Microsoft’s Windows Vista may have now moved to RC1 status, but it is often the little changes that make all the difference.

  The last time I booted up our Vista test machine (A Fujitsu-Siemens Esprimo desktop), it downloaded an update driver for the Realtek high-definition audio controller in the system, and suddenly I had sound – for the first time since I replaced Windows XP with Vista on it. It’s about time.

Meanwhile, Vista is slowly growing on me, particularly neat features such as the Windows Sidebar. This optional tool supports plug-in applets called Gadgets , which perform tasks such as displaying a calendar, linking to up-to-date news feeds on the Internet, or stocks and share prices.

The concept is similar to the Dashboard Widgets in Apple’s Mac OS X, but Microsoft has had this technology in the pipeline for a long time; I remember seeing it demonstrated during a pre-briefing for Windows XP in 2001.

15 Sep 2006