THE much-hyped next-generation of Microsoft software, Windows Vista, ran into controversy yesterday after analysts said that the system’s full range of tools would be available to less than 5 per cent of Britain’s PC market.

Details released on the website of the Seattle-based software giant showed that Vista, the upgrade to the ubiquitous Windows XP and Microsoft’s biggest product launch in years, would run in full only on super-advanced PCs.

Other users wanting to enjoy the full experience would be forced to buy new equipment.

Vista, which is scheduled to be launched for businesses at the end of this year and for consumers next year, had been expected to require more powerful hardware than that needed by Windows. Many businesses are already gearing up to make the necessary changes.

But although the minimum hardware specifications for the system show that it will run on most PCs sold over the past few years, users seeking to enjoy the full range of benefits will be forced to fork out for a more advanced computer.

Analysts predict that fewer than 5 per cent of UK households would have the PC capability to enjoy the full Vista experience.

Yesterday blogs and websites were filled with users dismayed to learn of the expense involved.

The product, the first new version of Windows in five years, is set to be the most visually enticing yet, including 3D and transparent graphics, with enhanced security features.

To enjoy the basic features, users will need at least an 800MHz processor and 512MB of RAM or memory. To enjoy all the benefits, users will require a 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and 128MB of dedicated graphics memory, along with a recent graphics processor that meets additional specifications.

David Bradshaw, principal analyst at Ovum, the technology and telecoms consultancy, said that while most modern PCs would have an 800Mhz processor and the requisite RAM, many users could come unstuck with the more advanced requirements. “The memory and dedicated graphics requirements are quite something,” he said.

Laptop users could also hit trouble with even the most basic requirements, he said. “The biggest problem will be with laptops, which tend to have smaller hard drives and less memory.”

One US analyst estimated that only around one third of laptops sold now would meet Vista’s basic features.

Controversy over Vista follows Microsoft’s worst one-day fall for six years, which came last month after it released third-quarter results showing that its future earnings would be hit by increased spending to fend off rivals such as Google.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft denied that current PC users would be unable to use Vista. “A recent analyst report states that nearly all PCs on the market today will run Windows Vista,” she said.

THE NEW KIT

Windows XP forms the backbone of more than 90 per cent of the world’s computers. It accounted for 31 per cent of Microsoft revenue last year and 66 per cent of operating profit

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