Windows 7: Choosing The Right Version

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Windows 7: Choosing The Right Version

#1 PCWorld

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 01:32 PM

Post your comments for Windows 7: Choosing the Right Version here

#2 nonseq

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 02:02 PM

The multiple versions of Windows is beyond me. It's a shame that Redmond is incapable of providing a solid OS at a reasonable price to it's customers.

#3 kenwilsonii

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 02:24 PM

"Windows 7 Professional has some enhancements such as the ability to join a Windows network domain, but still lacks key features like BitLocker, as well as the enterprise capabilities like DirectAccess and Branch Cache. "

yeah, big problem. Business oriented features that are not a part of the Professional version, which is all we use at work. So, businesses will have to get the Ultimate Version and spend $20.00 more on each license?

Not sure what the thinking is here by Microsoft...

#4 rkinne01

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 02:44 PM

Nonseq, figuring out the versions of Win 7 is a cakewalk compared to figuring out which version of Linux to use. I counted at least 10 versions of Ubuntu alone!

#5 gadgetgerl

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 02:51 PM

I fully agree. I would have loved to see a discount for multi-license for Ultimate. They trot out the family pack basic and force me to upgrade...all in all asmall discount...but again, a calculated mistake!

Windows 7 makes my 3 year old lap top absolutely SCREAM! I love it...the way it should have been all along. But as the article stated...I want/need ULTIMATE. Us early adopters are worth far more than we are given credit. All it has done is convince me my next PC will be an Apple!

#6 madjer

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 02:54 PM

I would suppose kenwilsonii you answered your own question. What they were thinking is how to get another 20 bucks for each license.

#7 boden

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 04:15 PM

One thing i wish someone would explain is... how much processor how much ram and vidram is needed to get windows 7 ultimate to actually run well.

#8 PCMan4ever

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 04:20 PM

You mean that chart on Microsofts webpage was too hard for you to understand? If you not know what you want and use in the first place, how you be able to make a informed choice in the first place?

Hmm, and Apple charging over $100.00 for their newest version is great? I would rather have a choice instead of them telling me what I AM going to use wether I like it or not.

Hey Boden,

Just like any previous operating system. the faster your processor, more memory, etc that you have the "better" any os will work.

#9 Lorben

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 04:34 PM

I don't get the confusion over the different

Are you a business? Get Pro. Will you be carrying your computer between work and home and need it to join a domain? Get Pro. Have something that only works in XP that isn't a video game? Get Pro.

Do you need the OS to switch between English and another language? Get Windows Ultimate. The only other advantage it has is Bitlocker (file encryption). If you want encryption you can grab something open source for free.

Everyone else in the world? Windows Home Premium.

#10 MoishePippik

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 04:53 PM

Given the plethora of Windows 7 versions with various features disabled, given speed loss compared against XP, given the dearth of drivers for legacy hardware, why would one want to "upgrade" an existing, functional, system to Windows 7? It would be more cost-effective to buy a boat anchor.
The only reason I can think of using Windows 7 would be purchase of a new PC designed to run specifically on that OS.

This post has been edited by MoishePippik: 26 October 2009 - 05:00 PM

#11 tonybradley

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 05:15 PM

Lorben-

The differences between Professional and Ultimate are far greater than you mentioned.

Professional does NOT include Aero glass remoting, Windows Media Player multimedia redirection, Audio recording over Terminal Services, Multi-display Terminal Services, AppLocker, BitLocker Drive Encryption, BranchCache,
DirectAccess, Subsystem for Unix-based Applications,
Multilingual User Interface, and
Virtual Hard Disk Booting.

Many of those features would be very useful for a small or medium business and are well worth the additional expense IMO.

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#12 farther

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 05:49 PM

I read the articles from this PC world site and most of the time they make me a little angry and I just ignore it but this time I will state my views.

You would think PC world would be pro Microsoft since most of us think of PC as windows based and Mac as the other system.

This site is definately out to bash Microsoft as much as it possibly can. Evidently this site is in fact a site from Apple andif not then they derive much of their revenue from Apple.

I will still read this site but the more I do the less i would ever consider using a mac. If you have to go to such tactics then I will do what I can to let others know how I feel about this site and those that write it.

I kept thinking I was just looking at it wrong but now I am quitye sure I am correct.

#13 rgreen4

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 06:08 PM

MoishePippik, on 26 October 2009 - 04:53 PM, said:

Since you talk about the dearth of drivers for you old system, I would assume that you have a 32bit system. Of course your opinion is backed up by the fact that you downloaded and ran the Windows 7 Release Candidate to see how it really worked. Or did you?

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#14 mathion

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 06:16 PM

The word on upgrades:

If you have a free upgrade as part of your purchase, go ahead and upgrade. If not, the recommendation is only upgrade when you buy a new computer, regardless of your operating system.

Bluntly, while better than Vista was at release, Windows 7 isn't worth paying for an upgrade. If you have a different OS, then you know there are third party apps that will do all that Windows 7 will do without the attendant headaches of an OS upgrade and probably for less overall cost.

I'm not saying Windows 7 is bad. It's just too expensive to be worth the overall upgrade costs.

#15 rgreen4

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Posted 26 October 2009 - 11:01 PM

mathion, on 26 October 2009 - 06:16 PM, said:

I totally disagree. I have two machines that will have to stay XP forever, as they will not readily support Win7. I tried the RC on one with mixed results. But then it is 5 years old. I have three machines whose prime OS is/was Vista for which I pre-ordered the Win7 upgrades. I actually had the RC running on them (two now) and have installed the first Win 7 upgrade with no problems. The other two machines are desktops, and one will be a VIsta/Win7 dual boot and the other a Win7/Vista/XP tri-boot. As a satisfied Vista user, I can say that Win 7 is definitely worth the upgrade. Of course the fact that I went from Vista 32 bit to Win7 64 bit may be part of it.

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#16 BGG001

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Posted 28 October 2009 - 03:40 AM

There's not 6 versions to choose from. Starter isn't even available in most developed countries, Home Basic isn't given out to customers directly, and Enterprise is only available to special businesses (which, it's just Ultimate with a special name anyways). So you have THREE to choose from. Sounds like another moronic attempt to make the "Windows Upgrade" sound like a headache.

#17 Foxylady48180

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Posted 28 October 2009 - 08:26 AM

boden, on 26 October 2009 - 04:15 PM, said:

One thing i wish someone would explain is... how much processor how much ram and vidram is needed to get windows 7 ultimate to actually run well.

You could check the system requirements for "ultimate" and see where you stack up to them. The upgrade advisor should tell you also.

#18 Foxylady48180

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Posted 28 October 2009 - 08:56 AM

PCWorld, on 26 October 2009 - 01:32 PM, said:

Post your comments for Windows 7: Choosing the Right Version here

I don't see where there is all this confusion. If you use your computer for home use only and not for buisnes purposes, get Home Premium. There isn't any point in wasting 3 or 4 gig's on programing you will never use. If you are buying a new computer, spend your time on determining what hardware you are getting in the maching and not the version of the OS. In the end, that's where it's at.

#19 rgreen4

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Posted 28 October 2009 - 09:17 AM

boden, on 26 October 2009 - 04:15 PM, said:

One thing i wish someone would explain is... how much processor how much ram and vidram is needed to get windows 7 ultimate to actually run well.

I don't know what the "official" requirements are, but it has been run on P4's with success. The Aero feature does require approximately a 128MB video card or better, the current crop of integrated chips will run it, and it will run well with 2GB or better system memory. If you are gaming, these are weak specs. I have run Windows 7 RC on a P4 with 2GB of memory but had to put a video card in the machine. I have also run it on a machine with an E4500 CoreDuo (not a Core2Duo) with 2GB of memory and an Intel integrated video card.

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#20 nonseq

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Posted 28 October 2009 - 10:33 AM

rkinne01, on 26 October 2009 - 02:44 PM, said:

Nonseq, figuring out the versions of Win 7 is a cakewalk compared to figuring out which version of Linux to use. I counted at least 10 versions of Ubuntu alone!

I don't doubt that at all re: Linux. I've been afraid to try to install Linux for just that reason. It just seems to me that MS could release one, solid version of an OS at a reasonable price and everyone would be better off.