- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Ho boy. Rumor hemorraging.
Here we go.
Windows Vista, the next iteration of the Windows Operating System, is a new OS restructured from the base code upwards, instead of being built on the aging XP architecture as previous OSs used to do.
It's going to come in seven flavors, ranging from the basic to the Ultimate. Vista will require a DX9 compatible or DX10 graphics card in order to run Aero, which is the sleek new "glassy" interface it'll utilize. Aero will be included on all versions except the most basic version (home basic). In other words, Aero will be avalible on Home Premium, all business and enterprise versions, and of course on Ultimate.
Now, as for the Vista Capable sticker...DON'T believe that. It's total bull-blam!-. What that means is that you can at least run the most basic version of Vista, the Home Basic edition, the one that lacks the Aero interface. What you want to do is check up the specs of the actual computer against the listed compatible processors and GPUs for Ultimate Edition.
A Release Candidate (read: beta 3) version is currently avalible to download only to a select few who have previously signed up for the Beta Testing program. I've already secured my own copy and CD key, and will probably test it out on an old computer.
I would NOT recommend downloading and installing the RC1 on your primary computer, as it is still a "beta," albeit polished and devoid of nearly all the known bugs. It is more or less another beta and should be treated as such. Either way, the beta has an expiration date (set on my copy of Vista as June 1 2007) which will basically force you to downgrade to your previous OS, always a messy operation imho.
[Edited on 9/16/2006]