Vista on view

Windows Aero

Not a chocolate bar, but an updated visual style with prettier transparencies and eye-candy animations. The style of buttons, control panels, icons, fonts and user notifications has all changed. Aero is said to stand for 'authentic, energetic, reflective, and open'. Users that prefer a more classic Windows look can choose a 'basic' variation of Aero, which looks more like Windows XP.

Sidebar

Sidebar is a new panel on the right-hand side of the screen where you can put Gadgets, small applications such as a calculator, clock, CPU meter or puzzle. Gadgets can also access the internet, so could include a stock ticker or RSS feed viewer.

Virtual Folders

This is an interesting new concept based on the idea of saving the results of a file search. These virtual folders don't physically move files, but act as a kind of filter. You can also put the same files into different folders, without duplication. Vista creates some virtual folders automatically: the My Documents folder is now the All Documents Virtual folder.

Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer has been upgraded using ergonomic research. It has glowing buttons and new icons, and a completely new layout. It includes a Quick Search box, and is similar in feel and function to Internet Explorer 7.0.

Search

Search is much faster and instantly displays results as you type in search terms, similar to Google Desktop and Apple's Spotlight. There is also a Start Search in the Start Menu, which lists all programs beginning with the first letter that you type in.

New and upgraded software

Windows Gallery is a photo and video library manager, which allows basic editing.
Windows Mail replaces outlook Express, and includes a junk mail filter that improves itself through Windows Updates to better recognise and filter out spam.
Windows DVD Maker does pretty much what the name suggests, create DVDs.
Windows Collaboration replaces NetMeeting. It allows users to share files, applications or their desktop with other users on the local network, or over the Internet.
Internet Explorer 7+ includes tabbed browsing, RSS, a phishing filter, and can also run in a special Protected Mode, preventing hostile websites from being able to infect the rest of the computer.
Windows Media Player 11 has a revamped interface and is integrated with URGE, Microsoft and MTV's new music store.

Windows Defender
As well as a slew of new security features, Vista will include Microsoft's anti-spyware utility, Windows Defender. It features real time security agents which scan Windows for possibly malicious changes.

Games

Saving the best till last! Vista has several entirely new games, including Purble Place, Mahjong Titans and InkBall. Most excitingly, Minesweeper has been given a beautiful makeover.