confusing Windows 7 features

[VorpalBunny]

I'm pretty confused on the Windows 7 editions, but I suspect a lot of people were at first.

I'm looking to buy a retail laptop, but I could use help in deciding which Windows7 edition will meet my needs. I'll be doing photo editing, playing games, and developing software.

For instance, what value does the feature to run apps in Windows XP mode really have? The video Microsoft provides says they run a virtual machine copy of XP. But is that really necessary? Has anyone run into this case where the only way to run the software is to run the virtual machine? I'm thinking at some point I would want to run Master of Orion 2 on this new box and that might not be very happy running under windows 7.

And what is domain join? I don't fully understand what that's doing. I have a home network and I might take my laptop to LAN parties and such. But I can't imagine needing any additional software to connect to another domain. In fact, the video they have showing that feature in action looks just like what I already have on Windows XP Pro. huh?

Thanks for the help.

 

[lxskllr]

Home Premium should work for you. XP mode is more for businesses that run proprietary apps on XP, which would be expensive/impossible to replace. I haven't needed XP since I installed Vista at release. Joining a domain again is for businesses. Home networking won't be an issue without that feature.

 

[RebateMonger]

The other place the a virtual XP license can come in handy is when browsing "iffy" web sites. If your virtual PC gets trashed by malware, you just delete it and open up a clean copy. Or "turn off" the virtual XP without saving the (bad) changes that just occurred to it.

 

[WelshBloke]

The other place the a virtual XP license can come in handy is when browsing "iffy" web sites. If your virtual PC gets trashed by malware, you just delete it and open up a clean copy. Or "turn off" the virtual XP without saving the (bad) changes that just occurred to it.

I use sandboxie for that, not that I visit dodgy web sites. ()

Honest

 

[lxskllr]

If you're trying to save every penny, Linux in a free VM would work too.

 

[WelshBloke]

If you're trying to save every penny, Linux in a free VM would work too.

Not to run XP compatible programs though. :hmm:

 

[lxskllr]

Not to run XP compatible programs though. :hmm:

No, but it would take care of the sketchy site surfing.

 

[WelshBloke]

No, but it would take care of the sketchy site surfing.

Ahh yes sorry, not that anyone on these forums would go to such iffy sites.

 

[RebateMonger]

Ahh yes sorry, not that anyone on these forums would go to such iffy sites.

I was only using it as an extreme example.

 

[Nothinman]

Not to run XP compatible programs though. :hmm:

Depends on the program, WINE runs a decent amount of stuff these days.

 

[Murloc]

home premium should be enough for you.
Should you ever need xp, use virtualbox.
Might be less integrated, but works if you really need it.

 

[VorpalBunny]

home premium should be enough for you.
Should you ever need xp, use virtualbox.
Might be less integrated, but works if you really need it.

Great call on the virtualbox. I'll keep that in mind. I guess I won't worry too much about the professional version then. Thanks everyone.