If you resort to the Inny Minnie Miny Moe method of selecting which version of Vista is right for you. You mat find your self in wonderland, wondering why it’s not what you exopected.
So which Vista Version is Right for You?
Let me start by posing a question followed by the answer. How many version of Vista are out there?
You’ll be surprised to hear the answer. In all there are Six versions of Vista just as there were Six versions of XP. Wasn’t it confusing back int he day whya deciding which version of XP is right for you. You’d think that Microsoft would have simplified things by now. Certainly to make life easy for those looking to upgrade to Vista.
Lets review the various versions to help determine which version is right for you.
Vista Home has Two flavors:
Windows Vista Home Basic:
This edition will be made available in North America and other developed nations, and it represents the simplest Vista option. The Home Basic Edition is aimed at individuals using their computer at home who want security without complexity.
Windows Vista Home Basic includes:
- Windows Defender
- Windows Mail with its antispam features
- Internet Explorer 7 with its antiphishing features and protected mode
- Improved Windows Firewall
- An overhauled Security Center
- Enhanced parental controls.
- Windows Media Player 11
- Windows Movie Maker
- Windows Photo Gallery
- Windows Calendar
- Windows Sidebar
- Windows Search
- Games Explorer
- Partial support for the Mobility Center for notebook users
- Basic networking (wired and wireless).
However Windows Vista Home Basic will not support the new Aero shell.
Windows Vista Home Premium includes:
- Everything in Home Basic
- Plus the Aero shell
- Media Center
- Support for Tablet PCs
- Windows Collaboration
- Windows DVD Maker
- Scheduled backups
- DVD ripping and authoring capabilities
- Mobility Center for notebook users
- Advanced networking capabilities (such as ad hoc peer-to-peer networks and multiple-machine parental controls).
This edition is aimed at networked household, multimedia enthusiasts, and notebook users.
The business market will also see two editions of Windows Vista:
Windows Vista Business
This edition is comprobable to Windows XP Professional and includes the same corporate features as XP Pro.
Vista Business Edition features include:
- Support for domains
- Multiple network protocols
- Offline files
- Remote Desktop
- File and folder encryption
- Roaming user profiles, and group
- Aero shell
- Internet Information Server
- Windows Fax and Scan
- Support for Tablet PCs
- Full Mobility Center.
This edition does not come with Media Center, Movie Maker, and DVD Maker. In short, it’s a cut the crap out OS for the business professional.
Windows Vista Enterprise
This edition is optimized for corporate desktops.
Windows Vista Enterprise features include:
- Everything that’s in Vista Business
- Windows BitLocker (drive encryption for sensitive data)
- Virtual PC Express
- Multilanguage User Interface (MUI)
- Subsystem for UNIX-Based Applications (SUA)
It also allows IT personnel to deploy the OS in different languages using a single disk image. Note, however, that Enterprise Edition will be made available only to Enterprise Agreement (EA) and Software Assurance (SA) volume-licensing customers. (Or, you can simply buy the Ultimate Edition)
So what exactly is Windows Vista Ultimate Edition?
Windows Vista Ultimate edition is everything you could want, need not need, must have, and not have all bundled into one OS. The only thing that is missing is the kitchen sink and the coffee machine.
Windows Vista Ultimate comes with all the features of the Home Premium and Enterprise editions. It also offers enhanced game performance, access to online subscription services, custom themes, and enhanced support.
So thats Five version of Vista and given Vista Ultimate has everything but the kitchen sink and the coffee machine, what else is left that could possibly justify a Sixth version of Microsoft Windows Vista?
Here’s the sixth Vista version
Windows Vista Starter
This is a stripped-down edition of Vista that will be made available only in emerging markets. It’s designed for low-cost PCs and is optimized to run on machines with relatively slow CPUs and small memory footprints. This means that the Starter Edition won’t support features such as the Aero shell, networking, image editing, and DVD burning. As with XP Starter Edition, Vista Starter Edition will be limited to an 800×600 display and won’t allow users to open more than three programs or three windows at once.
In addition to these editions, there will be OEM equivalents for all versions, as well as 64-bit versions for everything except the Starter Edition. Finally, Microsoft will also make available special versions of Vista Home Edition and a Professional Edition that are customized for Europe to satisfy antitrust legal obligations in that region, which means these editions come without Microsoft’s media features, including Media Player and Media Center.
So take a pick. If you’re still confused. Drop me a line by commenting on the blog and i’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.