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Windows Vista is all the rage these days — it is coming installed on new machines and is the subject of countless upgrades on existing systems. Arguably, it is the latest and greatest version of Windows yet. That means that there are a lot of cool things in Vista that can help to make your computing experience better than with earlier versions of Windows.
Here's a quick snapshot of just some of those features:
- Windows firewall: Granted, Windows XP had a firewall installed, but it wasn't nearly as robust and secure as the one in Vista. The firewall, which is turned on by default, both protects your system from others and others from your system as it puts an end to malicious information sent to or from your computer.
- Sidebar and gadgets: The Sidebar is the area at the right side of your desktop. It allows you to display gadgets, which are a new type of accessory to your computing. If you aren't careful, the Sidebar can become a place to add to the clutter on your desktop, but it really is pretty cool in that it allows you to quickly access programs (the gadgets) that you may need on a regular basis.
- Parental controls: Got children who use your computer? If you set them up with their own account, you can — as the wise and semi-omnipotent parent — use the Vista parental controls to determine what they can and cannot do on the system. Just open the Control Panel and click the Set Up Parental Controls for Any User link, click which account you want to control, and then set up what can be done with the account. You can even monitor activity through the account; a real bonus for some parents.
- Performance information: Windows now includes a way to benchmark or measure the performance of your system. This measure is established when Vista is first installed and can be periodically recalculated for your system. Open the Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click the Performance Information and Tools link. The information in the resulting dialog box can be quite helpful in figuring out how to improve the performance of your system.
 | - Snipping tool: One of the tools added to Vista that is often overlooked is the Snipping Tool. This handy, easy-to-use tool allows you to "snip" portions of your desktop and create graphic files from them. Start the tool (Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Snipping Tool) and a simple cross-hair cursor allows you to click and drag to define the area you want to snip. You can then make small modifications to what you snipped and save it to a graphic file — quick, easy, and cool.
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- Tabbed browsing: What's a new release of Windows without a new release of Internet Explorer? Vista is no exception; it includes a new version of IE that has some pretty cool features. One favorite is the addition of tabbing, which allows you to open different Web pages in individual browser tabs and organize your browsing better.
- Phishing filter: Internet Explorer now includes an integrated "phishing filter," which checks Web sites to assess whether they may be trolling for information about you that you don't want to give. This helps to protect your identity and your financial information, which makes your online experience better than ever.
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