Vista Premium Ready?

From the Latitude D820 profile on the website,

"Dell is proud to offer systems which run Genuine Windows® XP, but are capable of handling Windows Vista"

But.... regarding Windows Aero...

In order to use this feature, you'll need to make sure that your computing hardware is "Vista Premium Ready," as opposed to "Vista Capable."

So although when I purchased my Latitude D820 last week with the following specifications:

Intel® Core™ Duo T2500 (2.00GHz) 667Mhz Dual Core
Genuine Windows® XP Professional, SP2, with media, English
15.4 inch Wide Screen WSXGA+ LCD Panel
2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro NVS 120M TurboCache™

Will Aero work on mine?

 

Yes it should, that is a decent graphics card. I think that even Intel GMA 950 will work with aero, there for this should have no problem.

 

I dont think so, as I have heard Aero will be the 64 bit version of Vista, and the Core Duo is only a 32 bit.

Every other part as I know meets the expectations but I think the processor is a deal breaker.

Although I could be wrong

 

I think the aero package is in the 32bit version. Why would you rip package from something that runs 32bit beta already?

 

Vista supports both machines w/ 32-bit and 64-bit systems, otherwise Microsoft would lose a huge share of business. Your specifications would run Vista and it's Aero interface.

However, I would not concentrate much on getting a laptop that can run Vista. You have to keep in mind that the computer that you're buying is in fact DESIGNED to run XP and not much else, and only "capable" of running Vista. This choice of wording is pretty vague if you ask me. I'm pretty sure that alot of notebook buyers who aimed to keep their purchases as a future investment will be disappointed.

PS; I'm not trying to discourage you, I'm just describing what I see.

 

Windows vista Aero will run on any GPU supporting Pixel shader V2.

I will tell you this though, The better your GPU, the better your overall Vista speed will be, even without using the Aero interface.

 

Hey,

How do you know if a laptop could support window vista? What are the requirements?

THnx

 

remember when xp came out? all the computers i tried w/ it lagged big time
i remember right clicking on the desktop on a sample comp at like best buy or something and it lagggged

 

well i have ran vista beta 2 and it runs great with core duo. runs better than my pentium 4 3.2ghz.

 

i have install vista beta2 on my inspiron 1505 notebook, using GMA 950. and Yes, i can see aero in my laptop, GMA950 will not do aero if using the default driver. to run aero the driver must compatible with microsoft WDDM, in my case an intel lakeport driver (it is in the vista driver list).

so i suggest you find the driver for graphics card with WDDM compatible. i believe a decent graphics will support WDDM.

 

Hey,

I recently ordered Inspiron 9400 but I am not sure if it is window vista capable. (My agent didnt give me the whole specification so I dont know if he checked the windows vista capable option). I tried calling the agent but he has not responsed yet. I tried calling the customer service, and they said that there is no order in my account.

My question is, if the sale agent forgot to check the window vista capable option, do you think I wont be able to run vista? Or does all Inspiron 9400 laptops capable of running vista regardless of window vista capable options.?

Sorry for so many questions, I dont know much about computer.

Thank you

 

It is my understanding that exisitng Dell Inspiron 9400 is Windows Vista capable. By definiton "Vista capable" means the machine has met the minimum requirements to run the basic features of Visa.

If you need to premium Visat features like "Aero experience" ,you would then need 1GB of Dual Channel Memory (Two 512MB Memory Module DIMMS) and a premium graphics card.

You can check this out at the following site:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/solutions/en/vista_pcs?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Also, please note that if you have ordered your Dell Insp 9400 with Core Duo, it will only run the 32 bit version of Vista. Dell Insp 9400 with the Core 2 Duo option can run the 64 bit version of Visa. But this choice depends on whether you need 64 bit computing or not.

The above info is only generic in nature.
Consult with your agent to make sure you have the right options for Windows Vista.

Hope this helps

BGeo

 

Seriously, all you guys are fine. I had Vista running on my Latitude C640... 5 years old, 30 gig hard drive, MR7500 32MB, 512 RAM and a 2.0GHz Pentium 4. The only thing that didn't work was Aero cause that requires at least 128MB of vRAM or a GMA 950. But if you have any doubts, click the link below and download the Vista Upgrade advisor. It will tell you exactly which parts of Vista you can and can't run. @original poster, you're def okay. The best thing you can get for Vista is more RAM, and you've got 2 gigs, so you're in fantastic shape.

Windows Vista Requirements and Upgrade Advisor BETA

 

Thank you for the response.

My concern is when you configure a laptop in dell website and there is an option about window vista capable. What exactly is this option? Is it really important? What if the sales agent forgot to check that option, will the laptop not able to run vista? Or does vista depends on the CPU/RAM/Video card?

 

notebook_ftw just said a 5 year old C640 ran Vista just fine without Aero. I don't know what that option is there for, but I suspect it just means you get a sticker that says Vista Capable. There's nothing special about it.

And you guys have to remember what Vista Premium is, it's not one of the Vista versions, it's Microsoft's recommended specs. Capable = minimum requirements, Premium = recommended specs. They then combined this with a marketing program, a manufacturer that builds systems that meets the specs can either add on the Capable or Premium sticker and benefit from the huge marketing compaign Microsoft will no doubt have.

Read about it all from Microsoft themselves: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx

 

To be clear go to the following site:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/inspn_9400?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Based on Dell online, all of the three 9400 choices offered in the above link are Windows Visa capable and will display a Windows Vista capable logo. Also, there is nothing such as a "windows Vista capable" option. Meaning all Inspiron 9400 configs must run the basic features of Windows Vista. That's my understanding.
Windows Vista comes in different flavors. Now, like I said before, if you need the Vista premium features, you might need 1GB of Dual Channel Memory (Two 512MB Memory Module DIMMS) and a premium graphics card.

Further more there are different versions of Vista:
Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Home Basic.
"Windows Vista capable" by definition means the machine meets the requirements to run ATLEAST Windows Vista Home Basic. That's my understanding.

In order for you to run higher versions smoothly, you might need premium graphics card etc.
If you need 64 bit computing, you need Core 2 Duo processor. If you don't and need only 32 bit, then Core Duo would be fine. It all depends on what you want to use it for. Without knowing the order configuration, we can only give general suggestions.

The first thing to do is to find out what configuration you have ordered and then analyze it against your needs.

Hope this helps

BGeo

 

Also, you can run this test from Dell. It tells you what you need to upgrade, and if you can run Aero, and all that good stuff.

http://support.dell.com/support/top...product_support/en/vista_test?c=us&l=en&s=gen