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Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jun. 18
In Lesson 1, You get a sense of what's new and interesting in the Windows Vista desktop operating system. Starting with a guided quasi-tour of new features, such as the new Aero user interface, file and folder enhancements inside Windows Explorer, and an improved and expanded Search facility (with a search box as part of the Start menu, even). From there the tour embraces taskbar preview features, the Windows Sidebar (which you can stock with all kinds of cool widgets as you'll learn later on in this course), and more.
The next subject makes mention of new or updated applications bundled with Vista. These include Windows Mail, an enhanced email client to replace Outlook Express, Windows Contacts, a contact and person information manager that replaces the Windows Address Book, the Window Calendar, and more. You'll find significant additions to what Vista can do for you, and improvements to basic functions throughout the operating system.
When it comes to security, Vista offers some significant improvements as well. Though Vista includes no built-in anti-virus protection, it does include an improved and enhanced backup capability, the Windows Defender facility which cans for spyware and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and a reworked version of the Windows Firewall, which features two-way traffic controls and enhanced screening and protection to its users. All of this is more effectively registered and managed through the Windows Security Center, which tracks anti-virus and anti-spyware status, firewall activity, and currency of Windows updates and fixes.
At the conclusion of this overview and tour, Lesson 1 switches focus to address the subject of hardware compatbility. In this context, the terms Windows Vista Capable PC and Windows Vista Premium Ready nomenclature is discussed. You will also find a link to the freely available Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor program, which you can download and install on your PC to perform an assessment of its Vista-readiness, and a detailed list of upgrades and changes that should be applied before such an upgrade is attempted.
The next subject deals with available Vista versions, and explore how you can decide which version might be best for you. This list includes familiar versions such as Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. but it also includes some versions that you may never see in your local market: Windows Vista Starter (available only in Asia and South America), Windows Vista Home Basic N or Business N (versions for the EU market that omit Windows Media Player and related functionality), Windows Vista Enterprise (used primarily in large corporations or organizations of similar scale). This section concludes with a pointer to the helpful and informative "Windows Vista Choose an Edition" WEb page to help you decide which one it right for you.
The next topics shift the focus to upgrade and installation choices, terms, and approaches. Upgrade versus full editions are covered, where the former may only be used to upgrade an existing Windows 2000 or XP installation, and the latter may be used to install Windows on any suitable PC, including one that has no operating system installed. This leads naturally to a comparison of clean installations versus in-place upgrades, where the former basically overwrites whatever it finds on a PC with entirely new software and materials, while the latter attempts to import as much by way of settings, preferences, and software from the old environment it finds to Windows Vista as it can. This section concludes with a table that describes which OSes are suitable for an in-place upgrade, and tells you which versions of Vista you can install based on your current installation (please note that only XP is a candidate for an in-place install of any kind).
This is the final topic covered in Lesson 1. Once you've worked your way through these materials, please return to the Web site to complete the assignment and the quiz. After that you should visit the message boards to introduce yourself to your instructor and fellow classmates, to check out the message traffic (and read your instructor's introductory materials and "seed postings"), and to ventilate any questions, comments or concerns you might have. Hope to see you here online again soon!
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Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jun. 20
Hi Ed: Tony is back. This is the class I should have taken before the other one.
I do not care for the learning centers format.On line classes was better. 2 lessons a week which gave me something to look foward to. Now I can download and save all of the classes without doing any of the lessons. I think HP made a big mistake. Now for lesson 1.
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Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jun. 20
Except for on-demand (instant) access to all classes, it's really not that different. I'll be here the whole time to help out, too. Try it: I do think you'll like it.
--Ed--
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Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jun. 24
Greetings Ed. I've purchased my first laptop with Vista Premium pre-installed. I look forward to learning about the new-to-me software environment but also in learning to navigate the hardware.
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Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jun. 25
Dear Tyler:
Thanks for posting. Please remember, I'm here to help, to answer questions, and to provide pointers to more learning and information resources. Don't hesitate to take advantage of my services, please!
Best wishes,
--Ed--
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Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jun. 30
Hi Ed,
Really enjoyed lesson one and am looking forward to the rest of the class. I'm hoping to replace my current Windows XP desktop with a Windows Vista laptop. It'll take up less space and I can take it with me. Question. Does this mean everytime Microsoft comes out with a new OS I'll have to go out and buy a whole new computer? I suspect upgrading would have different requirements as you progress through OS's. Thanks!
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To Bwood: About upgrading/replacing PCs
Posted: Jul. 1
Dear Bwood3692:
In general if your new laptop will run Vista it will also run Windows 7. In fact if you're getting ready to make the purchase, look for a vendor who offers a free/low-cost upgrade to Windows 7 (most OEMs including Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, MSI, Lenovo, and so forth already offer this program as of June 26, 2009, which continues through January 30, 2010) as part of the purchase deal.
You should be able to upgrade your new system to Windows 7 right after the new OS becomes generally available on October 22, 2009.
HTH, and thanks for asking,
--Ed--
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Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jul. 8
Hi, I'm Susan.
In Lesson 1 I tried to check the adviser to see if my laptop could handle Vista (just for the practice, it was an assignment) I already have Vista. It said that Vista doesn't handle the adviser, or something like that.
Is that what its supposed to say? I thought I would learn a little.
Susan
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Re: Running Vista Upgrade Advisor on a Vista PC
Posted: Jul. 9
Dear Susan:
I am running the Vista Upgrade Advisor on my Vista Ultimate system as I type this response. It's working fine, and I've used it on other Vista systems with equal success. Can you please retry the program, then copy down exactly what kind of message it posts in response? With that information I should be able to help you figure out what's going amiss. This usually works, so I need more information to try to figure out what's up.
Best wishes,
--Ed--
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This post has been reviewed and approved
Re: Lesson 1 Introduction
Posted: Jul. 9
Hi Ed,
Somewhere I read (or a tech told me) that I had 64-bit. I have Pavilion dv6z-1100CTO Entertainment Notebook PC. Notebook Essentials. Product number NT592AV.
When I clicked run I got this window with a red X in upper right corner.
Windows Vista Upgrade Adviser X
Sorry, the Upgrade Adviser does not support 64 -bit editions of Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Thank you,
Susan
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