Windows Vista Official Requirements
Get ready to spend money...
As Microsoft's Windows Vista is set for release early next year, one thing has become clear - you going to spend some serious cash to get this puppy to wag its tail.
Gleaning over Microsoft’s site you can see what they say it will take to run the "new" OS: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx
A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:
A modern processor (at least 800MHz1).
512 MB of system memory.
A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.
Windows Vista Premium Ready PCsTo get an even better Windows Vista experience, including the Windows Aero user experience, ask for a Capable PC that is designated Premium Ready, or choose a PC that meets or exceeds the Premium Ready requirements described below. Features available in specific premium editions of Windows Vista, such as the ability to watch and record live TV, may require additional hardware.
A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:
1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
1 GB of system memory.
A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero2.
128 MB of graphics memory.
40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
DVD-ROM Drive3.
Audio output capability.
Internet access capability.
After reading the recommended system specs for this highly GPU, CPU and Memory intensive monster I am left to wonder is Microsoft settings themselves up for more failure with this product.
My point is, on a test machine I have set up with 512 MB of ram and a 3.0 Pent 4 CPU, Vista at Idle was using 60% of available memory. That is disgusting. Granted, this is a BETA version and I am sure (read: hope) more memory optimization and leak fixing will be done before release.
So, with the recommended 1 GB of memory Vista is using 30% of available memory at idle. That is still disgusting. I reason the main reason for this is the fact this is a very "pretty" and GUI intensive OS. I back that statement know that the upcoming DX10 (Direct X 10) is bound to the OS to drive all this eye candy.
What happens when you start anything memory intensive like current games, video editing etc...?
Bad things, like PC lock ups, slow downs and general user malcontent as a result.
What can be done? Well, Microsoft is hoping you and I will throw money at the problem in terms of buying MORE memory and a fast-er CPU (dual core anyone?) .
There really is no excuse for releasing a "prettied" up version of the current Windows XP and call it "new". Microsoft had a chance to redeem them selves by building a new OS from the ground up and they didn't. The result of this will mean, customers (me and you) and pc builders (Dell, Alienware, Gateway, HP etc) all lose out. The pc builders will now have to charge much higher prices for these systems because the requirements to run them have so dramatically increased. We as the consumer end up forking over more cash to buy these systems.
Some aftermarket pc makers have started to offer other OS's such as Linux in all sorts of flavors. Mainly because these OS's are less demanding on hardware and generally run much more efficiently. This will start to sway customers from the steely grasp of Microsoft.
Do you hear that Microsoft? Yup, that is cash registers ringing because of you and in spite of you. I would love to ask the question, "Do you care?" but I already know the answer to that.
Get ready to spend money...
As Microsoft's Windows Vista is set for release early next year, one thing has become clear - you going to spend some serious cash to get this puppy to wag its tail.
Gleaning over Microsoft’s site you can see what they say it will take to run the "new" OS: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx
A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:
A modern processor (at least 800MHz1).
512 MB of system memory.
A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.
Windows Vista Premium Ready PCsTo get an even better Windows Vista experience, including the Windows Aero user experience, ask for a Capable PC that is designated Premium Ready, or choose a PC that meets or exceeds the Premium Ready requirements described below. Features available in specific premium editions of Windows Vista, such as the ability to watch and record live TV, may require additional hardware.
A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:
1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1.
1 GB of system memory.
A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero2.
128 MB of graphics memory.
40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
DVD-ROM Drive3.
Audio output capability.
Internet access capability.
After reading the recommended system specs for this highly GPU, CPU and Memory intensive monster I am left to wonder is Microsoft settings themselves up for more failure with this product.
My point is, on a test machine I have set up with 512 MB of ram and a 3.0 Pent 4 CPU, Vista at Idle was using 60% of available memory. That is disgusting. Granted, this is a BETA version and I am sure (read: hope) more memory optimization and leak fixing will be done before release.
So, with the recommended 1 GB of memory Vista is using 30% of available memory at idle. That is still disgusting. I reason the main reason for this is the fact this is a very "pretty" and GUI intensive OS. I back that statement know that the upcoming DX10 (Direct X 10) is bound to the OS to drive all this eye candy.
What happens when you start anything memory intensive like current games, video editing etc...?
Bad things, like PC lock ups, slow downs and general user malcontent as a result.
What can be done? Well, Microsoft is hoping you and I will throw money at the problem in terms of buying MORE memory and a fast-er CPU (dual core anyone?) .
There really is no excuse for releasing a "prettied" up version of the current Windows XP and call it "new". Microsoft had a chance to redeem them selves by building a new OS from the ground up and they didn't. The result of this will mean, customers (me and you) and pc builders (Dell, Alienware, Gateway, HP etc) all lose out. The pc builders will now have to charge much higher prices for these systems because the requirements to run them have so dramatically increased. We as the consumer end up forking over more cash to buy these systems.
Some aftermarket pc makers have started to offer other OS's such as Linux in all sorts of flavors. Mainly because these OS's are less demanding on hardware and generally run much more efficiently. This will start to sway customers from the steely grasp of Microsoft.
Do you hear that Microsoft? Yup, that is cash registers ringing because of you and in spite of you. I would love to ask the question, "Do you care?" but I already know the answer to that.
posted by 3DCOOL.COM at
6:38 AM
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