Which Vista variant?

I'm just hunting round for a new laptop and am more than likely going to go with Vista. I figure, the worse comes of it I could always blitz it and stick XP Pro on it and I'd then still have a Vista license if I decide to go back!

But what variation of Vista to go for? Home Premium seems to be one of the most common offered, but what does that lack and will I miss the extras? I will need to connect to different business networks at times, but not to be part of one on a day-to-day basis. Wifi and wireless broadband essential, but other than that it's all probably pretty standard stuff.

So what's what in the world of Vista?

 

Have you visited the Microsoft website, which outlines/compares each version of Vista?

 

go to MS website and there is a table that compares each version...

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

 

I recommend Home or Business, as Basic is, well, basic, and Ultimate is overrated.

 

Home premium is the really all you need. Has everything besides dreamscene and other useless crap.

 

yeah just get whichever is cheaper between home premium and business.

ultimate is pointless and basic is crippled.

 

Business has everything one needs except crappy FDE and Media Center.

 

I own ultimate and premium... have to agree with the others... either go premium or business.... although, depending on where you buy it, business won't be that much cheaper than ultimate (within maybe $20).

I've had a system builder license for over a year and love it... much cheaper and no issues if your computer dies.

But, I needed ultimate for software testing purposes (just in case). If I did not have to buy it, I'd stick with premium more than likely.

 

Basic is OK, but Home Premium is better, unless you want to join a domain, which would require either Business or Ultimate.

 

Which is why I did XP Pro and Vista Business...just like to have capabilities...

 

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions_final.asp

 

I do notice a difference between Vista Basic and Home Premium, and Basic is well, BASIC, and lacks some features. So Home Premium wins there...

And there have been issues about how Vista Ultimate is barely different from Home Premium, and most times, a laptop does come with Home Premium and costs quite a lot to upgrade to a "not-so different" Vista Ultimate...

Windows Vista Home Premium wins, go for that!

 

Oh, yeah! Vista Business supports 2 CPUs! FTW!!!

 

I love what he wrote about ultimate....

He really needs to go back and revise that...

 

That does not matter. Laptops, and most desktops, only have one CPU.

 

Not true. It does matter. I don't care if laptops and most desktops only have one CPU; it's about the capability. Knowing that my OS is bad stuff is worth a lot to me. Just knowing that it could handle two CPUs makes my day.

 

Well the laptop won't normally be connected to a domain as I'll be using it in my office at home with just a workgroup.

But I will need to be able to connect to one or more domains at times for the odd day here and there. And also to Terminal server onto a network.

So will Home Premium allow me to do that, perhaps with some extensions. Or will I need Business or Ultimate?

 

I have Vista Business and the main problem i would say is its dire lack of features. It doesn't even come with a DVD Codex to play a DVD, so i have to play it through VLC or another free software. I didn't use the feature much on XP Pro but its just the fact they removed it that hacks me off.
Business obviously doesn't have a media centre or all the other little extras that Home Premium has, and considering Business will generally cost you more as well it just isn't really worth it for home use, or for something you want to use every day for both work and entertainment.

Vista Home Premium all the way i think. Since Ultimate is overrated and over priced for what it is.

 

But will i be able to occasionally connect to a domain with Home Premium?

 

I have no idea what that is or what it means

 

No, it does not natively have this capability.

 

Ah, now that's a bugger then. Other than going for a different version of Vista, is there a way round it?

 

You said in an earlier post that this feature isn't that important except for the odd day here and there, so why would it matter? I'm not trying to dig into you in any way. I am curious, though. What exactly are you looking to do with the OS?

 

Hmm... sounds like you might be the perfect candidate for Vista Ultimate. Like I said before, business is not that much cheaper than ultimate. What are you really saving?

Amazon.com:

Vista Bus upgrade: $179.99

Vista Ultimate upgrade: $194.99.

While I'd still more than likely go for premium, sounds like their might be a benefit for you to go ultimate.

 

I think I would have to agree. Just get Ultimate and you won't have to worry about what capabilities you'd be missing out on.

 

My laptop is going to be connected to my home network via a workgroup rather than a domain. But I will be doing work at clients premises every now and then where it will be useful to be able to add my laptop to their domain.

 

You won't be able to log in to a windows domain with home basic or home premium.

However, you might be able to access it in some ways, such as using the domain's file/print server. But... I'm not really sure about exactly what sort of access you'd have, if any.

 

Gotcha. In that case, Ultimate may be the way to go.

 

Ok, looks like it might have to be Ultimate... Business would do the trick for the networking side of things, but seems to be scuppered when it comes to the multimedia side of things

 

Actually Business might be the better option as I can't see me using media centre and I use Nero for burning, so hmmmmmmm

 

Business FTW.

 

I think you're right. Looking again at the comparison chart Home Premium has Media Center, some games and a DVD burner, none of which is particularly useful for me and can't be replicated by my usual software. Business comes with more networking tools which are definitely useful for me.