Riordan Manufacturing

Comparison of Windows XP/Server 2003 to

Windows Vista/Longhorn for Riordan Manufacturing

Riordan Manufacturing

Riordan Manufacturing, a plastic and polymers maker, is in the process of examining their corporate-wide computing hardware and operating systems. This paper will compare Microsoft's XP and Windows Server 2003 with Microsoft's new Vista and Longhorn Server operating systems to provide information that will be helpful in recommending a corporate-wide standardized platform operating system.

Features of Microsoft XP and Windows Server 2003

Features of XP and 2003 (Kevin working on this).

Features of Windows Vista and Longhorn Server

Vista Features include:

* Windows Vista enhanced with refining common window elements, new tools.

* New features make Vista the most secure version of Windows yet.

* New controls, like the Instant Search box and Enhanced Column Headers to enhance the search and organization of a Vista-enabled PC

* Internet Explorer 7 adds security and privacy features, and other features such as tabbed browsing, inline search, and shrink-to-fit printing.

* Windows Sidebar providing instant access to productivity gadgets--a wide variety of engaging, easy-to-use, and customizable mini-applications that offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools such as weather checkers, calculators, etc.

* New features like Sleep, Windows SuperFetch, Windows ReadyBoost, and Windows ReadyDrive boost Windows performance.

* Windows Vista offers multiple layers of backup and restore protection, including system restore enhancements, in a single, unified Windows Backup and Restore Center.

* Windows Vista includes new networking features that make configuring and using your network easier.

* If you use a laptop computer, you know that starting up your laptop just to check a message or find an address or phone number isn't always practical.

* Windows Vista empowers you to interact with your computer by voice. You can dictate documents and e-mail messages, fill out forms on the web, and manage Windows Vista and applications by saying what you see.

* Windows Vista provides features to streamline problem resolution, for better self-help and improved centralized tools for support professionals.

* Windows Update makes updating easy and minimizes disruption to your work.

Windows Server "Longhorn" provides improvements to networking, advanced security features, remote application access, centralized server role management, performance and reliability monitoring tools, failover clustering, deployment, and the file system. Longhorn Features include:

* Greater administrative control over access to network servers:

o Network Access Protection defines health requirements for the network and to restrict computers that do not meet these requirements.

o Internet Information Services 7.0 Integrates Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

* Higher Availability