Windows Vista Feature Focus

Microsoft's latest desktop operating system is a huge, confusing beast, full of new features, new bundled applications, a new look and feel, and updated ways of doing familiar tasks. Yep, it's a major Windows release all right, and the sheer number of new things is sure to confuse even the most technically savvy people out there. For this reason, I've decided to start navigating through all of this new functionality, one feature at a time. On an ongoing basis, I'll step through each new feature in Windows Vista, explain what's new and different, and reveal the good and the bad.

It's not going to happen overnight. After all, there are hundreds of new features in Windows Vista. But you have to start somewhere, right? Below, you can find a preliminary list of Windows Vista features I am covering. I plan to update this list as I add new Feature Focus showcases. If you think a particular feature is missing, let me know. If you think I've missed an important point about a feature I've already covered, please let me know. And if you want to see something covered sooner rather than later, do drop me a line. You can reach me at [email protected].

Update: All Feature Focus articles are updated to cover both the original (RTM) shipping version of Windows Vista and Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1).

A focus on Windows Vista features

This exhaustive list of Windows Vista features is derived from Microsoft documentation and my own extensive experience the operating system, dating back over four years. You won't find a more thorough rundown of Windows Vista features in any book, Web site, instructional CD anywhere.

More Feature Focus articles coming soon...

Anti-Phishing Technologies
Backup and Recovery Center
BitLocker Full Drive Encryption
Games Explorer and Windows Games
Instant Search
Internet Explorer 7.0
Internet Information Server
Kernel Patch Protection
Network and Sharing Center
Network Projection
Power Management
Previous Versions (Windows ShadowCopy)
Remote Desktop
Setup and Installation Improvements
Subsystem for Unix-Based Applications
Sync Center
Tablet PC Functionality and Touch Screen Support
Themed Slide Shows
Windows Classic User Interface
Windows Defender
Windows Easy Transfer
Windows Explorer
Windows Fax and Scan
Windows Firewall
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Player 11
Windows Meeting Space
Windows ReadyBoost
Windows ReadyDrive
Windows Security Center
Windows Service Hardening
Windows SideShow
Windows Update and Automatic Updates
Windows Vista Fonts
XPS and PDF Document Support