Manufacturer Benefits: Reasons to Get the Windows Logo

The Windows Vista and the Windows Longhorn Server operating systems take
experience-based computing to a significantly higher level. Based on their needs,
customers can choose their level of differentiated experiences founded on the
combination of the underlying hardware, devices, and operating system features. This
provides customers with more choices and provides manufacturers an opportunity to
innovate and provide customer value through premium experiences.
Building products that meet logo requirements will enable you to:
• Differentiate your product with a powerful message. Two distinct logos—"basic" and
"premium"—will clearly convey the customer’s opportunity to choose a product that best
suits their requirements.
• Display your premium value for customers. Products carrying the Windows Vista
premium logo will receive additional benefits through increased customer awareness and
perceived value.
• Harness Microsoft marketing power. Microsoft is committed to conducting high-impact
marketing activities that drive market demand for products bearing the Windows Vista
premium logo. A major awareness initiative will kick off at launch and sustain enthusiasm
in the future.
• Associate with an instantly recognized brand. The logo will make it easier for
customers to select and purchase products by clearly indicating an association with one
of the strongest, well-known brands in the world—Windows. The Windows Vista logo will
make it easier for customers to confidently select and purchase hardware and software
products that work with Windows Vista.
• Meet corporate and retail purchasing criteria. Ensure that your products meet the
expectations of your target market and that customers can instantly determine which
products best meet their needs. The logo requirements are designed to help you deliver
products that provide compelling Windows Vista experiences to all target audiences.
• Lower support costs and reduced product returns. Because products that qualify for
the Windows Vista logos have Windows compatibility engineered into them, customers
will have fewer reasons to ask for product support or to return a working product.
• Have drivers published on Windows Update. Windows Update is the online extension
of Windows that helps keep computers up to date with the latest software updates and
device drivers. Drivers that pass testing by Microsoft for the Windows Vista logo program
can be distributed on Windows Update.
• Receive a Windows Marketplace listing. Windows Marketplace is a comprehensive,
easy-to-use shopping and download portal that helps customers discover and purchase
third-party products that work with Windows. Windows Vista premium logo products will
qualify for showcase treatment on Windows Marketplace. Products licensed for the
Windows Vista logo will receive additional exposure through a specific search filter.
• Receive a product listing in the Windows Tested Products List. The Tested Products
List provides a comprehensive list of products for many versions of the Windows family of
operating systems. This directory of Windows-compatible products is available to users
from the Windows Start menu, Windows Help and Support, and Microsoft.com.
 The Compliance Levels
The Windows Logo Program explicitly identifies the compliance level and the versions of
the operating system for which the product (system or device) passed compliance testing.
After the manufacturer completes the self-test process and submits test logs to Microsoft,
Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) validates this compliance.

For the Windows Vista Client Operating System, a product (system or device) can obtain
one of two levels of compliance, as described below. The following table provides
guidelines for how the compliance levels map to Windows Vista client SKUs.
Windows Vista SKU Basic Logo Systems Premium Logo Systems
Ultimate Yes Yes
Enterprise Yes Yes
Business Yes Yes
Home Premium Yes Yes
Home Basic Yes No

Compliance Levels for Windows Vista Logo Program:

• "Basic" logo level (previously known as “silver” or “standard” logo level)

A product being tested is deemed compliant when it meets the basic logo requirements as
defined in this document. This level of compliance indicates to a customer that the product
works well with Windows. The basic logo requirements ensure reliability, stability, security,
and proper installation, as well as implements functionality that take advantage of some of the
latest Windows innovations.
Examples include no stop errors, proper installation, and proper removal. For audio devices,
it would mean that they implement Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) and other functional
requirements in this document.

• "Premium" logo level (previously known as “gold” logo level)

A product being tested is deemed compliant when it meets the premium logo requirements as
defined in this document. This level of compliance indicates to a customer that the product
enables additional or enhanced capability with Windows, thereby enabling a premium
experience.
For example, for audio devices, although the basic logo includes requirements for basic audio
support, the premium logo includes requirements to support high fidelity to enhance the audio
experience.

Logo Requirements – System Configuration

SYSFUND-0121 Basic system includes necessary devices and functionality

Effective
Date: June 1, 2006 Consumer Business
Old ID: new Ultra Ultra Ultra Ultra
Desktop Mobile Desktop Mobile
Portable Mobile Portable Mobile
Status: Locked
Basic Logo R R R R R R R R
Premium Logo

For a system to receive a Basic logo it must comply with the Basic logo requirements
defined for a system and must include devices specified in Table B. These devices must
comply with the basic logo requirements (unless an exception is explicitly noted) as
defined in Windows Vista Logo Program Device Requirements, Version 3.0, Draft 0.7.

TABLE A: Basic System requirements

Basic systems must include the devices designated as R (required).

Basic System (4, 5) Consumer Business

Ultra Portable
Ultra Portable

Ultra Mobile

Ultra Mobile
All-in-One

All-in-One
Desktop

Desktop
Mobile

Mobile
Group Sub Group
Graphics (2) R R R R R R R R R R

Display Displays & Monitors (1) R R R R R R R R

Storage R R R R R R R R R R

1) Display on all-in-One and mobile systems must comply with requirements for Displays
& Monitors.
2) Graphics solution in all-in-One and mobile systems must comply with requirements for
Basic Graphics.
3) System must ship with a storage solution.
4) If Basic system includes Audio it must be supported as a UAA compliant audio solution
such as USB Audio and HD Audio.
5) The following devices are not required for systems to receive a Basic logo:
a. Bus Controllers & Ports
i. Cardbus & PCMCIA
ii. IEEE 1394
iii. PCI Express Root Complex
iv. Secure Digital
b. Connectivity
i. Bluetooth
 ii. Cardbus & PCMCIA
iii. ExpressCard
iv. IEEE 1394
v. Infrared
vi. Parallel & Serial
vii. PCI & PCI Express
viii. USB
ix. Wireless USB
c. Network
i. ISDN
ii. TCP Chimney NIC
d. Display
i. Auxiliary Displays
e. Input
i. Keyboard not required on ultra mobile and desktop systems to qualify for
a logo.
ii. Digitizer
iii. Gaming Device
iv. Smart Card Reader
f. Modem
g. Streaming Media & Broadcast
i. Broadcast Receiver
ii. Decoder
iii. Encoder
iv. Video Capture

SYSFUND-0044 Premium system includes necessary devices and functionality

Effective
Date: June 1, 2006 Consumer Business
Old ID: SYS-GLD-51-54 Deskto Ultra Ultra Ultra Ultra
Mobile Desktop Mobile
p Portable Mobile Portable Mobile
Status: Locked
Basic Logo
Premium Logo R R R R R R R R

For a system to receive a Premium logo it must comply with the Premium logo
requirements defined for a system and must include devices specified in Table A. These
devices must comply with all of the basic and premium logo requirements (unless an
exception is explicitly noted) as defined in Windows Vista Logo Program Device
Requirements, Version 3.

TABLE B: Premium system requirements

Premium systems must include the devices designated as R (required).

Premium System (5) Consumer Business

 Ultra Portable

Ultra Portable
Ultra Mobile

Ultra Mobile
All-in-One

All-in-One
Desktop

Desktop

Mobile
Mobile
Group Sub Group
HD Audio R R R R R R R R R R
Bus Controller &
Ports USB (3) R R R R R R R R

Connectivity USB R R R R R R R R

LAN – Ethernet R R R R R R R R R R
Network (2) WLAN R R R R R R R R R R

Graphics R R R R R R R R R R

Display Displays & Monitors (1) R R R R R R R R

Audio R R R R R R R R R R

Storage R R R R R R R R R R
Storage Hybrid Disk Drive (4) R R

1) Display on mobile & All-in-One systems must comply with requirements for Displays &
Monitors.
2) Premium system must ship with network connectivity. Either a LAN or WLAN device must be
included in the system.
3) See SYSFUND-0043 for details of USB requirements.
4) Hybrid Disk Drives are required for mobile systems starting June 1 2008.
5) The following devices are not required to be included as a part of the system to receive a premium
logo:
a. Bus Controllers & Ports
i. Cardbus & PCMCIA
ii. IEEE 1394
iii. PCI Express Root Complex
iv. Secure Digital
b. Connectivity
i. Bluetooth
ii. Cardbus & PCMCIA
iii. ExpressCard
iv. IEEE 1394
v. Infrared
vi. Parallel & Serial
vii. PCI & PCI Express
viii. Wireless USB

c. Network
i. ISDN
ii. Router, Wireless Router, & WLAN AP
iii. TCP Chimney NIC
d. Display
i. Auxiliary Displays
e. Input
i. Keyboard not required on ultra mobile form factor as well as desktops to qualify
for a logo.
ii. Digitizer
iii. Gaming Device
iv. Smart Card Reader
f. Modem
g. Streaming Media & Broadcast
i. Broadcast Receiver
ii. Decoder
iii. Encoder
iv. Video Capture