NVidia has announced its support for the Microsoft ‘Certified for Windows Vista’ logo programme, as vendors work to assure customers that their PC components are compatible with the forthcoming operating system.
The graphics company has said that there will be broad support for Vista across three generations of graphics processing units (GPUs), from the current GeForce 7 series to the older GeForce FX series, launched back in 2002. Card manufacturers including BFG and XFX will also offer Vista-certified nVidia products in the retail market. NVidia is moving early on this issue because many consumers are not yet aware that to get the best out of Vista, users will require a fast, dedicated graphics card.
Lew Wagman, strategic marketing director at nVidia, said: “We offer the broadest range of products, from low-priced, mainstream GeForce solutions to those found in the ultimate gaming PCs, certified as ready for Windows Vista. Our customers can purchase these graphics cards and know that they will be equipped to handle all of the 3D visual aspects of Windows Vista, as well as an ever increasing list of GPU-accelerated mainstream applications.”
Dave Wascha, director of partner marketing for Windows Vista at Microsoft, said: “The ‘Certified for Windows Vista’ logo programme helps people identify hardware that works optimally with Windows Vista-based PCs. NVidia GPU products help bring to life the 3D graphics possible with Windows Vista.”
Microsoft has announced that more than 250 hardware and software products from over 50 companies have now received the ‘Certified for Windows Vista’ logo or the ‘Works with Windows Vista’ logo. NVidia rival ATI has also received certification, as have many peripheral and software products companies such as Logitech, InterVideo, Nero and Epson. Hewlett-Packard (HP) is aiming to be biggest single supporter of Vista when it launches.
Greg Wallace, senior vice-president of marketing for the imaging and printing group at HP, said: “HP will be a top provider of products ready for Windows Vista, offering more than 450 compatible imaging and printing products once Vista is available on the market.”
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