Differences between basic and ultimate

What edition are you buying

  • Ultimate

    Votes: 461 53.2%
  • Professional

    Votes: 151 17.4%
  • Home Premium

    Votes: 214 24.7%
  • Other

    Votes: 10 1.2%
  • Not buying Windows 7

    Votes: 30 3.5%

  • Total voters
    866
Professional

  • No BitLocker
  • No boot from VHD
Are these anything "must have"? I am tempted to pre-order W7 Pro from N3w3gg.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Asus V2-M3M8200 Barebones
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 925
Motherboard
V2-M3M8200 (basically a M3N78-VM)
Memory
4x1024mb Kingston HyperX DDR2-1066 KHX8500D2/1G
Graphics Card(s)
Asus GTS 450 OC
Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium PCIe
Monitor(s) Displays
Asus 24" LCD VH242H
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
WDC WD5000AAKS
WDC WD5002ABYS
Seagate ST325062 USB-to-IDE
Fujitsu 160GB Pocket USB HDD
PSU
Antec Earthwatts EA-430D
Case
Asus V2-M3M8200
Cooling
120mm side fan & 80mm front & 92mm rear fan
Keyboard
Dell USB mini Multimedia
Mouse
Logitech MX518
Internet Speed
Comcast Xfinity
Other Info
Logitech Webcam Pro 9000
Accurian 40-1462 Speakers
little dot MKII Headphone Amp
Most people will never use these features. You don't need them.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Keeps changing - (Custom)
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 860
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P
Memory
4GB DDR3 Mushkin 1600Mhz @ 7-8-7-20
Graphics Card(s)
MSI GTS250 1GB DDR3 Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Onboard realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 24" P2450 + Samsung 20" 2033
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1080 and 1600 X 900 (#2 system 1440 X 900)
Hard Drives
Patriot Inferno 120GB SSD + 3 WD Blue 640GB drives
PSU
Corsair 750 HX Modular
Case
Lancool PC-K62
Cooling
Cooler Master TX3 CPU cooler and 4-140mm and 1-120mm case
Keyboard
Gigabyte USB keyboard
Mouse
Microsoft wireless laser mouse 5000
Internet Speed
7 Mb down 1.5 up
Other Info
System #2: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T (Freezer 7 Pro cooler) - Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H - WD 500GB Black - 9500GT (1GB) 500W OCZ modular PSU - Antec 200 case. System #3 (LapTop) Core 2 Duo T6670 - 320GB 7200RPM HD - 4GB DDR3 RAM.
Don't need them but Bitlocker at least is a mighty handy thing if you travel with a laptop. If you have your biz - or even personal stuff and bank account info, that you travel with - that added layer of security can make you feel better if the laptop gets swiped
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 OEM
CPU
i7 940 @4.55
Motherboard
ASUS Rampage II Extreme X58 BIOS Version 1802 1/28/2010
Memory
Corsair XMS3 12GB DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) CAS 9 9-9-9-24
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 295
Sound Card
X-Fi Xtreme
Monitor(s) Displays
Gateway FPD2275W
Screen Resolution
1680X1050
Hard Drives
Crucial RealSSD 256MB, VelociRaptor 300(x2), Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (x3)
PSU
Silverstone Decathlon DA850
Case
Antec 1200
Cooling
XIGMATEK Dark Knight - S1283
Keyboard
Deck Legend
Mouse
Logitech G5
Other Info
ASUS Model U3S6 USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s Add-on card
Very true....it really depends on your usage. It's an individual choice. I sure wish they had Ultimate full retail on sale. I am thinking about going with Pro, but for an extra $15 what the heck....might as well go ultimate.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Keeps changing - (Custom)
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 860
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P
Memory
4GB DDR3 Mushkin 1600Mhz @ 7-8-7-20
Graphics Card(s)
MSI GTS250 1GB DDR3 Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Onboard realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 24" P2450 + Samsung 20" 2033
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1080 and 1600 X 900 (#2 system 1440 X 900)
Hard Drives
Patriot Inferno 120GB SSD + 3 WD Blue 640GB drives
PSU
Corsair 750 HX Modular
Case
Lancool PC-K62
Cooling
Cooler Master TX3 CPU cooler and 4-140mm and 1-120mm case
Keyboard
Gigabyte USB keyboard
Mouse
Microsoft wireless laser mouse 5000
Internet Speed
7 Mb down 1.5 up
Other Info
System #2: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T (Freezer 7 Pro cooler) - Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H - WD 500GB Black - 9500GT (1GB) 500W OCZ modular PSU - Antec 200 case. System #3 (LapTop) Core 2 Duo T6670 - 320GB 7200RPM HD - 4GB DDR3 RAM.
I'm with you on that. I LIKE the full version for a lot of reasons - and the whole bitlocker thing is what it will take to give me a warm fuzzy feeling about traveling with a laptop. Not so sure I need it for the home rig, but for a small amount I would know that IF I wanted to make it look like my laptop security (for consistancy) I could.
For now I am the only one using my home system - but then again, that might change too at some point in the next half decade. I might as well go all out.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 OEM
CPU
i7 940 @4.55
Motherboard
ASUS Rampage II Extreme X58 BIOS Version 1802 1/28/2010
Memory
Corsair XMS3 12GB DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) CAS 9 9-9-9-24
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 295
Sound Card
X-Fi Xtreme
Monitor(s) Displays
Gateway FPD2275W
Screen Resolution
1680X1050
Hard Drives
Crucial RealSSD 256MB, VelociRaptor 300(x2), Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (x3)
PSU
Silverstone Decathlon DA850
Case
Antec 1200
Cooling
XIGMATEK Dark Knight - S1283
Keyboard
Deck Legend
Mouse
Logitech G5
Other Info
ASUS Model U3S6 USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s Add-on card
I don't see anything in Ultimate I need. Bitlocker isn't available in my Hard Disk. My processor can't run Windows XP mode. And I have too little RAM to consider virtualization. So I'm going for Home Premium
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Apple Inc.
OS
Windows 7
CPU
Intel(R) Core 2 Duo CPU T8100 @ 2.10GHz
Motherboard
MB41.88Z.00C1.B00.0802091535
Memory
1.00GB
Graphics Card(s)
Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family
Sound Card
Apple Sound Card
Monitor(s) Displays
Apple Display
Screen Resolution
1280 X 800
Hard Drives
Fujitsu MHY2120BH ATA Device 110GB
PSU
The Apple PSU
Case
The Apple Case
Cooling
The Apple Cooling Fan
Keyboard
Apple Keyboard
Mouse
IBM Mouse Model MO32BO
Internet Speed
10MBPS
Home Premium

  • No BitLocker
  • No boot from VHD
  • No EFS (Encrypting File System)
  • No Support for backup to a network location
  • Client-only Remote Desktop
  • No Offline files support
  • No Domain join
So someone tell me, does this mean that, for a "typical" home network setup with 2-3 computers, the W7 Home Premium built-in backup utility will NOT backup to a workgroup computer with a mapped sharepoint?

If so that is going to force many users to a) buy the Pro version or B) buy a 3rd party backup application.
 

My Computer

OS
XP Pro & Vista Home Premium (x86); Windows Ultimate 7600 x64 Retail
It appears that the Backup and Restore utility discounts mapped drives as backup location candidates. This may be their mechanism for preventing that type of workaround, since they use the "Save on a Network" button for versions that support network backup.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
7229
Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh! :(

That is what I suspected. Well, users still have the choices listed if they want network backup capabilities.

Thanks for the reply!
 

My Computer

OS
XP Pro & Vista Home Premium (x86); Windows Ultimate 7600 x64 Retail
This is one of my main reasons for buying Ultimate. I was going to use Premium but I really want to back up to network drives. Then I thought "well I'll just buy Professional" but for $20.....why not just get Ultimate. I am done thinking about it. I'm getting Ultimate Full Retail. That way I can transfer it to another computer and have everything. I sure wish Microsoft would just give us the OS and forget this 4-5 tier system...it is maddening.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Keeps changing - (Custom)
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel Core i7 860
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4P
Memory
4GB DDR3 Mushkin 1600Mhz @ 7-8-7-20
Graphics Card(s)
MSI GTS250 1GB DDR3 Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Onboard realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 24" P2450 + Samsung 20" 2033
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1080 and 1600 X 900 (#2 system 1440 X 900)
Hard Drives
Patriot Inferno 120GB SSD + 3 WD Blue 640GB drives
PSU
Corsair 750 HX Modular
Case
Lancool PC-K62
Cooling
Cooler Master TX3 CPU cooler and 4-140mm and 1-120mm case
Keyboard
Gigabyte USB keyboard
Mouse
Microsoft wireless laser mouse 5000
Internet Speed
7 Mb down 1.5 up
Other Info
System #2: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T (Freezer 7 Pro cooler) - Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H - WD 500GB Black - 9500GT (1GB) 500W OCZ modular PSU - Antec 200 case. System #3 (LapTop) Core 2 Duo T6670 - 320GB 7200RPM HD - 4GB DDR3 RAM.
Feeling Cheated Out of a Good Operating System

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
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom built for Reliability and Longevity
OS
Windows Vista 6 Ultimate
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad
Motherboard
EVGA nForce 780i SLI
Memory
4 x Ballistix 1GB DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
2 x EVGA nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX | Ageia Physx Card
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Hanns G HG216D HDMI
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
2 x WD 400GB 7200rpm |
Raptor 100GB 10,000rpm
PSU
XClio 850w PSU
Case
XClio Windtunnel Case 2 x 250mm
Cooling
AC Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
Keyboard
Kensington Slim Keyboard
Mouse
Microsoft Mobile Memory 8000
Other Info
Built in spite of a $3000 overheating Notebook (Poor Product Testing). Built this Rig for much more power and better reliability for the same price. Built to stand a test of time and remain fairly up-to-date and tried to minimize random restarts and system hard faults. Born July 17, 2006. Motherboard replaced once, all else origin build.
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
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS M1530
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9300 2.50GHz, 800, 6M
Memory
Dual Channel 4.0GB (2x2048) 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics Card(s)
256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 8600M GT
Monitor(s) Displays
15.4" UltraSharp Widescreen WSXGA+ TFT
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
500GB Serial ATA (5400RPM)
Internet Speed
10 Mb/s
Other Info
Blue :)
I just looked - the Pre-order is not for FULL versions - just the upgrades?? Thats too bad ...:(


Well looking on the PC-World website, there is no statement that says the version you are pre-ordering is an upgrade. Appears to be full vesion.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built / Acer Aspire 7720G Laptop
OS
Windows 7 Build 7600 Laptop and desktop. Also OSX 10.5.7 and 10.6 Snow on Laptop
CPU
AMD Athlon64 Dual core 4200+ / Laptop T5750
Motherboard
Gigabyte / Acer Aspire
Memory
2 x 1Gb = 2 Gb / acer 3GB
Graphics Card(s)
Geforce 8600GT / Geforce 9300M G 256Mb
Sound Card
Terratec DMX 6fire for Music production and X-Fi Xtreme
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x 17" (Dell and Compaq) / 17" WXGA Laptop Screen
Screen Resolution
1280x1024 / 1440x900 (Full HD when conneced to 32" LCD)
Hard Drives
2x Sata 160GB 2x USB 300Gb 1x 160Gb IDE 1x USB 1TB / 250Gb Sata Laptop with Blu-ray drive
PSU
400W + Not 100% sure
Keyboard
Logitech Cordless Keyboard
Mouse
Logitech Mx 700
Internet Speed
20 Meg Down / 1 Meg up Cable
Other Info
Konica Minolta Colour Laser printer, Epson Stylus R360 (Mostly used for printing on CD's/DVD's), Cannon Scanner, Mercury surround system, about 6 external hard drives all 200Gb plus along with the normall home entertainment stuff attached.... DBox 2, XBox 360, etc. etc.
Well looking on the PC-World website, there is no statement that says the version you are pre-ordering is an upgrade. Appears to be full vesion.


WHERE are you looking?

Pre-orders were for UPGRADE licenses.
 

My Computer

OS
XP Pro & Vista Home Premium (x86); Windows Ultimate 7600 x64 Retail
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.
 

My Computer

OS
Vista
I will be needing Ultimate.]

Ken
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavillion dv-7 1005 Tx
OS
Win 8 Release candidate 8400
CPU
[email protected]
Memory
4 gigs
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 9600M
Sound Card
HD built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
17" Wxga
Screen Resolution
1440x900
Cooling
none
Internet Speed
45Mb down 5Mb up
^Same here.... :)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Generic Homebuilt
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Int i7 950 [3.06] O.C @3.36ghz Quad Core (HT) = 7.6 WEI
Motherboard
ATX LGA1366 DDR3 Asus Rampage III Formula
Memory
DDR3 6GB/Kit PC3-16000 Patriot @ 1733 mhz = 7.9 WEI
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GTS450 1GB PCI-E Zotac = 7.2 WEI
Sound Card
X-Fi 2 Built-in 8-Channel High Definition
Monitor(s) Displays
LG-27"
Screen Resolution
1920 x1200
Hard Drives
Kingston 2.5" 120GB SATA 3.x MLC Int. SSD. = 7.9 WEI, 1TB WD SATA 3.x 64MB Blue.
PSU
600W Coolermaster eXtremePower Plus
Case
Coolermaster Centurion 590
Cooling
Zalman CNPS10X Extreme
Keyboard
Multimedia USB Logitech Wave
Mouse
Team Scorpion (Wired)
Other Info
Windows Experience Index = 7.2 overall
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