Product Description

Windows Vista Home Basic is designed to be easy to set up, to help people use their PCs securely and reliably, to help people stay better connected, and, like all of the editions of Windows Vista, to be compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that people use and trust. For those who simply want to use their PC for tasks such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using email, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks, Windows Vista Home Basic delivers a safer, more reliable, and more effective computing environment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1348 in Software
• Color: 1-user
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: 66G-00002
• Released on: 2007-01-30
• Platforms: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000
• Format: DVD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .70 pounds

Features

• User-friendly software features search and organize innovations as well as improved networking opportunities
• Designed for users with the most basic computer needs
• Helps people use their PCs securely and reliably, makes it simple to stay better connected, and is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that people use and trust every day
• Rich new interface, innovative ways to organize and find the information stored on your PC, and a multitude of entertainment options with live and recorded TV on your PC
• Provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail

Amazon.com
Windows Vista Home Basic (DVD-ROM) offers search and organize innovations as well as improved networking opportunities. Windows Vista Home Basic is the edition of Windows Vista for users with the most basic computing needs. The features in this user-friendly software also form the foundation of all of the other editions of Windows Vista, including Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate.

Windows Sidebar gives you quick access to gadgets like picture slide shows, Windows Media Player controls, or news headlines. You pick the gadgets you want to see in Windows Sidebar. View larger.

Use Instant Search to quickly find the information you need. View larger.

Compare Windows Vista editions.

Windows Photo Gallery gives you a whole new way to manage, find, and view your digital photos. View larger.

Manage your schedule, sync up with other calendars, and make sure you never miss another appointment using Windows Calendar. View larger.

Windows Mail includes features that help you minimize the annoyances and risks associated with using e-mail while enjoying the benefits of staying in touch with others. View larger.

Breakthrough Windows Vista Experience
Designed to help you feel confident in your ability to view, find, and organize information and to control your computing experience, all editions of Windows Vista introduce a breakthrough user experience. The visual sophistication of Windows Vista helps streamline your computing experience by refining common window elements so you can better focus on the content on the screen rather than on how to access it. The desktop experience is more informative, intuitive, and helpful. And new tools bring better clarity to the information on your computer, so you can see what your files contain without opening them, find applications and files instantly, navigate efficiently among open windows, and use wizards and dialog boxes more confidently.

Secure and Effective
Windows Vista Home Basic helps people use their PCs securely and reliably, makes it simple to stay better connected, and, like all of the editions of Windows Vista, is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that people use and trust every day. For those who simply want to use their PC to surf the Internet, correspond with friends and family using email, or perform basic document creation and editing tasks, Windows Vista Home Basic delivers a safer, more reliable, and more effective computing environment.

More Productivity
Windows Vista Home Basic helps encourage better personal productivity while providing digital entertainment on your PC through its improved reliability, security, and performance. It also helps you to accomplish tasks faster, with a rich new interface and innovative ways to organize and find the information stored on your PC.

Safer and More Reliable
Specifically designed to be the safest operating system Microsoft has ever delivered, Windows Vista Home Basic frees you from worry about the safety and security of your time on the computer. In fact, every edition of Windows Vista, including Windows Vista Home Basic, provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. In addition, Windows Vista Home Basic includes innovative tools that warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. Additionally, this system comes equipped with up-to-date parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities on your PC that might concern you as a parent.

Easy Set-Up and Operation
As with all of other editions of Windows Vista, Windows Vista Home Basic makes your PC significantly easier to use thanks to helpful tools that let you painlessly move your personal files and settings from your old PC to your new Windows Vista-based PC. Additionally, Windows Vista Home Basic integrates new search tools throughout the operating system to help you quickly find the precise file or program you need. Even if your existing PC seems to be adequate for basic tasks such as reading e-mail and browsing the web, by upgrading your PC to Windows Vista Home Basic or by purchasing a new PC installed with this software, you will benefit from a better computing experience and more peace of mind.

From the Manufacturer
Windows Vista Home Basic is the edition of Windows for basic home computing needs. If you only want to use your PC for tasks like browsing the Internet, using e-mail, or viewing photos, then Windows Vista Home Basic may be the right edition for you. While it won't provide as many benefits as Windows Vista Home Premium, it will help you use your PC more easily and more safely than you could with Windows XP.

Easily Search and Find Everything on Your PC and the Internet
The first thing you'll notice about Windows Vista Home Basic is how easy it is to find the programs and files you're looking for. The instant desktop search feature looks across all of your documents, e-mails, photos, and other files, organizing the results in the way that you want to view them. When coupled with the built-in web search of Windows Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista, you'll spend less time looking for the things that you need and more time on the activities that you care about.

Better Protection for Your PC and Your Family than with any Previous Version of Windows
With automatic defenses against malicious software and fraudulent websites, Windows Vista Home Basic enables you and your family to use your computer with greater confidence. Plus, parents can use built-in controls to help ensure their children's computer use is protected and appropriate.

Simplified Setup and Maintenance
Windows Vista Home Basic makes it easier than ever to set up your new PC, with features that easily transfer all of your data and settings from your old PC to your new one. What's more, you can have peace of mind for years to come with technology that keeps your system running quickly and reliably over time.

Simply put, Windows Vista Home Basic provides you with just the essentials you need for home computing.

Features in Windows Vista Home Basic

Easier

• Instant Search--integrated throughout Windows Vista.
• Internet Explorer 7--includes web searching right from the browser and tabbed browsing.
• Windows Sidebar and gadgets--bring real-time information directly to your desktop.
• Flexible organization features--view your files any way you want.
• Windows Photo Gallery--Download, organize, edit, view, and share your digital photos.

• Windows Defender--helps safeguard your PC against pop-ups and security threats.
• Dynamic security protection--helps you browse the web more securely.
• Anti-phishing technology--helps protect you from fraudulent websites that attempt to steal your personal information.
• Internet Explorer protected mode--helps prevent unwanted malicious software downloads.
• Parental Controls--manage the rules for your children's computer use including web access and games.

Customer Reviews

More Errors
Windows Vista Third Party Hardware/Software Incompatibility

Anybody who is thinking about getting a new computer or has recently bought one will know that there seems to be only one option available: Windows Vista. I have never used a Mac before so I decided to stick with Windows when I was ready to buy a new computer and upgraded from my five year old Toshiba Satellite (Windows XP) to a fancy looking HP Pavilion Desktop with a 19'' wide screen LCD monitor. While the computer is Great and comes with a lot of great features such as 250GB local drive, small and stylish tower, very fast speed for multitasking, wireless capability, and great DVD writer; it also comes with Windows Vista Home Premium (I assume they call these different names just to make one look fancier than the other just like with XP and in the end everybody ended up with Service Pack II).

Even though I love the new HP Desktop (Slimline is the model by the way), why oh why Windows Vista? XP has corrected many of its glitches over the last several years and Service Pack II was becoming tolerable after years and years of Windows updating and error reporting (you have done this many times). Now XP CDs are on sales for less than a hundred bucks and Microsoft will start telling people to upgrade to Vista if there are problems.

Here are some practical issues that you might want to know before getting a new computer which will undoubtedly come with Windows Vista.

1)Wireless adapter recognizes my wireless signal, but no way on earth it will let me connect to the Internet. I tried repairing the network (fancily called “Network Diagnostic” on Vista) got the message saying my adapter has an unknown problem and the reason for my not being able to connect to the Internet is “unknown.” OK, don't tell me to contact my network administrator anymore. All the help offered on Microsoft and HP websites told me to do that. Did they think they actually had to tell me to contact “the person who manages my network?” Of course the first thing I did was call him and make an appointment. The problem is that the HP computer is new (just been in the store for one day when I bought it), and the Vista is new. Nobody on the 1 800 helpline number knew the problem. My Internet guy had a hard time working around the Vista just like I did. He tried everything and my computer still won't connect to the wireless Internet. Obviously he is not someone inexperienced. He provides Internet service to an apartment town with more than 500 apartment units and they are all connected because they haven't switched from Windows XP to Vista. The reason for my switching is my Toshiba Satellite was getting too old and slow. You know the feeling. I just wanted a new computer and I could care less about Windows Vista. Now back to the wireless Internet problem, I am still not connected to it. Thanks to the alternative service that my Internet service provides, the wired local area net work in which Internet is provided through power line. Sounds weird but here we want to avoid having to have a phone line just to connect to the Internet. So I am using my power line Internet and sitting here and hoping my Internet guy will figure out the problem. The wireless one he offers is a lot faster to download videos but the power line is fast enough for surfing the net.
2)If you are a gadget junkie like me, you will find that Vista is not compatible with many of your not so old gadgets. For example, I have a Skype cordless phone made by Linksys and it worked fine with XP, now when I installed the driver on my new computer, I got a message saying it is not compatible with this Windows.
3)Although I followed everything suggested by Apple website to transfer my music to the new computer in order to also transfer how the library is organized (play list, play count, rating, etc), but it didn't work. Only the files and folders were copied to my new computer, not how they were organized in the iTunes library. I had to to redo the whole play lists and grouping music on the new computer. We are talking about over 3000 files!
4)Yahoo Messenger Music: If you use LAUNCHcast Radio by Yahoo, you will know what I am talking about. This feature allows you to add the radio as a plug-in on your Yahoo Messenger. From the small screen on the Messenger, you can access your radio station, or other stations by clicking on the little link “Stations.” A drop menu shows up and a list of radio stations will appear, allowing users to choose what station they want to listen to. Well, drop down menu is there all right, but I cannot click on any of them. Only way I can change a station is by opening the Yahoo Jukebox Program itself and choose a station there, play the station I want to play there, and open the Yahoo Messenger, the station I have just played on Yahoo Jukebox will be listed on three of the recently played stations on my Yahoo Music LAUNCHcast plug-in on my Yahoo Messenger.
5)I tried to change my iTunes skin, but none of the plug-ins that allow skin change are compatible with Vista yet.

As usual, Microsoft rushed its newest operating system out of the factory door much too soon. It is filled with errors and shortcomings, and the unfortunate consumer once again will have to suffer for years while discovering what the arrogant Microsoft corporation failed to get right in the process of inflicting another faulty product on the general public.

I'm sure there are more problems and I will report them as they come my way.

Vista is a horrible piece of bloatware
I'm an IT guy at a University, and I recently had to start installing Windows Vista.

First of all, you need a minimum of 2 Gigs of ram to run this bloatware. I installed it on this guy's laptop, and with NOTHING else running, it was using between 650 - 750 megs of ram TO DO NOTHING! As soon as we started doing anything, it was using over 1 Gig of RAM. Way to go Microsoft! Just want people wanted. A bloated OS that won't run on older machines and will run slow even on new machines.

Avoid it. Don't buy it. Switch to Linux. I use Ubuntu at home.

Vista, the "new Coke" of Windows
This is a horrible product!!!! I gave it one star only because I don't have the option of giving it no stars. It's extremely slow; I spend so much time looking at that stupid hourglass! And forget multi-tasking! With Windows XP, I could have at least 2 versions of Internet Explorer open at once, along with Excel documents, Word documents, etc. while listening to music on Rhapsody at the same time. Not possible with Vista. Vista is supposed to be more secure, but it's so secure that the person who owns the computer can't use it! Since I am the "computer administrator", I shouldn't have to ask myself "permission" every time I want to change a setting (this feature can be turned off by going to Control Panel, Security Center, Other Security Settings & turning off User Account Control). Also, any audio you listen to (CD's, DVD's, online streaming music) is choppy & sounds like a bad radio with static. Avoid Vista! It's like Windows Me all over again; a big disappointment and a huge mistake for Microsoft! The only "WOW" is when it actually works.