On Thursday, Microsoft is expected to give details of two marketing programs that computer makers and retailers can use to indicate whether, and how well, their computers will run Windows Vista, the successor to the aging Windows XP. The “Vista-capable” program lists the features needed to minimally run the new operating system. The “Premium Ready” program will identify PCs that can take advantage of Vista’s high-end features, including its new Aero graphics.
To be Vista-capable, a machine needs at least an 800MHz processor, 512MB of memory and a graphics card that can run DirectX 9 graphics. To carry the Premium Ready designation, a PC must have a 1GHz processor, 1GB of main memory, 128MB of memory and a graphics card that supports Vista’s new graphics-driver model.
The new programs are designed to help PC makers characterize and label new systems, but they also give existing PC owners a better sense of whether it is feasible to upgrade their machines.
The Vista-capable program comes as Microsoft is preparing to offer a broader test version of the Windows update, which the software maker has said will be made available this quarter to about two million testers. The company also hosts its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) for hardware makers next week in Seattle.
News source: CNET News.com
To be Vista-capable, a machine needs at least an 800MHz processor, 512MB of memory and a graphics card that can run DirectX 9 graphics. To carry the Premium Ready designation, a PC must have a 1GHz processor, 1GB of main memory, 128MB of memory and a graphics card that supports Vista’s new graphics-driver model.
The new programs are designed to help PC makers characterize and label new systems, but they also give existing PC owners a better sense of whether it is feasible to upgrade their machines.
The Vista-capable program comes as Microsoft is preparing to offer a broader test version of the Windows update, which the software maker has said will be made available this quarter to about two million testers. The company also hosts its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) for hardware makers next week in Seattle.
News source: CNET News.com
They seem to support high-end, and mid-end with their options, and that is good. But if they are listing 800MHz and 512MB RAM as minimum, does that mean that a 750MHz machine will refuse to install? If so, then I imagine performance on the 800MHz would be awful!
I guess that software is being used as the medium that generates hardware sales for DELL, HP, etc., and for Microsoft to offer this "low end" computing solution would be extra work for Microsoft, without those nice OEM pre-installed sales...
They list 800 Mhz as the minimum frequency for the Vista-capable tier. Vista will install on machines with lesser hardware.
800 Mhz isn't exactly bleeding edge hardware. Vista will install on a machine with 256 MB of RAM albeit with reduced functionality. Again, 256 MB is paltry by today's standards.
There's also Vista Starter Edition which is targeted at very low-end hardware. You can't pick that one up in the United States though (AFAIK).
The only complaint I have with these specs is how low the premium processor speed is - it should at least be 1.5GHz, that way developers can cater to a higher basic level. I think Vista should have also been 64bit only but Intel have been very slow to support it and their current Core Duo chips are still only 32bit (until the Core 2 Duo). Still, the performance ratings should help a lot (if implemented correctly).
I don't think that getting even XP on a 486 has been successful... (link)
What the parent was saying is that these ever increasing RAM requirements may cause other trouble than simply the RAM costs.
I do agree with other posters about the "minimum" requirements though; if you have a machine with those specs, it's going to run like a sloth in jam.
Next we'll be seeing OSs that only come on BluRay discs (bloatware expands to fill the space provided).
In any case, there has been no cut in 'Funky graphics stuff'. It's all here, and it's beautiful.
I wonder how many people who meet the requirements for Vista will max out on ram (max MB can support) trying to get everything to run smoothly (photoshop, DVD converting, etc)
P4 2.4 GHz Northwood
1 GB RAM
Geforce FX 5700 non Ultra
What graphics cards would those be?
Are we talking about the ATI X**** series? E.g. X1600? Or is it the generation after that?
I'm thinking that if your computer meets the requirements for "premium" that it'll probably run pretty well (as opposed to just barely being able to handle it like minimum requirements often imply).
And I remember a lot of people were freaking out when the XP specs were released but it didn't turn out to be that bad. Almost all the PCs being sold today will be able to run Vista when it comes out in ~7 months.
But that grphx reqs are insane... But I'm sure that no-glass mode will work on older cards
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