“Not all PCs will gain a full view of Windows Vista.

Microsoft Corp. has yet to finalize the minimum requirements for a PC to run its forthcoming operating system. But numerous PC industry watchers predict a dichotomy for the OS, which is due in late 2006.

Although it will be able to run on all but the most ancient machines, the OS will favor newer and relatively powerful machines when it comes to showing its true colors, analysts say.

Based on details provided by the software maker - a Microsoft representative this week suggested PC buyers who want to gain the full Windows Vista user interface experience pick up a PC with a discrete graphics card that supports its DirectX 9 graphics specification - analysts say that not all of today’s hardware has the graphics chops necessary to display Windows Vista’s most visually compelling feature, its new Aero Glass 3D user interface.

Thus even for PC owners who have purchased new machines in the last year, hardware upgrades of one type or another - either a new graphics card or, if a machine’s graphics can not be upgraded, possibly a new system - may be necessary to run Windows Vista’s Aero Glass effects.”

[Continue reading Will Your PC Run Windows Vista?]