Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Unveils 'Vista Premium' Requirements

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the tough-crowd dept.

Graeme writes "Microsoft has finished what some are calling the true minimum requirements for Windows Vista: the finalized requirements for the 'Vista Premium' certification program. The program is used to influence OEM designs, and it gives an idea of what Microsoft thinks Vista really needs to run well, and what they think is in the horizon. The Ars report hits the highlights, and there are some surprises in there, such as a delayed requirement for HDCP. Ars suspects that the slow ramp-up is due to the pact to not use the Image Constraint Token."

22 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. FTFA by Kagura · · Score: 5, Informative

    In no particular order, these are the notable additional requirements for Premium certification:

    Effective now:

    * HD Audio support that passes a "high-fidelity audio experience" test (exception: Business class systems have until June 1, 2007).
    * Support for Direct3d 9 and DXGI feature sets (Direct3d 10 mandated by June 1, 2008).
    * At least one digital output (e.g., DVI-D) for all add-in video adapters (not integrated video: that doesn't change until June 1, 2008).
    * 100Mb Ethernet and/or and WiFi (802.11g must be supported; 802.11a can be supported only in addition to 802.11g).
    * USB 2.0 ports throughout
    * System resumes from ACPI S3 state ("suspend-to-ram") in 2 seconds (does not include user mode initialization, i.e., total "wake" time will be longer than 2 seconds)

  2. Actual vista premium requirements by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    These are the requirements for our company to adopt Vista Premium.
    • Our CTO stops caring about security.
    • Our Microsoft sales rep takes our CFO out to a very nice lunch/dinner/trip

    That's how we ended up with SQL Server; and no doubt that's how we'll end up with Vista, regardless of any technical merits or issues.
    1. Re:Actual vista premium requirements by TheBogie · · Score: 5, Funny

      This a standard sales procedure for any big company. CTO goes out for drinks with sales rep and wakes up the next morning in a ditch with his pants around his ankles and a copy of the signed contract.

    2. Re:Actual vista premium requirements by canuck57 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Our Microsoft sales rep takes our CFO out to a very nice lunch/dinner/trip

      It might also depend on how much stock he has in your company. Say you have to upgrade some 5000 portables at 3 grand a pop. Got $15 million plus, licensing extra for PCs?

      The best part of it is Linux gets it's best growth when this happens. People take their old PCs and load Linux on it to find it is stable and runs well. The only thing that will turn them off is that the toys and games they are used to are not there. Astute business people will ask why does an order entry clerk need DVI or high definition audio and the fancy options? Maybe some will ask, how does Vista justify the cost? Many will realize Linux is going to look good in business giving more life to older systems. Others will stay on XP. Each subsequent version of Windows (server or workstation) is taking longer, and longer to dominate showing the market is getting wiser.

  3. In common layman's terms by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Funny

    *Windows Vista requirements*

    Arms ..... 1
    Legs ..... 1

    1. Re:In common layman's terms by EABird · · Score: 4, Funny

      *Windows Vista requirements*
      Arms ..... 1
      Legs ..... 1

      I think you forgot...

      Soul ..... 1

  4. Hidden Requirement... by Arketype · · Score: 4, Funny

    Insanity.

  5. You can see where they're going by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is it me, or does this have "DRM'ed Media PC" written all over? Hickup free HD playback, PVP, DVI-D... Yes, by 2007, but, snide comments about the real release date of Vista aside, it pretty much means "Do it now, so you save yourself from refitting it later".

    I certainly forsee computer sales in the first quarter of 2007, when the vendors try to get rid of their soon-to-be not-compatible hardware.

    It's also noteworthy that Vista requires OEMs to have some kind of networking ability. While this is a given by today's standards, I find it very curious that an operating system REQUIRES me to have it.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:You can see where they're going by Keith+Russell · · Score: 4, Informative
      It's also noteworthy that Vista requires OEMs to have some kind of networking ability. While this is a given by today's standards, I find it very curious that an operating system REQUIRES me to have it.

      The Vista Premium cert ensures that nobody will get complaints like: "Whaddya mean, my brand new PC can't run $ESOTERIC_VISTA_FEATURE_XYZ?!" People may be misled by the submitter's choice of link text. **cough**zonkdoyourjob**cough**

      The Vista Premium OEM certification requirements are not the "true minimum requirements for Windows Vista".

      The baseline requirements are an 800MHz CPU, 512MB memory, and a DirectX 9-capable video processor. (I think the DX9 requirement is more for driver compliance than hardware features, since GPUs that can't handle Aero Glass will fall back on Aero Basic, and the old Windows 2000 style is still available.) A network connection is not required, and it would be safe to presume that activation by phone will still be available. (And, given the Windows Genuine Advantage mess, that might actually be preferrable to WGA phoning it in for you.)

      --
      This sig intentionally left blank.
    2. Re:You can see where they're going by honkycat · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think that's because they want to combat the idea that Apple OS is the place to go if you want pretty pictures and nice sound. Apple has control over their own hardware, so they can control that whole experience. Microsoft wants to be sure they don't become known for the OS being used on those crappy machines with poor graphics and sound. By "encouraging" hardware vendors to provide this support, they ensure this won't be a problem.

  6. Why, oh why ... by gerddie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Protected Video Path" (PVP) support, including HDCP.
    ... why do they never listen.

  7. Haven't we been here before? by Mr.Fork · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember when everyone at work was running NT4 and we went to Windows 2000? Or when home PC's went from Win95/98/ME to XP? Remember all the hype and hysteria about the requirements back then?

    We've been here before and I remember a couple of distinctive impacts of upgrading:

    1. My desktop was a lot more stable.
    2. The computer OS and games actually ran a little faster.
    3. Need I remind everyone who's feeding us this info on Vista? The MEDIA. Nuff said.

    We've all been there, (many times now MS-DOS,win3.1/NT4-Win95/2000/XP), done that. Bring on VISTA baby!

    --
    Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. - Peter F. Drucker
    1. Re:Haven't we been here before? by Cal+Paterson · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I'll point out one thing again you MS apoligists. Beta software is supposed to be pretty good with a couple of faults. That means a few more bugs that need to be ironed out.

      People are not pissed because of a few bugs - people are pissed because the whole fucking thing is fundamentally flawed. You don't fix a crappy permission system in the time between beta and release. No one does. You don't fix the complete lack of drivers between beta and release. Ever see BSD or Linux triple the number of drivers in the time between beta and release? No. You never did.

      Want to know why? Because if you have a fundamental problem in beta, it doesn't get fixed by release. As funny as it sounds, MS are not going to be making any substantial improvements to the number of drivers between now and release. The Hardware companies don't want to write them, and Microsoft don't have the documentation available.

  8. Business needs this? by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can't believe that Microsoft expects business and government to be moving in the direction of Vista anytime soon. All the "bells and whistles" of Vista seem very much targeted at consumers, I just don't see any of it being something that justifies even thinking about upgrading any business workstation installations.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  9. Aero feature by vldragon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It seems many of these specs are for the areo feature. Am I the only one that thinks the whole aero craze is over the top. Is it really that important to be able to see through some of your windows and have them displayed in "3d"? Most likely when I load Vista I look at that feature, say ohh thats neet, then turn them all off mostly because its just a waste of reasorces. Any one else feel the same way?

    --
    Eating the brains of your enemies does not make you smarter. But it's still fun.
    1. Re:Aero feature by jawtheshark · · Score: 5, Insightful

      when you're not playing, what else is there for the GPU to do?

      Put itself in a low-energy 2D mode and consume less power? That would be useful!

      --
      Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
  10. Re:FTFA - USB??? by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 5, Insightful
    USB 2.0 ports throughout

    Don't they mean USB 2.0 High-Speed ports? The USB 2.0 "full speed" scam should have never been allowed to exist in the first place.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  11. "plenty"? by Bill+Dog · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The 1Ghz CPU and 1GB RAM and DirectX 9 graphics is understandable, but what exactly does "plenty" of video RAM mean? For the full-blown Aero "experience" do I need 512 or 256 or 1024 or what?

    --
    Attention zealots and haters: 00100 00100
  12. "what some are calling "... by Osrin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sometimes it is hard to tell if this is Slashdot or Fox News.

  13. Basic Question No One Has Asked by Master+of+Transhuman · · Score: 4, Interesting


    The public Beta is out. Anybody actually TRIED running this AND applications on the barebones spec of 800MHz and 512MB of RAM as well as the 1GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM?

    By apps, I mean the current version of Microsoft Office with Word and Excel open at the same time, and the IE browser open, and maybe Messenger, and the usual tray full of crap most people run.

    I want to hear a REAL-WORLD test from the people using the public Beta on REAL machines.

    I find it hard to believe that everybody INCLUDING MICROSOFT was talking about 3GHz machines and 1GB of RAM at a minimum last year, and now suddenly we're down to 800MHz CPUs?

    What's wrong with this picture? Don't blame it on the media because Microsoft ITSELF was talking those specs last year.

    --
    Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!
    1. Re:Basic Question No One Has Asked by ThinkFr33ly · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yes, kinda.

      I've been running beta 2 on an Athlon 1.2Ghz / 512MB / Radeon 9800 128MB setup. I would consider this pretty much bare bones.

      How does it run? Well, considering it uses about 800 MB of ram just sitting there, suprisingly well. This memory usage is almost certainly due to the fact it's a beta. I remember beta 2 of XP used like 600 MB of ram just sitting there.

      But given the fact that on XP if you're using that much more ram than you have you'd be swapping like crazy, Vista runs suprisingly smoothly. I rarely notice UI lag, even when opening up new applications. In fact, the UI lag on Vista beta 2 is better than on my primary desktop running XP. (My primary desktop has 2 GB of ram, and a 3.8 Ghz P4.)

      The Vista search features are very fast as well.

      Of course, the iffy specs of my test machine cause some things to be painfully slow. Opening an explorer folder with hundreds of videos in it will takes a very long time to render all the previews. (The folder itself, however, comes up almost instantly.)

      Assuming they cut the memory requirements by 50% post beta (which is close to what we saw with XP), Vista would run just fine for "normal" use on that old Athlon. No games, probably no coding, etc.

  14. The OS is five years old by darthservo · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Another point about XP that a coworker and I were discussing this earlier today: We found ourselves surprised by the fact that XP is currently five years old, and will be nearing six when Vista is released.

    For the past five years, most of the MS crowd here have been using XP (except for those who have their feet firmly rooted in the 2k GUI). That's really amazing when pausing to think about it. Were we still using 3.1 when 98 was released? No.

    In the entire time I've used XP on my personal computers, I've found it to be a stable and reliable OS, especially for that long of a timeframe. I don't think it will be too different with Vista.

    --

    Prove it.