Windows Vista Capable PCs:
A Windows Vista Capable PC is a computer that can run Windows Vista. You'll be able to benefit from many of the improvement available in Vista, including new search and organization tools, improved security, and improved system backup tools.
A Windows Vista Capable PC is a computer that can run Windows Vista. You'll be able to benefit from many of the improvement available in Vista, including new search and organization tools, improved security, and improved system backup tools.
Windows Vista Capable PCs vs Premium PCs: Vista Capable PCs are capable of running Vista, but they can't take advantage of every feature available in Vista. Only Vista Premium PCs can take advantage of all the features in Vista, including Windows Aero. Windows Aero is a new interface and visual style that adds additional sophistication and convenience to the appearance of Vista.
Windows Vista Capable PC Requirements: To qualify for the Vista Capable PC designation, a computer must have:
- a 800 MHz or faster processor
- 512 MB of RAM
- A DirectX 9 capable graphics processor
The Real Windows Vista Capable Experience: If you're curious about how Windows Vista will operate on your current PC or on a designated Windows Vista Capable PC that you're considering buying, look no further. My Vista Vista screen shot gallery contains a number of screen shots that I took of Vista running on my main PC. My main PC is only Vista Capable, not a Vista Premium PC. Despite that, I can still take advantage of the core Vista features like the desktop search and improved security.
While Microsoft hasn't completely spelled out the differences between the features a Vista Capable PC will use and those available only to Vista Premium PCs, one primrary difference is Windows Aero. Windows Aero is a new interface and visual style that includes live taskbar thumbnails, transparent window frames, and Flip3D. Windows Aero only runs on computers that meet the Windows Vista Premium PC requirements, so you won't be able to enjoy Aero on a Vista Capable PC.
When it comes down to it, Windows Aero is mostly eye candy that won't do much to improve your computing experience. The core Windows Vista experience - improved search tools, live icons in Windows Explorer, User Account Control, better backup and restore tools, better multimedia features, and more - will work on Windows Vista Capable PCs. However, as Chris Morley points out in his article Windows Vista Capable or Windows Vista Weakling, you may want to plan on adding additional memory to a computer with only 512 MB to improve the performance of Vista on Capable PCs.
While Microsoft hasn't completely spelled out the differences between the features a Vista Capable PC will use and those available only to Vista Premium PCs, one primrary difference is Windows Aero. Windows Aero is a new interface and visual style that includes live taskbar thumbnails, transparent window frames, and Flip3D. Windows Aero only runs on computers that meet the Windows Vista Premium PC requirements, so you won't be able to enjoy Aero on a Vista Capable PC.
When it comes down to it, Windows Aero is mostly eye candy that won't do much to improve your computing experience. The core Windows Vista experience - improved search tools, live icons in Windows Explorer, User Account Control, better backup and restore tools, better multimedia features, and more - will work on Windows Vista Capable PCs. However, as Chris Morley points out in his article Windows Vista Capable or Windows Vista Weakling, you may want to plan on adding additional memory to a computer with only 512 MB to improve the performance of Vista on Capable PCs.