Windows Vista
Group 8
Chris Lemley, Clay Garrison, Amanda Williams, Ian Carr,
Al Suarez
Key
Words: WinFX, XML, Aero, Gadgets,
API
Windows
Vista is the scheduled next release of Microsoft Windows. According to
Microsoft founder and president Bill Gates, this version will be the broadest
update to the Microsoft operating system family since the jump from version 3.1
to Windows 95 over ten years ago. Vista
features a new and enhanced graphical user interface (GUI) as well as
completely redesigned audio, networking, print, and video systems, an improved
security infrastructure, and the implementation of numerous digital rights
management technologies. Through these
and other enhanced features, Vista has made it
easier and more appealing than ever before to work with and secure data,
connect to information, and create and maintain a unique and desirable
electronic work environment.
Developed
exclusively by Microsoft, Vista is a
substantial advance in Windows with significant innovations in the developer
platform. Formerly codenamed “Longhorn,” the official name “Vista”
was unveiled on July 22, 2005 – approximately one year ahead of its scheduled
launch date. According to Microsoft, the
Vista platform delivers on three key essentials: helping people to be more confident
by making the operating system safer, more reliable, and more responsive,
helping people gain clarity by removing clutter and improving organization, and
helping people connect with others easily and securely by improving network
security and integration collaboration. The release of Vista
comes approximately five years after that of its predecessor, Windows XP,
marking the longest time span between Windows version updates.
Microsoft
refers to the new key technologies in this version as the “pillars of Vista,” and groups them into four subsets – fundamentals,
presentation, communication, and workflow. “Fundamental” updates include the redesigned
networking and video systems as well as the enhanced security measures and
implementation of digital rights management technologies. Also falling under
the fundamental subset are installation and deployment advancements in this
version, such as ClickOnce and Windows Installer 4.0, which repackage files and
installations into easier and more effective solutions. “Presentation” updates
include the WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), which houses the
revolutionary new Aero user interface and API (Advanced Programming Interface),
both based on XML, vector graphics, and .NET version 2.0. “Communications”
advances center around the implementation of WCF (Windows Communication
Foundation) which allows local programs or local clients to interoperate
through a service-oriented messaging system, and “Workflow” improvements such
as WWF (Windows Workflow Foundation) allow for task automation and transaction
integration. Collectively, the WPF, WCF, and WWF are known as WinFX, short for Windows Framework.
While WinFX is being developed within and alongside Vista,
these technologies hope to become implemented into existing versions of Windows
XP and Windows Server 2003 upon their release.
Windows
Vista offers significant advantages to everyone. It will allow users to do everything they
have been doing with their PC, but in a better, faster, and more efficient user
environment. Some of the features that
will improve efficiency are the enhanced end-user features included in this
version of the operating system. The
user account control feature is designed to reduce the attack surface of the
operating system by requiring that all users run in standard user mode. User Account Control will ensure that
administrators will not make modifications to their desktops accidentally by
requiring administrator authorization on certain system evoked tasks. This feature also maintains security for the
user by eliminating the risk of malware, or modifications to the desktop
without the administrator’s knowledge.
The applet sidebar is another new feature for Windows Vista. It allows for quick access to “gadgets” that
will be displayed according to their respective functionality area, such as
gaming, client application, or productivity.
In Vista, the sidebar will always be on
by default, and the gadgets can be dragged off of it to float above other
applications. Users will be able to move
the sidebar back and forth across the screen, flatten it into the background,
turn it on auto-hide, or shut it off all together. Superfetch is another new feature that will
speed the loading time of programs and data transmission for a faster more
proficient experience. One of the most
significant advantages of Windows Vista for businesses is the collaboration
module. The Windows collaboration module uses
peer-to-peer technology to let Vista users
work together in a shared workspace. You can form ad hoc workgroups and then
jointly work on documents, present applications, and pass messages. These end-user capabilities combined
with the safety and security provided by Windows Vista will be attractive to
both businesses and individuals alike. Currently,
there are plans for six to eight different ‘versions’ of Vista, ranging from
Vista “Home Basic” to Vista “Enterprise” and Vista “Ultimate.” No definitive information
on each specific release version is available at this time.
Windows
Vista makes creating and maintaining applications safer, more reliable, and
more secure. Vista
makes great strides in improving organization, and helping businesses gain
clarity when working with their operating system. It will be the most responsive and secure
operating system developed by Microsoft to date, which has dominated in the
consumer market for years. Vista's new shell and presentation system make it simpler
for developers and designers to integrate their applications into Windows and
into each other to create more user-friendly and graphically improved user
interfaces. The communication foundations
featured in Windows Vista are designed to empower service oriented application
development. Vista
makes it easy to connect people and information, which leads to more efficient
business and drastically improved customer interaction and service. The
enhanced features of Windows Vista will give the edge to businesses looking to
connect to information, interact with their customers, and work in a secure
electronic work environment. Vista will
revolutionize the overall experience of PC users worldwide.
References
Microsoft
Developers Network (MSDN). (2006).Windows Vista:
Microsoft Technology that Defines a New Decade. http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/
(March 7, 2006)
Microsoft.
(2006).Bringing Clarity to Your World: Introducing Windows Vista. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/
(March 7, 2006)
Multiple Choice Questions
1. WinFX
includes all of the following except:
a. WCF
b. WPF
c. WWF
d. WCW
2. Windows
Vista features an enhanced data transmission system known as:
a. DDR2
b. IPv6
c. Superfetch
d. x86
processing
3. The revolutionary new Windows desktop GUI
is known as:
a. Aero
b. .NET
2.0
c. XML
d. Windows
applet sidebar
3. The
Windows applet sidebar, new to Windows Vista, is designed to handle ________,
or user defined applications such and games and productivity software, making
them easier to find and use.
a. Superfetch
b. Gadgets
c. Aero
d. WinFX
4. Aero is based on the following technologies
except:
a. XML
b. .NET
2.0
c. Vector
graphics
d. DNS
5. Vista is being developed by:
a.
Apple
b. IBM
c. Microsoft
d. Hewlett-Packard
6. WinFX
is short for:
a.
Windows effects
b. Windows Vista
c. Windows framework
d. Windows applet sidebar
7. The original codename for Vista
was:
a.
Redfield
b. Cairo
c. Longhorn
d. Blackheart