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Microsoft Vista – System Requirements

Well it’s getting to be that time again. Microsoft is gearing up for the launch of its new operating system Microsoft Vista available in early 2007. The release date isn’t set in stone and a recent lawsuit by Symantec is trying to block the sale of MS Vista.

But what type of computer will you or I need to run the latest operating system? Microsoft has recently updated its website with the system requirements we will all need to have if we want to run Vista. But I wouldn’t rush out yet to buy new components or a new computer just yet.

The bare minimum requirements are a modern processor with a speed of at least 800MHz or faster. You will need 512 MB of system memory (RAM). And a graphics processor (video card) that is DirectX 9 compatible. As with most things, the bare minimum requirements will let you use at least run some of the features of Vista, but if you want all the bells and whistles you are going to need something more.

Windows is calling computers designed with Vista in mind “Premium Ready”. They will have at least a 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor, and 1 GB of RAM. To take advantage of the Microsoft Aero you’ll need at least a 128MB video card that supports pixel shader 2.0 and Support for 32bits per pixel. At least a 40 GB hard drive with 15 GB of free space, as well as a DVD Rom drive.

That’s a lot of technical mumbo jumbo isn’t it? The easiest way to see if your computer will be Vista compliant is to try out the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. You can download it right from Microsoft at the following address: (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx)

In the future I will be delving a little more deeply into the features and options of Windows Vista as well as comparing it to Windows XP. What is everyone’s favorite OS and what things do you hope to see from Microsoft in the future?

This entry was posted in Windows tips and tweaks and tagged , , by Scott Dimeler. Bookmark the permalink.

About Scott Dimeler

Scott is writer, a graphic artist, a web designer, and sometimes marketing guy. He has attended Penn State University and has held a number of jobs in the last seven years within the topsy-turvy tech industry. He currently lives with his yellow lab Boomer and the two silliest cats ever, Cheese Curl, and Gizmo in Central Pennsylvania. He has a deep love of everything scientific and technical but also likes to embrace and express his artistic side. He is an avid gamer and enjoys sci-fi and fantasy books and movies. He likes to travel and spend time with his friends that are scattered thorough out the country. Being laid back and always the person his friends and family turn to for technical advice, he has decided to broaden the range of people that he can help here on Families.com. He always tries to stay away from any sort of techno-babble or at least explain it in a way that everyone can understand easily. He would be happy to answer any questions you may have and looks forward to hearing from you all.