It might sound strange to you but we actually asked average computer users if they or somebody they know are using Vista. After all, Microsoft has sold over 100 million licenses of Vista since the introduction of the operating system last February. Besides, this number is supposedly well distributed around the world. We wanted to find out why so many people hesitate to buy Vista and hence, we conducted an online survey. “My current programs won’t run since they are incompatible with Vista”, dreaded about 22 percent of those surveyed. They are not completely wrong in their assertion. Even with an installed XP emulator, some programs refuse to operate in Vista.
More than a year after Vista’s release, frustrated users feel that they have been unknowingly tangled in a beta test of incomplete software. Service Pack 1 (SP1) seems to provide relief to the disgruntled. Microsoft hopes that the release of SP1 will make Vista a full-fledged operating system. Yet, at first glance, it doesn’t seem to promise much. When the update is first run, the improvements are not very obvious. The situation is analogous to that in the auto world: If Volkswagen introduces the next Golf VI, it will look very much like the Golf V but underneath the surface the changed mechanism may actually make the vehicle run smoothly, or better still, it may even be a complete overhaul. That’s exactly how it is with Windows: the manufacturers claim to have improved features such as performance, security, and reliability under its bonnet. How much more exactly? We tested the claims in detail.
Performance: Vista is much faster with Service Pack 1
Microsoft still asserts that an 800 MHz PC with 512 MB RAM and a DirectX 9 graphics card should be enough to run the system smoothly. In practice however, it turns out that Vista performs best only on the latest CPUs with dual-core technology and a minimum of 1 GB RAM. Still, there are performance problems even with fast computers: music crackles, power consumption on notebooks is extremely high, and it still takes ages for Vista to launch. Resource sparing, stability and faster operations are still the mainstays of the proven success of Windows XP. Microsoft has, however, improved considerably with the Service Pack.
Security: Better protection against viruses, hackers etc
Vista is relatively safer and some new features have improved the security aspects of SP1. But, these improvements will only benefit corporate customers.
Encrypting data: If you want to use the in-built Windows encryption-function BitLocker, you either require an ‘Ultimate’ or an ‘Enterprise’ version of Vista, both of which are expensive and are seldom installed on any of the PCs available in the consumer market. Users not equipped with either and still wanting to encrypt their operating system will have to resort to programs from third party providers. Until now, the problem with BitLocker was the limitation on the size of system volume. With SP1, users can now also protect additional partitions from strange eyes. Yet, it’s incomprehensible why Microsoft is releasing this function now since experts could already encrypt their other partitions using BitLocker, via the command line on Vista systems without SP1—only the user interface was missing. Microsoft has added it now so that the average user can perform the same function.
Better updates: If Windows had been a car with a broken brake, Microsoft would have asked the driver to apply the brakes gently instead of completely replacing the brake disc. This situation is comparable to the security updates: If the technicians at Redmond discovered a security leak, they would only plug the hole, and never strive to find the cause of the leak. This has fortunately changed with Vista. Maybe because this is the first consumer operating system from Microsoft that has been developed taking SDL (Secure Development Lifecycle) into account.
A new security strategy from Microsoft is hidden behind SDL: right from the initial phase of developing new systems, the specialists study current threats and predict possible future threats. The programmers have upgraded the operating system so that it can withstand all those dangers. If you believe Microsoft, you require around 50 percent lesser updates—all thanks to SDL. With SP1, Vista includes a corresponding SDL update that should make certain parts more secure: If Vista now blocks a program with the user account control; the user receives more information about it. However, the continuous messages are still just as annoying as before.
Reliable Info: If you want to know whether the antivirus protection has been activated and updated, or whether the firewall is active or not, then you don’t need to open Vista security any more. With SP1, it looks like Microsoft has improved the technology too. Before, in certain cases, malicious software could change the status of the security applications within the centers. Thus, it happened that Windows would show a green light but the firewall, for instance, would be inactive. Security tools can now report their status to Windows monitoring via new and safer interfaces. The user can thus be sure that everything really is in order when Windows says so—at least until hackers find a new way of attacking it.
User account control: The user need not constantly certify for multiple UAC (User Account Control) messages any more—a single authorization will suffice in future.
Vista-Backup: Even data encoded with EFS (Encrypting File System) can be secured in the new version of the image program from Windows.
New recovery tool: The SRT (Startup Repair Tool) can even restore system files. Till now, users had to completely reinstall the system.
Quick unblocking: Earlier, pause time after hitting [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] used to average 10 seconds.
Remote maintenance tools: The security involved in remote access has been improved—the programs can now be equipped with a digital signature.
BitLocker I: Along with the system partition, the encryption program can encode other partitions and drives as well.
BitLocker II: The data can also be encrypted through Multi Factor Authentication simultaneously with TPM module (PIN) and a USB stick for increased security.
New activation: The KMS (Key Management Service) available in the ‘Enterprise’ version now operates in virtual environments as well.
Safe password: Users have to compulsorily input a password hint as reminders while installing Vista, or else Windows will not start.
Old group policy: On installing SP1, Windows deletes GPMC (Group Policy Management Console) and activates the simpler version, GPedit.
New file system: The new file system exFAT has been introduced in Vista with SP1. Created especially for storage media, it offers support for files up to 32 GB.
Better network behavior: In case of peer-to-peer connections, the users can also find out if they are behind a symmetrical firewall.
Faster Windows releases: Network shares can be recognizable faster with SP1, especially when it concerns a pure SP1 environment.
Quick ZIP folder: Packed archives such as ZIP files can be stored and extracted faster with Vista Service Pack 1.
Speedy pictures: The photo display is more powerful with SP1. The supplemented feature is particularly noticeable in large images.
Improved Internet Explorer: Vista is faster in loading and rendering loads of websites which use intensive JavaScript programming language.
New SuperFetch: The Cache function loads the frequently used files in the main memory. This happens much faster, particularly while booting.
Intelligent network logic: Vista identifies which network connections are useful, for example, when LAN and WLAN are activated simultaneously.
Upgraded remote access: The RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) has a new compression algorithm and thus requires less bandwidth.
Configurable defragmentation: Users and administrators can determine the drives they want to defragment.
Deleting functions for offline folders: Vista with Service Pack 1 can delete files from offline folders, even if they are not connected.
64 Bit emulator: 64 Bit versions of Vista-SP1 can be installed and used on a 32-Bit system too.
Complete display of main memory: Windows displays the entire main memory on systems, even those which have several OS running.
Better connection of displays: In case of external displays, the display and integration with Vista now work more conveniently.
More drivers: With SP1, Microsoft also delivers a whole series of new drivers for components from third party providers like printers or WLAN-N adapters.
__________________________
Source : IC CHIP
Posts
Post a Comment