Microsoft announces specs for Windows Vista

bit-tech reader Julian Martin writes in to let us know that Microsoft has released the official minimum specifications for Windows Vista.

Microsoft divides PCs into two categories, 'Vista-Capable' and 'Premium-Ready'. Capable machines will run the OS, but won't get eh fancy new graphics features that Premium users will have access to.

The minimum specs for Vista Capable machines are:

• 800 MHz Intel-compatible processor
  
• 512MB of RAM
  
• DirectX 9.0-Capable Graphics Processor
  
• 20GB HD

For machines that want more than a slide-show on their rig, the Premium-Ready specs are:

• 1 GHz Intel-compatible processor
  
• 1GB RAM
  
• DirectX 9.0-Capable Graphics Processor, with 128MB graphics memory. (64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels [no more than 1440x900]; 128MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels [no more than 1920x1200]; 256MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels [more than 1920x1200]).
  
• 40GB HD with at least 15GB "free space"

Of course, anyone attempting to run Windows Vista on a 1GHz machine will be duly laughed at. That kind of minimum spec will barely run XP, let alone Vista - we'd suggest that you look a lot higher if you want a usable experience.

Interestingly, it looks like Vista is going to want 15GB of space to install. That's pretty insane.

Microsoft has launched a new 'Get Ready' website to educate users about the specs - check that out here.

Thoughts on the specs? Let us know over in the forums.