[SOLVED] So i've got to buy vista, which type to get.

[insane_alien]

So, i've came up in a really crap situation, i need to use vista(some nooby 'network security' policy thought up by a non techy person). i want to leave all discussion of its failings and such out of this. all i really need to know, is which is the best version to buy,

or what is the lesser of the evils. i'm thinking home premium would be the best balance of cost and 'features' which i would expect as standard on an OS.

what do you think?

[Joe Beam]

Why not buy the cheapest one? They're all crap so save your money.

[LaRoza]

Get the one that fulfills your needs.

This doesn't make sense, if this is a work or school computer (in which case, the admins have control) why do you have to decide?

If this is a personal computer, use whatever you want, even if it is not Vista.

Be aware, few computers can run Vista. If you have less than 2 GB of RAM, I wouldn't do it. Although it does run on 1 GB, that is the minimum.

[stalker145]

So, i've came up in a really crap situation, i need to use vista(some nooby 'network security' policy thought up by a non techy person). i want to leave all discussion of its failings and such out of this. all i really need to know, is which is the best version to buy,

or what is the lesser of the evils. i'm thinking home premium would be the best balance of cost and 'features' which i would expect as standard on an OS.

what do you think?

I would say that it all depends on what you need out of it. If you simply need to connect to the network, I would say to go the absolute cheapest route and get Home Basic.

Then again, does it really have to be Vista? Can it be an older and cheaper Windows OS?

[Midwest-Linux]

So, i've came up in a really crap situation, i need to use vista(some nooby 'network security' policy thought up by a non techy person). i want to leave all discussion of its failings and such out of this. all i really need to know, is which is the best version to buy,

or what is the lesser of the evils. i'm thinking home premium would be the best balance of cost and 'features' which i would expect as standard on an OS.

what do you think?

Isn't it the responsibility of the IT person in charge to take care of such matters in a corporate or government workplace? For what its worth I saw a Vista Home upgrade selling for $39 - U.S. on E-Bay new in the Box.

I am not qualified to give any suggestions on what Vista to upgrade to, as I refuse to have Vista on any of my computers now or any time in the future.

Too bad you can't use the free Vista transformation pack, it looks like Vista all the way through, but it is XP. It makes a XP machine look like Vista including that vertical sidebar with the clock, RSS reader and weather bug..

[kevdog]

Ive got Vista installed on a couple of machines -- its really not as bad as everybody states, although driver support is sort of sketchy. Both of the machines have Home Premium. I have WinxpPro on the other boxes. Dont see much of a difference. Of course I have Ubuntu on 3 others.

[KOld Iron]

So, i've came up in a really crap situation, i need to use vista(some nooby 'network security' policy thought up by a non techy person). i want to leave all discussion of its failings and such out of this. all i really need to know, is which is the best version to buy,

or what is the lesser of the evils. i'm thinking home premium would be the best balance of cost and 'features' which i would expect as standard on an OS.

what do you think?

You can do a quick look here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx) for the differences.

My own recommendation agrees with yours, Vista Home Premium is the choice for an individual installation. Home Basic is to limiting, Business Edition is for companies (in particular if they use Active Directory) and Ultimate has so far shown just to be mostly empty promises on the supposed added benefits, thus not justifying the higher price.

[ajgreeny]

If you will only be using this under duress and don't really need bells and whistles etc etc then just go for the cheapest way you can get it. Presumably Vista Home -Basic. I know this won't run aero (I think that'sd what they call their compiz) or have certain other bits that are thought to be good by many, but why pay for things you won't use.

[insane_alien]

This doesn't make sense, if this is a work or school computer (in which case, the admins have control) why do you have to decide?

too right it doesn't make sense. but the IT department is a bit headless and some numbnutz has been drafted in to fill the void. i doubt this guy could tell the difference between a floppy disk and a harddrive but he';s managed to tget the IT guys to follow his orders. the details are unimportant. so to connect to the network with my laptop i need vista. it is capable of running it i'd rather it didn't have to but i need my laptop there frequently.

i figure i can get some sort of reimbursement off them but thats going to take a while to come through.

looks like i'm getting home premium :(

[LaRoza]

too right it doesn't make sense. but the IT department is a bit headless and some numbnutz has been drafted in to fill the void. i doubt this guy could tell the difference between a floppy disk and a harddrive but he';s managed to tget the IT guys to follow his orders. the details are unimportant. so to connect to the network with my laptop i need vista. it is capable of running it i'd rather it didn't have to but i need my laptop there frequently.

i figure i can get some sort of reimbursement off them but thats going to take a while to come through.

looks like i'm getting home premium :(

Don't get anything.

If they want their staff using it, they will supply it. This looks like a scam to save money.

[AbredPeytr]

So, i've came up in a really crap situation, i need to use vista(some nooby 'network security' policy thought up by a non techy person). i want to leave all discussion of its failings and such out of this. all i really need to know, is which is the best version to buy,

or what is the lesser of the evils. i'm thinking home premium would be the best balance of cost and 'features' which i would expect as standard on an OS.

what do you think?

The minimum to buy is Home Premium, basic won't be able to do anything. Go for Ultimate if your system will run it. Be sure to buy the OEM version of whichever one you buy. It will be restricted to the computer you first install it on, but at half the cost of a version that can be installed on another computer when the original dies it's a cost saver. Then make the person that requires Vista be bought reimburse you for a fullly licensed copy of Vista :-) No need that you shouldn't make money from this pain and trauma.

[AbredPeytr]

too right it doesn't make sense. but the IT department is a bit headless and some numbnutz has been drafted in to fill the void. i doubt this guy could tell the difference between a floppy disk and a harddrive but he';s managed to tget the IT guys to follow his orders. the details are unimportant. so to connect to the network with my laptop i need vista. it is capable of running it i'd rather it didn't have to but i need my laptop there frequently.

i figure i can get some sort of reimbursement off them but thats going to take a while to come through.

looks like i'm getting home premium :(

Better get Vista Business edition. I've had issues with connecting to the network server at my institute. The work around I've found on the web tells me to upgrade the server software to be IP6v (or something else), which lies outside my responsibilities.

Business or Ultimate are the editions you can run Vista virtually as well, so you can keep using Linux and use Vista for whatever reason the numskull wants you to use it.

[mr.propre]

Don't get anything.

If they want their staff using it, they will supply it. This looks like a scam to save money.

Indeed, plus they can buy it cheaper. Is there a good reason why it need to be vista and not just windows, I can understand that some company's work with software that only works under windows, but that doesn't explain why they only allow vista.

[insane_alien]

Don't get anything.

If they want their staff using it, they will supply it. This looks like a scam to save money.

this isn't a company machine. they did buy it for all the company machines.

and i'll mention again its the <insert rude word here> they've put in charge of IT temporarily thats forcing the change. we know him as microsoft marv as he thinks the sun shines out of bills rear end.

[LaRoza]

this isn't a company machine. they did buy it for all the company machines.

and i'll mention again its the <insert rude word here> they've put in charge of IT temporarily thats forcing the change. we know him as microsoft marv as he thinks the sun shines out of bills rear end.

Well, business should not pour over into your personal life. I wouldn't mix personal money and equipment (your computer?) with the company's.

If this <person> is temporary, I don't see a reason to waste money on such a bad OS. If you have to, use Basic. If it doesn't work, it is the <person's> fault. Vista was the requirement, Home Basic is Vista and if it doesn't work, then it isn't your fault.

Also, try to buy it from somewhere that accepts returns, like Amazon.

[blackenedbloodx]

OK guy. I hope u didnt get home premium. it is the one w/ the most bugs. just get either Basic or Ultimate. these are the ones that have the most users and the least bugs. my computer came out of the factory w/ basic and 512 RAM, just so u know Ultimate is the only one that takes up a gig because of the deskscapes. and i have to agree its not that bad. and fyi, you can just run it in virtualbox.

and if this marv dood is so bent on windows just mock it in casual conversation "so yea i tried printing this paper for you but my Windows read my printer as a second monitor? O.o But anyway i saved it on a USB drive and printed it and linux ^-^" haha i crack me up.

[seanc7]

Just so I'm clear, is this your own personal PC bought with your own money? Or was it bought and paid for by the company?

If the company paid for the system, it's up to them to supply the OS.

If you paid for it, you can tell them where to go if you don't want to install Vista.

Back on topic, do you need to connect to Active Directory or be controlled by a domain group policy? If not, go with Home Basic or Premium.

[kamaboko]

I've tried every flavor of Vista. If it were me, I'd get Basic if it meets company requirements. If not, go with Ultimate. Ultimate may initially be a bit more taxing on your computer (depending on what you're working with in terms of processor and memory), but you can tweak it. There are several guides on the Net for doing this.

[Calash]

From a business standpoint I have to agree. They cannot force you to upgrade your own personal system. If they want you to use your personal system they have to reimburse you for the charge.

As for the meat of the question, I would go Home Premium. It should give you enough control to do your job without costing too much. It does depend on your infrastructure though.

Did they say why they want you to upgrade? Outside of application pushes or IE based VPN I can not think of a reason you would need to go to Vista.

[insane_alien]

okay, i've got a solution that doesn't involve me shelling out precious cash.

el dodgy copy (tm)

it satisfies my lack of money(£1.50for home premium :P), my need to use my laptop at work and my dislike of microsoft.

[Lord DarkPat]

I'd recommend you not to buy, but if it's a must, Business is the most stable for now, I think

[kool_kat_os]

The one I would get is something called Ubuntu 7.10:)