Should I move over to Vista?

starmanwarz

starmanwarz

starmanwarz

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I am on XP Pro SP2 32bit now and I think that its time to get Vista.Should I do it or should I wait for SP1(when is it coming out?).I have a few questions-


1.When Vista first came out I remember that there was an issue with installation,I think you were able to install you copy of Vista only 2 or 3 times,does this still stands?I am formatting and getting new hardware all the time,does this means that I will have to buy it every time?

2.I think I will get the Ultimate edition,but I am not sure if I am going with 32bit or 64bit(specs in sig).I dont even know the differences between them,it would be great if you could explain.
 
1. Its just the same as all other MS os's. Oem version for 1 PC (can't change motherboard), in the Retail version you can change as much hardware as you like.
2. Don't bother with ultimate, I got that and it doesn't give you anything you'll need over Home Premium.
No reason at all not to get 64 bit, main benefit of 64 bit os's is it lets you use 4gig and up. 32 bit would be around 3.2/3.5gig depending on your video ram.

SP1 will be out at the start of next year (ish), but it wont make much of a difference since the important things are dropped out via Windows update.
 
modo77 said:
1. Its just the same as all other MS os's. Oem version for 1 PC (can't change motherboard), in the Retail version you can change as much hardware as you like.
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I was planning on getting the OEM version,but I will be able to install it only once??!!!This is ridiculous!So if I want to get a new board in 5 months I will have to buy it again?:(:(
 
Yes for it to be legal, just like you do on xp. Its nothing new with vista oems have always been like this.
 
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Hey starmanwarz,

starmanwarz said:
I am on XP Pro SP2 32bit now and I think that its time to get Vista.Should I do it or should I wait for SP1(when is it coming out?).I have a few questions-
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Windows Vista is a great operating system and is worth trying. So why not buy Vista and then setup a dual boot configuration with XP and Vista. Very simply and easy to do.

Service Pack one is due for release next year i think. Vista currently is very sercure and stable and i belive the service pack only contains all of the updates that have been released for Vista.


starmanwarz said:
1.When Vista first came out I remember that there was an issue with installation,I think you were able to install you copy of Vista only 2 or 3 times,does this still stands?I am formatting and getting new hardware all the time,does this means that I will have to buy it every time?
Click to expand...

Their wasn't an issue with the installation with Vista when it first came out. What you are describing is the different type of versions you can get i.e Retail, OEM or Upgrade.

So just a quick summary of the difference between them all.

Retial versions you can install and activate as many times as you like on any machine. You must how ever, first remove the copy of Vista from one machine to then be able to install it on another without any problems. You also get one years free support from Microsoft.

Now OEM is slightly different, once you have installed and then activated your copy of Vista, it is then linked to your motherboard. So if you change your motherboard im afraid you will have to purchase a new copy of Vista. If your motherboard becomes faulty for what ever reason and you have to buy a new board, you are still legal to use your current copy of Vista, just ring up Microsoft and explain to them the situation and they will sort it out for you.

Finally the Upgrade version. It simply is what it is, you upgrade your current operating system. You can either upgrade from an older operating system weather that was a Retail copy or an OEM copy, it will not make a difference.

starmanwarz said:
2.I think I will get the Ultimate edition,but I am not sure if I am going with 32bit or 64bit(specs in sig).I dont even know the differences between them,it would be great if you could explain.
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You are looking at buying Vista Ultimate, before you do though have a look here. Its a chart that basically explains the difference between each of the versions of Windows Vista you can get. If your not going to use any of the Vista Ultimate extra features, go for Home Premium and save a bit of money.

If you have a processor that is 64bit their is no reason not to get the 64bit version of Windows Vista. As i have said in another thread, you may not see a massive performance and speed increase going from 32bit to 64bit but once programs start to ultilize and take advantage of 64bit you will then start to see a difference.

Its also worth getting the 64bit version since if you ever intend to upgrade to 4GB of Memory you will not have any problems seing all of 4GB of Memory. As 32bit operating systems can use 4GB of Memory but this also includes things such as the graphics card memory etc, so your only see around 3 to 3.5GB of Memory.

The support for Vista is fantastic now, most of the manufacturers have now realeased 64bit drivers for their hadrware so the compatability problems that people were getting when Vista was first released are now resolved for the most part. :)
 
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Very little point going from xp to vista 32bit imo. Unless you really are wanting dx10 then go for it. 64bit, for me at least, is a good idea but is wriggled with driver issues. Best option is dual boot xp32 and vista64
 
starmanwarz said:
If I get Vista 32bit,will I be able to upgrade it to 64 if I want to?
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Hey starmanwarz, you will not be able to upgrade from the 32bit version to the 64bit version over the internet i.e like you can do if you say have Home Premium and wanted to upgrade to Vista Ultimate. (If that is what you mean)

If you have bought Vista 32bit OEM or thinking of buying it im afraid you will have to buy another copy of Vista but this time round just get it in the 64bit flavour. So its best to get the 64bit version straight of the bat.

If you buy the Retail version you get both versions the 32bit and 64bit but it costs a lot more obviously. :)
 
If I may just point you at this link:

http://www.cifi.com/computing/vistaoemretail1.html

It should explain the OEM Vs Retail licensing for you.
The bottom line is that Vista is only as expensive as you want to make it and all this "I can only install it once - that is terrible" talk is really not needed.

Do you want or need Ultimate because it offers you something you want or need?
I mean I'd like a Porsche, but I usually have to settle for something less - just because I want something doesn't mean I can then moan because I can't have it.
If you decide you must own Ultimate and go for the cheaper OEM version then you must be prepared to be restricted by the cheaper license.
That is - as soon as you replace your motherboard you are no longer license legal.
Spend a lot more, buy retail (That Porsche) and the OS is good for the life of Vista and can be transfered from machine to machine quite happily.

Maybe however you could decide that Home Basic or Home Premium are really all you need - a need rather than a want.
In which case you've got the cheaper OEM licenses again, but remember they are still restrictive or you can go Retail and once again be in the position to move it around.

I work for a living and so I've got Retail Ultimate for my main machine.
Yes, it cost me around £300.
However it's good for life, for as long as Vista is around and I can transfer it from machine to machine as much as a like.
Yes £300 is a lot of money to spend, so you need to make your OS purchase depending on what you can afford, not what you want.
 
Thanks for the replies.Well I think I can get a Business cd key from uni,but I dont think that I will get a cd aswell.A friend of mine has an Ultimate OEM,will I be able to use his cd to install and my cd-key?And if I do that,I will have the Business edition,right?Business looks ok,what do you think?
 
Hey starmanwarz, as modo77 has already said, the Vista DVDs contains all version, its the key that defines which version you get.

When you go through the installation process of Vista, when it asks you to enter your key do not enter it. If you do this you will then be able to choose which version to install. As you have a buiness CD-Key select the buisness version and then once it has installed, connect to the internet and then just go through the activation process. :)
 
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Thats great,thanks!I had a look at the vista versions comparison chart,it looks like business has pretty much everything,do you think that it is ok or should I just buy a Home Premium?
 
If you don't need any of the other things in home prem then get business. Only u know what you want ;) Iirc the main thing missing from business is Media Centre.
 
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