Choosing a Vista Version.

[ebeattie]

I thought I had it all planned out. I was going to go down to the store and buy a copy of Vista Ultimate and be done with it. Well I had to spend that money on bills. However I just found out that Im getting a decent bonus at work.

Problem: I would like to get a set of the Logitech Z-5500's. If I get those, I ll have about enough left of my bonus to buy Vista Home Premium OEM.

I mostly use my PC to game. I have a large collection of music, but I wouldnt consider it necessary to need encryption for it. Basic recreational computing/gaming is what I use my PC for.

For gaming and multimedia, is there ANYTHING in Vista Ultimate that I will miss by getting Home Premium?

Also, I have asked this before but I just want to make sure: Are there any sound cards on the market today that will support OpenAL in Vista? I generally like surround sound, but I use the classic 2 front speakers/ subwoofer setup (Altec Lansing ADA 885). I never got on board with EAX (still using the Sound Blaster Live! value card that I got with my last Dell in 2002). I just would like to have a card that will take advantage of OpenAL with no accelerator issues.

Thanks

 

[Piuc2020]

There is not much in Vista Ultimate, sure the business/enterprise features are very nice but you won't really need them, the ultimate extras are also cool (like dreamscenes) but ultimately (heh) there is nothing really worth the price premium.

I say go for Home Premium.

 

[zig3695]

i say home premium oem

 

[dguy6789]

Home Premium is what 99% of anandtech enthusiasts will end up using. It has everything that Ultimate has that you would end up using.

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

The only things you'll miss are:

1) Complete PC Backup - essentially a virutal backup that you can load on and run on any PC with virtual machine software

2) Bitlocker drive encryption

3) The ability to join a domain.

If those don't matter to you, then as Zig said, Home Premium OEM is the way to go.

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: Piuc2020
There is not much in Vista Ultimate, sure the business/enterprise features are very nice but you won't really need them, the ultimate extras are also cool (like dreamscenes) but ultimately (heh) there is nothing really worth the price premium.

I say go for Home Premium.

The differences between versions are:

Home basic. No Aero or Media Center, but the basic Vista UI and system is there.

Home Premium has all the digital entertainment goodies but none of the "business stuff" ie, Domain membership and Shadowcopy/previous versions.

Business has everything that Premium has Except the Media Center Application plus the "business stuff."

Only Ultimate has things like Shadowcopy/previous version AND all the digital entertainment stuff.

All four versions support DX10.

Keep in mind, that you can buy the Home premium version and if you decide that you want the extras that Ultimate has you can upgrade to it later through the anytime upgrade.

 

[Tarrant64]

Home Premium. I thought I would need the features in Ultimate but I stuck with Home Premium and wanted to load Ultimate on the work laptop.

I have everything I need in Home Premium.

 

[corkyg]

Another "yea!" for Home Premium. It is the best value as well.

 

[Lemon law]

You forgot to ask the 32 bit or 64 bit question-----but you also might want to run the vista upgrade adviser to check up on hardware and software compatibilities so your upgrade does not present as many surprise frustrations.

 

[LouPoir]

Home premium is the way to go - no doubt

 

[ascarytiger]

I got Ultimate pretty cheap though a best buy/intel employee purchase program, but I can't decide whether to do 32bit or 64 bit.

But I do agree with everyone, home premium is a much better value.

 

[Griffinhart]

I went Ultimate for my main rig. I'm very happy with it. Originally I was going to go home premium. I changed my mind because of the family upgrade deal. I got two copies of Home Premium for $50 each. One for my Laptop, the other for the "family" PC. In the end I saved money over having to buy three copies of Home Premium and I get the nice extras for my main PC.

 

[ascarytiger]

Did you use 64bit or 32bit?

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: ebeattie
I thought I had it all planned out. I was going to go down to the store and buy a copy of Vista Ultimate and be done with it. Well I had to spend that money on bills. However I just found out that Im getting a decent bonus at work.

Problem: I would like to get a set of the Logitech Z-5500's. If I get those, I ll have about enough left of my bonus to buy Vista Home Premium OEM.

I mostly use my PC to game. I have a large collection of music, but I wouldnt consider it necessary to need encryption for it. Basic recreational computing/gaming is what I use my PC for.

For gaming and multimedia, is there ANYTHING in Vista Ultimate that I will miss by getting Home Premium?

Also, I have asked this before but I just want to make sure: Are there any sound cards on the market today that will support OpenAL in Vista? I generally like surround sound, but I use the classic 2 front speakers/ subwoofer setup (Altec Lansing ADA 885). I never got on board with EAX (still using the Sound Blaster Live! value card that I got with my last Dell in 2002). I just would like to have a card that will take advantage of OpenAL with no accelerator issues.

Thanks

Vista Ultimate offers pretty much nothing the average enthusiast will miss. OpenAL is supported on the X-Fi series from Creative just fine and EAX can be enabled for most games by using Creative's ALchemy software.

 

[Hurricane Andrew]

Originally posted by: Griffinhart
I went Ultimate for my main rig. I'm very happy with it. Originally I was going to go home premium. I changed my mind because of the family upgrade deal. I got two copies of Home Premium for $50 each. One for my Laptop, the other for the "family" PC. In the end I saved money over having to buy three copies of Home Premium and I get the nice extras for my main PC.

Yeah, that is a huge benefit of Ultimate for folks planning on upgrading multiple PC's.

 

[Skitzer]

I have tried Home Premium and Ultimate. I settled on using Vista Basic. I have no need for the Aero junk or Media Center or joining a domain. I like just the bare essentials in an OS. Basic seems to be much snappier and apps open quicker (Probably due to less bloat?) Besides If I decide to upgrade later It's just a few clicks of the mouse.
(Most of the time I'm on my Mac anyway, I just wanted to upgrade my PC from XP).

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: ascarytiger
Did you use 64bit or 32bit?

I am using 32bit for my gaming rig and laptop(only 32bit anyway). 64bit for my family PC that is also a media center.

The family PC only runs media center and basic windows apps nothing special. It's a utility box more than anything else and I had drivers for everything that needed to talk to it.

 

[ShawnD1]

I would put my money on Vista Business. It's equivalent to using XP Pro. Has the same basic features as the Home version, but you can join a domain, do softare raid, have a few more backup tools, and run a remote desktop server (the home versions can only act as clients). Everybody is different, but I personaly use software raid, backup tools, and remote desktop.

The only reason to buy Home Premium is Windows Media Center and Windows Movie Maker. Do you plan to use either of these features?

 

[ebeattie]

Ill definitely use media center. Ill have two computers up and running in a few weeks and Id like to be able to run movies off my main computer into my bedroom computer without having to transfer any files or things like that. I though about home basic, but you have to be able to turn Aero off in premium if you want to right? Ill get premium. Great discussion by the way, really helped to clear things up!

 

[Shawn]

I am using Home Premium and it is great. I don't miss any of the extra features.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: ebeattie
Ill definitely use media center. Ill have two computers up and running in a few weeks and Id like to be able to run movies off my main computer into my bedroom computer without having to transfer any files or things like that.

That's not at all what Windows Media Center does. I'm currently doing exactly what you described, and all you need to do is map network drives. I'm currently using Windows XP Pro on all computers; none of them have Media Center.

 

[theblackbox]

i put home premium on my macbook pro and have been very happy with it so far.

 

[elkinm]

Is there any way to disable features with higher versions.

Lets say I have Ultimate, is it possible to completely remove Aero Glass as if I had home basic without the support.

Also, if I get Home basic, can chose to add only specific features like Aero glass only or Media center only or encryption only.

And finally, does home premium have group policy? With XP only Pro has in and I find it quite useful.

Thanks

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Home Premium is what 99% of anandtech enthusiasts will end up using. It has everything that Ultimate has that you would end up using.

except native rdp server which a ton of people use to access their home computers from work...

I realize there is a hack out there, but its just that.. a hack

 

[DarkManX4lf]

So I guess you guys dont want the Texas Hold Em poker game that is only offered on Ultimate!!