Microsoft advises to Get Ready for Vista

Microsoft is still working to finish Windows Vista, but the company wants consumers to 'Get Ready' now.

On Thursday, the company kicked off a campaign aimed at helping customers prepare for the new operating system, which is set for a mainstream launch in January.

As expected, Microsoft gave details of two programs. The 'Vista-capable' program allows machines that meet a minimum set of requirements to tout themselves as able to run the new Windows.

Computer makers who meet higher requirements will be able to tout their machines as 'Premium Ready', indicating the PCs are able to take advantage of higher-end features, such as Vista's Aero graphics.

Microsoft also launched on Thursday a 'Get Ready' Web site, which includes an Upgrade Advisor tool to help people determine just how Vista-ready an existing PC is.

To be classified as Vista-capable, a computer needs an 800MHz processor, 512MB of memory and a DirectX 9-capable graphics card. Premium Ready machines need a 1GHz processor, 128MB of graphics memory, 1GB of system memory, a 40GB hard drive and an internal or external DVD-ROM drive.

The move is designed to ease some of the uncertainty around Vista well ahead of the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, the two biggest PC selling times of the year. Vista had long been expected to arrive by the 2006 holidays, but Microsoft said in March that it would not arrive on store shelves until January.

Kevin Johnson, head of the business unit that includes Windows, said in an interview with CNET.co.uk's sister site News.com this week, that Microsoft is likely to have some kind of discount or upgrade program to help those who buy a PC this holiday season upgrade to Vista.

"Yeah, there's likely to be something," Johnson said, without giving specifics.