Business with Vista

TECHNO BEAT

Five years after the launch of Windows XP, Windows Vista was finally released for the business community on November 30.

The Vista operating system (OS) is no longer a mere device manager "� simply hiding the management complexity of connecting to all peripherals like printers and scanners and govern the computer where it was installed.

It's intuitive too. For instance, Vista will allow users to share files seamlessly among workgroups (you as a user can assign people to your workgroup and have a number of them) across the world.

This would essentially mean that if you update a file or presentation on your PC, it would be simultaneously updated on all PCs within the workgroup (no need to send an email with an attachment of the updated file, and later check whether your friend has received it).

The "Remote Assistance" concept, whereby your friends can view and work on your computer from anywhere, already exists in Windows XP. Vista has extended the of concept of "screen share" to "file share".

Vista features SuperFetch, which will keep track of what applications you most use and when you use them. Its EMD or Extended Memory Device allows you to "upgrade" your computer with external memory via USB, much like you would connect an external DVD drive or hard drive.

Vista's restart manager cuts down on the need to restart your system considerably. Coupled with a sleep function, it allows your PC to be safely left on for a long time without shutting it down. Among the new graphics abilities in Vista (the new graphical user interface is called Aero which borrows much from Apple's Macintosh.

Of course, with Apple's new 64-bit OS called 'Leopard', Vista may have a lot more thinking to do) is Flip 3D, a tool for easily shifting among multiple open windows and the Windows Vista Sidebar, which runs in the corner of the screen and includes RSS feeds, sports scores and other small applications.

Business users Windows Vista is available in two editions: Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Enterprise which is the premium edition.

Available only to customers who have PCs covered by Microsoft Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, it includes Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, a new technology which helps prevent sensitive data and intellectual property from falling into the wrong hands if a computer is lost or stolen.

It also has built-in tools to improve application compatibility with previous versions of Microsoft operating systems, as well as with UNIX operating systems.

An interface language controls the language a user sees in the Windows Start menu, in the help system, in built-in management tools, and in Windows dialog boxes.

Windows Vista prevents users from making unauthorised changes. With automatic features such as the Windows Network Diagnostics Tool, it's much easier to troubleshoot PC problems. Features such as User Account Control help enhance the security of PC systems.

Microsoft has promoted Vista as the most secure version of Windows yet, but has also emphasised that users will still need to run security software to protect their PCs.

Herein lies the snag. Most security companies like Symantec, Trend Micro and CA are still working on products for Vista which should be out anywhere in December extending to February.

Only McAfee has products for Vista. Microsoft hopes that Vista will be adopted by companies at twice the speed as its predecessor, Windows XP.