Get Started with Vista

The end of XP

 

Introduced in January 2007, Windows Vista is the biggest change to Windows computing since the introduction of Windows XP in 2001. Microsoft touts especially the improved security of Vista but it also includes more free software for managing media such as movies and music.

Although the technology underlying Vista is now quite different, it is functionally quite similar to Windows XP despite its somewhat different look. Partly to do with this look is the requirement for greater computer performance to drive Vista than XP: faster processor speed and more memory. This can be a stumbling-block for people upgrading their machines. (Details of these requirements are in this book.)

For most people, there is probably no pressing need to move from Windows XP to Windows Vista at this time.

Currently, software publishers are writing for Vista and trying to provide compatibility with XP. As time passes, the programmers will take advantage of features that are found in Vista but not in XP so the commitment to XP will diminish. Then, anyone wishing to use the latest software will need Windows Vista.

For businesses that are operating quite happily on XP, there is no real need to change to Vista; they will change when programs that are critical to their operations demand Windows Vista.

For domestic users, it'll probably happen when they change their machines.

In fact, even one year after the release of Vista, only about 20% of Windows machines are running Windows Vista.

It is not well-remembered that the transition to Windows XP was similar. When XP was released in 2001, its uptake was quite slow (less than 15% uptake after the first year). It was not until the release of Service Pack 2 in 2004 that XP really took off, rapidly passing the 50% mark. Curiously, even at the start of 2008, about 10% of Windows users were using versions prior to XP, i.e. pre-2001!

However, at the end of June 2008, Microsoft officially ceased sales of Windows XP and, although it will be possible to purchase it for a few more months, it will be by purchasing Windows Vista and downgrading to Windows XP. Also in mid-2008, Microsoft released its new server software and this, too, is built on the Vista platform (not XP).

Windows 7, Vista's successor, has been announced and will be based on Vista so the changes from Vista should be relatively small - perhaps more like the change from the original XP to XP Service Pack 2.

So, XP's days are numbered: the future is based on Vista.

If you can see past the superficial differences, the differences between XP and Vista are quite small and moving between XP and Vista is quite easy. That's one of the main purposes of this book: to help you to see past the superficial differences to an understanding of how Vista, XP or even Windows 95 operate. With that knowledge, each time Windows changes its outward appearance, you'll be able to keep working without problems.