What's New in Windows Vista?

One of Windows Vista's remarkable new features is its ability to conduct any type of search from almost anywhere on your computer. If you need to find a document, just search for it from the Start menu or from any window. If you're saying, "Well, what's so new about that?", try this: Press the Windows key, and then type part of the name of any program, folder, or file. The Windows key opens the Start menu, and, as you type, the results of your search appear on the Start menu. Type another letter or two, and the search results get narrowed down. Another great thing about the search feature is that not only can you search your computer, you can Search the entire Internet from the Start menu or any window.

You'll find other features that make working on your computer easier than ever, including links in each windowsome set up by Windows and others you create yourselfthat allow you to jump to your favorite locations; and the Address bar, which helps you to locate all the different places you want to explore. Windows Vista has also grouped many of the tools and features you need into task-oriented centers. For example, there's the Welcome Center, which helps you learn about your computer and shows you how to set up and customize it; the Mobility Center, which helps you set up your portable computer when you're on the road; the Network Center, which helps you configure, control, secure, and navigate your network; the Ease Of Access Center, which helps you modify computer settings to improve your access to the computer; and the Security Center, where you can make sure that you and your computer are protected from all the nasties lurking out there in cyberspace.

One of the first things you'll notice about security in Windows Vista is what you'll probably come to think of as an extremely annoying dialog box that's constantly popping up and asking you for the password for an Administrator's account (or, if you're logged on as an Administrator, asking your permission to continue). This feature, called the User Account Control, is central to the new and very powerful Windows Vista security features. Each time that dialog box appears, it's because you (or a program) are trying to do something that will change Windows, that will affect what other users can do, or that will introduce something onto the computer that could be dangerous to the system. By requiring permission, Windows is not only alerting you that these types of actions can't be conducted by someone who isn't authorized to make them, but is also preventing hackers, viruses, and other software from misusing or damaging your system. Aside from your frequent encounters with the User Account Control, you'll find that although many security features are running, they rarely interfere with your work. For example, Internet Explorer runs in Protected mode, which allows full access to features and tools on the Internet but isolates Internet Explorer from the rest of your computer to protect your system. Windows Defender watches your computer for spyware and other intrusive programs, and the Windows Firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and unauthorized transmission of information from your computer. A quick visit to the Windows Security Center shows you what Windows Vista is doing to protect your computer and also lets you know what you need to do to help keep your system secure. You can keep your children safe from harm when they're using the computer: With Windows Vista's Parental Controls feature, you can block Web sites, videos, games, TV shows, and any other media you consider inappropriate, and you can limit the amount of time during which your children (or anyone) can access the computer.

An impressive new feature of Windows Vista is the Aero glass appearance. If your computer's hardware supports this feature, parts of windows and other Windows components can be transparent, semitransparent, or colored as you want. You can see dazzling 3-D effects when you switch between windows, and everything on your screen looks really clear and sharp. You'll also notice improvements in other visual effects, including the increased clarity of pictures and videos.

You'll notice some significant differences between the components of Windows Vista and those of previous versions of Windows. For example, the Start menu doesn't have all those cascading submenus to navigate, and the folder windows aren't cluttered up with different toolbars; instead, the toolbar that remains changes its content depending on the types of folders or files contained in the window. You'll also notice that the menus seem to have disappeared. Fear not! They're still there (just press the Alt key) but are hidden and are mostly unnecessary. You'll see that folder windows can have different panes so that you can easily navigate among folders, see detailed information about an item, and even see a preview of a file without opening the file. There's also a special section of the Desktop, called the Sidebar, where you can store gadgets that show the time, get news headlines, run a slide show of your pictures, and do various other useful tasks.

Okay, we've talked about the way Windows Vista looks, the way it works, and the way it protects your computer system. Now we'll explore some of the many new features included in the Windows Vista Home Premium Edition. Available previously only in special editions of Windows, Media Center and Tablet PC tools are now included in Windows Vista. With Media Center, you can watch movies and even live TV. You can record shows, play music, and make your computer the center of your entertainment world. The Tablet PC tools are specialized tools that give you the power to do most of your work directly on the screen, especially if you use the Ink feature, which enables you to use your own handwriting in your programs.

You'll find an assortment of other new tools too. There's Windows Photo Gallery, a great photo organizer; and tools for making DVDs, whether they're data discs, photo slide shows, or movies. Windows Calendar makes it possible for you to track your schedule and publish it so that others can see it, and to download calendars from the Web. No more excuses for missing that dentist's appointment or being late for a meeting! Some of the other new Windows Vista features are really pretty remarkable. For example, for quite some time there have been several ways to conduct a secure electronic meeting over a network or over the Internet. Well, nowprovided both computers are in the same room and that each has a wireless network adapteryou can hold a meeting between two computers that aren't connected to either a network or the Internet! And if you've always wanted to yell at your computeror at least tell it what to doyou can use Windows Vista's powerful speech-recognition program.

You'll also find that Windows Vista comes with new and improved versions of programs from earlier versions of Windows. Windows Media Player now gives you the power to purchase and download music directly from the program; and Windows Mail replaces Outlook Express, providing greater security and power, and giving you the ability to automatically download Internet feeds (RSS feeds) so that you can see the latest news, conversations, or anything else you want.

So what's new in Windows Vista? Aside from all the new tools and features we've just described, perhaps what's new for you in Windows Vista is a feeling of renewed confidence that you can easily and safely do what you want on your computer without worrying that someone or something will cause you all sorts of trouble.

Note: For More Vista Tips & Tricks.