Microsoft launches Windows Vista

Microsoft launched Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System at a function here on Tuesday.

The products are available in four editions "" Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Starter "" in retail stores across 30 countries.

Vista is available in 18 languages, including Hindi. The price of Windows Vista Home Basic is the same as Windows XP Home (around Rs 3,800). Genuine Windows Vista loaded PCs in the country will retail at a starting price of Rs 22,000, while prices for the Microsoft 2007 Office consumer editions start at Rs 6,000.

A Vista-capable PC will need at least 800mhz processor, 512 MB system memory and a DirectX 9-capable graphic processor. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as HCL, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Sahara, Wipro and Zenith are launching a range of Vista-compatible PCs for the domestic market.

Vu, brought to India by Zenith Computers, premiered Windows Vista on its Digital Home Systems and PCs. The Vu Vista Digital Home customers can view Windows on a 32" LCD TV, loaded on a P4 3.0 GHz CPU, and control the system with a Radio Frequency (RF) keyboard/mouse.