Windows Vista

Windows Vista introduces several new features and significant enhancements that will improve users’ productivity and overall experience with the operating system. Among these:

• The Instant Search capability helps users instantly locate documents, programs, and e-mail messages on their computers.
  
  
• The Windows Aero interface enhances both the appearance and functionality of the Windows desktop. New features, including Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D, help you find and manage open windows easier. Additionally, the new interface offers smoother window transitions with fewer graphics driver-related errors.
  
  
• The new Windows Sidebar allows you to place gadgets, or mini programs, directly on your desktop. These gadgets provide “at-a-glance” access to a variety of information and tools, including calendars, weather and traffic updates, calculators, puzzles, and games. In addition to the gadgets provided with Windows, you can use the Web to download many more gadgets that meet your specific business or personal needs.

Courses for End-Users with Windows Experience

If you have experience using a previous version of Windows (such as Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, or Windows XP), consider taking our Transitioning to Windows Vista class. This course will help you update your skills for Windows Vista by teaching you how to perform common tasks in the new environment. Additionally, you will learn to take advantage of several important enhancements in Windows Vista, including the Sidebar, Windows Flip, and Instant Search.

Courses for New Windows Users

If you don't have experience using the Windows operating system, we recommend that you take our Introduction to Windows course using the version of Windows that you are or will be using. We currently offer introductory courses in Windows XP and Windows Vista (Introduction to Windows XP and Introduction to Windows Vista, respectively).

Windows Vista Courses for IT Professionals

We are currently offering introductory and intermediate courses for system administrators using Windows Vista. Introduction to Windows Vista Administration is intended for IT professionals who need to install, deploy, and manage computers running Windows Vista. Topics include managing users and groups, shared resources, and security.

Intermediate Windows Vista Administration is a continuation of the introductory course, focused on deploying Windows Vista in a networked Windows Server 2003 configuration with Active Directory. Additional topics include troubleshooting the network and maximizing performance.

Courses for Windows XP Users and Administrators

Because many businesses are delaying the upgrade to Windows Vista, we will continue to offer a full schedule of courses for Windows XP end-users (Introduction to Windows XP and Intermediate Applications of Windows XP) and system administrators (Introduction to Windows XP Administration and Intermediate Windows XP Administration ). While Windows XP and Windows Vista share many of the same tools and capabilities, we recommend that you take our courses in the version you are or will be using.

Getting Additional Course Advice

If you have additional questions about which classes are right for you, our course catalog includes detailed descriptions of the topics covered in class, as well as links to the table of contents from the course handout. You can also visit our course advice pages, which include advice for introductory Windows users as well as Windows administrators.

Our student advisor, Paul Westermann, can also help you find the class that's right for you. You can reach Paul by phone at (314) 984-9000 or through e-mail at info@micros.umsl.edu.