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Thread: Which Vista?

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    Question Which Vista?

    http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2068718,00.asp

    I'm hoping to be upgrading to a vista system in about a months time, so I'd like some advice on which version of windows vista will be best for me (although I'm guessing most people here will get the same one ). From what I've read, it's probably between home premium and ultimate.

    The article above says that ultimate has something called "ultimate extras", but doesn't have the information to tell us what they are. Does anyone else know about this yet?

    I read ages ago now that ultimate would be aimed more at gamers, but since then I don't think I've read any more about this. Is this still true, and if so how?

    I think the basic question is - do I really need all of the features in ultimate, or will premium do? I've been half tempted to go with ultimate "just in case", but I have a feeling I might not need all the features.

    Depending on prices, I may end up getting a business edition through MSDNAA first until the prices drop on the others .

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    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
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    why not wait until they are actually released and people are using versions or there are accurate write ups to evaluate before polling for opinions.
    It is Inevitable.....


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    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
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    take a look here for some more concise information on the editions

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista

    I would say go for home basic for now - and if the ultimate extras turn out to be worth it then you can just upgrade to an ultimate licence I think..(90% sure on this, since all the vista editions come on the same dvd no matter which you buy).

    I have ultimate for this PC via MSDN but I will be purchasing home premium for my other PCs..unless its a development box where IIS could be useful I don't think that ultimate is needed

    We'll find out more when the ultimate extras are released though I guess

    iKonia - Vista has been released to MSDN/technet/VL customers..and there are write ups out there All versions have been released too, not just business/ultimate.

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    is it actually worth getting vista? i know someone who has it and its basically just XP with a new look according to them, if it is im not going to get it.

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    As far as I know, it'll be worth it in the long term because of directX10, but I'm only getting it soonish because I happen to be needing an upgrade, so I might as well do the OS at the same time .

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    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nicksmith182 View Post
    is it actually worth getting vista? i know someone who has it and its basically just XP with a new look according to them, if it is im not going to get it.
    Oh how wrong you are

    Vista might look very similar on the surface - and thats because it is. However this is one of its major strong points - Microsoft have taken the well known windows UI and modified it to make it much easier to use and more intuitive, while still keeping the basic layout so as to make the transition from XP to vista simple.

    There are hundreds of little differences which you dont even notice at first but they make your life much easier..the new start menu takes up much less screen space for example while containing more information. The 'spotlight' style search function works brilliantly (very useful as its combined with the run box), the new explorer becomes faster to navigate with the new breadcrumb style nav bar..I could go on but I don't want to sound like a fanboi or a reviewer as i'm neither

    There are also the main changes to the OS which are all 'under the hood' and which most users will never even consider..these are the real reasons to get vista however. So remember its not just about the superficial changes, its well worth the upgrade.

    As a side note on stability i've been running it since release on my dev PC (which I currently use for everything, including gaming) without problems..never had an explorer crash despite having a large number of programs installed and numerous beta drivers.

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    i think i've been converted

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    So it features explorer enhancments that could've (should've) been built into Windows XP in other words.

    Instead you'll have to shell out a **** load of cash for the ultimate version if say you're the kind of person who enjoys PC games, but needs a development platform too. In other words you'd be fine with XP if it wasn't for dx10.
    To err is human. To really foul things up ... you need a computer.

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    Flak Monkey! Dorza's Avatar
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    Home Basic simply isn't worth getting imo. From where I'm standing its just an updated XP which costs 100 quid. It has a ridiculous amount of features cut out of it - see here 4th post. So as far as I'm concerned its like paying 100 quid just for DX10. The least version worth getting is Home Premium which by amazons prices is 220 quid . As for ultimate I don't know what their thinking of when they want 370 quid for it. Many of the features in ultimate aren't even worth much to a home user anyway.

    The only reason that i have to get vista is for DX10 and microsoft knows this. It will be hellish annoying if they bring an XP SP3 out with DX10 in it.

    EDIT: If I've read that extreme tech article correctly Home basic won't even support 2 Physical CPUs so people wanting to upgrade to AMDs new Quad Core system have to go higher in price.
    Last edited by Dorza; 29-12-2006 at 11:22 PM.

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    Senior Member this_is_gav's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by yamangman View Post
    So it features explorer enhancments that could've (should've) been built into Windows XP in other words.
    That's happened once in my IT tech days to a Microsoft OS - that was Win95B which when IE4 was installed upgraded Explorer too.

    There's nothing wrong with the WinXP one, so there's no reason for MS to upgrade it. You want them to take away the reasons for people to upgrade to Vista? As for DX10, I doubt that MS is relying on home gamers for Vista to be a success. It's all businesses - that's where the money is. I'm just thankful that MS has taken the decision to split away from old DX9 technology, and form a new closely integrated gaming platform. It's going to be so much more in the long-term.

    I'm with Spud1 on this - Vista in the flesh is something to behold - not for the surface changes, but for the raw execution and efficiency.

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    Quote Originally Posted by this_is_gav View Post
    That's happened once in my IT tech days to a Microsoft OS - that was Win95B which when IE4 was installed upgraded Explorer too.

    There's nothing wrong with the WinXP one, so there's no reason for MS to upgrade it. You want them to take away the reasons for people to upgrade to Vista? As for DX10, I doubt that MS is relying on home gamers for Vista to be a success. It's all businesses - that's where the money is. I'm just thankful that MS has taken the decision to split away from old DX9 technology, and form a new closely integrated gaming platform. It's going to be so much more in the long-term.

    I'm with Spud1 on this - Vista in the flesh is something to behold - not for the surface changes, but for the raw execution and efficiency.
    Well of course I don't expect it, I know they're in the business of making as much money as they can get away with, but I couldn't disagree more about the 'execution and efficiency'. My stance is persuading people not to buy it as if they have to, and perhaps then Microsoft will alter the way in which they deal with their OS upgrades. I dont want or need Vista or any of it's new 'features'. It's new explorer features are for the ease of use crowd, the lowest common denominator, and lend the system no additional power like the command line power of nix lends itself so admirably.
    To err is human. To really foul things up ... you need a computer.

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    I think that from what I've read so far, if I can get the business edition on MSDNAA, then that should be fine for me as I can't see a use for having media centre atm. Otherwise, premium should be fine, as the ultimate edition seems very expensive for what it is - especially when I don't know that I'd use all the features it has to offer.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dorza View Post
    EDIT: If I've read that extreme tech article correctly Home basic won't even support 2 Physical CPUs so people wanting to upgrade to AMDs new Quad Core system have to go higher in price.
    Isn't there a difference between physical and logical CPUs?

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ajbrun View Post
    Isn't there a difference between physical and logical CPUs?
    yes, there is, and that difference has been around since xpsp1

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    Flak Monkey! Dorza's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ajbrun View Post

    Isn't there a difference between physical and logical CPUs?
    Perhaps I wasn't clear and I can see now that I worded it incorrectly:
    Quote Originally Posted by Extreme Tech

    Both Basic and Premium will support CPUs with as many cores as you like. If Intel comes out with an 8-core CPU in two years, you should be all set no matter which one you buy. If you plan to run a system with more than one physical CPU—meaning two CPUs in two sockets—you're going to need any version of Vista but the Home Basic edition
    Last edited by Dorza; 30-12-2006 at 01:16 AM.

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    Senior Member ajbrun's Avatar
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    What does that have to do with quad cores? It's still just 1 physical CPU isn't it? Just like in the example, if Intel come out with an 8-core CPU in 2 years, AMD are fine with their 4-core CPU now.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ajbrun View Post
    What does that have to do with quad cores? It's still just 1 physical CPU isn't it? Just like in the example, if Intel come out with an 8-core CPU in 2 years, AMD are fine with their 4-core CPU now.

    No its not. AMD doesn't have a 4-Core CPU thats what I'm saying. Their Quad FX CPU approach uses two dual core CPUs where each dual core CPU is in a separate motherboard socket. Home Basic doesn't support such a setup. It only supports 1 CPU socket with multiple CPU Cores. I've also just read from a number of places that Home Premium doesn't support Multi-CPU Socket Motherboards either which contradicts what Extreme-Tech say.

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