For many, an upgrade to Windows Vista equals a mandatory refresh of desktop hardware. Providing users with access to Vista running on centrally hosted virtual machines is one way that enterprises can get Vista gain without PC upgrade pain. Enterprises that have already invested in virtual server infrastructure for servers should explore this option.

The Vista PC Hardware Hit

Enterprises that are considering a move to Microsoft Vista, but have not refreshed their desktops in a while, will need to buy new PCs for the new operating system. Below are the minimum hardware requirements for Vista in both its basic "Classic" incarnation and its more graphically advanced Premium (Aero) version.

An older PC – for example, a 500MHz Celeron with a 10GB hard drive which has been running Windows XP – will not be able to run Vista. However, it is possible to give the user of this older PC access to a Vista desktop. The user can remotely access a Vista-running...