Windows Vista

What you need to know when considering Windows Vista

Most people have heard of Windows Vista, which came between the venerable (and now discontinued XP) and Windows 7. At this point, no-one is buying a new PC with Vista on it. Almost all new systems are coming with Windows 7, and if you're looking at re-certified systems, you may see them using XP still.

We've had some clients that have bought or inherited machines with Vista, mostly because the systems they were buying (or the vendors they were buying from) didn't offer downgrade rights to XP.

So, is Vista right for your business's PCs? Well, maybe yes, maybe no. In the unlikely event that you're considering adding a machine that has Vista, the following are some considerations for you.

Of course, you could just skip this history lesson and head straight to our page on Windows 7 ...

Considerations Before Deciding on Vista

Does my older software still un on Vista? Some will, some won't. The newest versions of BusinessVision will, but older versions have trouble due to issues between Pervasive and Vista
Do I have the hardware to run it? If your PC is less than a year old (or you're getting a new one), chances are you'll be OK - but you need to check the specs first, as Vista is very hardware-hungry
Is there any real benefit? Well, yes and no. The security's far better, and the system is very stable and even more resistant to crashes than XP. But many people view Vista as a prettier face on an old operating system - it's not, but that's how they see it; as well, Vista certainly has some known quirks that are not always positive
Do you have anyone who can support it? Vista's been around a long time, so there are people who are knowledgeable. Our network specialists are quite capable of supporting Vista
Do you have the right version for business use? The number of flavours of Vista is more than a little daunting to most, so be sure to check that it will be compatible with your office network. Basically, if the version has "Home" in it, that's not the one you should be using in a business environment
Should I just get Windows 7 instead? Maybe so - have a look at our Windows 7 page.

Conclusion

The long and short of it is that Vista does have hundreds - actually, thousands - of improvements over Windows XP. The vast majority of those are things the average user will never encounter or recognize, or they're classed as "eye candy" by users and administrators alike.

Compatibility issues still exist with hardware and software, and the learning curve can be steep. So, in the end, if you're getting a new system and it comes with Vista, fine (just make sure it's a business version to work with your network). Go with it. If you can stay with Old Faithful XP Pro, stay. If you have the latest BusinessVision, go for Windows 7.

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