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SCMP Reporter

Microsoft is a few months away from proving its biggest bet yet - will Windows Vista be worth the wait?

Windows Vista, slated for release in the second half of the year, aims to ensure personal computers are more secure, up-to-date and running smoothly for more than 750 million users of Windows desktop systems and many more first-time PC buyers worldwide.
 But can Windows Vista become the world's best PC operating system, or will it end up being much ado about nothing?
'Only the market can answer that question,' said Will Poole, senior vice-president of Microsoft's Windows Client Group, and the man responsible for the company's most important product release since Windows 95.
'We have no doubt it is the best version of Windows we've ever built. It is also the most complex engineering task we have undertaken and it will be the most secure operating system ever produced.'
The Windows Vista product lineup will consist of six versions: Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Enterprise, for business users; Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate, for consumers; and Windows Vista Starter for emerging markets.
The number of offerings is the same as the number of desktop operating system versions available for Windows XP. Windows Vista has been on beta tests since last July. Microsoft has about three months of round-the-clock programming work left to do on its new operating system and the company has paid more attention to the 'security advantages' of Windows Vista than in any of its previous product launches.
'Our goal is to differentiate the product by the level of investment and technological innovations we've made across the board to give users more confidence in using their PCs,' Mr Poole said.
He said the challenge was getting between 3,000 and 5,000 engineers worldwide to work in building a sophisticated security setup 'in an environment where you know people are going to attack your software'.
One of the most cited security additions is Windows Service Hardening, a feature that will restrict critical Windows services from doing potentially malicious activities in the file system, registry, network or other resources that could be used to allow malware to install or attack other computers. 
Other features will include a two-way firewall and anti-malware protection called Windows Defender. Windows Vista will also include User Account Control, which will make it easier to deploy a more secure and manageable desktop for standard users, and BitLocker Drive Encryption, which will help prevent sensitive data and intellectual property from falling into the wrong hands if a computer is lost or stolen.
'One can never claim absolutes in security because it is an incredibly complex area. Attackers are also becoming increasingly sophisticated every year,' Mr Poole said. 'But we have dramatically improved the level of security in so many different areas. Windows will start to be a less desirable target for attackers simply because there are other targets they can go after.' 
Recent developments seem to back up Microsoft's optimism. In its survey of software vulnerabilities last year, the government-backed United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team said there were 5,198 total incidents with 812 caused by Windows vulnerabilities and 2,328 found on the Unix and Linux operating systems.
'It was very clear from customers and partners that we needed to improve the level of security,' said Mr Poole, noting significant input from partners and customers in China.
Jack Lee, deputy general manager and director for original equipment manufacturing (OEM) business at Microsoft China, said the company was already deep in preparations with about 20 multinational and domestic OEMs on the mainland.
Microsoft expects more OEMs, especially from the consumer electronics sector, to offer Windows Vista, as it integrates Windows Media Center  capabilities that turn the PC into an all-in-one home entertainment centre.
 Consumers can use Media Center to record and watch TV shows and access new online entertainment content. It will also provide the ability to connect Windows Vista Home Premium to the Xbox game console. New user interface Windows Aero should help Microsoft challenge the style and usability factors typical on the Macintosh operating environment.
 For example, Windows Aero will provide a transparent glass design, with subtle effects such as dynamic reflections and smooth animations, along with Windows Flip and Flip 3D desktop navigation features. 
Still, there is no rush to deploy Windows Vista in the lucrative business market segment. Most companies are expected to spend more than a year testing the new operating system, according to research firm Gartner. 
'To be able to deploy Windows Vista in 2008, a significant amount of work must be done to prepare. Deployments don't just happen overnight,' Gartner said.
'It will take many organisations about 18 months from the time Windows Vista ships to test applications, get independent software vendors to support applications, build images and run pilots.
'Organisations that ignore Vista until 2008 will not be ready to deploy it until 2010.' 



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