After 5 long years, Microsoft has finally launched a new Operating system called the Windows Vista, which was codenamed Longhorn. The premium edition of this operating system uses a Windows Aero graphical user interface. But one of the other features include the use of web cams compatible with the Vista. There are two top of the line web cams, the first being the Creative web cam Vista Pro and the other is the Logitech QuickCam Fusion. In addition, There are also other web cams that can be used with Vista which should also be considered during the buying process.

Creative Live! Cam Video Pro has the ability to capture in high-resolution video format and enable a state of the art chatting experience. It is an ideal web cam for home use as well as office use as it is fitted with a high quality 640 x 480 (VGA) CMOS sensor. It can even capture still images up to a resolution of 640×480 and can help you to take photographs with the help of a snapshot button. The Creative windows Vista web cam is compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0. The web cam is compatible with all messaging programs like AOL Instant Messenger, Windows®Messenger, Yahoo!® Messenger, MSN® Messenger and other IM services.

The LLogitech QuickCam Fusion is no less than its creative counterpart and has been designed in such a way that it can easily sit on the CRT monitor using its rubberized stand. It comes with a horizontal design and features a new 1.3-megapixel sensor. You can capture high resolution 640 x 480 video and 1280 x 960 for still pictures. It is priced at $99.99

Another web cam, the Hercules Dualpix HD priced at $85.95 is rated higher than many other web cams on the market for it’s 1.3 megapixel video sensor, the clamp on the bottom allows you to attach the webcam to both LCDs and CRTs, the bundled software, and the low price tag. This web cam has digital zoom, emotion delayer, burst mode, and more. Finally, this webcam won an award for excellence in the industry and most importantly, it is compatible with Microsoft Vista.

Choosing a web cam can be difficult but if you do a little bit of research you can find one that fits your purpose. Just make sure it is compatible with the OS you are using or you may have a useless piece of software on your hands.

7. Scheduled backup feature

One of the great new features allow you to prevent data loss. In the business edition, you will get more of these features but the home premium edition has a fine version of this. What you get is a program that allows you to choose when and where you want your files to be backed up. This will help you prevent loss when you do something, well, “dumb”.

Simple scheduling wizard.

In addition, there is another feature that goes with this that saves you when you save over or modify a file by accident. This will usually erase your old file. If you are typing a paper and you save something with the same name over it, your original will be gone. This feature will help you bring the old version back.

8. Windows DVD Maker

This is one feature that only comes in the Home Premium and Ultimate edition. With this feature, you will be able to turn your home movies into professional looking movie quality films. This is for anyone who creates videos at home and wants to make them a little more realistic and cool. There is also built in slide show features that allow you to turn your photos into moving pictures.

9. New Premium Games

With Microsoft Vista, you will be able to take advantage of new fun games. Before the only games that came with your computer were solitaire and mine sweeper. Now there are 3-D games with visually pleasing effects that are actually fun. For those who work with there computer and want a little break without investing on a game they will play for 5 minutes, this feature is for you.

 Well, that is all for the features found in Vista home premium and some of the other versions. Now I want to get into the features that are only provided in the business premium version only.

1. Complete Computer Restore

Found only in the business edition, you can completely restore your computer in case files are corrupt and there is a problem. Sometimes when a mistake is made or when a virus infects a network of computers you need to restore entire machines. This feature is perfect for that. In addition, you can also do a restore in case your computer does not start up.

2. Network Sharing Center

This is a feature that allows you to see different information about your connectivity and network status. It maps out all the information about your connection with other computers in a network as well as connection to the internet.

Well, thats all you need to know. Those are all the features you will find in the premium editions. Note that you can get all the features and one extra data protection feature in the Ultimate version. From what I learned during my research, even though the basic version is cheaper, you don’t get any of the more advanced features that make Vista what it is. You make the decision!

Firstly, there are 4 different versions of Vista; Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and, Ultimate. Each one of these are different prices since they have a variety of different features.They way they are above are in order from least features/priced, to most expensive. They are not ordered in terms of most features. For example, home premium actually has more features than the business edition but the business addition has more valuable features. Either that or Microsoft knows that all business will pay more for the software because they need to stay competitive and they don’t want to be caught with the girly home addition. That’s a whole other marketing aspect for a later day.

The following are the features included in the home premium addition:

1. Firewall and Windows defender

This is included in all of the versions. Basically, they just revamped the system to help you protect your computer against viruses. Windows defender is in place to help you prevent unwanted downloads of software or programs that contain viruses and spyware. The firewall is now more simple to use with help if you would like to change your security settings.

2. Instant Search

Instant search is the new name for the search program included in the system to assist you when you need to find something on your computer. This is on all version of vista as well. You find it in your start up menu now. It is the first item you see on the list so you can find it more easily than before. It uses a system in which it lists what your looking for by level of activity.

3. “Areo Desktop Experience”

If you don’t plan on using the new Vista for a business, this is what you’re really looking for right? This is what everyone is talking about, the cool new graphics, the 3 dimensional icons and so forth. Sadly, this is not found in the basic addition thus the reasoning behind a purchase of the premium edition. Here comes the marketing again. Sorry, I’ll get back to the description.

what you get is a desktop with glass-like menu bars and a new “3D-flip feature”. The 3D-flip feature is new version of the “alt-tab” method of flipping through different windows. This is a great improvement to the old version that showed an icon that was unidentifiable. In addition, you are also able to turn all your windows into a cool 3D view so you can see everything you are working on all at once.

4. Laptop Features

In all the premium versions (home premium, business, ultimate) you have a special laptop control center if you will. This allows you to easily change settings for your laptop at will. No longer will you have to last click on the little battery icon in the corner to fix the batter drain, while having to go to “my computer” to fix some other problem. There are also other features but they are for business purposes such as, presentations, and network presentations.

One really great new feature that the laptop improvements have added is the “hotstart” button (this is also a feature for the desktop.) You can now start up any program without having to start your computer. If it’s hibernating, off, or whatever, it will turn on and directly start playing your music. It can also use other programs like an email program or DVD.

5. Windows Meeting Space

Another amazing new feature only found on the premium versions. This one allows you to meet with other computers in one place like a chat room. The different is that it is more like 9 other people being with you on your computer instead of just chat. You can hang out, talk, pass notes, programs, and other great things all in this space.

One of the best parts of this feature is that you do not need a network connection to collaborate with other people. It works with an ad hoc network that allows you to connect as long as you have a network card in your laptop.

6. Windows Media Center

This feature is only in the premium addition and the Ultimate edition. Basically, what you get is the same media center for the XP but more visually pleasing, easier to install and operate, and better storage and search features. It is better than all other versions of the media center. It also includes features that allow you to better view DVD’s and photos with new wide-screen resolution.

In addition, new features have been put in place to help you place the content on your computer on your living-room’s TV. If you want to watch a slide-show of photos, you are able to do so with stunning effects. Movies projected on your TV are also of better quality.

This is just the half of it. Look to the next article where I will release the rest of the features included with the home premium version as well as the features that are not included.