I'm planning on building a new PC as well, and installing Windows 7 onto both of my computers.
Well, according to technet licensing, it's for "evaluation" purposes. Technically, you wouldn't need to "evaluate" the software on 2 machines. So, if you are using it outside of an "evaluation" period..you really need to get other licensing.
If we both want to install Windows 7 onto four computers, it would cost over $1000.
Well, the technet license does not provide you with the right to give a copy to your brother so that he can "evaluate" on multiple computers of his. Technically here, he too would need to purchase a Technet subscription for his "evaluation" as well.
Considering that both you and your brother have computers right now most likely with a Microsoft OS would give you the ability to "upgrade" these. Not to mention, you can purchase Windows Vista Home Premium with a free upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium for $109 from NewEgg (
Newegg.com - Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Vista 32, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Media Center, Linux). So, 4 copies of that is under $500. Not to mention, you could buy the Family Pack which provides up to 3 copies for $150. A far better price than Technet.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10300835-56.html
I'm not trying to knock TechNet. I'm a systems admin for a living and having this eval software is very important for me. But I would take something like Windows Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 and I would install it within a virtual machine and test some functionality or determine how feasible a product would be to use and then the virtual machine would be blown away and I would be onto something else. I wouldn't be using this software to install on a machine and then use it for all of my computing needs. It would be a short lived install just to figure something out and be able to build up a quick test-bed to actually see it in action.
At least with the subscription we can also try out which ones suits our needs and even stick with it, or even go back to Windows XP considering that it's covered in the TechNet subscription.
Well, you can get Windows 7 RC1 free of charge and evaluate whether it meets your needs. And since you already have XP...you don't really nave a need to evaluate that..since you already have a licensed copy.
As for the Ultimate version, I'm not sure.
I like the overall "having everything at your fingertips" kind of thought, where everything really is at your fingertips with Ultimate.
If I happened to get Home Premium believe me it wouldn't be a waste, but it would be kind of like I'm/we're missing out on stuff we could be getting.
But honestly these aren't really "features" that most people need or would miss out on if they didn't have them. Seriously, Ultimate gives you the following over Windows 7 Home
1). BitLocker: To encrypt your hard drive. You can use TrueCrypt for free and it does same thing
2). XP Mode: It's a virtual machine. You can do the same thing for free with Microsoft Virtual PC, VMWare Server or Sun VirtualBox.
3). Join a Windows Domain. Unless you are a systems admin and need to test something out at home (group policy settings, etc)..this isn't something that you are ever going to "test" out.
4). Backup and restore from a network location. Without Professional or Ultimate you can backup to DVD or USB hard drive. Losing the ability to backup to a network drive is really a non issue for most people.
5). Remote desktop. You can do the same thing for free with VNC.
Personally I say.
1). Get 1 copy of Windows 7 for your new computer build.
2). Get a copy of some Linux distro and put it on your old computer and learn something new. Besides, if you go the route of Computer Science...you better be ready to see, use and embrace Unix/Linux.
3). Let your brother fend for himself.
