Report Card: Windows Vista Ultimate, One Week Before Release

I put Build 6000, which has been released to Microsoft's developers and is expected to be identical to or closely track the initial shipping version of Vista, through its paces (and took screen captures to prove it). Here's a quick report card.

Installation: C+

A mixed bag. The 64-bit version flummoxed my computer, which is unacceptable when you consider that I'm running a 3.2-GHz, 64-bit, dual-core Pentium D. The install proceeded most of the way, but couldn't complete, so my inference is there are still some driver issues. Much as I enjoy working Sundays, I gave up after 90 minutes. (On the plus side, while I was waiting I found out I'm not bad at Sudoku.)

As I expected, the 32-bit version installed like a champ, loading from scratch in 42 minutes. I still had to muck around a little with my display settings. However, Vista recognized by my Nvidia GeForce 7300 graphics card, and loaded the correct WDM driver it needs to run the Aero user interface.

For consumers who will be upgrading machines purchased this Christmas to Vista next February, it's clear that the installation process isn't as user-friendly as was the case with Windows XP.

Perhaps Microsoft is planning to add some dialogues to its upgrade DVDs, which will alleviate this issue. However, upgrades will mainly apply to consumers buying XP-equipped PCs between now and the end of January. Because Vista requires a good graphics card to run its translucent Aero interface, few if any owners of older XP boxes will be upgrading. Most users will have fresh, factory installs. For businesses, none of this stuff concerns users anyway -- it's the IT department's problem.

Look and Feel: A+

Vista's Aero interface remains one of its strongest suits. In previous reviews, I looked askance at Aero because I felt it so clearly elevated form over functionality. Now, I'm more inclined to go with a McLuhan or McNealy-esque twist on that, and say that Aero's form is its functionality. Add to Aero the Flip 3D feature, which lets you rapidly scroll through your open apps, and you've got one fun and friendly UI. (Though it must be pointed out that similar features are available on Mac OS X and on some Linux distros.)

Performance and Utility: A-

Vista's definitely evincing performance that's significantly improved since my deep dive into the Beta 2 back in July. Vista now even appears faster and smoother than it did with the RC2 version, which I examined in October.

On the downside, saving large files remained slow. In terms of security, the User Account Controls are still idiotically intrusive. Here, Microsoft still seems to be reading from the Transportation Security Administration's playbook. Do I really need to go through an extra "permission" dialogue to view my monitor's device properties?

The only other big gripe I have is, for an OS chocked full of accessories, Microsoft has done a strangely passive job of highlighting all the features embedded within Vista. Even the Media Center and Photo Gallery are pinned to the Start menu rather than pushed onto the default desktop. I recommend a dialogue box at initial startup, which invites the users to get all these key features configured before passing "go."

Only the funky Sidebar gadgets are strongly emphasized -- and there are still only 10 of them bundled with Vista, though third-party gadgets are available. I really would have liked Microsoft to lock by default some kind of Office ultra-light group of accessories onto the desktop, so I could do light writing and financial planning from the get-go, without having to spring for separate apps (or having to download OpenOffice.org). Coaching (aka Management): B-

Sure, Vista's been horribly late, from reasons too well known and boring to regurgitate here (short version: Microsoft's too darn big). Jim Allchin, co-president of the platform division at Microsoft, has paid the price for Vista's lag (he's retiring soon).

But would we really have wanted a new OS to hit the market in the middle of the post-9/11 technology slump? Now, when we're in the early to middle stages of the Web 2.0 bubble, is a much better time.

Overall: B+

My biggest Vista surprise was, struggle though I might, I couldn't find much significantly different from previous versions. Then it dawned on me: That's a good sign, because it indicates that Microsoft's focus is no longer on look and feel but rather on the software guts required to keep Vista from crashing.

With Beta 2 and even RC2, I had the sense that Vista required my constant attention and vigilance to keep it property tweaked. The nagging worry that it might crap out if I wasn't careful never left me. Now, I'm of a mindset where I'm pretty much ready to put Vista on my primary home-office machine (the one I use to write stories like this on Sunday, not the kids' computer, though I'll let them use it if they're nice). That's a level of comfort that, quite frankly, I didn't expect to have.

For businesses, and for CIOs charged with the decision about migrating to Vista, the three burning questions are: just how much better is Vista at security than XP, what's the total cost of ownership, and how much more does Vista-capable hardware cost? Early word is that Vista's security is indeed a big step up, notwithstanding the surface annoyance of the user account controls. On the TCO front, Microsoft's broad embrace of an ecosystem extending beyond Vista to encompasses both Office 2007 and Exchange 2007 might go a long way toward blunting incursions onto the desktop from Linux. As for buy-in costs, I'm not the first reviewer to opine that, rather than rushing to Vista right out of the box, businesses will most likely migrate to Vista as part of their normal PC upgrade cycle.

The final verdict: Vista's official release on Nov. 30 won't hold any big surprises. To paraphrase what the folks in Redmond used to say ad nauseum prior to previous product releases (they've thankfully retired the cliche), Vista is finally here because we customers are telling Microsoft that it is indeed ready.

ALEXANDER WOLFE is east-coast news editor for TechWeb.