Windows 7 home / Pro / Ultimate

[DietDrThunder]

Right now I have Windows XP Pro on my home PC. I'm building a new 64-bit system and I'm trying to figure out the advantages / differences one has over the others before I buy. Any help advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Unfortunately it's more complicated than it should be, but it's much simpler than the Windows Vista SKU model. At least now we can definitively say that Ultimate > Pro > Home. Paul Thurrott put together a good list of features, here.

 

[bruceb]

I personally would go with Windows 7 Ultimate especially when you see it is only a $20 difference in cost between the Upgrade version and the Full Versions.

 

[13Gigatons]

Home OEM = $100
Pro OEM= $135
Ultimate OEM = $175

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...204811&Tpk=Windows%207

 

[sportage]

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.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Hmm, it makes me wonder if the Office 2007 Pro that I bought last year will work with Windows 7? Is there a Windows 7 compatability list for Microsoft products anywhere? Then I think of all the old games I still enjoy, like Battlefield 1942 and BZFlag.

I just noticed something else different between Windows 7 home and Pro/Ultimate.
All the 32-bit versions only supports a maximum of 4GB RAM
The home 64-bit supports a maximum of 16GB RAM where as the 64-bit Pro/Ultimate support up to 192GB of RAM. So if I buy the Home, I'm pretty much limited for future upgrades to 16GB.

 

[bruceb]

Office 7 should work fine, as it can also be installed in Vista.

 

[Modelworks]

I went with home premium for every day use . I don't need bitlocker or EFS support. 16GB ram isn't an issue for me.
I don't care for the win xp support, it is too limited, no acceleration or 3d support. I can load up virtual box, install my old copy of xp and get 3d support.

 

[MrMiyagi]

If you've got an .edu email you can get it even cheaper Here

They've got both Pro and Home (32 bit or 64 whatever you choose).

I figure why not go with Pro, although I just started using my copy of Vista Ultimate on my new comp so I don't know if I'll even buy Win 7 even at such a good price.

If you've got 192 gigs of RAM (like most normal everyday computer user) I guess your stuck with Pro/Ultimate

 

[DietDrThunder]

MrMiyagi - A .edu email, no such luck for me since I graduated when we were still using punch cards to run our Fortran programs on a mainframe.

Modelworks - So how does that virtualbox work? You install Windows 7, then install Virtualbox, then install your Windows XP Pro?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Cepak
MrMiyagi - A .edu email, no such luck for me since I graduated when we were still using punch cards to run our Fortran programs on a mainframe.

Modelworks - So how does that virtualbox work? You install Windows 7, then install Virtualbox, then install your Windows XP Pro?

Yep that is pretty much it. Install virtual box then mount the CD in the setup options and click start, it will boot from the cd just like a normal pc. Install XP , then install the virtual box addons and you got a better setup than the win7 version.

Virtual box is free and has more features than the xp mode like hardware video support and works with lots of other OS too.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Cepak
MrMiyagi - A .edu email, no such luck for me since I graduated when we were still using punch cards to run our Fortran programs on a mainframe.

Modelworks - So how does that virtualbox work? You install Windows 7, then install Virtualbox, then install your Windows XP Pro?

Yep that is pretty much it. Install virtual box then mount the CD in the setup options and click start, it will boot from the cd just like a normal pc. Install XP , then install the virtual box addons and you got a better setup than the win7 version.

Virtual box is free and has more features than the xp mode like hardware video support and works with lots of other OS too.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

Of course, that requires you to own a copy of XP, while XP Mode comes with one.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I have Pro, it has what I need.

By the way, the full system backup feature is really useful. It's a bit limited but it does the basics well.

 

[DrOff508]

windows 7 ultimate is amazing

 

[DietDrThunder]

DrOff508, In your opinion, what makes it amazing?

 

[sportage]

I agree with that. Ultimate "is" amazing if you need and will use the amazing features in ultimate. For me... the full system backup is a huge plus. But for most, I still think home is the right choice. Compare and get the version you need.

 

[nerp]

Happy with pro. If pro didn't come with MCE I'd be annoyed. But it does.

 

[Avatar26]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
I have Pro, it has what I need.

By the way, the full system backup feature is really useful. It's a bit limited but it does the basics well.

For those who have a WHS box, you could also use Home Server to do your backups.
That's part of my plan for the upgrade to my network.
Thank MS for MAPS!

 

[Cali21]

Originally posted by: bruceb
I personally would go with Windows 7 Ultimate especially when you see it is only a $20 difference in cost between the Upgrade version and the Full Versions.

The only reason to get W7 Ultimate is if you need the many different languages that it has, other then that stick with Pro. But like you said it's only $20 dollar difference.

 

[LongTimePCUser]

Cepak,
Check back with your college alumni web site.
Many colleges are offering .edu mail address to alumni. Typically, they auto-forward to you preferred email address.

Originally posted by: Cepak
MrMiyagi - A .edu email, no such luck for me since I graduated when we were still using punch cards to run our Fortran programs on a mainframe.

Modelworks - So how does that virtualbox work? You install Windows 7, then install Virtualbox, then install your Windows XP Pro?

 

[armstrda]

Originally posted by: LongTimePCUser
Cepak,
Check back with your college alumni web site.
Many colleges are offering .edu mail address to alumni. Typically, they auto-forward to you preferred email address.

Originally posted by: Cepak
MrMiyagi - A .edu email, no such luck for me since I graduated when we were still using punch cards to run our Fortran programs on a mainframe.

Modelworks - So how does that virtualbox work? You install Windows 7, then install Virtualbox, then install your Windows XP Pro?

Just remember if you do that, MS can and has asked for verification of enrollment. This is usually a copy of a Student ID or a copy of your class schedule.