By Al Ricci, Vice President of Professional Services and Support , Accubid Systems, Inc.

Microsoft began work on Windows Vista, its next generation Windows operating system in May 2001, five months before the release of Windows XP. Microsoft plans on releasing Windows Vista to businesses in November 2006 and to consumers in January 2007.

With Windows Vista, Microsoft did not simply build on Windows XP, they built a new operating system for the 21 st century with a focus on security, user interface (experience and ease-of-use), better ways to protect your data, and greater search capabilities.

Tighter Security

Microsoft has often been criticized for its approach to security. With Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced a new approach to software development: the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL). The goals of the SDL are to reduce the number of security-related design and coding defects, and to reduce the severity of any defects that are left. As a result, Microsoft has not only made great strides to deliver improved security with Windows Vista, they’ve fundamentally restructured the way in which they develop software.

One of biggest improvements to security with Windows Vista is greater control of the user account (User Account Control). With Windows XP you are restricted to the often unusable Limited Account or the full control (and related risks) of the Administrator Account. With Vista, users can now utilize a Standard Account for routine functions with Windows Vista prompting you for approval or an administrator password before you may complete a task that could pose a risk to your computer (for example, installing software). Windows Vista also makes your network interactions safer with Network Access Protection (NAP). The NAP agent included with Windows Vista can prevent a Windows Vista client machine from connecting to a network running a server with NAP support if it lacks updated virus signatures or security updates; essentially locking out an unsecured machine from the network environment.

Eye Candy

One of the fun and exciting new features of Windows Vista is a new enhanced user interface, named Windows Aero. The goal of Aero is to make Vista easier to use and much more enjoyable to look at. Don’t worry, the Start button is still there and navigation is generally the same. However, Microsoft has added support for semi-transparent Windows and a new technology called Flip 3D. With semi-transparent windows, you can now see what’s behind an active window without necessarily having to minimize or move the active window to another area of the screen. Flip 3D is similar to using ALT-TAB to tab through various open windows, but it now displays images of the open program in a 3D view.

Protect Your Data

Windows Vista provides multiple methods of data backup and restore to protect you from hardware failure, user error, or general system error. These include improvements to the System Restore, a new feature called Windows Backup, and a related feature called Previous Versions. Collectively these features make up the unified Windows Backup and Restore Center.

Windows Vista’s System Restore now allows recovery from a greater range of changes than previously support with Windows XP. When a restore point is requested, a shadow copy (essentially a previous version at a specific point in time) of a file or folder is created. Windows Vista can request restore points automatically or when asked. When the system needs to be restored, files and settings are copied from that shadow copy.

Windows Vista also easily backs up system settings, applications, and data, with the convenience of automated scheduling. The new Windows Backup utility delivers more choices for storing information, including: CD, DVD, external hard disk, another local hard disk, or another computer or server on your network. You no longer have to remember to regularly back up your data; you can simply use the backup wizard to schedule the time and location of the data to back up. A wizard also helps you select the files or folders to restore, prompting you for restore media, and then restoring the data you select.

I can’t tell you how many times clients have contacted Product Support when they have accidentally saved over a file they were working on. Windows Vista now includes the ability to protect your data with a new technology called Previous Versions. Previous Versions automatically creates point-in-time copies of files as you work, so you can quickly and easily retrieve versions of a document you may have accidentally overwritten.

Find Your Important Information and Run Your Applications

With Windows Vista, searches can now be saved as a search folder, with your search being executed whenever you open that folder. Live icons now show you what is in a file prior to opening it. With Windows Vista, you now enter the first few letters of the program name and the system search will find the program, no longer forcing you to traverse through a long list of programs in the Start menu.

Will My System Support Windows Vista?

Windows Vista is Microsoft’s first operating system that adapts itself to the computer it is running on. After the installation is complete, the operating system actually optimizes itself for performance on your computer’s hardware. Since Vista adapts to the computer, Microsoft differentiates between Windows Vista Capable and Windows Vista Premium PCs. Capable PCs use the majority of Vista features, but only Premium PCs benefit from the Windows Aero user interface.

The Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine if your computer will support Windows Vista. It is available for download from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx.

Windows Vista – Accubid is Ready

Accubid was the first construction productivity software vendor to embrace the Windows platform, as well as the first to deliver true 32-bit Windows compatible products. With the pending release of Windows Vista, Accubid is ready. Accubid’s existing 32-bit Windows products are already compatible with the Windows Vista operating system. Products currently in development and future versions of existing Accubid products will leverage Windows Vista features and functionality wherever they add value to our client’s user experience.

For more information go to www.accubid.com