Windows OS-7 Home Edition or the Super-Duper Ultimate?

Probably not worth it for you.

You didn't tell us what you plan to do with the PC.

If you are surfing the web and reading email, you don't need Ultimate. I am also trying to decide which version (I beta and RC tested 7).

I think my question should have been, "What makes home different from ultimate that makes it worth an extra $200.00?"

As near as I can tell, t'ain't worth it, McGee!

And I believe that I used the RC version.

Was it different from the beta? And if so, how?

Ken Leigh

The first beta was build 7000 and was only available for a limited time. You probably downloaded RC (version >7100).

In moving from beta to RC to Retail, a clean install is required.

Both the beta and the RC are Ultimate. You need ultimate for virtualization, I believe. Otherwise, it is a waste of money. Well, to be fair, there are some other features.

I build a PC to test 7. I used the 32-bit beta, but then went with 64-bit RC. Some hardware did not work. The 64-bit is required for memory greater than 4GB.

I have a problem paying 50 percent of the cost of the PC for an OS.

I'll probably wait for the prices to go down or go with Linux. The RC is good for another year.

Which brings up another question - what's virtualization?

Ken Leigh

Mixed-up adage - Two heads are better than one, especially if you ignore the advice of the second head. Kilroy

With virtualization, another operating system can be run on virtual hardware on the real hardware.

You would not have to reboot the pc as the alternative os is running inside the virtual pc as a window.

This could be XP, linux, etc.

And how often is there a conflict between a virtual os and os-7?

I don't believe that was available on the windows 7 version I used. If it was, I never saw it, or if I saw it, did not know what it was for.

Ken Leigh

VHD is M$'s semi-proprietary specification for a single file virtual machine hard-disk.

Only the Windows 7 client offers VHD, XP and Vista do not.

The client then becomes a dual-boot machine where one can boot to the physical drive or to the VDH (an image which is a single ISO file).

This (VHD) would be useful when trying out the image on different systems in an enterprise or for development. (You could have two images, the HD image, and the virtual image). Tools are available in Windows 7 to set up the VHD.

How this would benefit a single user is not clear.

Here are the differences between 7 versions.

Base = Home

Pro = Home Plus these

Builds on home to add features like domain join, group policy (GP) controls, location aware printing, network backups, offline folders.

Missing from Pro = These

Bitlocker, bit locker to go, applocker, direct access, branch cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD.

Ultimate = Adds

Has everything (includes the missing stuff).

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx

i was wondering how much it would cost to upgrade from XP to win7.i remember i had to discard my laptop which was working on win 98 and buy a new one,even when vista was introduced it demanded up grades for hard ware/New PC! can some one enlighten us.

crm

Does anyone remember when Millenium? was the Microsoft "answer" - Microsoft releases a new best of the best OS that has been tested and validated but I will wait and watch before I migrate from Vista Ultimate which freezes often (Opaque White). Let's buy another MS OS - or go Apple - something that works.

Wait for 3 months for the verdict from the tech portion of the web like Cnet and others. Then decide what is a match and what isn't. I will be in the position of changing computer within a year anyway. I intend to go with Toshibe or HP for both a desktop and laptop and both will be preloaded with the same OS. Then comes the fun of loading software and I will contact all of the software vendors to see if they have a down load to use in re-installation. In other words make a real and planned project out of it. A computer is to ma as an air wrench is to a mechanic and it is incumbent upon me to understand as well as a mechanic understands his tools. As for Apple, I have never found value in plastic tools that almost work well and almost integrate with what the entire buisness world uses as a standard. I have never seen a technical engineering group rely on Apple.

I would suggest waiting a bit to see if it does indeed prove stable. I amstill running XP and find it quite adequate.