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Windows Vista Facts

Organizations using Windows Vista have experienced enhanced security, tangible cost savings in IT labor, and measurable improvements in user productivity. In addition to these benefits, Windows Vista helps organizations with one of their most challenging mandates—reducing risk.

Here are all the key reasons why you can confidently deploy Windows Vista now:

1) Most secure operating system

Windows Vista is a fundamentally more secure platform. Windows Vista is 60 percent less likely to be infected with malware, and had 20 percent less vulnerabilities than Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) in 2007.

2) Performance

Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows XP SP2 perform comparably on most business tasks. Windows Vista with SP1 allows for faster moving and copying of files, faster browsing, and faster recovery from hibernation.

3) Application compatibility

Over 2,700 software programs including 98 percent of the top 100 commercial applications sold at U.S. retailers, excluding PC games, are compatible with Windows Vista.¹

4) Hardware compatibility

Windows Vista now supports over 77,000 devices and components like printers, cameras, and speakers. Over 47,000 devices have been added since Windows Vista launched in January 2007.

5) Environmental impact

Every 10 PCs with CRTs migrated to Windows Vista and configured to use Power Management is equivalent to taking one car off the road in terms of greenhouse gasses. Default settings and centralized manageability of power settings help contribute to positive environmental impact. (299 KB Word document)

6) Total cost of ownership

Windows Vista helps reduce computing total cost of ownership (TCO) and increases mobility and productivity. Windows Vista, along with the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) and best practices, can help reduce mobile TCO by $605 per PC annually. (13.9 MB PDF)

7) Deployment

Windows Vista is on track for a faster deployment than both Windows XP and Windows 2000.

8) Satisfaction

Windows Vista usage corresponds to greater willingness to recommend it. A majority of people who used Windows Vista at work and home would recommend it—65 percent definitely and 18 percent probably.²

9) Customer adoption

An increasing number of large organizations are adopting Windows Vista, such as Continental Airlines, United States Air Force, EDS, Virgin Megastore, Schroders, Lucerne Building Insurance, and Repsol YPF. Find more case studies on the Microsoft Case Studies website.