I'd thought I'd compile a list of software that I've been testing against an IBM T60 (2007-62U) and a Dell Optiplex 745.

IBM T60 2007-62U - Windows Experience Index rating of 4.0

• Core Duo 2.0 GHz (subscore 4.7)
• 1.0 GB RAM (speed 4.5)
• ATI RADEON Mobility x1400, 128 MB (Aero 4.6, Gaming 4.0)
• 100 GB HDD (speed 4.4)
• 8x DVDRW
• Atheros a/b/g wireless
• Intel PRO/1000 PL gigabit Ethernet
• High-definition audio
• Hardware compatibility status
  • ATI video support is notably missing; using Microsoft provided WDDM drivers.
  • http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-66884 appears to have a Vista driver, misfiled as an Intel driver on the matrix.
  • Vendor supplied optical burning software non-functional
  • Vendor supplied system utilities not marked for Vista compatibility
  • UltraNav driver supported under Vista, but not digitally signed.
  • Modem driver updated for Vista
  • TPM driver not provided for Vista (Atmel).  Ironically, the TPM shipping with T43 systems has Vista support at this time.
  • Power Management driver updated via Windows Update

Dell Optiplex 745 - Windows Experience Index rating of 4.2

• Core 2 Duo 1.86 GHz (subscore 4.8)
• 2.0 GB RAM@533Mhz (speed 5.5)
• ATI RADEON x1300, 256 MB (limiting factor in system rating, Aero 4.7, Gaming graphics 4.2)
• 80 GB SATA (speed 5.3)
• 16x DVDRW
• Onboard Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit
• Onboard high-definition audio
• Hardware compatibility status
  • Works out of the box without any noticeable problem.
  • No additional drivers were deployed at this time

These are both x86 deployments; the hardware is x64 capable, obviously.

Software Comments

• Nero Burning ROM 7.5.9.0A
  • Marked as "Vista compatible"
  • Do not install.  Silly setup attempts a Direct X 9.0C 'update' during setup and refuses to continue.
  • I get COM Surrogate crashes with XviD/DivX codecs installed, during Explorer thumbnail creation (ie. when a folder with XviD video clips is opened).  Vista compatible my butt.  Problem goes away once Nero is uninstalled
• Office 2007
  • Nice.  Very nice.
• Symantec Antivirus - Corporate client 10.2
  • Grabbed this off their FileConnect site under corporate license.
  • Seems to work well.
  • Offers to disable Windows Defender; I really wish Symantec would drop this battle and stop threatening the user with empty threats.  (You're advised to disable Defender, due to "potential compatibility problems.")
  • Didn't install the SMTP/POP3 scanning component, but left Outlook plugin enabled.
• ATI "Beta" drivers for Vista RTM
  • Nice confusing name... the beta is referring to the drivers, and RTM refers to Vista.
  • Driver crashes on standby/resume.  Vista's usermode WDDM reloads driver once system is unlocked.  How lovely.
  • These drivers are quite nasty; use the in box (Vista RTM) drivers for now
• WinRAR 3.61
  • Works nicely
• VLC 0.8.5
  • Nasty.  Aero must be turned off; if must be used, set properties on the app to disable Aero right when application is launched.
  • Rather high CPU usage
• Skype
  • Latest beta doesn't work very well.  Time will tell...
• Daemon Tools
  • version 4.08 works well
  • Running on Duplex Secure v1.38
• Cyberlink PowerDVD v7.0.2211
  • Works nicely so far...
• Quicktime Alternative/Real Alternative codecs
  • Works so far.