Filed under: OS Updates, Utilities, Hardware, Windows, Microsoft, Commercial
Vista hardware requirements announced
by Jordan Running May 18th 2006 at 6:15PM
After lots of hemming and hawing, today Microsoft published the official hardware requirements for Windows Vista. There are two classes of requirements: "Vista-capable," which means a computer will run Vista but not many of the bells and whistles, and "Premium Ready," or capable of showing the pretty Aero effects and other higher-end features. So what will you need to get by on Vista? An 800Mhz processor, 512MB of RAM, and a DirectX 9-capable video card. That's not too bad, but to be honest I'm a bit skeptical how usable a system like that really will be. If you want to have the "Premium" experience, Aero and all, your minimum specs take a pretty big jump: A 1Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM, at least 128MB of video memory, and 15GB of free hard drive space. To help customers prepare to fork over the cash for Vista next year Microsoft has launched its Get Ready campaign, which includes an Upgrade Advisor tool that will tell you just how inadequate your system is.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gardiner Westbound said 7:53PM on 5-18-2006
My computer will probably run Vista, but why would I want to upgrade? Windows XP is good enough for what I do.
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ben said 8:32PM on 5-18-2006
So, wait a minute, does that mean pretty soon(when vista is release) 1GB of ram and 128mb of video memory is going to be standard amongst PCs? Or will "budget PCs" become a thing of the past? For example, the Dell b110 desktop. The reason it is so cheap is due to it's older hardware. However, never would any computer company sell a computer with an old OS. So, does this mean all this newer hardware is suddenly going to become cheap? Or like I said before, the end of budget PCs? Discuss
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Peter said 9:04PM on 5-18-2006
The MS site is a little unclear. Is it just Aero and other eye candy that becomes available on a "Premium" machine or does it also gain additional OS functionality?
I don't care if my windows fly in and out or have 16 levels of transparency, but I do want all the OS functions.
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james 42 said 11:44PM on 5-18-2006
Ya, I see this could give Dell a bit of a headache as all their cheap machines start with a pathetic 256mb of ram, which is just enough to start XP. The low low prices will go away for a year or more (but then I am no expert), but that is also the reason for the 'basic' Vista. However, that is a rather poor idea, people are not going to want second best on a new computer. Vista 'light' will be a wreck for MS and any computer companies that try and sell it.
Now, let me count the number of computers I have that will run Vista with Aero, lets see, looks like that comes to 0. Of course, that is just the basic spec, we all know that it is best to at least double the minimum specs to actually get the thing to work. Remember what is was like running XP on a PII 450? Sure it would run, well more like walk, OK, actually crawl.
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Chris said 4:10AM on 5-19-2006
My computer will run Vista on full spec no problems.
All these people moaning, you think in 3/4 years when you upgrade the Aero interface will be there waiting. But for those of us who have good computers now why should we not have it just because most of you buy crappy Dell's.
And it's not the end of budgets PC's. You just don't get all the bells and whistles.
I never hear anyone compain when Apple do it but oooo nooooo Microsoft can't. Get over yourself.
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Claudiu Spulber said 5:20AM on 5-19-2006
I agree that Windows XP practically gives you everything you need for now, so there will not be a rush in upgrading. But they're confident about this as they estimate that in 2 years after the launch Vista will be on 400 million computers (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=vista+marketing+blitz). And who knows, maybe they're right, especially if they ask Oprah to help them.
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Eric Diaz said 8:51AM on 5-19-2006
Im not getting Vista, they'll have to force me to.
XP Pro is just fine for me. Personally I think more people should boycott Vista.
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Wildcat0695 said 12:31PM on 5-19-2006
My new PC that I am building at home will be able to run Vista fully, but Vista will not be touching it. I don't see dropping the money for that OS, when I have viable alternatives (a Linux based OS) that can get the work done that I need to do.
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Franklin said 7:56PM on 5-19-2006
Everybody has lost sight as to what the whole point of an operating system is for -- to help you get your work done as fast as possible, and load and run your programs. It's not supposed to be an "experience" onto itself.
For example, how often do you use the transparency feature in XP? Many of the graphic features in Vista are just like that: Pretty graphics and animations, but if they're all activated, they immediately slow down your system (no matter how powerful it is), and, thus, productivity.
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Tom Davies said 5:08AM on 5-20-2006
There are simply far too many versions of the Windows Vista OS! (I thought the idea was to increase clarity, hehe). I think the Vista site itself mentions 5, all aimed at various hardware capabilities and users. What happened to the days when its was just Windows 95!? Yes, of course Vista is a highly complex operating system but do they really need 5 versions of it... if you ask me it's just another way for MS to make money, selling 5 slightly different versions of the OS at wildely different prices!
I've just built myself a new PC, with all the latest, well... it was when I bought it! =), hardware... Windows Vista will run on it BUT will I buy it and if so the suggested version I should use by MS is 'Vista Ultimate'... sound flash but I bet its price tag is too!
For now, Windows Vista will not be touching my PC!
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Peter B said 2:35PM on 5-21-2006
I've got a laptop 1 yr old with 1gb ram, 1.7ghz centrino. Nice little machine. It won't run Vista because of the Intel integrated graphics which do just fine for office work and interent under XP. Vista? -no I'll be sticking with XP, thanks.
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Razib Ahmed said 5:49AM on 5-22-2006
" If you want to have the "Premium" experience, Aero and all, your minimum specs take a pretty big jump: A 1Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM, at least 128MB of video memory, and 15GB of free hard drive space."
Well, most of the computers today have this facility. However, for those who have a bit older PC, it's a tough ask. Anyway, Microsoft should try to bring Vista quickly.
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Neal Saferstein said 11:10PM on 6-12-2006
Will a MacBook Pro work?
Neal Saferstein
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David Chartier said 11:21AM on 7-31-2006
Does the fact that the OS itself wants 15 GB make anyone else soil themselves? That is jaw-dropping insanity. I realize software is evolving, but egad.
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