Advise on which edition of Windows Vista to use

ajgoodfellow · 8 Jan 2007 at 17:38

Hi

I'm considering upgrading to Windows Vista when it is released this month. I tried the Beta 2 release of Vista Ultimate a few months ago and I liked it, apart from the fact that it didn't support the network card on my motherboard (hopefullly now sorted - will check though!)

I was looking at buying the Ultimate Edition but it's expensive and I'm not sure I need it. I'm currently running Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

I find the extra features offered by XP Pro (networking and computer management) useful over XP Home, hence I was looking at Vista Business instead as it's a fair bit cheaper

From what I can gather, Vista Ultimate offers the following over Vista Business:

- Windows Media Centre (my PC is in my room so I cannot see that I will use this)
- DreamScene - does this only allow you to play a video on your desktop? If so, I'm not interested!
- SportsLounge - probably US only and I'm not big into sports
- Windows BitLocker drive encryption - any good or just a waste of money?

Any advice would be greatfully received

Thanks

Combat squirrel · 8 Jan 2007 at 17:54

From what you listed you would probably want to go for vista home premium 64, thats also the general consensus of what most users on the forum will be going for

EDIT: if you want VERY advanced networking options for whatever reason go bus/ult versions, but for nearly all home networking stuff home premium should do

ajgoodfellow · 8 Jan 2007 at 17:59

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't say I need any special networking features like Domains et al as I don't use these at home!

As it's about the same price as Premium though and as I don't need Media Centre (I'll never use it) would it be the better choice?

ajgoodfellow · 9 Jan 2007 at 15:17

Ordered Vista Business 64-Bit edition at lunch with Saturday delivery - hope that I'll be lucky and have it for the weekend!

At 1 o'clock today they said that they'd already sold over 2,500 copies! :eek:

Macro · 9 Jan 2007 at 15:36

Dreamscene is using video as a backdrop in the same way you currently would use JPEGs.

It doesn't really add any productivity although it is quite pretty. Video HERE

koolcrusader · 9 Jan 2007 at 15:41

ajgoodfellow said:
Ordered Vista Business 64-Bit edition at lunch with Saturday delivery - hope that I'll be lucky and have it for the weekend!

At 1 o'clock today they said that they'd already sold over 2,500 copies!

I thought is was on Pre-Order only? Not released till the end of the month?

lordedmond · 9 Jan 2007 at 15:55

koolcrusader said:
I thought is was on Pre-Order only? Not released till the end of the month?

AS they take you money when you order they have in fact "sold " the product

or reserved your copy so to speak

koolcrusader · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:10

lordedmond said:
AS they take you money when you order they have in fact "sold " the product

or reserved your copy so to speak

I know that. I was just curious as ajgoodfellow said in his post that he was hoping to have it for the weekend!

mrochester · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:45

koolcrusader said:
I know that. I was just curious as ajgoodfellow said in his post that he was hoping to have it for the weekend!

OCUK have done a deal with MS and are supposed to be releasing the OEM copies of Vista this Friday, instead of having to wait till the end of the month.

ajgoodfellow · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:45

koolcrusader said:
I know that. I was just curious as ajgoodfellow said in his post that he was hoping to have it for the weekend!

Hi

The Retail copies aren't available until the end of the month but OCUK are expecting stock of the OEM copies at the end of this week - the 12th Jan

Link

ajgoodfellow · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:49

Athanor said:
Dreamscene is using video as a backdrop in the same way you currently would use JPEGs.

It doesn't really add any productivity although it is quite pretty. Video HERE

Just watched that - yeah that's pretty cool!

Nice to have, although not sure whether it's worth £45!

Perfect_Chaos · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:58

i am surprised people are buying the oem version.. you can only install it once, update ** mobo and ** screwed.. need to buy windows again.

im getting retail vista just for that reason alone

ajgoodfellow · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:03

Perfect_Chaos said:
i am surprised people are buying the oem version.. you can only install it once, update ** mobo and ** screwed.. need to buy windows again.

im getting retail vista just for that reason alone

Yeah - that's a real pain but I've just upgraded so I don't plan to upgrade for a few years (save perhaps the graphics card or CPU [currently FX-62])

The Retail Business edition is £250 - I just cannot afford this at the moment. £90 is a stretch as it is!

Perfect_Chaos · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:08

ajgoodfellow said:
Yeah - that's a real pain but I've just upgraded so I don't plan to upgrade for a few years (save perhaps the graphics card or CPU [currently FX-62])

The Retail Business edition is £250 - I just cannot afford this at the moment. £90 is a stretch as it is!

Business edition, isnt home premium about 30 quid less than that one?.

McDaniel · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:15

There is a huge difference in price with the OEM -afaik its just without any pretty packaging right?

Im tempted by Ultimate as i thought it would be near £300 not £160ish

ajgoodfellow · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:22

Perfect_Chaos said:
Business edition, isnt home premium about 30 quid less than that one?.

Not for OEM - it's about £15 more for OEM Business over OEM Home Premium and I don't need Media Centre

As for Retail - yeah, Business edition is £40 more than Home Premium!

McDaniel said:
There is a huge difference in price with the OEM -afaik its just without any pretty packaging right?

Im tempted by Ultimate as i thought it would be near £300 not £160ish

Basically, yes. You don't get any technical support and it's only licensed to be used on one PC. If you upgrade your PC or perform a 'significant hardware change' (eg a Motherboard) then strictly speaking you need to buy a new license, unlike Retail. That's what I understand anyway!

McDaniel · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:43

ajgoodfellow said:
Basically, yes. You don't get any technical support and it's only licensed to be used on one PC. If you upgrade your PC or perform a 'significant hardware change' (eg a Motherboard) then strictly speaking you need to buy a new license, unlike Retail. That's what I understand anyway!

I see, XP OEM is re-activated these days isnt it, i read the Vista side is a bit of a grey area. Hmm at £140 for Vista Ultimate though instead of £300 off for retail its worth the risk

Combat squirrel · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:57

i dont see them arguing with you if your motherboard for example genuinly blew up or something, its wrong that they would make u buy a new copy if you had to change when it was not your choice

porkrind · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:59

McDaniel said:
I see, XP OEM is re-activated these days isnt it, i read the Vista side is a bit of a grey area. Hmm at £140 for Vista Ultimate though instead of £300 off for retail its worth the risk

not if u have to pay again, imagine if your mb fails and on top of the cost of a replacement you have to pay for vista again

McDaniel · 9 Jan 2007 at 18:03

porkrind said:
not if u have to pay again, imagine if your mb fails and on top of the cost of a replacement you have to pay for vista again

I suppose, i dont expect to upgrade for another 2 years as i dont use my pc to game anymore, so ill prob take the risk