vista, which version is for me?

[Jesta]

I hate that they make so many different versions of vista.

Im ready to upgrade, and i need to know which version i really need.


Basically my computer runs WoW 100% of the time. (and trolls this and other forums.) And occasionally i watch a movie or two on it.


Will i be good with a cheaper version of vista?

I have 4gb ram if that makes any difference.

[gvblake22]

HERE is a nice breakdown of the features of each edition. For the overwhelming majority of home users and gamers, Vista Home Premium is just fine and still offers all the "goodies" (like Aero). As for whether to get retail or OEM or 32-bit or 64-bit, that is up to you. Personally, I would only get a retail version because the OEM version is stuck with that computer (meaning if you make any hardware changes, you have to buy a new copy of Vista). The other advantage to getting the retail 32-bit version is that you can send away for the 64-bit disks and have both to try. You will need the 64-bit edition in order to fully utilize your 4GB of RAM but the 32-bit is generally more compatible with software and drivers whatnot.

[polobunny]

I would suggest Vista Home Premium 64-bit. The Basic edition is REALLY basic and misses some of the nice Vista features.
Business and Enterprise aren't like a Professional edition, they are really targeted at companies and they have stuff you don't need and miss stuff you would like.
As for Ultimate, it's alright. People were promised a ton of Ultimate only features (referred as Ultimate Extras) but there's very little, and they're frankly not very interesting. DreamScene is a movie looping as your background. Other extras include BitLocker and EFS, likely things you won't use. There's an extra sound package, but that's pretty pointless/boring. With Vista Ultimate you have the ability to change your Vista language "on-the-fly". Only thing worth mentionning would be the added texas hold'em poker game. :P

[gvblake22]

Microsoft also offers what they call "Upgrade" versions. This is NOT a regular full version of the operating system; well, it is, but it's not... let me explain...

The Upgrade version requires an existing install of a qualifying Windows operating system (like Windows XP) or else it will not install Vista. The retail version however (or the non-upgrade OEM version) will install on any machine no matter what operating system was installed before.

[Jesta]

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 English NA DVD - Operating Systems

is 229.00

The OEM version is 109.00
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - Operating Systems

How strict are they on adding new hardware? I have the oem version of xp pro and i completly remade my computer 2 times using the same cd-key.

Is vista more strict?

[gvblake22]

Vista is much more strict than XP. As I understand it, if you change the motherboard, then its a new computer and you need a new license.

[screwballl]

I know someone is expecting me to say it... but I won't

ah hell why not, yes I will: GET LINUX, its free

Playing WoW on Ubuntu - HowTo

[azianai]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Vista is much more strict than XP. As I understand it, if you change the motherboard, then its a new computer and you need a new license.

Not true blake, I've just phoned up microsoft and told them i had hardware failure and i needed to reactivate my Vista Ultimate OEM. They did it for me with no issues at all. Just takes about 15 mins to give them the activation number, then they ask you what kind of computer it is, and what the reinstallation was, then their rep rattles off the reactivation code. I even bought the 32bit OEM version and used my anytime upgrade disk to instead install the 64bit version.

Also I had a home premium OEM that i gave to my buddy's build, it was installed originally on an Asus P5K (my old buggy board). Put in his EVGA 650i and got the same reactivation prompt. Called up microsoft, got the reactivation code, and boom fully working Vista. So i wouldn't get the retail personally, its just if you have any probs with Vista, Microsoft wont tech support it for you, but thats why we got these forums and Google

[Jesta]

sounds good, ill take the chance and get the oem version.

[Boy'nBlack]

First, what version:
I recommend Vista Home Premium as well. Not so much 64-bit though. If you go to that extreme and feel the need for 64-bit computing, then get ultimate-64; it's more fitting to the underlying and speculated needs.

Home premium has everything even an enthusiast needs, and more. As noted, Basic is too stripped to really be useful in the long run. Ultimate has yet to reveal what's so ultimate about it in use. Premium is like XP pro to me so far, and ultimate is just a black box with unused aspects to it. I stab Premium on builds, but install Ultimate on mine. The only reason I run ultimate is that I paid for it and have it (32-bit/64-bit Retail) from an early buy.

On OEM, Retail, and upgrade now:
I feel OEM is a great buy in an OS. It's pluses are more than an upgrade's personal minuses.

I have only a 98se and XP pro sp1 full retail disk to upgrade from for any upgrade version of Vista. All an upgrade wants is to see the old disk in the optical drive during the install process. If it's not installed, it prompts to put the old retail disk in and then you carry along. All fine and dandy, but it's kinda smart. I want to use the XP pro retail for one computer, and the 98se is the only one left. If I use 98se more than once on the same network, they eventually find each other and deactivate. None of the vast hardware changes have forced a validation here.

So given that, OEM is just as cheap and functional in practice around here. No hassles, just plop it in and install...and still on one machine only. If you ever talk to MS, just tell them "retail" and they either don't know or care that it's really OEM. You get a key and move on. The OEM does seem to de-activate more on product changes, but MS's activation is surprisingly easy to re-activate through.

The bane with OEM installs is that it's not upgradeable from here on. So if you haven't had a retail version in a while, maybe it's time to fork out the dough. Tried an upgrade from 2000 oem, no go. Same with two XP pro OEM's...doesn't work. Any upgrade wants a retail disk. So if you go OEM, you're OEM and/or Retail here on out.