdf PDF version]</ref> However despite several requests <ref>[http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/08/15/bott_and_ou_call_out_gutmanns_vista_fud.html Bott and Ou call out Gutmann's Vista FUD]</ref> for evidence supporting such claims Peter Gutman has never supported his claims with any researched evidence. Proponents have claimed that Microsoft had no choice but to follow the demands of the movie studios, and that the technology will not actually be enabled until after 2010;<ref name="smith">{{cite web
| url = http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/2006/12/31/windows_vista_drm_nonsense
| title = Windows Vista DRM nonsense
| last = Smith
| first = Paul
| date=2006-12-31
| accessdate = 2007-01-03
}}</ref><ref name="arstechnica">{{cite web
| title = Hollywood reportedly in agreement to delay forced quality downgrades for Blu-ray, HD DVD
| url = http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060521-6880.html
| last = Fisher
| first = Ken
| date=2006-05-21
| accessdate = 2007-01-21
| publisher = [[Ars Technica]]
}}</ref> Microsoft also noted that content protection mechanisms have existed in Windows as far back as [[Windows Me]], and that the new protections will not apply to any existing content (only future content).<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/01/20/windows-vista-content-protection-twenty-questions-and-answers.aspx
| title = Windows Vista Content Protection—Twenty Questions (and Answers)
| last = Marsh
| first = Dave
| date=2007-01-20
| accessdate = 2007-01-20
| work = Windows Vista team blog
| publisher = Microsoft
}}</ref>

; User Account Control: Although UAC is considered an important part of Vista's security infrastructure, as it blocks software from silently gaining administrator privileges without the user's knowledge, it has been widely criticized for generating too many prompts. Many other operating systems, particularly those of [[Unix-like|Unix descent]], require instead only a single switch to administrator privileges ([[superuser]] shell) for such actions. This has led many Vista UAC users to consider it annoying and tiresome, with some consequently either turning it off or putting it in auto-approval mode.<ref>[http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/06/dont_shut_off_v.html InformationWeek: Don't Shut Off Vista UAC, There's A Better Way]</ref> Responding to this criticism, Microsoft altered the implementation to reduce the number of prompts with SP1.<ref name="technetnotablesp1" /> Though the changes have resulted in some improvement, it has not alleviated the concerns completely.<ref>Christina Torode, [http://searchwinit.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid1_gci1308132,00.html "Minasi says Vista SP1 solves problems, adds new ones."], SearchWinIT.com, April 2, 2008.</ref>

==Reception==
[[Image:Xpvistaleopardchangewave.png|thumb|230px|Businesses' intended purchase rates and satisfaction ratings for Windows Vista, [[Windows XP]], and [[Mac OS X Leopard]], based on information from ChangeWave collected in February 2008<ref name="computerworld-changewave">[http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9072218 ComputerWorld on ChangeWave statistics]</ref>]]
Initially it was thought that the adoption of Vista has been generally low, due to largely poor reviews and harsh criticism, but a later [[Gartner]] research report predicted that Vista business adoption in 2008 will actually beat that of XP during the same time frame (21.3% vs. 16.9%)<ref>http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207600845</ref> while [[International Data Corporation|IDC]] had indicated that the launch of [[Windows Server 2008]] served as a catalyst for the stronger adoption rates.<ref>http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=211087</ref><ref>http://www.pcworld.com/article/153089/vista_fights_for_relevancy_against_poor_sales_xp_windows_7.html</ref> Earlier, ''[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'' rated it as the biggest tech disappointment of 2007,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,140583-page,5-c,techindustrytrends/article.html
| title = The 15 Biggest Tech Disappointments of 2007
| date=2007-12-16
| accessdate = 2007-12-18
| work = PC World
| publisher=IDG
| author=Dan Tynan}}: listed as #1 of "The 15 Biggest Tech Disappointments of 2007"</ref> and it was rated by [[InfoWorld]] as #2 of Tech's all-time 25 flops.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/01/21/03FE-25-tech-failures_6.html
| title = Tech's all-time top 25 flops
| date=2008-01-21
| accessdate = 2008-01-27
| work = InfoWorld
| publisher=IDG
| author=Neil McAllister}}</ref> The internet-usage market share for Windows Vista, taking the latest statistic, was 20.45% as of November 2008.<ref>http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=11</ref> This figure combined with World Internet Users and Population Stats yields a user base of roughly 300 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Internet World Stats &mdash; Usage and Population Statistics |publisher=Miniwatts Marketing Group |date=2008-06-30 |url=http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm Internet Usage Statistics |accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref>

Within its first month, 20 million copies of Vista were sold, double the amount of Windows XP sales within its first month in October 2001, five years earlier.<ref>[http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_First_Month_Vista_Sales_Double_XP/1174940745 Microsoft: First Month Vista Sales Double XP, article by Nate Mook]</ref> In China, only 244 genuine retail copies were sold within the first two weeks, leading authorities to believe that [[software piracy]] left many copies unaccounted for.<ref>{{cite news |title=Only 244 copies of Genuine Windows Vista sold in China |publisher=newlaunches.com |date=2007-04-18 |url=http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/only_244_copies_of_genuine_windows_vista_sold_in_china.php |accessdate=2008-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=正規版Windows Vista簡体字中国版の販売本数は244本？ |work=中国で見つけたWindows Vista“Professional 2007”ってなに？ |language=Japanese |publisher=ITmedia |date=2007-03-15 |url=http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/pcuser/articles/0703/15/news013_2.html |accessdate=2008-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Farrell |first=Nick |title=Vista flops in China |publisher=[[The Inquirer]] |date=2007-04-19 |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/en/inquirer/news/2007/04/19/vista-flops-in-china |accessdate=2008-08-01}}</ref> However, PC World reported that adoption of Windows Vista was going at a much slower rate compared to the adoption of Windows XP. Within the first year of its release, the percentage of Windows XP users visiting ''PC World'''s website reached 36%; in the same time frame, however, Windows Vista adoption reached only 14%, with 71% of users still running XP.<ref>[http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/006130.html PC World's Techlog PCWorld.com Year-End Stats: IE 7, Firefox, Vista, Mac]</ref>
Due to Vista's relatively low adoption rates and continued demand for Windows XP, Microsoft continued to sell Windows XP until June 30, 2008 instead of the previously planned date of January 31, 2008.<ref>{{cite web
| url= http://www.news.com/Microsoft-extends-Windows-XPs-stay/2100-1016_3-6210524.html
| title = Microsoft extends Windows XP's stay
| date=2007-09-27
| author = Ina Fried, CNET}}</ref> There were reports of Vista users downgrading their operating systems, as well as reports of businesses planning to skip Vista.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/PCWorld/story?id=4486404&page=1 Windows XP vs. Vista: An Explosion of Opinion]</ref><ref>[http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/130626.asp A computer shop's sales pitch: 'We remove Vista']</ref> A study conducted by ChangeWave in March 2008 showed that the percentage of corporate users who are "very satisfied" with Vista was dramatically lower than other operating systems, with Vista at 8%, compared to the 40% who said they were "very satisfied" with Windows XP.<ref name="computerworld1"/>

Although business adoption of Vista has been far higher than Apple or Linux platforms, it has been slower than expected; while businesses do tend to delay upgrading their operating systems, there have been reports that Vista is installed on considerably fewer enterprise PCs than previously projected.<ref>[http://www.bmighty.com/blog/main/archives/2007/12/if_vista_is_so.html bMighty.com: Vista is Bad. Should Smaller Businesses Go For it Anyway?]</ref> According to ''InformationWeek'', in December 2006, 6% of business enterprises were expected to employ Vista within the first year, yet as of October 2007, only about 1% of enterprise PCs were actually using Vista.<ref>[http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204803653 IT Pros Grapple With Timing Of Windows Vista Deployment]</ref> While a large number of businesses had bought early-adopter licenses to run Windows Vista, many of these companies delayed deployment.<ref>[http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39291450,00.htm Microsoft: Vista bought but not deployed]</ref>
There have been a number of organizations who have denounced Vista due to its problems. For example, in October 2007, The Dutch Consumers' Association called for a boycott of Windows Vista after Microsoft refused to offer free copies of Windows XP to users who had problems with Vista.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/10/13/dutch_consumer_association_declares_war/|title=Dutch Consumer Association declares war on Vista}}</ref>

Amid the negative reviews and reception, there has also been significant positive review of Vista, most notable from among PC gamers and the advantages brought about with DirectX 10, which allows for better gaming performance and more realistic graphics, as well as support for many new capabilities brought about in new video cards and [[GPU]]s.<ref>[http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/11/30/directx10_future_of_pc_gaming/1 DirectX 10: The Future of PC Gaming, Tim Smalley, November 30, 2006]</ref> However, many DirectX 9 games showed a drop in frame rate compared to that experienced in Windows XP.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36148
|title=Testing Vista's different memory configurations
|date=2006-12-04
|accessdate=2007-05-13
|last=Abazovic
|first=Fuad
|publisher=theinquirer.net
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://techgage.com/article/windows_vista_gaming_performance_reports
|title=Windows Vista Gaming Performance Reports
|date=2007-01-29
|accessdate=2007-05-26
|last=Williams
|first=Rob
|publisher=techgage.com
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bjorn3d.com/read_pf.php?cID=1015
|title=ATI Radeon X1950XTX CrossFire
|date=2006-11-24
|accessdate=2007-05-18
|last=Cheatham
|first=Miles
|publisher=bjorn3d.com
}}</ref> These results were largely the consequence of Vista's immature [[graphics processing unit]]s drivers, and higher system requirements for Vista itself.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2096940,00.asp
|title=Vista Game Performance: Vista vs. XP and ATI vs. Nvidia
|date=2007-02-20
|accessdate=2007-05-26
|last=Cross
|first=Jason
|publisher=extremetech.com
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTMzNCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==
|title=XP vs. Vista - A Tale of Framerates
|date=2007-05-07
|accessdate=2007-05-26
|last=Wall
|first=Jason
|publisher=enthusiast.hardocp.com
}}</ref>
Recent benchmarks suggest that, as of mid-2008, Vista SP1 is now on par with Windows XP in terms of game performance.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2302500,00.asp
|title=Gaming Performance: Windows Vista SP1 vs. XP SP3
|date=2008-05-12
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|last=Durham
|first=Joel
|publisher=extremetech.com
}}</ref>

On February 29, 2008, Microsoft announced that it will lower the price of the Vista operating system sold at retail outlets in order to aid in its adoption.<ref>[http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Will_Price_Cuts_Help_Windows_Vista_Fly_Off_The_Shelves_14661.html eFluxMedia: Will Price Cuts Help Windows Vista Fly Off The Shelves?]</ref> These price cuts only apply to the retail versions sold in shops, which account for less than 10% of total Vista sales. Vista Ultimate, for example, will see a 20% drop in its price, from {{USD|399}} to $319.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7270757.stm BBC News article] retrieved February 29, 2008</ref>

On July 17, 2008, Microsoft announced that it had sold 180&nbsp;million licenses,<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/jul08/07-17fy08Q4earnings.mspx Microsoft's Annual Revenue Reaches $60 Billion: Fastest annual revenue growth since 1999 fuels 32% increase in earnings per share.]</ref> which would amount to between 36 and 57 billion dollars in gross retail sale price using February 29, 2008 price tags of the various versions. Initial development of the software was claimed to be 6 billion dollars. However, according to [[HP]], [[Microsoft]]'s sales figures include business systems that ship with Vista licences but are "downgraded" and preloaded with XP.<ref>http://apcmag.com/xp_still_killing_vista_in_sales_volume_hp.htm</ref><ref>http://www.infopackets.com/news/business/microsoft/2008/20080801_windows_xp_still_outselling_windows_vista.htm</ref>

On July 30, 2008, Microsoft indicated that Vista appears to be causing a shift in the PC industry from 32-bit to 64-bit. The installed base of 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, as a percentage of all Windows Vista systems, had more than tripled in the United States in the previous three months, while worldwide adoption had more than doubled during the same period. Another view showed that 20% of new Windows Vista PCs in the United States connecting to Windows Update in June were 64-bit PCs, up from 3% in March. Microsoft stated that the falling price of RAM and increased use of multitasking are benefits from [[SuperFetch]], which accelerates performance with the installation of more RAM allowed 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.<ref>[http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/07/30/windows-vista-64-bit-today.aspx Windows Vista 64-bit Today]</ref> This has also been projected by Brad Brooks in an inteview on October 13, 2008.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10064580-56.html Microsoft: Mac buyers pay Apple tax]</ref>

===Competition with Windows XP===
In July 2008, according to a marketing manager working for [[HP]] Australia, Windows XP was still being chosen over Windows Vista for the majority of business computer sales. As all customers of OEM versions of Vista Business and Ultimate are eligible for a free downgrade to Windows XP Professional,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/f/4/5f4c83d3-833e-4f11-8cbd-699b0c164182/royaltyoemreferencesheet.pdf
|title=Microsoft Royalty OEM Reference Sheet
|date=2008-07-01}}</ref>
these Windows XP licenses are sold as Vista Business licenses, thus increasing Vista's sales figures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apcmag.com/xp_still_killing_vista_in_sales_volume_hp.htm |title=XP still killing Vista in sales volume: HP |publisher=Apcmag.com |author=HP |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> Some computer manufacturers have chosen to ship Windows XP restore disks along with new computers with Vista Business and Ultimate editions pre-installed,<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.news.com/The-XP-alternative-for-Vista-PCs/2100-1016_3-6209481.html
| title = The XP alternative for Vista PCs
| date=2007-09-21
| format = Article
| author = Ina Fried, CNET}}</ref> as well as new computers with XP instead of Vista.

===The "Mojave Experiment"===
{{main|The Mojave Experiment}}
In July 2008, Microsoft introduced a web-based advertising campaign called the "Mojave Experiment", that depicts a group of people who are asked to evaluate the newest operating system from Microsoft, calling it Windows 'Mojave'. Participants are first asked about Vista, if they have used it, and their overall satisfaction with Vista, on a scale of 1 to 10. They are then shown a demo of some of the new operating system's features, and asked their opinion and satisfaction with it on the same 1 to 10 scale. After respondents rate "Mojave", they are then told, that they were really shown a demo of Windows Vista. The object was to test "A theory: If people could see Windows Vista firsthand, they would like it." According to Microsoft, the initial sample of respondents rated Vista an average of 4.4 out of 10, and Mojave received an average of 8.5, with no respondents rating Mojave lower than they originally rated Windows Vista before the demo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mojaveexperiment.com/ |title=The Mojave Experiment |publisher=Mojaveexperiment.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/nz/digitallife/software/mojave_experiment_windows_vista.mspx |title=The Mojave Experiment: Microsoft Windows Vista }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Microsoft}}

* [[History of Microsoft Windows]]
* [[Comparison of Microsoft Windows versions]]
* [[Comparison of Windows Vista and Windows XP]]
* [[Microsoft Office 2007]] — the current release of [[Microsoft Office]] that was released simultaneously with Windows Vista.
* [[Patch Tuesday]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks | Windows Vista}}

===Microsoft===
* [http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Vista] — Microsoft Windows Vista homepage
* [http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx Microsoft Windows Vista Upgrade Info] — Windows Vista Upgrade planning
* [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbc16ebf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en Microsoft Windows Vista Product Guide] — Contains complete, feature-by-feature comparisons of the various Windows Vista editions
* [http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/vista/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Vista Hardware Design] — Hardware Design for Windows Vista — News for Driver Developers and Hardware Engineers
* [http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/ Microsoft Technet] — Windows Vista: Resources for IT Professionals
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/ MSDN] — Windows Vista Developer Center on MSDN
* [http://windowsvistablog.com/ The Windows Vista Blog] — Official blog of the Windows Vista Team
* [http://www.seewindowsvista.com/ See Windows Vista] — Official Microsoft website with information on how the new Windows Vista Operating System works
* [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925582 The behavior of reduced functionality mode in Windows Vista] &ndash; Microsoft support explaining the Reduced functionality mode.
* [http://www.mojaveexperiment.com/ Mojave Experiment] An experiment related with user's experience about Windows Vista.
* [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsvista/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Vista Images Website] — Official Microsoft website with Screenshots, Icons, Logos

===Reviews and screenshots===
* [http://neosmart.net/gallery/v/os/Vista/ Windows Vista Screenshots Gallery] — Collection of Vista Screenshots from Different Builds
* [http://winsupersite.com/vista/ Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows] — Windows Vista Activity Center
* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061211/windows_vista_061211/20061211?hub=SciTech How secure is Windows' new Vista?]
* [http://www.windows-vista-update.com/Features_of_Windows_Vista.html Features of Windows Vista]
* [http://64-bit-computers.com/windows-vista-32-bit-vs-64-bit-benchmark.html Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit Performance Compared]
* [http://reviews.cnet.com/Windows_Vista_Ultimate/4505-3672_7-32013603.html Windows Vista Ultimate] — CNET review
* [http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/29/xp-vs-vista/ Windows XP vs. Vista: The Benchmark Rundown] — Tom's Hardware Guide review
* [http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List Windows Vista Software Compatibility List] — ieXbeta's Wiki
* [http://support.teloep.org/vistaver.htm Windows Vista Feature Comparison] — Yes/No Feature Comparison of Vista Versions
* [http://www.winvistaclub.com/forum/windows-vista-clubhouse/18647-submit-entries-best-windows-vista-blog-contest-2008-a.html Best Windows Vista Websites] - The best Windows Vista sites on the web (competition)

===Criticism===
* [http://news.com.com/Hollywood,%20Microsoft%20align%20on%20new%20Windows/2100-1025_3-5844393.html?part=rss&tag=5844393&subj=news CNET] — Hollywood, Microsoft align on new Windows
* [http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/09/wo/wo_091905patrizio.asp Technology Review] — Will Windows Upgrade Hand Power To Big Media?
* [http://badvista.fsf.org/ Bad Vista] &ndash; [[Free Software Foundation]]

===Security vulnerabilities===
* [http://secunia.com/product/13223/?task=advisories Vulnerability Report: Microsoft Windows Vista] including known unpatched vulnerabilities from [[Secunia]]
* [http://www.securityfocus.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?c=12&op=display_list&vendor=Microsoft&title=Windows%20Vista Vista vulnerabilities] from [[SecurityFocus]]

{{History of Windows}}

[[Category:Windows Vista]]
[[Category:Windows NT]]
[[Category:2006 software]]

{{Link FA|ar}}

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Revision as of 23:33, 17 December 2008

aggmalm

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