What is Windows Vista?

Operating systems control the functions performed by a computer. For example, the operating system on your computer controls the input from the keyboard and mouse to your computer, the opening and closing of programs, the transfer of information to a printer, the organization of the files on your computer, and the screen display. To function, every computer must have an operating system. Windows Vista is an operating system. It was released by the Microsoft Corporation in late 2006.

Windows Vista comes in several versions: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise. The features available to you depend on the version of Windows Vista you have.

Windows Vista Enterprise is for large global organizations and is only available to organizations with desktops covered by Software Assurance agreements or organizations with a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement that includes the Windows desktop component.

Windows Vista Home Basic is the entry-level edition. Geared toward home computer users, Home Basic has features that allow you to search your computer, search the Web, browse the Internet, view photos, send and retrieve e-mail, and set parental controls. Windows Defender and Windows Firewall are included with Windows Vista Home Basic. Windows Defender helps protect your computer from spyware. Spyware is malicious software you install on your computer inadvertently or is put on your computer without your consent. Windows Firewall helps protect your computer from malicious software and unauthorized access to your computer.

Windows Vista Home Premium has most of the features found in Windows Vista Home Basic plus additional features such as Aero, Windows Media Center, Windows Meeting Space, Windows Mobility Center, Windows SideShow, and Tablet PC support. Windows Aero features translucent windows and smooth animations, including the capability to do three-dimensional flips through open windows. It also provides a thumbnail preview of the contents of open windows when you pause your mouse pointer over the window’s identifier on the taskbar or Alt-Tab through windows. With Windows Media Center, you can record and watch TV shows, listen to Internet and FM radio, view home movies, create slide shows, and burn CDs or DVDs. You can use Windows Meeting Space to set up meetings in which you can share documents, programs, or your desktop with others. Windows Mobility Center provides a convenient location for you to adjust the settings for your mobile PC. With Windows SideShow, you can send information from your computer to other devices such as mobile phones, hand-held computers, and TVs. A tablet PC is a mobile computer that you can interact with by writing on the screen or by using your finger or a pen. You can use Windows Vista Premium with a tablet PC.

Windows Vista Business is designed for small businesses. It is simple to use and has mechanisms that protect your information from unauthorized viewing.

Windows Ultimate includes all the features of Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Business and has extra features such as DreamScene, Language Packs, and BitLocker Drive Encryption. With DreamScene, you can use full-motion video as your wallpaper. Language packs allow you to install multiple languages on a single PC. BitLocker Drive Encryption encrypts your data to protect it from unauthorized viewing.

Windows Vista Feature Comparison
Features	Basic	Home Premium	Business	Ultimate
Windows Defender	X	X	X	X
Windows Firewall	X	X	X	X
Instant Search	X	X	X	X
Network and Sharing Center	X	X	X	X
Internet Explorer 7	X	X	X	X
Parental Controls	X	X
Windows Aero		X	X	X
Mobility Center		X	X	X
Tablet PC Support		X	X	X
Windows Meeting Space		X	X	X
Windows Sideshow		X	X	X
Windows Media Center		X		X
Windows Complete Backup and Restore			X	X
Windows Fax and Scan			X	X
Scheduled Backup		X	X	X
Remote Desktop Connection			X	X
Window BitLocker Drive Encryption				X
Windows DVD Maker		X		X
Windows Movie Maker in High Definition		X		X
If you do not have Windows Vista or if the version of Windows Vista you have does not have the features you need, you can upgrade your operating system.