New and Improved Features in Windows Vista

Windows Vista is a major upgrade from previous Windows system. The Aero interface is a fantastic change to the older, Luna interface available with Windows XP. Not only are there surface-level changes, but a whole lot more. Here is a list of a few of the new (or greatly improved) features:

• Remote Assistance enables you to ask a friend, coworker, or a support professional to take over your computer via the Internet and fix a software problem (see Chapter 4).

• User accounts make it convenient to create and use a separate user account for each person who uses a single computer (see Chapter 6).

• Windows Calendar is a new scheduling program provided with Windows Vista (see Chapter 7).

• Windows Aero interface provides a brand new look and feel to Windows (see Chapter 12).

• Sidebar and Gadgets adds small applications (called gadgets) to your desktop for quick access and viewing (see Chapter 12).

• Windows Photo Gallery enables you to view and perform some edits on your digital photographs (see Chapter 19).

• Backup is still here, but vastly improved! The Backup Status and Configuration tool lets you set up automatic backups of the important data on your computer. You also can run CompletePC Backup to create a backup copy of your entire computer-including programs and system files (see Chapter 10).

• Internet Explorer (IE) version 7.0 is an upgrade to Microsoft's powerful web browser (see Chapter 24).

• Windows Mail is the newest version of Microsoft's e-mail and newsgroup program (see Chapter 25).

• Windows Media Player 11 provides a new interface to viewing videos , playing music, and managing your media. Windows Media Player 11 makes it easy to burn audio discs and DVDs, synchronize music playlists with your digital music players, and download media from the Internet (see Chapter 20).

• Windows Media Center allows you to make your computer the hub of your entertainment system, including viewing and recording television shows through your computer (see Chapter 22).

Windows Vista also removed a few programs that came with some earlier Windows versions. For example, Windows Vista no longer includes the Windows Messenger Chat program. You can, however, use the supplied link to download a replacement program called Windows Live Messenger (see Chapter 27).