Windows Vista Business is the business-oriented edition of the previous Microsoft operating system. It should be requested by organisations whose computers cannot support the system requirements of the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows 7. Compared to Windows XP, it features increased ease of use, better security, more search capabilities, and improved wired and wireless networking.

This is an upgrade product. To install this operating system, you must have a valid licence that is not in use on another computer for one of the following operating systems: Windows 2000; Windows XP Media Center, Tablet PC, Professional, or Professional x64. Upgrading from some of these systems requires a "clean install," meaning you must remove all files and applications, install the system, and then copy back the files and reinstall the applications. For the rest of the systems, you can install "in place" as long as you have the latest service pack for the current system. For complete information, see Microsoft's Upgrade Paths page.

Service Pack 1 improves reliability and performance, supports new hardware and emerging standards, and makes it easier for IT administrators to deploy and manage Windows Vista.

Windows Vista Business requires significant system resources, as detailed below. Although Vista will operate on a computer with the minimum hardware configuration described in the system requirements below, some features, such as the Aero graphical interface, need the recommended configuration.

Important Volume Licencing Information: With Windows Vista, organisations can choose between two types of volume licence keys for product activation: a Key Management Service (KMS) licence key or a Multiple Activation Key (MAK). Organisations will be provided with both types of keys on the Microsoft Volume Licencing website, but they should only use one to active their product.

A KMS key requires at least 25 computers on a network for activation. Organisations with fewer than 25 computers should use a MAK. For more information about deciding which type of key to use, see PNGO Programme’s Guide to Microsoft Volume Licencing Keys.

Acquiring the Installation Media and Licence Key: Installing this product requires installation media and a licence key. Installation media will be shipped to you free of charge.

The licence key allows you to use the installation media to install the product on as many computers as you have received donations for. This quantity is specified in the donation email sent to your organisation email address after your eligibility has been verified and your administrative fee has been received.

Features:

Under the Software Assurance programme, customers acquire the right to install any new release of products covered in the agreement during the term of their coverage.
Information organisation, search, and sharing is improved. For example, Instant Search finds information anywhere on the computer — even within email — and the save functionality in the new Search Folders feature makes it possible to rerun favorite searches.
A smarter, more easily configured, and automatically running Windows Firewall helps protect against many types of malicious software, including software that attempts to initiate outbound connections.
Remote Desktop Connection makes it possible to access a PC remotely, whether across an organization’s network or through the Internet from another PC.
The Network Center aids in recognizing and automatically connecting to wireless networks and network devices, such as displays and projectors.

Requirements:

Hardware (certain product features not available with minimum supported requirements):

800-MHz 32-bit processor; 1-GHz recommended
512 MB or more RAM; 1 GB recommended
20-GB hard drive with at least 15 GB available space; 40-GB drive with 15 GB available recommended
Support for Super VGA graphics; support for DirectX 9 graphics recommended
(DirectX 9 graphics requires WDDM Driver, 128 MB or more graphics memory, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32 bits per pixel.)
Audio output
CD drive; DVD drive recommended

For Windows Tablet and Touch Technology — Tablet PC or touch screen

Actual requirements and product functionality might vary with system configuration.

Price: £8.00 + VAT