Vista Advisor and Logos Help Users Upgrade

A Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor tool and updated Windows Logo programs will help customers determine whether current hardware is capable of running Windows Vista, and it also will help them purchase new computers and peripherals that exploit all of Vista’s features. However, the tool, which is currently in beta and likely to undergo continual revisions between now and the release of Windows Vista, does not test for all scenarios, and the hardware logo programs could confuse partners and customers.

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

The goal of the Upgrade Advisor is to first guide a customer to the right edition of Windows Vista, such as Home Basic or Ultimate, then to determine whether the customer’s computer (which must be running Windows XP SP2) will run the desired Vista editions. The user selects from an array of “scenarios,” categories of computer usage and user goals, to determine the required edition of Vista. (Scenarios include broad goals, such as “Simplify My Business” and “Premium Photo, Music and Movie Experience.”) The Upgrade Advisor then identifies a Vista edition that supports the scenarios and attempts to determine whether the user’s existing hardware is up to the task. (See the illustration “Vista Upgrade Advisor“.)