Whether you like it or not Microsoft powered 90% computer in the world, legally or illegally. That’s true as burning sun, you know it, i know it too. Due to price of vista and vista compatible PC, a lot of user will shift towards other OS. That’s the prediction drawn by lots of hot shot analyst. But i doubt, shifting will happen but very minimal. Reason-99% software/application made for windows not for Mac OSX (Unfortunately a lot of cool application dose not have even Mac OSX version). So ultimately users have to stick with Microsoft.

Microsoft spent nearly eight years building Windows Vista, which i won’t say full proof. There were several flaws in their RC1 and RC2, haven’t got the chance to test the RTM yet but as i have seen the flaws were minimal (which can be easily recoverable) and come on you don’t expect something truly perfect do you? I am not saying that MAC OSX is not a good OS. It certainly is a great OS, specially MAC OSX Tiger was fantastic. But if you think about flexibility and usability, still Windows don’t have competitors. Linux/Unix is also a good choice for OS, but hey not everyone is geek, so you can put that out of context, in respect of general usability. So developer who develop application, have to ready for upcoming Vista, they have to make their applications compatible to Vista. Vista maybe another version of Windows but it is way more different then it’s ancestor Xp or ‘98. Windows Vista offers substantial new capabilities in security, performance, reliability, and manageability. It was built from the ground up with a focus on secure development, an enhanced user experience, and optimization around hardware advancements. So developer have more robust platform to play around, unlike any other before. If you developer want to make your software/application for general than it is very good time to consider how you can make your application compatible to Vista. Sooner or Later that OS will be on majority of World’s computer.

First as a Developer you need to understand key technologies of Vista. There are-Mobile PC application, Windows Cardspace (Previously known as Infocard), windows communication foundation, Windows Workflow foundation, .Net framework Developer center. Microsoft has put up detail reference and documentations on each to get you started. You may also want to check up MSDN’s “Application Compatibility” section, where you will find documentation, Virtual lab to test your applications. There are some video tutorials too in that section, making ensure every possible means to educating developers. For checking your existing software compatibility with windows vista Microsoft providing a downloadable compatibility checking application. This kit is not only for developer but as well useful for any previous windows users who are running third party software.