Article By:  Miguel

Article Date:  11/20/06

Current Support & Testing

Vista & Office 2007 were tested on two of my test beds that consist of the following components:

Absolutely no issues to report using any of the above components.  In fact, I didn't need to resort to the driver discs to get certain hardware features working after install. 

The good news for those looking to venture into Vista now, is that many hardware manufacturers already have Vista "beta" drivers out there for both 32-bit and 64-bit editions.   I tested a variety of these and can say they work quite well.  I tested both 32-bit and 64-bit drivers from ATI, Creative and a more, all of which did work with the RTM release.  For those with NVIDIA video cards, they too have some drivers available for download now.

Now, the most important thing though is the questionable support for current third-party software releases.  In fact, this was a major part of testing.  However, it is important to note that Vista primarily focuses on security.  In fact, you can't do anything at all that is the least bit linked to an administrator function.  This was a slight issue when installing some the current applications we all love, despite the fact that they were obviously tested on an administrator login account.  While you can disable User Account Protection (UAP), it is not recommended.  There are other ways around this...

As an example, some applications like Adobe Photoshop, failed to run until you set the application to "Run as administrator".  The activation window will never load until you perform this extra step.  You can do this by right clicking on the shortcut and select the option from the menu provided.  This was just one of the two most annoying issues I found when attempting to run a variety of third-party software applications.  Before we get to the second, let's first take a look at a list of some applications that did currently run well with Vista Ultimate...

The second major issue in regards to software compatibility was basically a result of the Aero interface itself...

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While some favorite applications installed fine and did run, they did not support the new Aero interface, resulting in Windows having to automatically revert back to the basic theme for it to function.  This was an issue with a variety of applications tested on the RTM release.  But that wasn't really what bothered me the most though.  The problem was that even after exiting the unsupported application, Vista did not always revert back to Aero.  In fact, it failed to do so most of the times.  This is something to definitely keep in mind for those who plan on jumping the gun and installing the OS now.

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Other applications installed fine but failed to load at all.  The following is a list of applications that unfortunately had issues with Vista Ultimate RTM...

Limewire was a given due to its quirky java-based interface.  However, I was  most disappointed with the fact that MediaStudio Pro and Trillian Pro failed to run properly.  Trillian would run in basic mode, but considering this IM client will be loaded at all times, it isn't recommended to for use just yet.  Unfortunately, it looks like the developers have lost some interest in this fine piece of software and I haven't seen updates as often as they used to have them.   The brand new version of WS_FTP Pro also failed to run at all using Vista Ultimate.  Finally, another major disappointment was that I could not get any version of Spy Sweeper (new or old) to load.  This is, hands down, the best spyware removal tool out there.  Fortunately though, the company consistently releases updates and I'm sure a new build will be released shortly to support the new operating system.

Final Thoughts and Screenshots

We've given you a sneak peak at Vista through its development and while the new operating system from the software giant has certainly come a long way, it is far from perfect.  There are many things to seriously consider before quickly jumping into an upgrade.  The new GUI is a welcomed change and one that finally blends in well with the high tech hardware that runs it.  However, other than its pretty face and substantial improvement in security, the OS has some issues that most should take the time and research before upgrading.  For one, you will have an issue with the Aero interface and a majority of third-party software applications.  Also, there will be quite a learning curve for many coming from an XP system.  Menus that were easily accessible in XP can be quite difficult to find in Vista.  Finally, while this RTM release is certainly the most stable I have tested, there were still some hardware compatibility issues.  For example, I ran into some issues with a number of USB devices, including products as simple as flash drives.  Mind you, the USB issues were always there, even in the early builds we showed you here.  In fact, I'm a bit puzzled as to how a number of the problems I encountered managed to get by the development team. 

Bottom line is that Vista is unlike any other OS upgrade you will encounter.  There is much more to take into consideration before deciding to upgrade, number one being the hardware and software you choose to run with it.  For new computer users that have not had experience with XP or older operating systems, it will not be much of an issue.  However, for PC enthusiast, gamers, and business professionals who know their systems well and rely heavily on a majority of third-party software applications and hardware, you may want to research a bit more before deciding to upgrade.  That, or simply wait till the product matures a bit before doing so.

Finally, I leave you with some screenshots of Vista Ultimate RTM and Office 2007 RTM, along with some brief comments on some of the major changes found.  Enjoy!

Vista Ultimate

The sidebar is much different than all other previous builds, including both RC1 and RC2 releases.  In fact, I like it much better.  It looks good and will not be as obtrusive for those running large LCD displays.  Again, it's a love or hate feature though and you do have the option of disabling it.

A couple of shots of the "Welcome Center" and Control Panel.  The Welcome Center will will annoyingly load at startup by default.  This can easily be disabled though.  The Control Panel did change quite a bit, but like XP, you will still have the option to switch back to classic view if you prefer.

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Multitasking and flipping through open windows in Vista is a pleasure.  The Alt-Tab keys will display live thumbnails of all open programs and or windows, along with titles of each.

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On top of the improved Alt-Tab feature, you also have the Flip 3D feature.  This small but practical feature is what attracted most to the new OS.  When you activate Flip3D, it will display all open windows in a 3D view, giving you a clear view of all windows so that you can get to where you want to be quickly.  The feature works well, but there is a third-party tool out there already that does offer this capability now that also displays the window titles.  Also, keep in mind that Flip 3D is only activated along with the Aero Interface.  If you choose an edition that does not support it, or you do not meet the hardware requirements to activate Aero, you will not be able to take advantage of it.

Finally, some shots of the new WMP 11 and the Media Center App.  Remember that Media Center is not available in all editions of Windows Vista.  Please refer back to the first page to see which editions do have it out of the box.

Office 2007 Enterprise

I will say that the new Office Suite from Microsoft is a substantial change from previous versions in many areas.  There will be a learning curve for many, and all applications do sport a wide range of new features.  As an IT professional, I happen to manage the Microsoft Dynamics accounting system (previously Great Plains).  This accounting package is now owned and managed by Microsoft.  For those who do not know, some of the changes in the new office suite revolve around their accounting system.  In short, it is designed to integrate well with Office, provided you are running the right version of the software.  In fact, this is one of the major areas they primarily focused on.  Perhaps in another article I will cover their new suite in detail.  For now, here are some screenshots, along with some brief comments.

The major visual change is definitely the toolbars.  They are larger, crowded and provide quick access to features and or functions.  If there is one app out of all that has not changed much visually, it is Outlook.  For those running Outlook 2003, its interface is quite similar in comparison.

There are a number of new features in both Powerpoint and Publisher.  Powerpoint has new themes and you can take advantage of its SmartArt features and tools.  Publisher has new more appealing templates and your publications can easily be converted to other distributable formats such as PDF. 

The most substantial change is with Access.  I happen to use this application quite often and I will say I'm not entirely fond of the new layout.  While I have discovered a handful of new features that are actually useful, I find navigating quite unpleasant.  I will definitely need to get used to the new interface and find ways around some of what I do not like. 

I hope many will take some of what was mentioned in this article into account before jumping into an upgrade.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to discuss in the forums.

Questions?  Comments?  Discuss them here...