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Microsoft Introduces Vista Lineup By Jay Wrolstad February 27, 2006 1:00PM     The Vista portfolio represents an improvement over the five-year-old Windows XP operating system, said Gartner analyst Michael Silver. But Silver also said that some enterprise customers might balk at being forced to purchase Software Assurance to get the enterprise-oriented editions.   Related Topics Microsoft Windows Vista Operating Systems Media Center Tablet PCs Latest News Plasma-TV Ban Could Be Costly Barnes & Noble Nook Is Delayed Flat PC Shipments Hurt Dell's Stock Ballmer Says Windows 7 Sales Good New Pogoplug 'Cloud' Gets Social Microsoft has unveiled its Windows Vista product portfolio, featuring six flavors of the forthcoming flagship desktop operating system for businesses and consumers. Altogether, there are two versions for businesses, three for consumers, and one for emerging markets. They will be named Business, Enterprise, Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, and Starter. The number of offerings is the same as that for Windows XP, with each new product tailored to meet the needs of a specific market. Across the Board The higher-end versions of Vista include a new user interface, dubbed Aero, which Microsoft is calling its "glass" user interface because it can render open windows translucently, making it easier to see what is happening on the desktop at all times. Using a feature called Quick Search, people can type in any word, name, or phrase and find all items stored on the computer that relate to it. Another new feature, Search Folder, works as a kind of "always on" search. If you type in search criteria, such as "dogs," for example, the OS will create a folder into which any new files on dogs will be inserted automatically. Windows Flip, another new technology in Vista, was designed for easier transitioning between applications. The technology will let users flip through open windows using the Alt+Tab key combination to view a live thumbnail of each window. Flip 3D moves the applications into a "3D space" through which people can sort through windows using the arrow keys or the scroll wheel on a mouse. Business and Enterprise In addition to the general interface and navigation improvements in every version of Vista, Vista Business is designed to make it easier to manage huge volumes of business documents. By integrating search throughout the operating system and providing new ways to organize files, Vista Business is designed to help business users quickly find exactly what they are looking for. Windows Vista Enterprise will include all the features of Vista Business along with hardware-based encryption for protecting corporate data . It also will include tools to boost enterprise -application compatibility and a multilingual language pack for global deployments. Vista Enterprise will be available only to customers using PCs covered by Microsoft Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. Virtual PC Express, one notable new feature in Vista Enterprise, is one of several built-in tools designed to improve application compatibility with previous versions of Microsoft's operating systems. Virtual PC Express enables a legacy application to run unchanged on a legacy Windows OS that is running in a virtual environment on top of Windows Vista Enterprise. (continued...) 1  |  2  |  Next Page >   Advertisement  Tech Trends 1.   New Pogoplug 'Cloud' Gets Social 2.   Salesforce Makes Business Social 3.   Cisco, Logitech Target Mainstream 4.   Could This Be the Season for Web TV? 5.   AMD Powers Top Cray Supercomputer Frugal Twitter-Only Device Offered TwitterPeek doesn't need a data plan. Average Rating: Social-Networking Security a Concern Facebook hijacking shows dangers. Average Rating: Cisco, EMC Team on Private Clouds Partner for new data-center approach. Average Rating:

Product Information and Resources for Technology You Can Use To Boost Your Business CRM Systems   Experience CRM—and Business—Success today with Salesforce.com. Contact Centers   Run Your Entire Contact Center in the Cloud with LiveOps Enterprise Hardware   Go Green with IBM Blade Center    Enterprise I.T.    Rackspace: It makes a difference when you focus on support.   Go Green with IBM Blade Center   APC introduces server room in a box solutions!   Tell us what you think. Take a survey.   Find out how much you can save with the SQL Server value tool.   See how AT&T can help protect your network. Enterprise Software   Read the Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft/Windows   Rackspace: It makes a difference when you focus on support   Read the Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2. Network Security   See how AT&T can help protect your network.

Network Security Spotlight

House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.   GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.   Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.   Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.   Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.   FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.

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