আমার কাছে 'আলী আরাফাত শান্ত' ভাই "উইন্ডোজ ভিস্তা" নিয়ে জানতে চেয়েছিলেন। তাই আমি আপনাদের সুভিধার জন্যে একটি নতুন পোস্টে বিস্তারিত জানালাম।

- মাইক্রোসফট উইন্ডোজ ভিস্তা -

উইন্ডোজ ভিস্তা পার্সোনাল কম্পিউটারের জন্য নির্মিত গ্রাফিক্যাল অপারেটিং সিস্টেম। ডেস্কটপ, ল্যাপটপ, ট্যাবলেট পিসি এবং মিডিয়া সেন্টার কম্পিউটারে ভিস্তা ব্যবহার করা যায়। ২০০৫ সালের ২২ জুলাই যখন ভিস্তার কাজ শুরু হয় ভিস্তা "লংহর্ন" নামে পরিচিত ছিল। ২০০৬ সালের ৮ নভেম্বর ভিস্তার নির্মান শেষ হয়। এর পরের তিনমাস পর্যায়ক্রমে হার্ডওয়ার ও সফটওয়ার নির্মাতা প্রতিষ্ঠান, ব্যবসায়িক ক্রেতা ও খুচরা বাজারে ভিস্তা আসতে শুরু করে। ২০০৭ সালের ৩০ জানুয়ারি আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে ভিস্তার বাজারজাতকরন শুরু হয় এবং সাধারনের হাতে চলে আসে। ভিস্তাকে মাইক্রওসফটের ওয়েবসাইট থেকে নামানোর ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছিল। ভিস্তা এর পূর্বসূরী অপারেটিং সিস্টেম উইন্ডোজ এক্সপি এর প্রায় পাঁচ বছর পর মুক্তি পেয়েছে। মাইক্রোসফটের উইন্ডোজ ভিত্তিক অপারেটিং সিস্টেম মুক্তির ক্ষেত্রে এটিই দীর্ঘতম সময়।

Windows Vista product editions

Windows Vista Starter --- Aimed at beginner computer users in emerging markets who can only afford a low cost PC. As with the XP version, Windows Starter 2007 (note that it's not branded as Window Vista) is a subset of Vista Home Basic, and will ship in a 32-bit version only (no 64-bit x64 version). Starter 2007 will allow only three applications (and/or three windows) to run simultaneously, will provide Internet connectivity but not incoming network communications, and will not provide for logon passwords or Fast User Switching (FUS). Starter 2007 is analogous to XP Starter Edition. This version will only be sold in emerging markets.

Windows Vista Home Basic --- A simple version of Windows Vista that is aimed at single PC homes. Windows Vista Home Basic is the baseline version of Windows Vista, and the version that all other product editions will build from. It will include features such as Windows Firewall, Windows Security Center, secure wireless networking, parental controls, anti-spam/anti-virus/anti-spyware functionality, network map, Windows Search, Movie Maker, Photo Library, Windows Media Player, Outlook Express with RSS support, P2P Messenger, and more. Windows Vista Home Basic is roughly analogous to Windows XP Home Edition. This version is aimed at general consumers, Windows 9x/XP Starter Edition upgraders, and price sensitive/first-time buyers. Like Starter 2007, Vista Home Basic will not support the new Aero user interface.

Windows Vista Home Premium --- Whole home entertainment and personal productivity throughout the home and on the go. As a true superset of Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium will include everything from Home Basic, as well as Media Center and Media Center Extender functionality (including Cable Card support), DVD video authoring and HDTV support, DVD ripping support (yes, you read that right), Tablet PC functionality, Mobility Center and other mobility and presentation features, auxiliary display support, P2P ad-hoc meeting capabilities, Wi-Fi auto-config and roaming, unified parental controls that work over multiple PCs, backup to network functionality, Internet File Sharing, Offline Folders, PC-to-PC sync, Sync Manager, and support for Quattro Home Server, a Windows Server 2003 R2-based server product aimed at the home market. Windows Vista Premium is similar to XP Media Center Edition, except that it adds numerous other features and functionality, including Tablet PC support. My guess is that this will be the volume consumer offering in the Windows Vista timeframe (today, XP Pro is the dominant seller). This version is aimed at PC enthusiasts, multiple-PC homes, homes with kids, and notebook users.

Windows Vista Business --- A powerful, reliable and secure OS for businesses of all sizes. Windows Vista Business will include domain join and management functionality, compatibility with non-Microsoft networking protocols (Netware, SNMP, etc.), Remote Desktop, Microsoft Windows Web Server, and Encrypted File System (EFS). Additionally, Vista Business will include Tablet PC functionality. Windows Vista Business is roughly analogous to XP Pro today. This version is aimed at business decision makers and IT managers and generalists.

Windows Vista Small Business --- Designed for small businesses without IT staff. Vista Small Business is a superset of Vista Business, and includes the following unique features: Backup and Shadow Copy support, Castle and server-join networking, and PC fax and scanning utility. Additionally, Microsoft is looking at including a number of other features, many of which might be cut: These include Vista Small Business guided tour, pre-paid access to the Windows Live! Small Business or Microsoft Office Live! subscription services, Multi-PC Health (a managed version of Microsoft One Care Live), and membership in the Microsoft Small Business Club online service. Microsoft will offer a Step-Up program for Vista Small Business that will allow customers to upgrade to Windows Vista Enterprise (see below) or Windows Vista Ultimate (see below) at a reduced cost. This SKU is new to Windows Vista; there is no XP Small Business Edition. This version is aimed at small business owners and managers.

Windows Vista Enterprise --- Optimized for the enterprise, this version will be a true superset of Windows Vista Business. It will also include unique features such as Virtual PC, the multi-language user interface (MUI), and the Secure Startup/full volume encryption security technologies ("Cornerstone"). There is no analogous XP version for this product. This version is aimed at business decision makers, IT managers and decision makers, and information workers/general business users. Vista Enterprise will be offered exclusively through Software Assurance.

Windows Vista Ultimate --- The best operating system ever offered for a personal PC, optimized for the individual. Windows Vista Ultimate is a superset of both Vista Home Premium and Vista Business, so it includes all of the features of both of those product versions, plus adds Game Performance Tweaker with integrated gaming experiences, a Podcast creation utility (under consideration, may be cut from product), and online "Club" services (exclusive access to music, movies, services and preferred customer care) and other offerings (also under consideration, may be cut from product). Microsoft is still investigating how to position its most impressive Windows release yet, and is looking into offering Vista Ultimate owners such services as extended A1 subscriptions, free music downloads, free movie downloads, Online Spotlight and entertainment software, preferred product support, and custom themes. There is nothing like Vista Ultimate today. This version is aimed at high-end PC users and technology influencers, gamers, digital media enthusiasts, and students.

Windows Vista N Editions --- Finally, I should note that Microsoft is planning to offer so-called N Editions of Windows Vista for the European market, in order to meet the requirements of an antitrust ruling there. Windows Vista N Editions--Vista Home N and Vista Business N--will mirror the Vista Home Basic and Vista Business versions, respectively, but will not include Windows Media Player and other media-related functionality.

Windows Vista system requirements

Minuam requirements ---

Processor - 800 MHz
Memory - 512 MB RAM
Graphics card - DirectX 9 capable
HDD capacity - 20 GB
HDD free space - 15 GB
Other drives - DVD-ROM

Premium Ready ---

Processor - 1.0 GHz
Memory - 1 GB RAM
Graphics card - DirectX 9 capable GPU with Hardware Pixel Shader v2.0 and WDDM 1.0 driver support
Graphics memory - 128 MB RAM supports up to 2,756,000 total pixels (e.g. 1920 × 1200) or 512 MB+ for greater resolutions such as 2560x1600.
HDD capacity - 40 GB
HDD free space - 15 GB
Other drives - DVD-ROM


Source:
http://www.microsoft.com
http://www.wikipedia.org