Microsoft Windows Vista®

What is Windows Vista^® ?
What is Windows Vista Premium Ready?
What is Windows Aero^TM  ?
Why does Dell recommend an advanced graphics card?
What hardware is recommended for running Windows Vista?
What hardware is required by Microsoft for Windows Vista Premium Ready systems?
What are the benefits of Windows Vista?
Which Dell systems will run Windows Vista in the new Windows Aero interface?
What are the Windows Vista versions and which ones will Dell ship?

Q. What is Windows Vista?
A. Windows Vista is Microsoft's next-generation operating system (OS). Microsoft touts this new OS as its most secure, highest quality Windows release to date. Depending on the version of the OS that you select to run and your system's hardware, it offers many new and enhanced features such as advanced security and a new intuitive and lifelike interface.

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Q. What is Windows Vista Premium Ready^*?
A. To take Windows Vista to the next level - look for Premium Ready^* PCs. These special PCs - when paired with the appropriate version of Windows Vista - can enable premium experiences like the Windows Aero^TM  user interface. Windows Aero is designed to improve on virtual perfection with spectacular visuals, fast responsiveness, and graphical tools to efficiently manage information and applications on your desktop.

A Windows Vista Premium Ready1 PC includes at least:

1GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor* 1GB of system memory (note: Dell recommends dual channel memory*) Support for DirectX 9 graphics with a WDDM driver, 128MB of graphics memory (minimum )*, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32bits per pixel 40GB of hard drive capacity with 15GB free space DVD-ROM Drive* Audio output capability Internet access capability

To enjoy Windows Aero you must install one of the premium versions of Windows Vista - Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Vista Ultimate. A system with less than 1GB of system memory will not support many of the advanced features of premium versions of Windows Vista, including the Windows Aero^TM  user interface.

To make sure you get the most out of Windows Vista, use the following guidelines:

To access Aero and other premium benefits, Microsoft recommends a system designated as Premium Ready* For an improved experience, Dell additionally recommends configuring your Premium Ready* system with 1GB dual-channel (2-DIMMS) RAM* and a premium 128MB graphics card from ATI or nVidia. To further enhance your Windows Vista experience, Dell recommends 2GB dual-channel (2 DIMMS) RAM* and a premium 256MB graphics card from ATI or nVidia.

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Q. What is Windows Aero?
A. Windows Vista will offer user interfaces which range from Basic (similar to that of Windows XP) visuals up to high-end graphics schemes referred to as the Windows Aero interface.

The new Windows Aero interface is designed to be highly intuitive, lifelike and visually interesting and to show translucent windows, 3-dimensional perspective, rich textures, advanced colour mixes, and animations.

The level of a user's Windows Aero experience will scale to the hardware capabilities of the computer, as well as the level of Windows Vista purchased (i.e., Windows Vista Home Basic is not Windows Aero capable^*).

In general, the more graphics and system memory on a computer, the richer the potential experience^*. Systems without enough graphics and memory power to run Windows Aero will present a Basic graphics interface - such as that provided today in XP.

The productivity gains produced through the Windows Aero versus the Basic User Interface have yet to be determined. However, Windows Aero is designed to provide a better scaling experience on high-resolution panels.

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Q. Why does Dell recommend an advanced graphics card?
A. In general, the more graphics and system memory on a computer, the richer the potential experience. Systems without enough graphics and memory power to run Windows Aero^TM , the new graphic user interface available in premium editions of Windows Vista, will offer a Basic graphics interface, which is similar in look and feel to that of Windows XP.

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Q. What hardware is recommended for running Windows Vista?
A. To be designated as Windows Vista Capable^*, Microsoft requires that the PC must include at least:

A modern processor (at least 800MHz) 512MB of system memory (RAM) A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable A CD-ROM drive (Dell recommends a DVD-ROM drive) 20GB HDD with a minimum of 15GB free space

NOTE: Not all Windows Vista^®  features are available for use on all Windows Vista Capable^* PCs. All Windows Vista Capable PCs will run the core experiences of Windows Vista, such as innovations in organising and finding information, security, and reliability. Some advanced features - like the new Windows^®  Aero^TM  user interface - are available only in premium editions of Windows Vista and require advanced or additional hardware.

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Q. What hardware is required by Microsoft for Windows Vista Premium Ready^* systems?
A. To be designated as Windows Vista Premium Ready^*, Microsoft requires that the PC must include at least:

1GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor* 1GB of system memory (note: Dell recommends dual channel memory*) Support for DirectX 9 graphics with a WDDM driver, 128MB of graphics memory (minimum)*, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32bits per pixel 40GB of hard drive capacity with 15GB free space DVD Readable Drive Audio output capability Internet access capability

To provide the advanced features of Windows Vista including the Aero user interface, Premium Ready^* systems must also be running one of the premium versions of Windows Vista, including: Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Vista Ultimate.

For an enhanced experience of Aero and other key Windows Vista features, Dell also recommends configuring your Premium Ready* system with 1GB dual-channel (2-DIMMS) RAM* and a premium 128MB graphics card from ATI or nVidia. To further enhance your Windows Vista experience, Dell recommends 2GB dual-channel (2-DIMMS) RAM* and a premium 256MB graphics card from ATI or nVidia.

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Q. What are the benefits of Windows Vista?
A. Microsoft has identified several key benefits:

A new, visually exciting user interface Windows Vista is the first Windows operating system that can gracefully scale to the hardware capabilities of the computer it is installed on. Depending on the user's hardware as well as the version of Windows Vista installed, this new operating system can enable either the Basic user experience or the advanced 3-D like Windows Aero^TM  user experience.^*

Increased confidence Windows Vista features a new system architecture designed to include advanced security features.

Enhanced security features can help protect against the latest generation of threats, such as worms, viruses, and spyware. System alerts inform users about security and privacy choices so they can feel confident their privacy is protected.

Ease-of-use Windows Vista is designed to streamline productivity and organisation. It introduces an intuitive way of organising data like movies, music, photos and other important files, so that you can store, manage, and find it when you need to. Highly intuitive, Windows Vista can help you:

See what files contain without opening them Find applications and files quickly Navigate efficiently among open windows Use wizards and dialog boxes confidently

Enhanced connectivity Windows Vista can enable users to synchronise across multiple PCs, network servers and other devices, including cell phones and PDAs. Windows Vista includes enhancements for portable computers; compared to Windows XP, it offers advanced power management, and easy wireless networking functionality.

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Q. Which Dell systems will run Windows Vista in the new Windows Aero interface?
A. Dell provides both Windows Vista Capable^* and Windows Vista Premium Ready^* PCs (designed to run Aero) across its product lines. Please refer to this chart for details on specific systems.

	Windows Vista Capable*	Windows Vista Premium Ready*	Dell Recommended
	Good Vista Experience	Better Vista Experience	Best Vista Experience
System Memory	512MB Dual Channel* (2 DIMMS)	1GB Dual Channel* (2 DIMMS)	2GB Dual Channel* (2 DIMMS)
Graphics Memory	Integrated or discrete	128 MB Graphics Card (integrated or discrete)*	256MB Graphics Card
Processor	modern processor (>800MHz)	1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)	Dual-Core
Hard Drive	>15GB free (recommended)	40GB capacity, >15GB free	7200 rpm
Window Vista Aero Experience	None	Aero enabled as a default, but performance may be compromised as more windows, applications and games are opened.	Can enhance Aero experience and system performance
Great for...	Booting the Operating System, without running applications or games	Multitasking (e-mail, basic photo editing, basic video editing, music, spreadsheets, browsing, and other applications) The experience is only assured in single monitor mode. Dual monitor is supported, but may affect the aero premium experience.	Multi-tasking with power-hungry applications (large spreadsheets, advanced video and photo editing, HD viewing and recording) Dual Monitor Usage

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Q. What are the Windows Vista versions and which ones will Dell ship?
A. The Windows Vista product lineup consists of five versions. When available, Dell plans to offer four of them:

Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista Enterprise will be available ONLY directly from Microsoft. Dell will not factory install this version of Windows Vista. Visit www.microsoft.com for additional information on Microsoft Vista Enterprise.

Dell plans to make the Business version of Windows Vista available on all Dell relationship platforms. Dell plans to ship appropriate 32-bit and/or 64-bit versions of all other Windows Vista products as determined by the best customer experience results out of testing.

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