Looking Ahead to Windows Vista: Part 3 Upgrading Existing Systems to Vista Joseph Moran
Upgrading Systems
If you're considering putting Vista on an existing system, Microsoft has developed a tool that may be of some assistance, though it's still in beta and is arguably as much a marketing tool as an aid to consumers. Called Upgrade Advisor, this utility lets you pick from among eight categories of features and then recommends a version of Vista based on your choices.
Although somewhat limited, the Vista Upgrade Advisor tool aims to help determine what upgrades your current system needs in order to run Microsoft's new operating system. (Click for larger image).
It will also scan your existing Windows system (XP only) to tell you which hardware and software aspects of your system may be incompatible or may need an upgrade. Upgrade Advisor's usefulness is somewhat limited — the categories are too general, it doesn't tell you how or where to obtain upgrades, and it can sometimes be misleading (it will recommend upgrading a notebook's graphics adapter, which is impossible to do.) Still, it can provide a general sense of which components may cause problems or help determine whether an upgrade is practical.
Special Considerations for Portables
As we've outlined earlier in this series, some of Vista's most innovative and useful features rely on specific hardware components even beyond the four core components: CPU, RAM, hard disk, and graphics. Alas, because of their inherent limited ability to be upgraded, if you want to take advantage of certain portable-oriented Vista features you may find yourself in need of a new computer.
A perfect example is Windows SideShow, which will let you quickly access important bits of data like contacts, schedules, etc., via an auxiliary display on a notebook computer even if the system is off. Adding such a display to an existing system obviously isn't feasible, so you'll need a new system with one built-in to take advantage of SideShow. While SideShow-compatible systems aren't yet available as of this writing, you can bet they will be at or about the time Vista ships.
Another hardware-dependent Vista feature is BitLocker drive encryption. Though technically it will work on any Vista-compatible system, computers lacking a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) security chip will require a USB Flash drive to store the user's encryption key.
Without this key, access to the system is impossible, and storing it on an easily misplaced flash drive can potentially cause problems (especially if it's lost on the road). As it turns out, some notebooks (including several Lenovo ThinkPad models) already have TPM chips built-in, but there's another wrinkle with BitLocker — you can only get it in the Enterprise or Ultimate versions of Vista.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, whether you're talking about a desktop or notebook, an older system, one you just bought, or a model still on store shelves, its ability to satisfactorily run Windows Vista will ultimately depend on which features your small business needs to exploit.
Whether you plan to buy new PCs, upgrade old ones, or perhaps a combination of the two, you'll need to be sure which version of Vista has the features you want — and that your system hardware can support that version.
If you're in the market for new computers now and don't want to wait for PCs with Vista pre-installed to arrive, check the specs carefully before buying and look for systems that carry either Vista Capable or Premium Ready designation — preferably the latter. The designation should be in the product literature and/or on the system).
Finally, when choosing a system, it never hurts to exceed Microsoft's recommended system configuration.
Part 1 looked at what Vista, Microsoft's long-promised operating system, will offer small businesses when it finally arrives.
Part 2 covered the new or newly improved features that could help your small business perform and produce more securely.
Joe Moran spent six years as an editor and analyst with Ziff-Davis Publishing and several more as a freelance product reviewer. He's also worked in technology public relations and as a corporate IT manager, and he's currently principal of Neighborhood Techs, a technology service firm in Naples, Fla. He holds several industry certifications, including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
