The most visible part of Windows Vista is the Aero interface, and while we can"t deny that it looks very swish we find it very hard to get excited by a shiny new GUI. Instead, we"re looking forward to new Vista hardware, which includes a new use for the humble USB memory key and much, much more. So what will the ultimate Windows Vista notebook offer? Possibly the most dramatic new feature in Vista is Windows SideShow, shown here on the Asus W5Fe which will have an estimated price of £1,399 inc VAT.
You shouldn"t have much trouble running Vista on any recent laptop, provided it has decent graphics, but if you want to make the most of the new operating system you"ll need specific hardware. The W5Fe is significant because it"s the first Vista-specific laptop to break cover, as opposed to a laptop that can run Vista.SideShow uses a secondary screen and a cut-down OS - which we assume is a form of Windows Mobile - so you can check email, look up a phone number or check your schedule without the need to start Vista.