Compare the diff
http://www.microsoft.com/windo...-editions/default.aspx
For 90% of folks, home is probably the one to go with.
Ultimate adds bitlocker. Something most will probably not need or use.
And ultimate adds more languages. Again, not needed by most.
Pro and ultimate add ability to do a full system backup.
you "could" find that useful, but there are programs, like ghost, to do a full
system backup a lot cheaper than the cost of an upgrade from home to pro W7.
XP mode is another add-on to pro and ultimate. But if you actually read
what you need to do to make xp-mode work, you'll probably say "forget that".
Xp-mode in pro and ultimate is for running older xp and vista programs
that Win7 will not run.
Like even the simple cardfile.exe program from windows long ago, remember? the simple
name and address cardfile thingy. That file, cardfile.exe ran in everything up thru
vista, but Win7 will not run cardfile.exe.
I assume xp-mode would allow you to run cardfile.exe, but the hoops you need to jump thru,
for xp-mode to function, is beyond most average users tech savvy.
In using cardfile.exe as an example, Win7 will not run a lot of older stuff, even stuff that
ran in vista. So myself, its easier to just find newer Win7 friendly replacements for
stuff like cardfile.exe (my example), rather than to go to W7 pro just to get xp-mode.
Where xp-mode in itself sounds like a can of worms to work with.
Yeah, unless you really really need full system backup ability, Id go with the home Win7.
Ps. I was lucky and ordered two sets of home when it was offered @ 50% off.
That got me two W7 home's for $49 each = $100.
That was a good deal...
Im not sure if I get both the 32 and 64 bit. I hope you get both or the option, as with vista 32 owners, to also mail for the 64 for the cost of shipping. $9 I think it was.
I can tell you, a lot of people buying new pc's with Win7 or the free upgrade to win7, these new pc's are mostly coming with vista 64 installed.
People get a new lap or desk with vista 64 as default, get it home, and find a lot of their
32 bit stuff they paid good $$$ for would NOT run in the 64 bit.
So back to bestbuy, or where ever, the pc went for a refund.
I know a sales guy at my best buy, and they are seeing a lot of 64 bit vista's, that is
standard on most their new pc's, returned because its the 64 bit and not 32 bit os.
A lot of people do not even know the difference or why, until they find their
stuff won't install on a 64 bit system. Its pissing a lot of pc buyers off.
People will just have to let go of the 32 based systems, hard as that might be cost wise.