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applied tips : april 2007

the vista corner: should you upgrade?

Having just launched the newest version of Windows, Microsoft is in the spotlight again which no doubt means you’ve seen the commercials, post cards, and news stories. But is Windows Vista, successor to Windows XP, right for your business? Is it worth the upgrade? Here’s the scoop.

Features

Contrary to the media coverage, the enhancements that Vista offers are not just eye candy. Sure the icons are friendlier and actually programs shrink to the bottom of the screen when you minimize them, and that does improve the user experience, but that’s no reason for a business to pay upwards of $300 per PC to upgrade.

The features that make the cost worthwhile are numerous, though. Enhanced security features mean less time calling your IT desk because a user accidentally installed a virus or spy-ware. Enhanced backup features mean less downtime when an important file was overwritten. Enhanced notebook features give your on-the-go employees quick access to their battery, wireless, and display settings in a single application. All this means less time fussing with the computer and more time working, which we all know is a Good Thing.

But by far, the best feature in my opinion is the accelerated Live Desktop Search found at the base of the new Start Menu. How much time do your employees lose while looking for a file they saved just last week? Shown here, your employee types a few letters of the document, spreadsheet, or presentation that they’re looking for and Vista will return all files that match by filename or contents.

Computer Requirements

Many businesses are concerned about the computer requirements of Windows Vista, and rightfully so. The new interface and features will require a somewhat faster workstation. If your computer has 1024 MB of RAM (one gigabyte) then you’ll be in perfect shape to run Vista. And if you have a higher-end video card, Vista will use its “eye candy” special effects. But don’t worry – Vista is smart enough to disable these secondary benefits if it detects a slower machine.

Microsoft has created the Vista Upgrade Advisor, a free downloadable program that you can run on your workstation which will tell you if the machine is up to spec, and review your applications, USB peripherals, and other potential upgrade issues before you make the leap.

Which Version? How much?

When you make the purchase, you’ll see there are multiple versions of Vista available at very different prices. Vista Business Edition (in the blue box) is what you’ll be wanting for your employees. It’s everything they’ll need to be productive, without wasting money on features intended for home like the Windows Media Center and connectivity to the X-Box 360. Retail price is about $200 for an upgrade from XP.

Next in the Vista Corner: Microsoft Office 2007

Microsoft’s release of Windows Vista wasn’t their only big announcement last month. The most popular productivity suite in the world, Microsoft Office, got a major overhaul just like its big brother Windows. Next month’s article will discuss the new features and benefits to Office 2007, so stay tuned.

looking to buy?

Are you ready to buy Vista?  I've compiled the links and info below to give you a hand: