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Why Microsoft at Work?
Windows Vista: the right choice for the future of your small business
When running a small business, you have a lot to think about. And having the best
technology backing you up can make a huge difference. When you purchase a new PC
with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate installed, you'll get enhanced
security features, automated backup, increased mobility, and many more features
that finally allow you to focus on what counts: making your small business as strong
as it can be.
Get more power, mobility, and increased security-learn why Windows Vista is
the ideal operating system for your business.
Safer
You know how vital it is to protect your customer information, business records,
and computers. Security features in Windows Vista Ultimate can help shield your
business from losing time and money due to malicious software and data loss from
PC crashes and theft.
Easier
Keep up with changing customer demands with an operating system that moves as quickly
as your business. Take only seconds rather than minutes to find the programs, business
records, and e-mail messages you need to get things done.
Versatile and better connected
To grow, you need to work wherever your business takes you. Windows Vista Ultimate
helps you keep ahead of your changing business needs with powerful mobility, networking,
and collaboration features that let you work from virtually anywhere.
Reliable
Make the right choice for your growing business. No other Microsoft operating system
matches the current and future compatibility with software applications, peripherals,
and services that Windows Vista Ultimate provides.
Windows Vista Business
62% of small businesses said Windows Vista saves them time, and 70% said that it
makes them more productive, according to an independent survey.
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Windows Vista Business
If you own or run a small business, you'll want Windows Vista Business, the first
Windows operating system designed specifically to meet your needs. With its powerful
new security features, you can better protect the key information that your business
depends on and that your customers trust you to keep confidential. Your employees
can use its enhanced mobility technology to stay connected in and out of the office.
They will find information more easily and collaborate better using this edition's
new search and organization features. And you will spend less time on technology
support issues with the advanced network management features in Windows Vista Business.
Easier
Work more efficiently
One of the first things you'll notice about Windows Vista Business is how easy it
is to navigate your open files and programs. The new look is both beautiful and
efficient. You won't have to open a window or file to see what's in it because live
taskbar thumbnails and
Live Icons will show you. And you can conveniently arrange and manage all
your open windows to find the one you need with
Windows Flip and Flip 3D.
Spend less time looking
Everyone has had the experience of hunting-and hunting-for a particular document
or e-mail message. Now, you can find virtually anything on your PC with a few keystrokes
by using the search boxes. We call it
Instant Search, and it should mean the end of your hunting days. For example,
to quickly find the fifth draft of that budget report or the ninth draft of that
grant proposal, just start typing in the Search box on the Start menu.
Plus, if there's a search you do often, you can save it with the new
Search Folders feature. Let's say you frequently need to find all the information
you have about a customer named Acme. Just save your search, and then run it later
with a single click to get results from all the content on your PC that includes
the word Acme.
Cruise through your day
It can often take you longer than you thought it would to complete your job tasks,
but at least you won't have any trouble finding what you need to complete them.
The improved
Explorers in Windows Vista provide consistent, streamlined menus, toolbars,
and preview panes to help you view and easily find information and resources such
as documents, photos, devices, and Internet content.
When you can immediately sort and filter information based on file type, saved date,
or the name of the file creator, it's easy to find anything, no matter where you
may have saved it. Watch this
demo to see how Windows Vista helps you organize and find information.
More ways it's easier:
-
Share your work with coworkers using the Sharing command on the Explorer Command
Bar. You can simply choose names of people on your network and they can access your
files.
-
Perform and manage all your faxing and scanning from one location with enhanced
Windows
Fax and Scan. Plus, support for multiple user accounts means no more generic
faxes from your business because several employees sharing a single computer can
log on to it and send their own faxes.
-
Retrieve, view, and edit photos for your business or website with easy-to-use tools
in
Windows Photo Gallery-and possibly save the expense of hiring a special
vendor.
Safer
Enjoy increased peace of mind with built-in security features
You've seen the news stories about online security threats such as phishing scams,
hackers, viruses, and worms. No matter what size your business is, it's crucial
for you to protect your computer network and to protect your data from loss or theft.
Windows Vista Business improves on prior versions of Windows to help you affordably
safeguard your information, privacy, and PC security.
You probably don't even want to imagine what it would be like to lose the information
on your PCs. You know it's essential to back up your data, but it can seem too complicated.
The Windows
Backup and Restore Center provides a comprehensive backup experience in
one convenient place and gives you a choice between Automatic Backup and Complete
PC Backup.
We've all experienced a moment of panic when a document became corrupted or we've
accidentally deleted a file we're working on. Now you can quickly retrieve and restore
a previous version.
Shadow Copy automatically creates and archives copies of files as you work.
Simply right-click a single file or a whole folder and select Restore. You can easily
preview a read-only version of each file to determine the one you need.
If you're concerned about sensitive information and data being shared outside of
your company, you can use the
Encrypting File System to password-protect shared documents.
With all the hackers and scammers out there, it's good to know that you can stop
malicious software before it has a chance to infiltrate your PCs. Your first line
of defense in Windows Vista is
Windows Firewall, which helps provide protection as soon as your computers
are turned on.
Add further protection with
Windows Defender, which not only detects, removes, and alerts you to suspicious
software but also automatically updates its definitions of spyware to keep up with
constantly evolving threats.
Not all threats to your PCs come from outside the company, however. Sometimes, people
make mistakes that can be harmful. Now, you can lessen the risk that employees will
install unauthorized software and make unapproved system changes. When you set up
separate standard user accounts with
User Account Control, the system will prompt users for the administrator
account password if they attempt to make harmful changes to their PCs.
Online security threats change all the time, so you want to be able to know that
your company has the most up-to-date security software and the strongest security
settings.
Windows Security Center helps you easily monitor security components such
as your firewall, Automatic Updates, antivirus solutions, Internet security settings,
and even security products from multiple companies.
Future ready
Ready to grow when you are
Windows Vista Business gives your small business PCs a good foundation for growth.
Along with being easy for you to set up and manage, the computers can be easily
moved onto a larger network if necessary.
And when you're trying to grow, the last thing employees need to be doing is spending
a lot of time setting up their new PCs. Watch how quickly they will be able to transfer
data and settings from their old PCs to newly purchased PCs running Windows Vista
with the help of
Windows Easy Transfer.
You want to focus on your business, so you'll appreciate new features that can help
make
networking easier, safer, and more reliable. And with the
Network and Sharing Center, you have a central place to visually check
the connection status of PCs and devices and troubleshoot connection problems without
additional IT support.
Clearly, the less time you spend managing PCs the better. Now, you can simplify
network administration tasks with
User Account Control and enhanced Group Policy capabilities that make it
easier for you to better protect, update, and maintain your company's PCs.
Windows Vista Business is ready to grow when you are, supporting connectivity with
servers and domains in multiple PC environments.
Better connected
Your workplace unplugged
If your small business relies on mobile PCs, you'll appreciate the many features
that can help you conduct business when and where it's convenient. You can get the
most out of your company's laptops with less fuss trying to get connected and keep
in sync.
Do you use one computer at the office and another on the road or at home? When you're
not in the office, you still need access to various company applications and resources.
When you use
Remote Desktop Connection, it's much easier to access your PC remotely,
whether across your company network or through the Internet from your home PC.
Along with a PC, are you constantly using a mobile phone or PDA? If you're using
more than one mobile device, it can be challenging to keep all your information
in sync. Now you have a convenient central location,
Sync Center, to help you manage synchronization between PCs, between PCs
and servers, and between PCs and devices.
How about this scenario: you dashed out of the office without your power cord and
you know your battery won't last through the two-hour meeting. Now you can easily
check battery status and manage other mobile settings in one place with
Windows Mobility Center. You can quickly adjust wireless status, display
and presentation settings, and power options for maximizing battery life.
You know how important collaboration can be for your business, and you look for
ways to make it easier for people to work together on projects. For example, it
can be particularly difficult to share files without network access. Now you can
use
Windows Meeting Space to create ad hoc wireless networks when you're meeting
with small groups of colleagues or customers who are Windows Vista users. Discovering
and joining sessions is easy with the built-in Sessions Near Me feature.
Does the whole wireless thing seem complicated or confusing to you? You can use
the
Network and Sharing Center to recognize and automatically connect to wireless
networks and network devices, such as displays and projectors.
If you use a Tablet PC for your mobile computing on the job, you'll appreciate
Tablet
PC enhancements that improve pen navigation and the new touch screen experience
that lets you control, navigate, and enter information with your fingers.
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Windows Vista Ultimate
If you use the same computer at home and for your daily work, Windows Vista Ultimate
is an excellent choice. You can smoothly shift between the things you want to do
and the things you need to do. For fun, you'll love the extensive options you get
for music, images, live and recorded TV, and online entertainment. For work, you'll
find improved document sharing and networking support. If your PC is a laptop, you'll
appreciate how easily you can manage and extend your battery life. And you'll get
the most advanced, layered security protection of any Windows release yet.
Easier
See what you're doing, find what you need
The first things you'll notice about Windows Vista Ultimate are its elegant looks
and how it helps you with essential tasks. It's easier to work with and visualize
your information with
Windows Aero. You can conveniently arrange and manage your open windows
using
Windows Flip and Flip 3D. And you won't have to click to see your content
because live taskbar thumbnails reveal it.
Every day you have to hit the ground running at full speed. Now, with
Instant Search, you have a faster way to find whatever you need on your
PC, on your network, or on the Internet. Whether you're looking for an e-mail from
a colleague, a picture of your mom, a spreadsheet from last quarter, or the website
for your kid's homework, you only need to start typing in the Search box on the
Start menu.
It's easier and faster to find anything, no matter where you may have saved it,
with the consistent, streamlined menus, toolbars, and preview panes in the improved
Explorers
in Windows Vista. Explorers include Search boxes too, so you can search within a
particular type of information, such as all your documents.
You can organize your files any way that you want and immediately sort and filter
information based on file type, saved date, or the name of the file creator. Watch
this
demo to see how Windows Vista helps you find and organize information.
Back up without fuss, roll back file changes
If you've used a PC for long, chances are good that you know the sick feeling you
get in your stomach after you've accidentally deleted a picture or a document you
spent hours writing. And you know you can avoid that feeling by routinely backing
up your files. But you can find yourself procrastinating because it seems like it
will take a lot of time and trouble.
Now you can avoid the procrastination because you can easily use the
Windows Backup and Restore Center. If you want to back up just your files
and data, you can choose Automatic Backup. Or you can choose Windows Complete PC
Backup and Restore, which can get your entire PC back to normal in one easy step
if you experience a catastrophic hardware failure.
What do you do if you've made a lot of changes to a document and realize you want
to go back to a previous version? In the past, you had only the version you'd most
recently saved. Now,
Shadow Copy automatically creates and archives copies of your files as you
work on them. So if you accidentally saved over a document or a document becomes
corrupted, you can easily retrieve any previous version of that file.
Use multiple languages
Windows Vista Ultimate is available in 35 languages-simultaneously. If you have
a multilingual household or are learning a new language, you can install as many
languages as you want and even switch between them as easily as logging off and
back on again. And if your family shares a single PC, each family member can use
his or her preferred language to interact with the PC.
Easily fax and scan
Once in a while you might need to send or receive a fax or scan a document or image.
You have flexible, integrated faxing and scanning capabilities in one convenient
location with
Windows Fax and Scan. For faxing, you don't need a fax machine. And if you
have a locally connected or network-connected scanner, you can scan documents and
images with a single click.
Enjoy easier setup and simplified maintenance
If being an IT support person isn't your idea of fun, you can relax. For one thing,
you can get up and running fast using
Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy your files, photos, music, e-mail,
and settings from your old PC to your new Windows Vista-based PC.
After your computer is set up, you will be pleased that system disruptions are kept
to a minimum with little or no effort on your part.
Built-in diagnostics alert you to disk failure, defective memory, and other
potential issues so they can be resolved before affecting your everyday tasks.
Behind the scenes, new
self-healing technology can automatically identify and fix problems as they
occur. And your system's performance is more consistent with
Windows SuperFetch, which tracks when you use programs and ensures that
you have faster access to them.
Smaller home and business networks can use the
Network and Sharing Center to visually check the connection status of PCs
and devices and troubleshoot connection problems. No additional IT support is required.
Safer
Benefit from advanced security features
It is likely that safety is one of your chief concerns. We have worked very hard
on this area in the years since we developed Windows XP, and the result of that
work is the
most secure version of Windows yet.
You know that there are thousands of advertisers and spammers out there, so it's
good to know that you can take steps to help protect your PC from many types of
malicious software. Your first line of defense in Windows Vista is the more easily
configured, automatically running
Windows Firewall. And
Windows Defender can help you reduce the number of pop-up ads and lessen
the security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software.
Feel safer on the web
The news stories about phishing scams, hackers, viruses, and worms may leave you
feeling that your PC is a constant target. But you can help decrease these online
security threats by taking advantage of the new capabilities in Windows Internet
Explorer 7 that provide:
Help protect your family and your PC
If you share your PC with your family, you probably have concerns that your kids
could accidentally install malicious software or change something important, such
as deleting all your favorites. With
User Account Control, you can set up a user account for each family member,
so a child will be prompted for a password when attempting to change system settings,
install any additional software, or to use certain websites or games. And each family
member can have their own set of favorites and desktop layouts.
You want to be able to supervise what your kids are doing on their computer without
feeling like you�re the PC police. With
Parental Controls, you can set time limits for your children's computer
use and manage their access to the web and to PC games. And you can tailor the controls
to suit the age level and personal interests of each child.
Help protect confidential information
If you have confidential information on your laptop, you want to do everything possible
to safeguard it with the help of multiple layers of protection in Windows Vista
Ultimate. For one thing, to help prevent sensitive business information and data
from being shared outside of your company, you can password-protect shared documents
with the
Encrypting File System.
And you can help ensure the integrity of valuable information on your PC with Windows
BitLocker Drive Encryption. Your entire hard drive is encrypted so that
only you can access that information-even if your PC is lost, stolen, or decommissioned.
Help protect your business
Windows Vista Ultimate includes support for joining a network domain-a standard
business networking feature that enables improved security and manageability for
business PCs. An updated Group Policy infrastructure helps system administrators
save time and reduce security risks by configuring wireless network settings, removable
storage devices, printers, Internet Explorer, and even power-management settings
centrally and automatically.
In addition, Windows Vista Ultimate includes the essential IT infrastructure features
found in Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Enterprise so that your PCs and
IT infrastructure can grow along with your business.
More entertaining
Explore all your digital home entertainment options
You spend a lot of your time working hard, so you want it to be simple to relax
and have fun in your home. You can easily make your PC the center of a complete
home entertainment experience with Windows Vista Ultimate.
Did you know you don't need to buy a special box or pay a monthly fee to record
TV? With a TV tuner and a cable connection, you're ready to go. And that's just
one part of how you can enjoy your entire digital entertainment library on your
PC or on your television with
Windows Media Center.
Use your mouse or an optional remote control to easily play DVDs, download movies,
and even try something different like viewing your photos in a cinematic slide show
or browsing your music collection by cover art.
Best of all, you're not limited to staying in the room where you keep your PC. With
Xbox 360 support and other consumer electronics connected to your home network,
you can stream your movies and music to TVs throughout your home.
Get more pleasure from your digital images
You love your digital camera and you've probably taken hundreds of digital photos
representing just as many memories. Maybe you've even downloaded most of them to
your PC. But have you looked at them much since you did that? Would it be easy to
find specific ones from that amazing Switzerland trip with your best friend two
years ago?
Now, with
Windows Photo Gallery, you have better and more flexible ways to make the
most of your digital photos and home videos. For one thing, you can create keyword
"tags" and a star rating system to manage and organize them, and then use built-in
Instant Search to find them again quickly.
You can easily crop them, fix red eye, and even adjust the exposure and color. And
the coolest thing is being able to choose from several themes and templates to create
slide shows of your still photos and videos, set them to music, and even watch them
on your TV.
Share the fun and enjoy it on the go
Your mom is turning 75 in a couple of months. She insists that she doesn't need
any more stuff. So what can you do for a gift? She recently spent a week with you
and you got some great photos and videos of her with your kids. You can easily create
a photo slide show and burn it to a professional-looking video DVD with
Windows DVD Maker. Then you'll all have a great time watching it on her
DVD player at her party.
You also can capture, edit, and publish your digital home movies in standard or
high-definition format with the updated
Windows Movie Maker and Windows Movie Maker HD.
Get deep into your games
You used to wonder how people can be so obsessed with computer games. But lately
you've been bonding with your daughter over her favorite game, The Sims 2.
And now you've taken to playing FreeCell on your lunch breaks. Welcome
to habitual fun and to improved gaming support in Windows Vista Ultimate.
For one thing, you and your kids will be impressed with the hyper-realistic visuals
and incredible performance. For another, you'll be able to fully explore next generation
gaming options: with a
DirectX 10 graphics card and the technology built into the operating system,
only Windows Vista can run the latest, most graphically advanced PC games in the
market.
A seemingly limitless choice of games compatible with Windows is great, but it could
sometimes be challenging to find and launch them. Now, you can conveniently access
all of your games, and information about them, in a single location on your PC using
the
Games Explorer.
Look for Games for Windows
branded titles-from the simple to the spectacular-for every age and ability. Plus,
have more fun with old favorites on your PC such as Spider Solitaire and
Minesweeper, as well as three new premium games: Mahjong Titans,
Chess Titans, and InkBall.
Better connected
Stay productive and entertained with your mobile PC
If you're like many people, you have a laptop at work and sometimes take it home
or on the road with you. You'll appreciate how Windows Vista Ultimate helps you
get the most from your mobile PC while you're on the go.
You'll especially appreciate not worrying about battery life. With
Fast Sleep and Resume, you can go for extended periods of time without fully
shutting down your laptop. Simply press the power button to pause and then resume
your computer session in just seconds while conserving your battery life in sleep
mode.
If you often have to leave your office for meetings, it can seem like you're constantly
managing transitions between being plugged in, using battery power, and using wireless.
You can save time and worry by using one location, the
Windows Mobility Center, to quickly access and set key mobile system settings.
You can even adjust power options to maximize your PC's battery life.
Improved
wireless networking and support for the most up-to-date wireless security
standards helps you connect to wireless networks in the workplace, at home, or in
public hotspots with more confidence, privacy, and ease.
Take your Tablet PC further
If your mobile computing is done on a
Tablet PC, you'll notice significant improvements in pen-and-ink functionality,
navigation, and handwriting recognition. For instance, pen flicks make it easier
to scroll down webpages. You won't have to write out URLs and e-mail addresses you've
used before because AutoComplete lists possible matches from previous letters or
series of letters. And you'll find built-in support for touch screens.
Access one computer from another one, virtually anywhere
If you use both a desktop PC and a laptop, it's likely that at some point you'll
need to get something off your desktop computer when you're on the road with your
laptop. You can use the
Remote Desktop Connection feature to more easily and securely access your
documents and programs remotely. When you're able to gain remote access from across
your home network, a work network, or across the Internet from another computer,
you can get work done wherever you have a network connection.
Keep in touch, in sync, and informed
You probably depend on network connectivity pretty regularly. Now, keeping connected
is easier. If there is a problem with your network connectivity, the new
Network Diagnostics tool is designed to help you identify and solve the
problem quickly and easily. In fact, most common problems are automatically fixed
for you.
When you're collaborating on a project with a small group of Windows Vista users,
you can use
Windows Meeting Space to meet face to face and share documents over a wired
network, a wireless local area network, or an ad hoc wireless network.
If you're like a lot of people, you don't use just a PC. You probably have a cell
phone and maybe other devices or servers for your information. So you know it can
be a challenge trying to keep all the information synchronized. The new
Sync Center in Windows Vista Ultimate offers one convenient place where
you can easily keep other PCs, server shares, shared documents, digital media devices,
Smartphones, Pocket PCs, and other devices synchronized with your PC.
Take your entertainment on the go
If you have a ton of digital music, photos, and video stored on your PC, you'll
value new features in
Windows Media Player 11 that can help you manage your media collection and
easily connect to a variety of portable players so you can take it all with you.