[gerryf]

http://windowsvista.com/getready



The site is not up yet, but is expected to be active on May 22



Vista beta users already have an integrated application to give PCs a performance rating and Microsoft is taking the concept live on the web--this is similar to the way the Windows Game Advisor works, I'd imagine.



http://www.microsoft...or/default.mspx

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they do have (on the link you posted) a link to the vista advisor beta download...which promptly laughed at my laptop when i suggested i'd like vista ultimate

[dsenette]

they do have (on the link you posted) a link to the vista advisor beta download...which promptly laughed at my laptop when i suggested i'd like vista ultimate

[gerryf]

Hey, that was not there at 12 noon!

At 12 noon, the url took you straight to the old Vista information page, which is not even there anymore, so they updated ahead of schedule.

[gerryf]

Bit of a disappointment, if that is all they are going to offer (though it is still early and it is in beta)



I was hoping for something more along the lines of the Performance rating included in Windows Vista, while still in beta with the rest of Windows Vista, it gives a more informative/easy to follow quick reference







In this system, for example, a performance rating of three (3) means this system can handle Vista and any program with a rating of three. As I understand it, Microsoft's goal is to have games/applications include a number or Windows Rating for consumers.



So, if I want to buy some game called "Kill All The Lawyers" and it has a rating of 4, I can know that my system will not handle it.

[admin]

Laptops will have the most difficult time running Vista -- with the 3D Aero interface enabled. Most laptops with 512MB+ of RAM will probably run Vista just fine without Aero, but they lack the graphics horsepower to run the 3D desktop features. Aero is also a huge battery drain (at least in beta). Some people are getting 2-3 times the battery life just by turning Aero off. I don't need to tell you guys that upgrading the graphics in most laptops is not an option.

Desktops should have a much easier upgrade path to Vista with Aero. Maybe requiring some additional RAM, and possibly a DX9 video card w/64+MB of onboard RAM. Integrated DX9 video platforms will require 1GB of RAM to run Aero.

Vista with Aero is a very nice GUI. I'm not real fond of the non-Aero Vista interface. I speculate they may develop some type of alternative Vista mobile theme for laptops and tablet PCs.