Nothing wrong with owning 7 Ultimate when you got it for $15 a pop and answering a quiz correctly.
Fair enough.
IIRC, it was ~$400 here in Australia.
I should clarify this $15 a pop. It was through my employer. You had to take a test (on Windows 7)and pass it 100% correctly and then you could pay the shipping and handling on a 2 DVD Not For Resale copy of Ultimate. I entered twice for 2 copies at least six months apart. If you see NFR discs they are usually given away in competitions or at venues etc and they are just that. Not for resale but they appear on Fleece Bay.
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Bluethunder II OS: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and numerous virtual machines CPU: AMD FX-8350 Vishera 32nm Technology @ 4.2 GHz default Motherboard: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 (Socket 942) Memory: G Skill 32.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 1204MHz (11-13-13-31) Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB Super SC ACX 2.0+ with Back Plate Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Titanium HD Audiophile PCIe Monitor(s) Displays: LG L227WTG x 3 Screen Resolution: 1680 x 1050 16:10 Keyboard: Logitech K740 Mouse: Logitech G100S Laser LED + Logitech Gamepad F310 PSU: Enermax Revolution87+ 1000 Watts Gold Certified Power Supply Case: Rocketfish Full Tower Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Push Pull 120mm Fans Hard Drives: 238GB Samsung850 PRO SATA Disk Device (SSD)
1863GB Seagate ST2000DM 001-1CH164 (SATA)
1397GB Seagate ST1500DL 003-9VT16L(SATA)
466GB Western Digital WDC WD50 03AZEX-00K1GA0 (SATA) x 2
932GB Seagate ST310005 28AS SATA Disk Device (SATA) Internet Speed: 500 mbs down and 30mbs up Browser: Firefox (Main) Chrome, Internet Explorer (Back Up) Antivirus: Malwarebytes Pro & Avast and MSE on certain Virtual Machines Other Info: Logitech X 230 2.1 Stereo System and 5.1 Yamaha RX V2090
B&W DM6 Monitor Speakers + Center and Surround Speakers
Using Mouse Without Borders (Google it)
I've already moved on from 7, Via 8,8.1 to 10, and have no issues whatsoever.
I fire up my system at the start of the day, ( ie switch the monitor on, the systems run 24/7/365), and, if needed fire up any apps i NEED - As I actually run programs to perform work I rarely actually see the OS GUI to worry about such ephemera as Aero, 3d borders and the like, and I couldn't tell you what wallpaper I have at any one moment, I have it cycle though I can't think why .
I do a fair bit of remote computing often on systems with older OS's and have to admit that I I have to sometimes check which OS I'm actually in Mine, or the remote running win7 or 8.1
I still keep VMs running for a few of those "Other OSs" myself and lately been seeing 10 getting activated on VM Workstation 12 Player using retail 7 keys. Threshold 2 should be available soon for the general public and will allow the used of keys MSDN or retail from 7,8, and 8.1. That be covered under MS's new Digital entitlement activation policy.
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Custom builds = 2 OS: W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 2nd remote pc Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4-Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc Memory: Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Hyper X Fury 8gb 2nd Graphics Card: MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Audio P - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays: ASUS VW199T-P 19" HP 2082a Main-HP 2082a 20" remote pc Screen Resolution: Asus 1440x900 - HP 1600x900 Keyboard: AZIO L70 Backlit Letters Gaming - ONN Cordless/USB Mouse: MSI DS200 Programmable, Logitech Cordless PSU: Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case: Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling: Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives: WD Black 1TB HD per OS W7, W10, and pending W11 presently on 500gb OS Drive - Pending Triple 1TB HDs for Spanned Storage/backup volume
Single 2TB external USB enclosure, single 1TB System 7 Host/Boot drive, Pending 8TB external HD for system image b Internet Speed: 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi Browser: Cyberfox, WaterFox 64bit FF variants, FireFox x64, Pale Moon Antivirus: GFI VIPRE Internet Security 2014 on W7 2016 beta on W10, Other Info: Accomdata fan cooled usb 2.0 PIDE/Sata II, III external enclosure.
Sambient usb/eSata PATA/Sata II, III external enclosure.
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: CUSTOM ASSEMBLY OS: W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro CPU: AMD Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc Memory: Kingston Hyper X Fury 8gb Graphics Card: MSI HD Radeon 6450 DVI Output Sound Card: Realtek onooard Creative or Other separate PENDING Monitor(s) Displays: VIZIO 32" LCD TV Separate LCD Pending Screen Resolution: 1600x1080 Keyboard: ONN Cordless/USB Logitech Cordless Mouse: ONN USB/Cordless - Logitech Cordless PSU: Corsair 600W - THERMALTAKE 600W spare case Case: NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling: Twin 120mm Top Fans - 240mm Side Cover Hard Drives: WD 500GB OS Host/Boot WD Green 1TB Storage/Backup Internet Speed: DSL 5G Browser: MS Edge, FireFox, WaterFox x64, FireFox Nightly Other Info: OS Testing-Remote Access to Main TeamViewer
Vista has another year left and that's it! With any version the same applies to anything else manufactured in the US. Manufacturers have to provide support for up to 10 full yrs. from the date of manufacture or when first being put on the market. Likewise MS will be dumping all support early on in 2017 being the 10 year mark.
Why not allow upgrades from Vista not as a freebie for sure! The free upgraded specifies 7 abd 8.1 since MS has to live with 8 not being well received!
That was their fault for not waiting a bit to see 8 like 10 is now! A working dual platform and still seeing the infamous Start menu while Start menu 10 is still sub for that has the 7 type of shutdown button rather then a pop up options list for touchscreen which the pc support is also enhanced from where it was with 7.
The free upgrade as well as the upgraded keys for 7 and newer are the reward for those who moved on from 2000, XP, Vista. As for system specs MS understated the actual minimum requirement memory wise which have been at least 1gb and the 512mb with 2gb recommended but was tatering a bit too much of the OEMs still stocked up with 512 machines and why people complained and rejected it for being too slow. Add a little ram and suddenly it wasn't a bad OS afterall but not upto par with the MinWin kernel!
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Custom builds = 2 OS: W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 2nd remote pc Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4-Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc Memory: Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Hyper X Fury 8gb 2nd Graphics Card: MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Audio P - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays: ASUS VW199T-P 19" HP 2082a Main-HP 2082a 20" remote pc Screen Resolution: Asus 1440x900 - HP 1600x900 Keyboard: AZIO L70 Backlit Letters Gaming - ONN Cordless/USB Mouse: MSI DS200 Programmable, Logitech Cordless PSU: Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case: Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling: Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives: WD Black 1TB HD per OS W7, W10, and pending W11 presently on 500gb OS Drive - Pending Triple 1TB HDs for Spanned Storage/backup volume
Single 2TB external USB enclosure, single 1TB System 7 Host/Boot drive, Pending 8TB external HD for system image b Internet Speed: 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi Browser: Cyberfox, WaterFox 64bit FF variants, FireFox x64, Pale Moon Antivirus: GFI VIPRE Internet Security 2014 on W7 2016 beta on W10, Other Info: Accomdata fan cooled usb 2.0 PIDE/Sata II, III external enclosure.
Sambient usb/eSata PATA/Sata II, III external enclosure.
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: CUSTOM ASSEMBLY OS: W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro CPU: AMD Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc Memory: Kingston Hyper X Fury 8gb Graphics Card: MSI HD Radeon 6450 DVI Output Sound Card: Realtek onooard Creative or Other separate PENDING Monitor(s) Displays: VIZIO 32" LCD TV Separate LCD Pending Screen Resolution: 1600x1080 Keyboard: ONN Cordless/USB Logitech Cordless Mouse: ONN USB/Cordless - Logitech Cordless PSU: Corsair 600W - THERMALTAKE 600W spare case Case: NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling: Twin 120mm Top Fans - 240mm Side Cover Hard Drives: WD 500GB OS Host/Boot WD Green 1TB Storage/Backup Internet Speed: DSL 5G Browser: MS Edge, FireFox, WaterFox x64, FireFox Nightly Other Info: OS Testing-Remote Access to Main TeamViewer
At first it took an entire day of failed attempts until finding out the storage drives had to be disconnected otherwise see boot files and temp install folders in the wrong places. I "never" ran into that before when slapping a fresh install of 7 on(Sata II OS drives) and the pair of storage drives(Sata 3) plugged in while unplugging the second spare OS drive often without any OS.
Once those were unplugged however the upgrade was still a total fright trying to get the usual softwares on! Time to ties on a good one after all that!
The second upgrade install was then seen to repair the first and after the first week 10 was out the full clean install came along! The second desktop had not a problem with the upgrade part. The laptop that followed however was the real Fun City! No Start button and nothing found on the Start>Settings screen but a total blank! Then you couldn't even get into the AllApps being the new name for the All Programs link seen in 7! But that upgrade was being replaced automatically in just a few minutes of it even being on!
The clean install 32bit that is to replace the 32bit 7 Home Premium activated immediately. No keys necessary for Digital entitlement the new MS thing there. Then the 64bit replacement install came along! But the OEM primary could not be shrunk any when the other 300mb and 400mb OEM, 3rd party, and System Reserved were removed. So the drive was nuked and the second 64bit clean install went on and activated without hesitation!
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: Custom builds = 2 OS: W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 975 Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 2nd remote pc Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4-Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc Memory: Kingston Hyper X DDR3 1600 1.5v 16gb - Hyper X Fury 8gb 2nd Graphics Card: MSI HD Radeon 5750 1gb - MSI HD Radeon 6450 on mini tower Sound Card: Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Audio P - Realtek onooard 2nd case Monitor(s) Displays: ASUS VW199T-P 19" HP 2082a Main-HP 2082a 20" remote pc Screen Resolution: Asus 1440x900 - HP 1600x900 Keyboard: AZIO L70 Backlit Letters Gaming - ONN Cordless/USB Mouse: MSI DS200 Programmable, Logitech Cordless PSU: Corsair 750TX - primary / Corsair CX600 - second Case: Antec 900-2 - SSD compatible / NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling: Zalman CNPS9900A Hard Drives: WD Black 1TB HD per OS W7, W10, and pending W11 presently on 500gb OS Drive - Pending Triple 1TB HDs for Spanned Storage/backup volume
Single 2TB external USB enclosure, single 1TB System 7 Host/Boot drive, Pending 8TB external HD for system image b Internet Speed: 30mbps upgrade - primary hard wired - mini tower usb WiFi Browser: Cyberfox, WaterFox 64bit FF variants, FireFox x64, Pale Moon Antivirus: GFI VIPRE Internet Security 2014 on W7 2016 beta on W10, Other Info: Accomdata fan cooled usb 2.0 PIDE/Sata II, III external enclosure.
Sambient usb/eSata PATA/Sata II, III external enclosure.
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: CUSTOM ASSEMBLY OS: W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro CPU: AMD Deneb 3.6ghz - 965 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H remote pc Memory: Kingston Hyper X Fury 8gb Graphics Card: MSI HD Radeon 6450 DVI Output Sound Card: Realtek onooard Creative or Other separate PENDING Monitor(s) Displays: VIZIO 32" LCD TV Separate LCD Pending Screen Resolution: 1600x1080 Keyboard: ONN Cordless/USB Logitech Cordless Mouse: ONN USB/Cordless - Logitech Cordless PSU: Corsair 600W - THERMALTAKE 600W spare case Case: NZXT Vulcan mini tower Cooling: Twin 120mm Top Fans - 240mm Side Cover Hard Drives: WD 500GB OS Host/Boot WD Green 1TB Storage/Backup Internet Speed: DSL 5G Browser: MS Edge, FireFox, WaterFox x64, FireFox Nightly Other Info: OS Testing-Remote Access to Main TeamViewer
Microsoft has revealed that, for a $1000 PC, it has always charged the OEM about $50, or five percent, for Windows.
Full Story: OEMs pay Microsoft about $50 for each copy of Windows - Ars Technica