[TechieXP]

That's only a problem for upgraders...not for me. I always install from scratch.
Also there are other things to consider. With previous version of NT, you can use the CD to do a full install as long as you had your original CD. Example...I also use Windows Server products. I had Windows NT 4.0. When Windows 2000 Server came out I bought the upgrade CD. During installation it simply asked e to drop in my NT CD for verification. Installation continued.

Vista's upgarded CD's has a bug that allow for the software to install as ht full vesrion.
Also what a lot of people don't know is ALL the version are identical...that is why they are all on thr OEM CD. The difference in them is handle by a script that tells the installer whether it is an upgrade or full or whatever version you picked.

The ultimate version is simply ALL of them rolled into one...however its just all controlled by the registry to turn features on or off.
It is recommended that you install fresh. I never upgrade bec it tends to be a problem in one way or another. Even if you aren't having problems in a present installtion, upgrading can cuase a few.

You make a good point...but it only applies to those who go that route. Most people who use Ultimate are PC enthusiats and they usually perform a full install. That is why we are complaining about the price. For those who bought a PC with Ultimate Preinstalled they didn't pay the 399 most paid. Vista Ultimate preinstalled was probably only 299 or maybe less. The retail copy was 399...so 219 is a slap in the fact especially since MSFT failed to keep there promise.

[anthonyx26]

Well, I guess I'm one to go the direct upgrade route and yes, I'm a PC enthusiast. I used to think doing a clean install was the best approach as well. Then something happened...my PC environment became very, very complex (lots of apps and customized configurations which would not be easy nor quick to reproduce, even on my fairly speedy 4 GB Quad-core, 10k/Raptor SATA box). So for me, I have a relatively high cost of having to reinstall everything from scratch. So I either forfeit the discount on Win7 Pro but get a relatively easy upgrade path or accept the discount and start from scratch (estimated rebuild time: 4-5 solid days).

* anthonyx26

[rgreen4]

Good consise listing of all the backup prospects. You get the same by clonning the operating system drive. (My operating drive has no data). BTW - I will also install all of my Win7 upgrades via the bare metal method (good term) just as I did my one Vista upgrade. (Two OEM edition installs).

[Anonymo]

Thanks for the amazing insight! How have I lived in the 21st century for so long and never heard about GNU until you mentioned it on a PCworld comment!

Actually to be completely honest, as a victim of the Vista screwing in question your comment just made me more angry as it's a common response from people when they first hear about this predicament and is somewhat insulting.

What people like yourself always neglect to realize is that some of us pay for Windows because we have to, not because we are ignorant as your comment suggests (note that I do not wish to accuse you of premeditation, it is just the way it read). This may shock you but there are some things GNU can't do, and I don't mean "...doesn't do as well" or "...doesn't look the same" I mean can not do at all.

Funnily enough, I'll add that it's these things that GNU can not do that Vista also failed in delivering as well. Mainly for me specifically I had bought Vista Ult with my new Thinkpad in February of '08 only to discover that MS had mucked up the USB drivers so I could not use the OS for my original purpose (live DJ'ing program called Serato Scratch, for which there are no GNU drivers available). Then, when I was still hoping that MS would come around and solve the USB problem, what do they do but announce instead that they are dropping support for Vista. Wonderful! So I now have an OS that I barely used but paid next to full price for it and instead of the developer supporting the software I was told to buy the next version.

[TechieXP]

Where did you read that MSFT isn't supporting Vista? And USB drivers are generic...could it have been the fact that teh software itself didn't support Vista? MSFT has a timetable of which they support a single OS...its 2009 and ealier this year I tested Windows ME in Windows Update and I could still get them. I think MSFT support on a singe OS is close to 10 years. In most case there are using 2 OS releases that take place before MSFT is drooping support on an old one. Even tho ME was a flop..and SFT took it off the shelf in 1 year...they still support it on the timetable thay always do.

[rgreen4]

You are absolutely correct on the time table. Microsoft has full support of an OS for 5 years (security updates and improvements) and then extended support for another 5 years which is for security updates only. The exception to this is XP which because of its lengthy market life, entered the extended support last year and will be supported for security updates until late 2013 or early 2014. Vista will be fully supported for another 2 1/2 years, and has just had SP2 released.

USB controllers and drivers are a function of the manufacturer of the controller and laptop and are pretty generic. In fact the development of the USB was by Intel. If it were a USB driver/Vista problem, we would have heard a lot about it before now, since Vista has been on the market for 2 1/2 years.

Most likely the software was released before Vista was and has some incompatibilities. Specialized software is always slow to catch up, especially if they have been using backdoor access to the kernel which was closed off with Vista.