I am close to buying a laptop that comes with Vista Business. It is quite high spec machine, but like most business laptops it comes with integrated graphics (Intel GMA 950 with DVMT max 224 MB), not a dedicated graphics card.

Would this be enough to run the 'Aero' interface of Vista? Or would I be stuck with the crappy xp-look alike?

Thanks

The Aero needs 128 MB of memory to run. So, looks like it's enough.

But it's even depend on the software you run. On the PC where I run FS-X with 512 MB graphic memory, aro disables by startin FS-X

Try to test the Laptop to first before buy!

Short version:

"The 950 was created with Microsoft Windows Vista kept in mind and will easily run the Aero interface ."

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA)

Long Version:

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&h...+950+vista+aero

Tip: Buy only a Notebook with Vista when u can check it. All Drivers exist and the Vista-Performance should be higher as 4.5, except Graphics can be 3.0 to 3.5 for Aero (Business) .

Check the Sound System, now most HD-Audio, with the Frontpanel-Connector (Switch-Function).

Ok thanks. I ended up buying it last night, and it runs Aero pretty well. The performance check rates it as 3.2 on graphics (everything else is above 4).

Intel 950 is the standard for low - mid Vista notebooks graphics. Crap for gaming though.

I've got a monster desktop with howling graphics card for gaming :-)