Will Vista Work on Your Computer?

The latest test version of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, has an interesting tool built-into it that rates your computer on how well it is running and on how much it can take advantage of Vista's capabilities. The aptly named "Windows Performance Rating," evaluates components such as the processor, the memory, the hard drive and graphics cards to come up with an overall score.

The final rating then appears in a large blue circle and can be seen in multiple places in the operating system. At this point, however, Microsoft has said little about what, exactly, the rating signifies. The main rating is on a scale of 1 to 5, but individual components are also given a "sub rating" on some other, unspecified range. Hopefully, there will be some clarification in the near future.

According to a statement released by Microsoft, "The idea behind the Windows Performance Rating is to help average consumers easily understand their Windows Vista PC's overall performance, and to simplify the process of determining whether certain software applications will run smoothly based on their system components." Computer makers and retailers would then be able to use that as a tool to help explain, in general terms, the capabilities of a particular machine. Software makers would also be able to specify the type of PC needed to run their software.

But what about us folks who are not running Vista right now and want to know whether Vista will work well on our current computers before spending our hard earned dollars on the new operating system? Well, Microsoft is readying a second tool, currently called the Windows Upgrade Advisor, that will take a look at a PC and recommend performance enhancements that will help run Vista better. From what we hear, the tool is most likely to recommend more memory or an improved graphics card. We will have more on this later this year.

On a related note, the new Vista operating system is being designed to shut the door on spyware as it exists today. Vista has some very important changes at the heart of the operating system, (as well as to Internet Explorer) and includes Windows Defender, an anti-spyware tool.

Microsoft is taking a multipronged approach to fighting spyware. First, unlike Windows XP, Windows Vista will run with fewer user privileges. For instance, users will have to invoke full "administrator" privileges to perform certain tasks such as installing a new application. While this is a bit of a pain to log off as a user and log on as an administrator (then, of course when you are finished, log off as administrator and back on as a user), it will really help in stopping most spyware applications from installing themselves on your system.

Also, Internet Explorer V.7 will run in "Protected Mode" that prevents silent installations of malicious code by stopping the browser from writing data anywhere except in a temporary-files folder without first seeking permission. And, as a last line of defense, Windows Defender will block and clean up any infections that do make it through.

While this may be good news for buyers of Vista, it is not for companies who make a living from selling anti-spyware software. The worldwide market has boomed recently, reaching $97 million in revenue in 2004, up 240.4 percent from a year earlier. However, companies such as Webroot Software and Sunbelt Software may be in for tougher times, according to some analysts.

But, not to be to pessimistic, I don't think these companies will be trouble for too long. I fully expect those slimeballs who create spyware will respond to the new Windows Vista security measures with more sophisticated attacks and we will all have to be as vigilant in dealing with spyware in the the future as we are today. It never seems to end.

But, I am glad to see Microsoft on the right track on all these issues.