Student Zine Competition 3rd Place: Vista Takes Off!

By Amin Islam, Microsoft Student Partner.

Microsoft launched its long awaited Windows Vista operating system on the 30th January 2007, in what is the latest edition to the Microsoft Windows family. Expectations of the new operating system were high, after an amazing and revolutionary history behind the platform; it’s not hard to see why. “Is it stable and safe?” “What’s new?” these are a few of many questions ranging from IT Professionals to novice users. Thankfully, there are a lot of answers. I have now been using Vista for seven months and I am very impressed, I’m still finding new things.....

One of the most astounding features of Vista is the accessibility and user friendliness of the new interface and technologies. Sometimes the tasks you carry out are so quick and easy it becomes second nature within a few days. Navigation, management and system maintenance are now effortless.

The way you can now click on the windows icon, which has replaced the earlier “start” button, and type in any application and it will appear, hit enter, it’s open and running thanks to the new “Instant Search box” 

The new Windows flip 3D allows you to easily keep on top of tasks without having to minimize, maximise windows the feature cascades windows in a 3D so that you can see all the windows beside each other as all the windows are constantly refreshed and up to date, a pleasant experience. In terms of security, Vista Is the most secure windows ever and safer with the new Windows Defender firewall which helps protect you from unwanted software, viruses, malware and spyware and more, setting a new standard in PC security and protection. You can also add “gadgets” to the side of you're desktop, which can be customised to display clocks, weather, headlines etc.

Internet Explorer 7 allows tabbed browsing in a safe and secure environment. The new shrink-to-fit printing allows you to print the page you want on one sheet, as IE7 cleverly adjusts the size of the webpage to fit the print page without going beyond the printers border limits.

Backup has been made even more with additional features added to windows backup which works alongside an improved system restore feature seen in the earlier version of Windows, the XP operating system. All in easy reach and use with the Windows Backup and Restore centre, which is an excellent tool In the event of system failure. Networking has been made even easier, and speech recognition has heavily been improved so that you can even have you're e-mails read to you, and you can use you're mouse and keyboard less by carrying out tasks by using voice commands. Once again, Vista is ready to create a new revolution, a new benchmark, and a new world.

A masterpiece…..

Windows Update makes sure you stay up to date with the latest in Microsoft's developments, and if you ever need any help, you can request remote assistance, which will allow another user (ideally a technician) to temporarily take over your PC from a remote location, ideal for troubleshooting or being shown how to carry out particular tasks.

Microsoft has also introduced “ready boost” which uses flash memory, (USB sticks etc) to speed up the performance of the computer by using the memory of your memory stick as RAM. Vista is also ready for upcoming and new hardware, e.g. hard drives with built in flash memory to save laptop battery power and conserve energy in both Notebooks and PC’s which has been made to accommodate.

Microsoft has once again delivered a masterpiece. Having used the new Office 2007, it too has been improved in terms of Graphics, features and usability. All this left me thinking “Is it possible to add anything else?” By the looks of things were fully equipped for the coming century…..