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Microsoft Vista Home Basic Video Transcript
[ Music ] ^M00:00:01
>> I'm Robert Vamosi, senior editor CNET and this is a first look at Windows Vista Basic. Window Vista is Microsoft's first operating system in more than five years. It features an improved graphics system, built in search, performance and diagnostic monitors and improved security. Let's take a look.
>> Windows Vista Home Basic does not include aero glass graphics system. Perhaps the first feature you'll notice is a new side bar with gadgets. Microsoft's version of widgets. The default gadgets display the current time, photos from your photo library, and any Internet Explorer 7 RSS subscription feeds, with an option to add more gadgets to suit your specific needs. Included within all version of Windows Vista is built in search and tagging. This allows you to create blue virtual folders of searched content. Say you're doing a report on mountains, any file that is key word enable to include mountains will be grouped into a virtual folder without any physical dragging between your location. The down side is that older files say you upgraded from Windows XP will have to retroactively Meta tagged in order to be searched. Windows Vista Ultimate also includes Windows Media Player 11 with online connection to MTVs urge.com. Windows Vista also includes Internet Explorer 7. With stronger certification, authentication, and new protected mode for running Active X agents. There's also built in parental controls allowing you to monitor minors on your system. By limiting their online usage or filtering with web sites they may visit. [ Music ]
>> Parental controls also extend in the gaming where now each game features a recommended gaming rating.
>> Windows Vista Basic is low end of the Windows Vista offerings. It's designed primarily for older hardware configurations. While it does not include the new graphics engine, it does include other features such as search and all the coding improvements that have been made since Windows XP. This has been a look at Windows Vista Basic. I'm Robert Vamosi. ^M00:02:06 [ Music ]
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Microsoft Vista Home Basic Review
The good: Windows Vista Home Basic does improve some features within Windows XP; fewer system crashes than Windows XP; and Windows Vista offers better built-in support options.
The bad: Windows Vista Home Basic does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); no Aero graphics system in Home Basic; no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista; optimized only for the Microsoft Windows ecosystem (for example, RSS feeds from IE7 get preferential treatment); and little reason to leave Windows XP.
The bottom line: Windows Vista Home Basic is essentially warmed-over Windows XP, Windows XP SP3. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.
Microsoft Vista Home Basic Specs
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Part number: 66G-00002
- Product Specifications
- Product Basic Spec
Microsoft Vista Home Basic Prices
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| Store | Certified rating | Inventory | Price |
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| Amazon.com | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $140.00 |
