| Features | | | | command-line interface called MSH, and codenamed |
| Additionally, Vista will include many other new | | | | Monad will not be fully implemented in Vista, but will |
| features.Aero | | | | exist in it to some extent. It plans to combine the Unix |
| Vista will include a completely re-designed user | | | | pipes and filters philosophy with that of object-oriented |
| interface, code-named Aero. The new interface is | | | | programming.The "My" prefixes will be dropped, so |
| intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing | | | | "My Documents" will just be "Documents", "My |
| than previous Windows interfaces. The most visible | | | | Computer" will just be "Computer", etc. |
| addition to the interface is the sidebar (however this | | | | Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSat), a built |
| feature has been removed in the last alpha release), | | | | in benchmarking tool which analyzes the different |
| an area at the side of the screen consisting of tiles | | | | subsystems (graphics, memory, etc), and uses the |
| which display dynamic information about whatever | | | | results to allow for comparison to other Vista systems, |
| window is currently in the foreground, which is | | | | and for software optimizations. The optimizations can |
| essentially an extension of the "system tray" on the | | | | be made by both windows and third-party software. |
| Windows task bar.Search | | | | Tom's Hardware OverviewFile Virtualization, when an |
| Vista will feature a new search engine that will allow | | | | individual program's permissions are restricted, allows |
| for instant display of results for a given search. This is | | | | that program to use its own 'fake' set of certain files |
| in contrast to the search engine of Windows XP, | | | | so modifications to those files from said program does |
| which can take several minutes to display results. The | | | | not alter the original files. |
| Vista search will allow you to add multiple filters to | | | | Transactional File Transfers, prevents a half updated |
| continually refine your search (Such as "File contains | | | | set of files from being created during updates for |
| the word 'example'"). There will also be saved | | | | example, which can cause stability problems. |
| searches that will act as Virtual Folders, where opening | | | | InfoCard, a user interface to the Identity |
| a folder will execute a specific search automatically | | | | Metasystem.Features and technologies delayed until |
| and display the results as a normal folder. The search | | | | future releases |
| will also feature other usability improvements. The | | | | WinFS (short for either Windows Future Storage or |
| Vista search is actually built on an expanded and | | | | Windows File System): a combined relational database |
| improved version of the indexing service for the | | | | and filesystem, based on the next version of SQL |
| search in Windows XP. This feature is similar to Apple | | | | Server (codenamed Yukon). Working on top of NTFS, |
| Spotlight.Metro | | | | it will provide abilities to represent objects and their |
| Metro is the codename for Microsoft's next | | | | relationships, rather than just a hierarchy of files and |
| generation document format, which is based on XML. It | | | | folders. The removal of WinFS from Windows Vista |
| is similar in many ways to Adobe Systems' PDF. | | | | was announced in August 2004, and is expected to |
| Metro is intended to allow users to view, print, and | | | | be released as an update to Vista, entering beta |
| archive files without the original program that created it. | | | | stages at about the same time as Vista is released. |
| The name Metro also refers to the print path in Vista. | | | | Microsoft's promotion of this technology has spurred |
| With Metro, documents can remain in the same format | | | | the recent trend towards desktop search tools. |
| from the time they are created to the time they are | | | | Full implementation of Monad.Graphics hardware |
| printed. Microsoft states that Metro will provide better | | | | requirements |
| fidelity to the original document by using a consistent | | | | Vista's graphics requirements are defined in relation to |
| format for both screen and print output.While many | | | | the different desktop experiences.Aero Glass |
| analysts suspect Metro is intended to be a "PDF-killer", | | | | This graphics mode adds support for 3D graphics, |
| Microsoft insists that they are not attempting to | | | | animation and visual special effects in addition to the |
| duplicate all the functionality of the PDF. For example, | | | | features offered by Aero Express.Intended for |
| at the time of this writing, Metro is not planned to have | | | | mainstream and high-end graphics cards.At least 64 |
| the capabilities for dynamic documents.Shell | | | | MB of graphics memory, 128 MB recommended, or |
| The new shell is a significant change from previous | | | | 256 MB for 1600x1200+.At least 32 bits per pixel.3D |
| versions of Windows. Combined with the new desktop | | | | hardware acceleration with capabilities equal to |
| searching feature, the shell gives users the ability to | | | | DirectX 9.A memory bandwidth of 2 GB / |
| find and organize their files in new ways. Apart from | | | | second.Capable of drawing ~1.5M triangles / second, |
| the typical file organization practice of using folders to | | | | one window being ~150 triangles.A graphics card that |
| contain files, a new collection known as Lists let you | | | | uses AGP 4X or PCI Express 8-lane bus.It is likely that |
| organize files from multiple locations in a single place.A | | | | such a configuration will be entry-level or lower by |
| new type of folder known as a Shadow Folder | | | | Vista's release in 2006.Aero Diamond |
| enables the ability to revert its entire contents to any | | | | A graphics mode customized for the Vista Media |
| arbitrary point in the past.Additionally, the shell contains | | | | Center Edition, and will not be made available in the |
| significant advancements in the visualization of files on | | | | other editions. Not much information is currently |
| a computer. Previous versions of the Windows Shell | | | | available, but it appears that it will be the most |
| would display thumbnails to represent different files on | | | | advanced level of graphics in Vista, requiring hardware |
| your computer. In Windows Vista the thumbnail | | | | at the same level or greater than the Aero Glass |
| concept is taken further by overlaying different | | | | visual style.Aero Express |
| imagery to communicate more information about the | | | | The lesser Aero visual experience offering only the |
| particular file such as a picture frame around the | | | | basic visual improvements introduced by Vista, such as |
| thumbnail of an image file, or a filmstrip on a video file. | | | | composition based DPI scaling.Intended for mainstream |
| Windows Vista helps the user identify the file easily by | | | | or lower-end graphics cards.Uses the Avalon Desktop |
| more intelligently generating the thumbnails. Using | | | | Composition window manager.A Vista Driver Display |
| algorithmic analysis, images are cropped around their | | | | Model (LDDM) driver is a requirement.Some graphics |
| likely subject, and interesting key frames are | | | | cards already support LDDM. In some Vista builds |
| automatically chosen from a video file. Also, the ability | | | | (4074, 5048), LDDM is already supported to run Aero |
| to zoom the thumbnails in the shell greatly increases | | | | Glass.To Go |
| their usefulness.Networking | | | | The new Vista look & feel without any visual special |
| Windows Vista is expected to have a brand new | | | | effects, similar to the visual style Luna of Windows XP |
| networking stack. A significant change is a more | | | | in that it resembles merely an application skin. As with |
| complete implementation of IPv6 which is now | | | | Luna, no additional hardware requirements compared |
| supported by all networking components, services, and | | | | to the classic Windows interface.A simple option for |
| the user interface. Vista also takes advantage of P2P | | | | consumer upgrades, and mobile / low-cost devices. |
| technology to provide a new type of domain-like | | | | No additional requirements compared to the lesser |
| networking setup known as a Castle. Castles make it | | | | Classic mode. |
| possible for user credentials to propagate across | | | | Fallback mode in case the hardware requirements for |
| networked computers without a centralized server | | | | Aero aren't met.Classic |
| making them more suitable for a home network.The | | | | The most basic user interface offered by Vista, |
| ability to assist the user in diagnosing a network | | | | which is also seen in Windows 2000, or Windows XP |
| problem is expected to be a major new networking | | | | with its visual style Luna deactivated.An option for |
| feature. Using technologies such as UPnP, Windows | | | | corporate deployments and upgrades. |
| Vista has a greater awareness of the network | | | | Requires Windows XP Display Driver Model (XPDM) |
| topology the host computer is in. With this new | | | | or LDDM drivers. |
| network awareness technology it can provide help to | | | | No graphics card hardware requirements exceeding |
| the user in fixing network issues or simply provide a | | | | those of Windows XP.Naming considerations |
| graphical view of the perceived network | | | | Vista means "the visual percept of a region", with |
| configuration.Other features | | | | these synonyms: aspect, panorama, prospect, scene |
| Full support for the "NX" (No-Execute) feature of | | | | and view. Translated from Spanish and Italian, vista |
| processors. This feature, present in AMD's AMD64 | | | | means: sight, vision, ability to see; look, glimpse; |
| architecture, as well as Intel's EM64T Architecture, can | | | | spectacle; viewfinder; range of view; point of view.In |
| flag certain parts of memory as containing data | | | | Latvian, however, vista means 'hen' (grown-up female |
| instead of executable code, which prevents overflow | | | | of a bird, [2]) and 'chicken' (as in food), and may also |
| errors from resulting in arbitrary code execution. This | | | | connote something or someone not particularly agile or |
| should not be confused with trusted computing facilities | | | | clever.Windows Vista has been unofficially abbreviated |
| provided by a so-called Fritz-chip.Built-in DVD recording | | | | to Windows VI, staying with the traditional 2 character |
| capabilities, including Mt. Rainier support. | | | | motif, as in 95, 98, Me, NT, XP. VI is also the number 6 |
| A new installation program that will install Vista in | | | | in Roman numerals, and Windows Vista will carry the |
| about 15 minutes (which is present in alpha build 4074 | | | | version number 6.0 (Windows 2000 and Windows XP |
| of Windows Vista). | | | | being Windows NT versions 5.0 and 5.1, |
| Native Raw Image support (a format used by most | | | | respectively).Windows Vista sound like "bosta" in |
| professional digital cameras).Native, embedded RSS | | | | Argentinian culture.In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Vista |
| support, with developer API. | | | | is a part of the atmosphere that surrounds the world |
| A new level of file encryption support from that | | | | of Arda before the cataclysm at the end of the |
| available in Windows XP, which will make it easier and | | | | Second Age. Vista forms the inner layer of normal air: |
| more automatic to prevent unauthorized viewing of | | | | above it is Ilmen, and above that Vaiya. |
| files on stolen laptops/hard drives.Monad. A new | | | | |