The University of Idaho Argonaut

Long-awaited upgrade promises much, but may not work for all

Less than a month ago, Microsoft released its newest operating system, Windows Vista. Vista comes five years after Windows XP and is considered Microsoft’s most impressive upgrade since Windows 95 debuted. Microsoft has promised that the software has hundreds of new features, and all of them were described for the public Wednesday morning at an event put on by the University of Idaho’s Information Technology Services.

Vista comes in five versions: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate, with each version fitting different needs of the user. While not every version is identical, most have the upgraded features touted in Microsoft’s press releases. One such feature is the new desktop interface, dubbed Windows Aero and designed to be an efficient, clean and better-looking interface. The software incorporates an instant-search ability, and Arrow functionality allows users to navigate the task bar more easily.

Another improvement in the operating system deals with communication. The Windows Meeting Space allows Vista users to link up and share each other’s desktops over a wireless connection to work on presentations, homework and gaming. Users can communicate through instant messaging and can give control of the desktop up to other computers. A password can be added for security reasons.
The new measures that Microsoft has taken to improve security are very similar to security features already available in Linux and Mac OS X. Windows Vista comes with Microsoft’s existing anti-spyware product, Windows Defender, and system-wide parental controls. Internet Explorer 7, also available for Windows Xp, offers a new phishing filter and anti-spoofing capabilities, both of which watch for fake Web sites that ask for passwords and credit card numbers.

The new features in Vista have prompted many University of Idaho faculty members, students and staff to wonder if they should get an upgrade, said Chuck Lanham, ITS associate director of administrative technologies. Those interested should keep a few important things in mind, he said. First, it is much easier to find a new computer that comes with Windows Vista already installed than it is to upgrade from Windows XP. But if you do want to upgrade, expect a few troubles initially. Most problems come from the fact that many third-party devices and applications are not supported yet. Lanham described stories ranging from malfunctioning mice to problems with using Vista and UI’s Banner interface at the same time. The problems are temporary, he said, and will be ironed out as the third-party companies adapt to the new operating system — a good thing, because all UI computers will probably be running Vista by the summer of 2008.

For more about conflicts between Windows Vista and UI software, visit http://support.uidaho.edu/News/Vista-E-mail-20070208.htm