Vista Ultimate 64 or 32 for a developer?

Hi all,I am an IT professional who made a small mistake when purchasing my new laptop. I have a 64 bit dual core processor with Vista premium and found out that I needed IIS 7.0 that included Windows Authentification in order to do some work I have in VS.NET 2005 and for installing Reporting Services. So, I'm going to upgrade to Vista Ultimate. Vista Premium IIS 7.0 is LIMITED. Major bummer!My question is whether I need the 64 bit version. I am basically a devloper who will develop C# web apps and will host my own Reporting Services site on my laptop and SQL Server stuff with SSIS, SSAS and SSRS. I'll eventualy end up on the next release of SQL Server (coming out next year), and I'm sure I'll end up working with 3.0 and the new VS.NET that is in Beta. So should I risk having some devices of mine not working and get the 64 bit because evenutaly I'll HAVE to go 64, or will 32 do just fine? Part of me doesn't want to hassle with 64, but part of me does't want to get the wrong version of Vista again.Thanks,Keith

Hi greenmtnsun,

With Vista Ultimate you can choose to use 32 or 64 bit. 64-bit is included with the Ultimate version. As far as whether you should use 64 bit instead will depend on if everything you need and your drivers are a 64 bit compatible version. If not, can you live without it until there is support if any will come.


Also, since you already have Home Premium, you can buy a 64-bit Home Premium upgrade from Microsoft for just $9.99 (S&H only). Here's the link to order if interested :

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

Hope this helps,
Shawn

They made it more complicated than that.

I think I have finally figured out why I was so confused.

Ok, so I purchased a Dell computer with Vista Premium. I got a Vista Premium install disc for 32, but not 64 and NO Vista Anytime Upgrade disc.

I look at the online offerings and I see two things that are confusing as anything, although I've figured it out.

Microsoft has a DIFFERENT "anytime upgrade" path to purchase a "key" for Vista Ultimate for either 32 or 64 when upgrading from PREMIUM. The problem is that it APPEARS to be for one or the other, either 32 or 64. You're right though, its for both.

You then need the Anytime Upgrade disc. Dell didn't give it to me, so I had to order one, in this case I've ordered 32 and 64 in case I choose to go to 64 later on. So you really can have either.

The problem is that the shrink wrap Vista Upgrade is NOT the same, its overkill and more money for my situation. You can't even go in the store and buy what I am referring to, its only online.

So because I was ordering the upgrade from Premium to Ultimate, it doesn't come with the box, as there is NO BOX. It only comes as a sort of "key" that you download, and its ONLY useful if you then either have the ANYTIME disc, or purchase one from MS or some other reseller.

When I purchased my key, I had no idea I needed the other disc too. In my opinion its a mess. They made it confusing.

I honestly think they need to reconsider the way they do this. Apple is going to make them look like a fool with that comercial.

Thanks for your help, I'm all set,
Keith