13
Wed, Nov
5 New Articles

Windows Vista Operating System

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Vista is here. Microsoft has announced that its newest operating system for desktop, notebook, and multimedia personal computers will be released to market, relatively on schedule, this month. It seems some last-minute obstacles have been overcome (anti-trust problems and bugs reported in beta testing), and Microsoft has seen its way clear for this, the first major release of an operating system since XP, five years ago.

Called "Longhorn" while in development, Vista underwent several redefinitions since the project began in 2001, with the current morph crafted in 2004. An extensive pre-release program for partnered Microsoft customers and a five-million-participant beta community effort has brought the new system finally to release.

Which Little Piggies Got to Market?

OK, so what's in that new operating system? First and foremost, Microsoft has concentrated on security issues. Long criticized for vulnerabilities in previous Windows versions that allow viruses, malware, and buffer overflows, Microsoft has taken steps to prevent such malicious activities. Ironically, Microsoft is criticized for this as well. By nature, trying to make private data secure through a mechanism like Vista's new BitLocker drive encryption can also make one's own data inaccessible.

Windows Aero also made the cut. Aero is Vista's new look. The Aero desktop has see-through interface elements (buttons, menus, etc.) that render a 3-D appearance. Microsoft has developed various semi-transparent overlays and a new, cleaner appearance for the Vista OS in which much of the window dressing has taken on a shiny, polished, plastic look (Mac users may see some similarity here). On the downside, Aero requires a powerful graphics card and large amounts of memory and so will not work on many existing computers, especially notebooks, without a hardware upgrade. You may install Vista without installing Aero, however. In fact the low-end vanilla version of Vista (Home Basic) doesn't even include Aero.

Vista also has a new interface feature called Windows Flip that is used to move through your active tasks in a manner similar to the Alt+Tab of foregone versions. Windows Flip, however, will show you a live thumbnail of each display rather than just an icon.

Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) is a completely updated release with a new rendering engine and security framework. IE7 will no longer run within the Windows shell but will instead run as a standalone application. This will prevent any access to the client computer's file system, other than the user's temporary Internet files folder. IE 7 will also run in "Protected Mode"—an enclosed "sandbox" much like the Java Virtual Machine (JVM)—that is expected to seriously reduce malicious attacks.

The Windows shell itself has been revised to enhance how you organize your tasks and files and how you navigate among them. The Start button has been replaced with an icon, and a Favorites link has been added to allow quick access to your most commonly executed programs. Further, the Search function has been accelerated and is now accessible from a number of common applications.

Vista has other new features intended to enhance the "Windows experience":

  • Parental Controls
  • Windows Photo Gallery
  • Windows Media Center
  • Windows Tablet and Touch Technology
  • Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption
  • Windows Ultimate Extras
  • Business Networking
  • Business Backup
  • Small Business Resources
  • Windows Meeting Space
  • Windows Fax and Scan

Can I Run Vista on My Computer?

Vista makes some significant demands of the hardware it runs on. For example, you must have at least 13 MB of available disk space, an up-to-date processor (like Pentium 4), and lots of memory. To help determine if your system meets minimum requirements to run Vista, Microsoft provides a utility that will evaluate your PC. Go to Microsoft's Upgrade Advisor Web site for more information.

Criticisms of Vista

Not everyone is thrilled with Vista. Due to the very fact that Vista is, in many ways, a total rewrite of older versions, there is concern over the stability of that much new code. The improved security within Vista is also a two-edged sword in that friendly software companies like Symantec and McAfee can no longer access some parts of the operating system. And, of course, that old chestnut that Windows bears a strong resemblance to Apple's Mac OS X has been advanced again.

The Man on the Street

In talking to my colleagues about Vista, the opinions generally reflect these thoughts:

  • "Upgrading to Vista is less than compelling right now." The loss of WinFS (the new Windows File System that was originally one of the "three pillars" of Vista and has since been omitted and sent over to the SQL Server group), the substantial minimum hardware requirements, and the cost to upgrade are all cited as reasons to wait awhile.
  • "If security is a strong concern, you should migrate to Vista." My counterparts in business environments are more concerned about security and as such do intend to migrate to Vista sooner rather than later. The peace of mind that they will derive more than outweighs any inconvenience or expense associated with early adoption of Vista.
  • "Wait for Service Pack 1" is a common sentiment. Several "early adopters" I've talked with have suggested we should wait for some of the dust to settle before jumping on Vista.

It's my humble opinion that Vista is a pretty satisfactory release. Some of the controversial features that were originally feared to be part of Vista (like Next-Generation Secure Computing Base, formerly known as Palladium, a part of the much-distrusted "Trusted Computing" model) have been skipped this time around. Other restrictive measures, like the new User Account Control (UAC), which is essentially there to protect the standard user from him/herself, and Digital Rights Management (DRM) have been included in Vista (DRM seeks to restrict the reproduction of copyrighted digital content).

At some point, however, the day will come when all software and artistic material that you use will have to be rightfully paid for. Your operating system will check in with the developer of that system, passing your computer's serial number and verifying that you are entitled to the benefits you are receiving. I think Microsoft is not yet ready to bear the heat that that sort of heavy-handed posture would bring, and I think Vista reflects that position. Vista addresses the problems that are most important from the user's point of view, and, for now, Microsoft is content to simply produce a good system.

Chris Peters has 26 years of experience in the IBM midrange and PC platforms. Chris is president of Evergreen Interactive Systems, a software development firm and creators of the iSeries Report Downloader. Chris is the author of The i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook, The AS/400 TCP/IP Handbook, AS/400 Client/Server Programming with Visual Basic, and Peer Networking on the AS/400 (MC Press). He is also a nationally recognized seminar instructor and a graduate instructor at Eastern Washington University. Chris can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Chris Peters has 32 years of experience with IBM midrange and PC platforms. Chris is president of Evergreen Interactive Systems, a software development firm and creators of the iSeries Report Downloader. Chris is the author of i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook, AS/400 TCP/IP Handbook, AS/400 Client/Server Programming with Visual Basic, and Peer Networking on the AS/400. He is also a nationally recognized seminar instructor and a lecturer in the Computer Science department at Eastern Washington University. Chris can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


MC Press books written by Chris Peters available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook
Harness the power of Office while exploiting the i5/iSeries database.
List Price $79.95

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: