Choices, choices, choices...

Ok, really only 3 choices, but I'm hoping for some input as to which way I should go.

I'm buying a refurb Dell. The OS is "locked in" meaning I have no opportunity to select an upgrade, I have to deal with whatever it comes with. Obviously, this means I should choose one that has what I want. My choices seem to be Vista Ultimate 64, Vista Ultimate 32, and XP Pro w/Vista Business License.

I've been an XP user for a very long time, and I like it very much. My experience with Vista has been with Home Premium only, and it has not been a good experience. However, reading on this forum has given me hope that I might be able to make Vista play nice, and might be able to have a good experience with it.

A big part of me says if I'm going to have to get Vista, it's gonna HAVE to be Ultimate, and it's gonna HAVE to be 64-bit. There's no chance I'll be able to buy this OS aftermarket, so it's going to have to come with the system, or not at all.

As for XP, it'd be nice to have another legit copy, but really I have so many licenses available to me already that I don't really need another. If I were to purchase a machine with some other OS, I'd be able to install a legit copy of XP anyway.

The problem right now is that there are no systems with both 64-bit Vista Ultimate and the processor I want, only systems with 32-bit Vista Ultimate (or XP pro).

My question for you is, should I hold out for a system with 64-bit Vista Ultimate and my desired processor to become available, or should I settle for a system that has 64-bit Vista Ultimate but a less powerful processor, or should I settle for a system that has the processor I want, but only has 32-bit Vista Ultimate?

 

how can the OS be locked in? there is nothing to stop you from shoving a different disk in and reinstalling

 

I'm referring to what it comes with. I understand completely that I can change it once I get it - and I'm planning on it. What I CAN'T do is identify a system that has the hardware I want, then pay them a bit more to sell me a Vista Ultimate 64 license instead of the XP Pro w/Vista Business 32 license that the system comes with.

Edit: And since I don't already own a Vista Ultimate 64-bit license (and can't afford to buy one separately), I can't buy the system with XP Pro and just install Vista Ultimate 64 over it.

 

Making vista "play nice" as you put it, especially the 64-bit ver. has less to do with anyone else's experiences and more to do with your particular system and what you want to run.

This is especially true if you plan to game.

I would research your needs first. Then research the particular system with the OS version you plan on choosing.

Buying a refurb. "locks" you in only because you can only choose an already assembled unit, but that doesn't mean you can't upgrade yourself. You can get a system with 32-bit vista ultimate and upgrade to 64-bit ult. for a song.

I believe Dell allows you to change the OS at the user level without warranty concerns.

 

Fair enough. The system is a Dell Precision M4400, I will be using it for software development and for light to moderate gaming, mostly single-player FPS-style games. I have XP Pro on every other system I use, and am quite comfortable with it and its abilities.

Vista interests me because of its access to DirectX 10. Ultimate interests me because I like having access to everything available. 64-bit interests me because of access to more memory as well as better performance (I've heard). Again, my previous experience with Vista Home Premium was not good, I'm hoping Vista Ultimate can change my mind.

Is this so? I will have to look in to this...

Edit: The Microsoft website says that any system with Vista Ultimate should have both 32 and 64 bit versions available... any truth to this?

Edit 2: other sites say Dell deliberately removes 64-bit from the install DVD

Again, I know this. But since I cannot buy Vista Ultimate separately, my only chance of obtaining it is with a system purchase.

Nope. First thing they ask when you call with a warranty claim is if it has the original shipped OS installed, and if not, they make you restore it

 

just found this thread... Maybe I can avoid all this worry about 32 vs 64 after all.