Dan18960
11-10-2006, 08:29 AM
Well, since I have product key codes for several versions I thought I would check out the differences - most of you are using the Ultimate testing but there are definitely differences between that "top" of the line Vista and the others.
Ultimate - you get the complete package. Nothing is left out of this install. But at the "price" of $399, I doubt that people will be rushing to the door to buy it. Also, this is NOT an upgrade path. You have to do a complete installation from scratch, it will not upgrade from XP Home or XP Professional.
Business - this is an upgrade for XP Professional ONLY. For the first time Microsoft has made the difference between a "home" system and a Business system. Games are NOT loaded (so if you want Solitaire you will have to get permission from the IT department LOL). This also loads the PC Tablet drivers and added network IPv4 and IPv6 TCPIP connectivity for a clean 1g connection (now is the time to update your switches to the 1000/100/10 models - they are finally price acceptable). Windows Defender is buried in this version so deep that just turning off the service gets you errors all over the place. The control panel is a pain since it really doesn't let you make the changes that are easy in the Ultimate version. This is truly a business package and wants to work ONLY in a business server environment. I don't know how it is going to perform in a peer to peer environment over the long term. Sharing folders is very defined. You have so many levels of security to jump through.
Home Premium - this is the upgrade path from XP Home. Gives you all the utilities of XP Home and Media Center. This is going to be the closes you get to the XP Home you are familiar with. Parental controls are built in for parents to setup - seems M$ wants to slap the parental control software packages out there. Sharing folders in this version is a lot easier - it seems to be based on just a home network and not very secure for a small business. Security is not anywhere near as complete as the Business version.
Home Basic - PASS ON THIS ONE! What a laughable product. This is probably going to be the GEM of OEM's. It is the cheapest of the versions and shows in the utilites. You are basically getting an Operating System and that is it. You get the regular bennies of XP Home but the Media Center is more skeleton than functional. This version will let you connect to the internet, get email, and do some word processing - but if you want a "real" operating system - M$ is forcing you to move to the Premium version (read that as MORE money).
Overall, all the versions contain IE 7, Windows Mail, and new folder graphics. Control Panel is different in it's allowing functions in each.
IF you are happy with XP - I would suggest holding off on this version in all cases until M$ gets that first service pack or as they now call them Release Candidate (that should be about 9 months to a year after retail release).
Ultimate - you get the complete package. Nothing is left out of this install. But at the "price" of $399, I doubt that people will be rushing to the door to buy it. Also, this is NOT an upgrade path. You have to do a complete installation from scratch, it will not upgrade from XP Home or XP Professional.
Business - this is an upgrade for XP Professional ONLY. For the first time Microsoft has made the difference between a "home" system and a Business system. Games are NOT loaded (so if you want Solitaire you will have to get permission from the IT department LOL). This also loads the PC Tablet drivers and added network IPv4 and IPv6 TCPIP connectivity for a clean 1g connection (now is the time to update your switches to the 1000/100/10 models - they are finally price acceptable). Windows Defender is buried in this version so deep that just turning off the service gets you errors all over the place. The control panel is a pain since it really doesn't let you make the changes that are easy in the Ultimate version. This is truly a business package and wants to work ONLY in a business server environment. I don't know how it is going to perform in a peer to peer environment over the long term. Sharing folders is very defined. You have so many levels of security to jump through.
Home Premium - this is the upgrade path from XP Home. Gives you all the utilities of XP Home and Media Center. This is going to be the closes you get to the XP Home you are familiar with. Parental controls are built in for parents to setup - seems M$ wants to slap the parental control software packages out there. Sharing folders in this version is a lot easier - it seems to be based on just a home network and not very secure for a small business. Security is not anywhere near as complete as the Business version.
Home Basic - PASS ON THIS ONE! What a laughable product. This is probably going to be the GEM of OEM's. It is the cheapest of the versions and shows in the utilites. You are basically getting an Operating System and that is it. You get the regular bennies of XP Home but the Media Center is more skeleton than functional. This version will let you connect to the internet, get email, and do some word processing - but if you want a "real" operating system - M$ is forcing you to move to the Premium version (read that as MORE money).
Overall, all the versions contain IE 7, Windows Mail, and new folder graphics. Control Panel is different in it's allowing functions in each.
IF you are happy with XP - I would suggest holding off on this version in all cases until M$ gets that first service pack or as they now call them Release Candidate (that should be about 9 months to a year after retail release).