Planning for Vista

Microsoft has put up the "minimal requirements" for Windows Vista on the Get Ready Web site. Here's what they say:

A Windows Vista Capable PC includes at least:

• A modern processor (at least 800MHz¹).
• 512 MB of system memory.
• A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.

A Windows Vista Premium Ready PC includes at least:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor¹.
• 1 GB of system memory.
• A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero².
• 128 MB of graphics memory.
• 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.
• DVD-ROM Drive³.
• Audio output capability.
• Internet access capability.

The bottom line, even if you're thinking that you'll get the basic version of Windows Vista, get as close as you can to the higher-level specs if not more than that if you can.