Retail Editions of Windows Vista Product
First published—12 January 2007.
Updated—05 January 2008.
"Vista is pretty darn cheap when you consider the number of man-hours spent creating it and the value it provides to consumers." Brandon Live — neowin.net/forum.
In the multitude of Windows Vista flavors there are some simple directions to choose the right edition for you.
Introduction
In the multitude of Windows Vista flavors there are some simple directions to choose the right edition for you.
Essentially there are four mainstream editions for retail: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate.
The fifth one—Enterprise—is only for large companies, which have Microsoft Enterprise Agreement or Microsoft Software Assurance, so it is volume-licensed. It is very similar to Business edition, but contains BitLocker Drive Encryption—a way to encrypt the whole hard drives with a special hardware key and a passphrase.
The editions with letter N (for European Union) are stripped down to exclude Windows Media Player plus Windows Media-related technologies, and Windows Movie Maker.
All editions are presented in 32-bit or x64 versions at choice.
Windows Vista Ultimate Edition
It is simply the most advanced edition including all the features available. Like Microsoft says: “No compromises.”
It is also the most expensive retail edition:
Suggested retail price for full package product: $399.00 USD.
Suggested upgrade retail price: $259.00 USD.
If you want the best, Ultimate Edition is the right one.
Windows Vista Home Premium
What you LOSE comparing to Ultimate:
- Encrypting File System
- BitLocker Full Drive Encryption
- Windows ShadowCopy
- Image-based backup and recovery
- Network administration features
- Join domain capability
- IIS Web Server
- Offline files and folder support
- Windows Fax and Scan
- Group Policy Support
But you pay less:
Suggested retail price for full package product: $239.00 USD.
Suggested upgrade retail price: $159.00 USD.
Windows Vista Business
What you LOSE comparing to Ultimate:
- BitLocker Full Drive Encryption
- Windows Media Center together with HDTV and CableCard support
- Windows Movie Maker together with HD format support
- Xbox 360 Media Center Extender compatibility
Price is in the middle between Ultimate and Home Premium:
Suggested retail price for full package product: $299.00 USD.
Suggested upgrade retail price: $199.00 USD.
Windows Vista Business, despite its name, can be good for a home user.
Windows Home Basic
Simply avoid. In addition to things missing in the Home Premium, it does not have Windows Aero Interface, Media Center, Mobility features, and some others. It won’t be popular, for sure.
Besides, it is not cheap at all:
Suggested retail price for full package product: $199.00 USD.
Suggested upgrade retail price: $99.95 USD.
Avoid Home Basic Edition.
Resume
All editions except Home Basic will support two physical processors (not the same as multicore processors, the number of cores supported is not limited).
In 32-bit version, all editions are limited to 4GB RAM, for 64-bit versions — 128 GB (and more) except Home Premium (16 GB) and Home Basic (8 GB).
As you may see, if you do not care about Windows Media Center and you are going to use third-party DVD authoring software, for instance, then you can get along very well with Windows Vista Business. Save 100$ for other good stuff. Or, if those administration tools is not charming for you, then save 160$ and buy Windows Home Premium.
If in doubt and money is not the final concern, buy Ultimate. You won’t regret.
Windows Vista Ultimate comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit media in the retail box, Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, and Vista Business ship in separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions. However, if you buy Windows Vista Ultimate OEM, it will also be either 32-bit or 64-bit.
So, this is then is very important: if you buy Windows Vista Ultimate Retail, you get both editions (32 and 64 bits) for in one shot. In all other cases you buy only one of two. And that's another reason to go for Ultimate.
Mind also the following: The retail license explicitly states that it can be transferred to a new device, while the OEM license simply states that it is licensed on a per-device basis. In human language it means once you install it on one PC, it should stay there forever. But if you do not want to spend a lot of money, I really recommend OEM version. Comparing to retail edition you can save more than 50%! One typical scenario is when you assemble new PC, then OEM version is simply straight forward solution.
If you buy Windows Vista Ultimate Retail, you get both editions (32 and 64 bits) for in one shot. In all other cases you buy only one of two.
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