Vista Ultimate upgrade

Sorry if this has been discussed already. I can't find the answer I am looking for with the search feature.

I have Vista Home Premium 32bit and need to upgrade to Vista Ultimate.

What's the difference between the Vista Ultimate upgrade version and the Vista Anytime upgrade you can buy through MS? Are they the same thing?

I can get the student discount pricing for Vista Ultimate upgrade but I'm know sure what's the difference?

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/default.aspx

Microsoft gives you the main differences in that link. I got vista ultimate myself recently I can't noticed anything special from vista ultimate than from home premium(although have I windows xp pro and dual booted to test out vista ultimate but I tried vista at school and a lot in work). If you have the cash and want it go for it although I really don't recommend it nothing big from Home and Ultimate. Although i think one of the biggest thing it has a recovery back up. Who knows what else ultimate has.

 

Thanks, but maybe I wasn't clear when I asked my question. MS sells two different upgrade kits. The Ultimate upgrade and the Ultimate anytime upgrade. What's the difference? If my Laptop already has vista home premium which one should I be buying?

http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/details.aspx?view=info&itemid=6008004&WT.mc_id=winonline_upgradeultimate


http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/anytime-upgrade-overview.aspx

 

You should check out http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx

Click on additional items to get Ultimate with SP1 upgrade.

 

So nobody can tell me what the difference between the two are?

 

Vista Anytime upgrade originally allowed Vista users to download a license pack that activated the Ultimate features. You would then insert a Vista disk that was designed for this process, which would install the additional features. Also, some PC makers kept the Anytime Upgrade files on the computer so that the disk would not be necessary.

After some time, Microsoft changed the anytime upgrade process to require you to wait for an physical upgrade pack that you would get in the mail.

The 1st link you posted goes about it in a slightly different way. a copy of the Vista installer is downloaded to your system after checkout, you'll follow the steps here to install. Physical backup media is available, and a copy of the software is stored in your "Digital Locker" so you can retrieve it when necessary.

Functionally the software is exactly the same. The only difference is whether you want to wait for it, or download it immediately.

In any case, I strongly suggest you take advantage of your college student status and go for the "Ultimate Steal" promotion. It's much cheaper than both of the above options, and if it's like the Office 07 they have there, you'll be able to download it immediately as well.

 

Thank you!

 

I can add that if you buy the Home Premium to Ultimate upgrade you have to install Home Premium and activate it before you can upgrade to Ultimate.

If you buy the Ultimate upgrade you can upgrade from anything, i think you even can install Ultimate without activating and then Upgrade and activate it so it is almost like a clean installation - please correct me if anything changed since the first batch of Vista dvd's.