Is Win 7 Ultimate really worth the extra money ?

[JordanJP]

I'm seriously thinking of buying a new laptop soon, and It comes standard with Home Premium however I have the option for $149 more to upgrade to Ultimate. Is it really that worth it ?


After much deliberation, I think I would much rather save $149 and just stick with Home Premium. The only two reasons that I was thinking of getting Ultimate was :

1) Bitlocker
2) gpedit.msc

As for Bitlocker, I use TrueCrypt and I'm sure people would agree with me when I say that TrueCrypt does an excellent job, maybe better than Bitlocker ? Is there anything that TrueCrypt cannot do compared to Bitlocker ?

And regarding gpedit.msc, that's the only feature that I would miss If I get Home Premium.

Do you guys know of any alternative though to gpedit.msc ?


Thanks

 

[nate42nd]

I like Pro. It has most features missing in HP but not costing as much as Ultimate.

 

[pparks1]

Here is a link to a website that explains how to get the group policy editor working. Use at your own risk
Use Gpedit in Windows 7

As far as TrueCrypt..I prefer TrueCrypt as it's available for multi platforms. So, if you have an encrypted file, you can move it to an OS X box or a Linux host and have access to it.

The primary benefit that I miss from Home Premium is remote desktop server.

 

[Lee]

I guess you have to take into consideration what you are using it for. Each of the high end versions of Seven have their special functions that are needed by specific companies for specific jobs. Albeit, the average home user can get buy with HP. The only reason for a home user going to Pro or Ult is for XP Mode, however, with Virtual Box, or VM Ware Workstation (Player) you can still basically have the same functions.

It comes down to what you want to shell out money wise.

 

[pparks1]

The only reason for a home user going to Pro or Ult is for XP Mode, however, with Virtual Box, or VM Ware Workstation (Player) you can still basically have the same functions.

In addition to XP Mode, I can also see home users wanting remote desktop. For example, my desktop is in my office area in the basement, but I am upstairs on the couch with my laptop. It's nice to be able to remote it and check on something. Also, the techie home users who are studying for cert exams and such might also be running a domain at home and want to join the domain...which you cannot do with Home Premium.

 

[brady]

at least get pro, home edition falls short.

 

[nate42nd]

I like to be able to back up to a network location. Only Pro and Ultimate have that. You may want to look at my thread here

 

[CoolioG]

I have home edition. It does everything Ultimate can do besides XP mode, which you most likely will not need.

(I know it comes with more than XP mode, but XP mode is the "big thing" for Win7 ultimate.)

 

[thomashouseman]

Only prof and ultimate let you RDP into home from somewhere else. That's also a consideration.

 

[Grimmjow]

To OP, read this, you can compare versions of Win7, nicely described, with yes and no, this is the link: Windows 7 editions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Lee]

Some excellent suggestions here. Never use Rmote so it didn't even enter my wee brain; just might have to give it a try, thanks.

 

[KremmenUK]

Being MSDN I could have installed any version I wanted but having looked at the extras I considered HP adequate.

I didn't consider I needed XP Mode via virtualisation, nor bitlocker, nor backing up to a network.

I've actually installed, and have working, without compatibility, quite a few programs that the upgrade advisor reckoned wouldn't work

Microsoft Digital Image 2006
Paintshop Pro Photo X1
Canon CD LabelPrint
Nero 7 Premium

 

[BugMeister]

- yep...

 

[swarfega]

No need for ultimate. I got pro for virtualisation.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
compared with Home Premium the answers have already been made -- but I'd go for PRO rather than Ultimate - it's cheaper and all the features you want are available such as the RDP Server feature.

However at the price point you could consider finding a discount coupon and taking out a Technet subscription for only around 100 USD more.

You get access to an INCREDIBLE amount of Software so you can try out as many versions of Windows as you see fit (as well as SERVERS and application software).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[JordanJP]

thanks for all your informative thoughts ! : )

 

[valtonray]

i think home premium is fine for most users, if your worried about encrypting information and editing group policies this probably isn't you though. also i like the idea of xp mode but i think that for considering most people's computer use is limited to email, internet and a few documents it's not needed by the general population. in my personal opinion xp was a PITA i really dont see why so many people are so attached to it other than it's probably what most really got into computer use on and they dont like change/progress. even at launch i felt that xp was a watered down os with no deep features that made it worth using, so i personally don't use xp mode even thpugh i have ultimate on all of my computers

 

[pparks1]

i think home premium is fine for most users, if your worried about encrypting information and editing group policies this probably isn't you though.

I don't think I am offbase when I say that I don't think well over 95% of home users don't give a squat about editing group policy on their home computers. Most probably aren't even aware that group policy exists or what it does...they just know that their computer at work is locked down by IT.

 

[valtonray]

i think home premium is fine for most users, if your worried about encrypting information and editing group policies this probably isn't you though.

I don't think I am offbase when I say that I don't think well over 95% of home users don't give a squat about editing group policy on their home computers. Most probably aren't even aware that group policy exists or what it does...they just know that their computer at work is locked down by IT.

true the average user has no need or interest in this matter. therefore it's not needed in hope premium.