Windows Vista has been in development for roughly five years and I have been actively involved as a beta tester for the last few months. If you are thinking about upgrading your existing PC running Windows XP to Windows Vista, it may not just be a matter of upgrading the software. Microsoft themselves say that the very minimum system requirements for Vista to run are as follows:

Although this is enough to run the core elements of Windows Vista. My personal recommendations are if your computer is “new” I would say less than a year or so you may be able to squeak by, you should also run the Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor:

What should I expect?
If the experience of Windows XP users is any guide, then it is entirely possible that even the recommended requirements may be insufficient for Vista to run smoothly. If you do wish to upgrade your software, then unless you already have computers in your business that are much more highly tuned than those above, then you would probably have to factor into the equation the cost of either upgrading or replacing all your computers.

Why should I upgrade?
Some of the security enhancements in Microsoft Vista may make the upgrade a tempting choice. Using the parental controls, for example, you will be able to restrict employee or child access to certain programs or websites. You can opt to do this based on certain times of day for example. You will also be able to manage all the security settings on your business network from a central point.

Vista promises to enable your workforce to work more productively through better file sharing and synchronization facilities. If you have to make a lot of presentations in the course of your business, then Vista is able to automatically communicate with a networked projector to improve your presentations. Vista can also store a number of different settings for presentations being displayed on your laptop, to compensate for different light levels.

Stay up to date

Windows Vista Business includes new technology and tools to ensure your PCs are always up-to-date, more secure, and running smoothly. Windows Vista Business is designed to help you easily and quickly connect with your organization, your customers, and your partners, whether you are in the office or on the road.

How much will this cost?

Based on current pricing from the Internet:

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Ultimate

For the best possible package with the greatest security and communication features for power users and businesses, Windows Vista Ultimate is the perfect solution for a mix of multimedia and productivity. One of the only reasons to suggest Ultimate and not Business is the inclusion of BitLocker a whole drive encryption system. It keeps your data safe even if your PC is lost or stolen.

Please understand that migrating to Vista should not be considered for your business without understanding all of the factors in switching to a new operating system and how these changes may affect your software or network.