I have read this stuff over and over and I have seen it change and I am still trying to figure it out. Please help.

I have my hardware ready to put together my next "Home Grown PC".
It will have a 64 bit dual core AMD card.
A ATI Direct 10 compliant graphics card, 512mg and allow me to digitally connect to my 22" wide screen LG monitor.
I have 4gbs of RAM (a pair of 2s).
Oh yes, a loaded with functionality MSI motherboard that can handle a AMD quad processor if I want.

So, I definitely, will want a 64 bit version of Vista. I have reseached and downloaded the 64 bit drivers needed. Some issues still there for my Canon Lide 50 scanner and syncing my Palm PDA. But, I will worry about it later.

I would love to get the Vista Ultimate, but to me, the cost is rather insane. Way to high for me, even though I work and am a student.

I am looking at the Business 64 and the Home "Premium" 64.

On the differences between them, it appears that the Home Premium version has a limitation of 16gb of RAM memory, while the Business edition has something like 128gb limitation.

I have the full Nero Package, but there is backup and restore software with the Business Edition, not in the Home edition ??

The Business Edition does not come included with Windows Media Player and related technologies such as Windows Movie Maker, and a DVD creator as well as some "games".
Aren't those games and the Windows multi-media products available for free download ?? Or possibly is it just telling the Business Edition to install them, like you would do now with XP.
I am aware that every DVD is exactly the same, regardless of version, but it is the license that is entered that allows the installation to load and not load some features .

I also am concerned about communication features that seem to be in Business that are not in Home ??

I know that the SP1 will be coming out shortly, so there might be some additional differences coming down.

I hope that the patch soon to be available (the beta is already), will do something for performance on Vista. My son is beside himself with how ragged his performance is after purchasing a new HP notebook that has Vista Home pre-installed. I have seen it in action, ugh.
I personally don't expect the same performance issues as he has because my desktop will have more "horsespower" than his notebook, but it does have an Intel Dual processor (I'll take AMD anytime, and the extra money that I disn't spend as well). But I digress, I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see his laptop in action myself. He might HAVE to re-format and load XP, because he uses it for work and it takes him way more time to do that same thing forget about it when he gets into his companies server at home.

But for my new system, could someone advise me. The more I look, the more confused I get.
I also am aware of a change that just occurred in the licensing that allows Home Premium some flexibility in having a Virtual system like VMware installed.

I have XP Home running on the PC that I am currently using and will be stripping it out. Not sure what I will do with the XP Home license, but it might mean I can purcvhase an upgrade, if there is one for Vista 64.


Any advice wouild be helpful !!

Thanks,

Jon

Originally Posted by JaxMacFL

Hey Jon, welcome to the forum.

I'll try to answer and clarify some of your questions and/or confusion. I didn't need the home movie making software or media center stuff, so I bought Vista business 32 bit and sent off for the 64 bit version. It only cost $10.00 (shipping and handling). Vista business does come with the games also (Chess Titans, Majhong Titans, inkball, hearts, solitaire, spider solitaire, freecell, purple place and minesweeper). You just have to select them in 'Turn Windows features on or off' found in 'Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features'. Also vista business x64 has both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows Media Players. I have set wmp 64bit as my default player. As for performance, I have no problems. Over 13,000 in 3dmark06.

Here is a link that might be of some help:
Windows Vista: Compare Editions

JaxMacF,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share you experience and expertise.

If interested in 64 bit processing (even if not), don't you think it is awfully confusing ??

I see retail versions, OEM version, the ANYTime upgrade, academic versions. DVDs and CDs. Then again, some retail versions can be downloaded ??

Thanks for the link, but I have looked at that screen so many times, I am thinking of tattooing it inside of my eyelid. .

I do find the Compare Editions piece incomplete and somewhat confusing. For example, it doesn't mention the difference in the potential RAM limitations.

Maybe to make it easy for myself, I should just install DOS 6.2 or something like that.

Okay I will try to get this down to a few questions.

• I have looked again at Windows Vista: Compare Editions

• I can get the Academic versions, since I am going to school part time. I know that while the retail box says academic, there is virtually no difference in functionality. I believe that the Academic versions are all upgrades ?? I wonder if I can get a DVD upgrade and not send out for the additional media ??

• Okay, I just found out that here is a retail version of Vista Ultimate Upgrade selling at Amazon.com.
  Amazon.com: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE [DVD]: Software: Windows Cost is $227, PLUS, if I order this from Amazon.Com. The purchase also has a promotion from Amazon where I will receive $75 store credit from Amazon.com !! Heck, I order groceries from amazon.com.
  On this version, I receive the DVD. It will have a license number. Is there any reason why I cannot install the 64 bit version immediately ? Everything is contained on that DVD (Upgrade or not Upgrade).
  I do have a legal copy of XP Home and I know the little "trick" that Microsoft put in, where I can do a fresh install with a Update disk. It will ask me for the version I am wanting to install. What I don't know is if I can install Ultimate 64 bit immediately ?? I know the "trick" isn't any trick unless I have a valid registration Number for the Vista Version I am installing.
  I am thinking that since I get free second day shipping, free expedited shipping and pay no tax and a $75.00 store credit (don't have to send away, like a rebate, which I have never done and will never do), this turns out to be about the best value for the dollar ??

My biggest fear is getting Vista, then hearing that Ooops, you got the 32 bit version, sorry, you have to purchase another upgrade for the 64 bit version. I don't think that can occur if I purchase that Ultimate retail upgrade ????? Correct

Thanks so much.

I haven't seen that $75 amazon.com credit before, I wonder if it is new. I wonder how many people know about that. I saw that if I purchase a version of Vista locally, I would have to pay about an additional $17.00 in local taxes.Truthfully, I never minded paying taxes as much as I do currently. (Ooops, better leave politics out of this )

Thanks again,

Jon

I will go now and keep download upgraded drivers for the 64 bit Os.