Windows 7 which one?

john10001 · 13 Aug 2011 at 19:47

What is the difference between Premium, Professional and Ultimate versions of Windows 7? Are the Pro and Ultimate versions worth it for the extra price premium you pay? What do you get in return? Anything useful, life-changing or worthwhile?

d_brennen · 13 Aug 2011 at 19:48

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions#Comparison_chart

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/compare (click on feature comparison)

Home Premium is enough and more for 99% of users

yashiro · 13 Aug 2011 at 19:50

Get Home Premium for a home system. You can find out the differences using google.

oli356 · 13 Aug 2011 at 22:04

if you want xp mode go for pro, if you need 35 languages go for ultimate

If you don't need either, go for home premium really.

Disco Boy · 13 Aug 2011 at 22:25

As above really. But I think that one thing to mention is that home premium lacks automatic backup to a network drive which you would expect it to include.

d_brennen · 14 Aug 2011 at 02:39

Disco Boy said:
As above really. But I think that one thing to mention is that home premium lacks automatic backup to a network drive which you would expect it to include.

On a home network? Most PC users confuse themselves when capslock is on trying to log into Facebook

Microsoft has every right to charge more for features on OS software to the people who can use them

You are at home? Check

You have a computer or two in the house? Check

You need enterprise level fault tolerance? Errr...

Buy Home Premium

They are catering for the masses, and stuff like automatic backups to NAS devices is hardly rocket science to those that need it. Can be done for free too

Vertigo · 14 Aug 2011 at 12:23

Pretty much as others have said.

Home Premium at a minimum.

Professional if you need to use virtual machines, want the backup functionality or use more than 16GB of memory.

Ultimate if you want the bitlocker security stuff.

Johnnytoxic · 14 Aug 2011 at 12:35

Remote Desktop I find very useful which is Professional minimum.

oli356 · 14 Aug 2011 at 13:53

Johnnytoxic said:
Remote Desktop I find very useful which is Professional minimum.

Do all the computers need to have pro for this or? Brought home a laptop from work which is running pro as it wasn't installing enterprise from a USB stick for some reason. Anyway, couldn't get it to work to my home premium desktop

Johnnytoxic · 14 Aug 2011 at 16:11

Only computers you wish to connect to need professional.

memyselfandi · 14 Aug 2011 at 16:41

Vertigo1 said:
Pretty much as others have said.

Home Premium at a minimum.

Professional if you need to use virtual machines, want the backup functionality or use more than 16GB of memory.

Ultimate if you want the bitlocker security stuff.

For virtual machines just use Virtualbox or VMWare Player ... both free.

Johnnytoxic said:
Remote Desktop I find very useful which is Professional minimum.

For home use LoginMeIn Free or Teamviewer would probably be fine for most people if they needed remote desktop access.

The vast majority of people running more than Home Premium at home probably do not really need to and are probably just doing so as "it's more expensive so it must be better", (not implying that that is the case for the above two posters)