Differences between basic and ultimate

This might be odd, but I voted to not buy Windows 7.

I've tried the RC and successfully implemented a dual boot between it and my Vista Ultimate x64 platform. I absolutely love the new OS (7). I like the look. Even my fancy Windows tweak for Vista aren't sleek enough for the look and feel of 7, especially networking ease. Windows 7 is so much better.

But I've been reading up on some articles recently and I feel really bummed out.

When I built my rig 3 years ago, I planned for 4+ gigs of ram. The only way for me to utilize that power was to shell out for Ultimate, and I was excited to be getting a top of the line OS with exclusives that common Wal-Mart Dell buyers would not be getting. It was fun when it was new, and I was expecting more downloaded exclusives for my "better than best" OS, but it's been lacking. All I've seen really is a puzzle game and Dreamscene content, which I love 7's background switcher more, but really nothing else seems Ultimate. I was more excited about getting SP1 over anything else actually.

Now that Windows 7 is about to release, I was thinking about going Ultimate again (which is the only 7 I will get, I'm not going to bother with the lower grades.), but seeing as I've not much from my current "Ultimate" setup, and basic users are getting discounts, when I'm left shortchanged with a not so generous price tag, I'm afraid of being let down again. It's disappointing that I have such a promising system and with a super cool OS that isn't really super cool, and MSFT doesn't seem to be planning to make up for it.

I would like to enjoy the Ultimate experience, but I've already paid too much for a lackluster promises and hype. Now I just don't feel so happy with my package anymore. I wanted to go 7, but I was expecting a little more appreciation for that fact that I paid quite a bit and received barely anything more impressive than graphic tweaks.

Maybe I'm part of a small percentage of people who shelled out, but that was because I thought I was making a sound investment for the money. I had deep pockets once, but it's too soon to be asking for such a large amount again especially when the Ultimate experience has yet to be delivered.

I'm not buying 7. Not for that price. Which makes me feel worse because I won't have a nice operating system with an updated look (Vista) and stability (XP), so my computer basically sucks now.

If anyone has some good news to make me feel better, please I would like to feel better. All the bad news I've gotten so far were from random articles I've read. I haven't alighted any good news. I really wanted 7, but I can't afford that price tag again.

-PW

OK, well if my memory serves correct i wil be able to secure my pre-order copy of win7 (here in Europe) in the next few hours. Very happy about that of course.. and the discounted rate :)

However.... having read and read and read, thread after thread after thread (sorry, sounded good in my head) i am still none the wiser as to whether i should play my cash close to my chest and plump for Home Premium, or if there is enough extra in Professional to warrant the upgarde (at twice the price).

I am an avid home user, who uses my home laptop for some work elements to (share drives access, VPN, outlook for email etc.) and work from home on it from time to time. I have looked over the featires, but i guess i'm a little basic in my understanding as i can't fathom if there is enough in Pro for me to need to go for the more expensive version.

In a nutshell is there anything that i wont be able to do with HP that i would in Pro that might impact my usage, as an avis home user and semi avid work user. I am thinking home premium will do the job, but i don't want to find there is some feature that i would have really liked when accessing my files etc in the office that i can't get.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. I would be particularly intetrest if anyone could give a bit more detail as to how i might be impacted by the lack of 'Remote Desktop Host' & the Win XP mode - which sounds pretty useful??

Sorry for the lengthy post.. but any info at all to help me with my big buying decision tomorrow morning would be great appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
Wayner

OMG nate42nd!
Thats exactly the thread i wanted to start!

We must be soulmates

Basic is, well, basic. It does not have the fancy effects or widgets that Premium or Ultimate do. Ultimate also has a special encryption feature called BitLocker to protect your data, which Premium and Basic do not.

I will be needing Ultimate.]

Ken