- 16,736
- Southampton, UK
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So when will you be getting Windows Vista?
Well I am getting it around about August of September, because I need to get my PS3 first and a newer Hard Drive at around about 320GB to 400GB. But the version I am getting is:
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM
But I don't know if I should get it even this year, or wait until I get my next PC from Alienware. But I won't be getting my next PC until late Mid 2008.
----
Before deciding to vote, have a look over these features for the different versions.
Source: Microsoft
Home Basic - Do not get
Most secure Windows ever
with Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
Quickly find what you need
with Instant Search and Windows Internet Explorer 7
Home Premium - Should consider
Same features as basic, along with these other features:
Elegant Windows Aero desktop experience
with Windows Flip 3D navigation
Best choice for laptops
with enhanced Windows Mobility Center and Tablet PC support
Collaborate and share documents
with Windows Meeting Space
Experience photos and entertainment
in your living room with Windows Media Center
Enjoy Windows Media Center
on TVs throughout your home with Xbox 360 and other devices
Ultimate - My Pick
All of the features of Basic and Premium, along with these 3 extra great features:
Help protect against hardware failure
with advanced business backup features
More info
Built-in Diagnostics
Windows Vista includes new and enhanced functionality that can help you resolve many common problemsoften before a failure or data loss occurs. If there is a hard disk or system failure, the new Built-in Diagnostics feature provides easy-to-use backup and restore techniques to get you up and running again.
Windows Vista is more reliable than Windows XP, reducing the frequency and impact of disruptions. It includes fixes for known hangs and crashes, and new technology that will prevent many common causes of hangs and crashes. Windows Vista can also recognize when applications are in danger of exhausting system resources (such as virtual memory) and warn you to shut down those applications before the system hangs and data is potentially lost.
Built-in Diagnostics provides automatic diagnosis and correction for common error conditions, and helps to protect data when failures occur. For example, the Built-in Diagnostics feature in Windows Vista will warn you of impending hard drive failures and advise you to take corrective action before data is lost. In the worst case, if your computer will not start up, new Startup Repair technology provides step-by-step diagnostics to guide you through recovery and minimize data loss.
Business networking and Remote Desktop
for easier connectivity
More info
Networking
Windows Vista includes new networking features that make your network easier to set up, easier to use, and more secure and reliable. Connect wirelessly to your company's network, share an Internet connection and printers, copy files between computers, or enjoy your favorite entertainment around your home. Whether at home, a small business, or a large enterprise, Windows Vista makes connectivity easier so you can focus on what matters to you.
Network Center
Windows Vista puts you in control of your network experience with the Network Centerthe central place for all your networking needs. Network Center informs you about the network your computer is connected to and verifies whether it can successfully reach the Internet. It even presents this information in a summary in the Network Map so you can immediately see your connectivity to the network and Internet. If a PC on the network loses Internet connectivity, you can graphically see that the link is down, and then use Network Diagnostics to help determine the cause of the problem and get a suggestion for a solution.
Check your connection status, see your network visually, or troubleshoot a connection problem in the Network Center.
Network Center also allows you to quickly connect to other available networks, or create entirely new connections. You can view and configure your most important network settings in one place. And for less frequently accessed settings, Network Center provides direct links so you can easily find what you're looking for.
Network Center also makes it easy to connect your workplace network from home.
Easily connect to your workplace from home using the Network Center.
Network Setup
With Windows Vista, setting up a network between multiple PCs and devices (including printers, music players, and game systems) is simple and intuitive. The Network Setup Wizard allows you to set up wired or wireless networks by identifying unconfigured network devices and adding them to the network. The Network Setup Wizard also automates the process of adding new devices to your network. It automatically generates secure network settings to keep your network safe from intruders.
Network settings can also be saved to a portable USB flash drive to make adding PCs and devices to the network a quick and easy process. Simply insert the USB flash drive into a PC or device and it will automatically read the data and ready itself to join the network. File and printer sharing is also easily enabled on each PC on the network from the Network Setup Wizard, so you can share documents, photos, music, and other files across your network.
Network Explorer
Once a network is set up, you need to be able to easily browse content on networked PCs, devices, and printers. The new Network Explorer in Windows Vista makes it easy to share files and take advantage of the connectivity that a network provides. It presents a view of all PCs, devices, and printers on the network, and is significantly faster and more reliable than My Network Places in Windows XP. The Network Explorer is even able to use custom, representative icons for different devices (when enabled by manufacturers). You can also directly interact with select devicesadjust settings or control music playback, for example.
Create networks to share files, printers, and other devices.
Network Map
When people have multiple computers and devices on a network, with a combination of wireless and wired connections, it can be difficult to understand how everything is connected. Windows Vista provides a new feature called Network Map which shows you an easy-to-understand, graphical view of everything on the network, and how everything is connected. This helps you optimize your network for the best performance and easily locate any problems.
Network Map in a home environment showing a broken connection to a wireless router.
Wireless Networking
Windows Vista improves the wireless network experience in a number of ways. The new Network Awareness feature in Windows Vista keeps your applications aware of and optimized for the network's changing capabilities. Your data is also more secure with enhanced support for the latest wireless security protocols, including WPA2. Windows Vista helps you avoid connecting to fraudulent wireless networks which seem like legitimate hotspots but, in fact, are not. Windows Vista also provides an easy way to create ad-hoc wireless networks to use peer-to-peer applications such as file sharing and application collaboration.
Network Awareness
Network Awareness provides the ability to report changes in network connectivity to applications in order to provide a more seamless connected experience. As you connect to different networks, the change is communicated to Network Awareness-supported applications, which can then take appropriate actions for your connection to that network. For example, when you switch from your home office to your corporate network, firewall settings can be configured to open the ports needed to allow the use of IT management tools. Group Policy will detect the reconnection to the corporate network and automatically begin processing policy changes instead of waiting for the next detection cycle.
Network Diagnostics
It's easy to become frustrated over network connection failures, especially when there's a lack of information and guidance on how to solve the problem. That's why Windows Vista provides Network Diagnostics to analyze the situation and present either immediate solutions or a list of possible causes and solutions so that you can fix the problem yourself.
Network Diagnostics will either solve your problem automatically or walk you through the process to solve it. For example, a common error that occurs when you're browsing the Internet is that a web page will not load. An error message indicates the failure to complete the task (such as, "Page cannot be displayed" or "Server is not available") and prompts you to run Network Diagnostics. Within a few moments, a Network Diagnostics dialog box will display a description of the actual error and provide a recommendation on how to fix it.
Network Diagnostics helps you solve your own problems by giving you a list of potential causes and solutions.
Networking Optimized for Speed
Windows Vista automatically tunes itself to receive more data at any given time by detecting the speed of your Internet connection and the amount of bandwidth available to you. As a result, you can download files and stream multimedia clips much faster with your existing high-speed Internet access, which means you spend more time working with your content and less time waiting for it to arrive.
Better protect your data
against loss or theft with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption
More Info
In a corporate network environment, securing access to data across shared computersas well as access to the network itselfis easier for system administrators who use Windows Vista and Windows Server code named "Longhorn." Take a look at some of the features of Windows Vista that make the protection of corporate and client data much easier to manage.
Remote Access
If any members of your workforce travel as part of their jobs or divide their work time between home and the office, they need secure and dependable remote access to your corporate network, any time and any place. Windows Vista, in conjunction with the forthcoming Windows Server Longhorn, offers a better-together solution that simplifies remote access and ensures a high level of securitywithout a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
Whether your employees work from the road or work remotely on a home computer, Windows Vista makes it quick and easy for them to access your corporate network whenever they need it.
Simplified remote access
With the Remote Desktop Connection feature in Windows Vista, your workforce can have easier remote access to resources and applications. For example, if a salesperson needs remote access to a financial application or a customer relationship management (CRM) application on your network, with Windows Vista your corporate IT manager can place an icon for that application on the salesperson's desktop. When the salesperson clicks the icon, an automatic Terminal Services Remote Program connection is made to the company over the Internet and to the Terminal Server in Windows Server Longhornall without the use of a VPN.
Access from home computers
Terminal Services Gateway in Windows Server Longhorn also provides home computers that are running Windows Vista with additional features to access corporate networks. If employees use their home PCs to log on to the corporate network, they can simply access the corporate website over the Internet, and then click links that have been set up to go straight to corporate resources.
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption
According to Microsoft studies, a large percentage of a company's digitized information can reside on computer hard disk drives. With an increasingly mobile workforce, your company's sensitive data is at risk if a laptop is lost or stolen.
BitLocker Drive Encryption is a hardware-enabled data protection feature that addresses the growing concern that corporate and customer data could be accessed from lost or stolen computers. By encrypting the entire Windows system volume, data is better protected, which prevents unauthorized users from compromising Windows file and system protection on any lost or stolen PCs. Using BitLocker also helps your organization comply with data privacy regulations and reduces concerns about repurposing equipment. Available with Windows Vista Enterprise or Windows Vista Ultimate, BitLocker is simple to deploy and use, and makes recovery easy when the need arises.
Encrypting File System
Encrypting File System (EFS) is useful for user-level file and folder encryption. For example, if two people share a computer running Windows Vista, EFS can be used to encrypt each person's data so that it is not available to the other user of the computer. Windows Vista enhances the administrator's ability to manage EFS on a network by supporting storage of EFS keys on smart cards. This way, the rights assigned to each individual's smart card determine what content he or she has access to on a computer and across the network.
Control over device installation
--
What I think about the versions
If your going to be getting Windows Vista with a new PC your buying, then you should not go for the basic. But I would go for the top of the range version, if your planning to keep your PC for more then 2-3 years at least or if you upgrade every 5 years.
However if get a new Hard Drive every 2 years then go for the Premium.
Well I am getting it around about August of September, because I need to get my PS3 first and a newer Hard Drive at around about 320GB to 400GB. But the version I am getting is:
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM
But I don't know if I should get it even this year, or wait until I get my next PC from Alienware. But I won't be getting my next PC until late Mid 2008.
----
Before deciding to vote, have a look over these features for the different versions.
Source: Microsoft
Home Basic - Do not get
Most secure Windows ever
with Windows Defender and Windows Firewall
Quickly find what you need
with Instant Search and Windows Internet Explorer 7
Home Premium - Should consider
Same features as basic, along with these other features:
Elegant Windows Aero desktop experience
with Windows Flip 3D navigation
Best choice for laptops
with enhanced Windows Mobility Center and Tablet PC support
Collaborate and share documents
with Windows Meeting Space
Experience photos and entertainment
in your living room with Windows Media Center
Enjoy Windows Media Center
on TVs throughout your home with Xbox 360 and other devices
Ultimate - My Pick
All of the features of Basic and Premium, along with these 3 extra great features:
Help protect against hardware failure
with advanced business backup features
More info
Built-in Diagnostics
Windows Vista includes new and enhanced functionality that can help you resolve many common problemsoften before a failure or data loss occurs. If there is a hard disk or system failure, the new Built-in Diagnostics feature provides easy-to-use backup and restore techniques to get you up and running again.
Windows Vista is more reliable than Windows XP, reducing the frequency and impact of disruptions. It includes fixes for known hangs and crashes, and new technology that will prevent many common causes of hangs and crashes. Windows Vista can also recognize when applications are in danger of exhausting system resources (such as virtual memory) and warn you to shut down those applications before the system hangs and data is potentially lost.
Built-in Diagnostics provides automatic diagnosis and correction for common error conditions, and helps to protect data when failures occur. For example, the Built-in Diagnostics feature in Windows Vista will warn you of impending hard drive failures and advise you to take corrective action before data is lost. In the worst case, if your computer will not start up, new Startup Repair technology provides step-by-step diagnostics to guide you through recovery and minimize data loss.
Business networking and Remote Desktop
for easier connectivity
More info
Networking
Windows Vista includes new networking features that make your network easier to set up, easier to use, and more secure and reliable. Connect wirelessly to your company's network, share an Internet connection and printers, copy files between computers, or enjoy your favorite entertainment around your home. Whether at home, a small business, or a large enterprise, Windows Vista makes connectivity easier so you can focus on what matters to you.
Network Center
Windows Vista puts you in control of your network experience with the Network Centerthe central place for all your networking needs. Network Center informs you about the network your computer is connected to and verifies whether it can successfully reach the Internet. It even presents this information in a summary in the Network Map so you can immediately see your connectivity to the network and Internet. If a PC on the network loses Internet connectivity, you can graphically see that the link is down, and then use Network Diagnostics to help determine the cause of the problem and get a suggestion for a solution.
Check your connection status, see your network visually, or troubleshoot a connection problem in the Network Center.
Network Center also allows you to quickly connect to other available networks, or create entirely new connections. You can view and configure your most important network settings in one place. And for less frequently accessed settings, Network Center provides direct links so you can easily find what you're looking for.
Network Center also makes it easy to connect your workplace network from home.
Easily connect to your workplace from home using the Network Center.
Network Setup
With Windows Vista, setting up a network between multiple PCs and devices (including printers, music players, and game systems) is simple and intuitive. The Network Setup Wizard allows you to set up wired or wireless networks by identifying unconfigured network devices and adding them to the network. The Network Setup Wizard also automates the process of adding new devices to your network. It automatically generates secure network settings to keep your network safe from intruders.
Network settings can also be saved to a portable USB flash drive to make adding PCs and devices to the network a quick and easy process. Simply insert the USB flash drive into a PC or device and it will automatically read the data and ready itself to join the network. File and printer sharing is also easily enabled on each PC on the network from the Network Setup Wizard, so you can share documents, photos, music, and other files across your network.
Network Explorer
Once a network is set up, you need to be able to easily browse content on networked PCs, devices, and printers. The new Network Explorer in Windows Vista makes it easy to share files and take advantage of the connectivity that a network provides. It presents a view of all PCs, devices, and printers on the network, and is significantly faster and more reliable than My Network Places in Windows XP. The Network Explorer is even able to use custom, representative icons for different devices (when enabled by manufacturers). You can also directly interact with select devicesadjust settings or control music playback, for example.
Create networks to share files, printers, and other devices.
Network Map
When people have multiple computers and devices on a network, with a combination of wireless and wired connections, it can be difficult to understand how everything is connected. Windows Vista provides a new feature called Network Map which shows you an easy-to-understand, graphical view of everything on the network, and how everything is connected. This helps you optimize your network for the best performance and easily locate any problems.
Network Map in a home environment showing a broken connection to a wireless router.
Wireless Networking
Windows Vista improves the wireless network experience in a number of ways. The new Network Awareness feature in Windows Vista keeps your applications aware of and optimized for the network's changing capabilities. Your data is also more secure with enhanced support for the latest wireless security protocols, including WPA2. Windows Vista helps you avoid connecting to fraudulent wireless networks which seem like legitimate hotspots but, in fact, are not. Windows Vista also provides an easy way to create ad-hoc wireless networks to use peer-to-peer applications such as file sharing and application collaboration.
Network Awareness
Network Awareness provides the ability to report changes in network connectivity to applications in order to provide a more seamless connected experience. As you connect to different networks, the change is communicated to Network Awareness-supported applications, which can then take appropriate actions for your connection to that network. For example, when you switch from your home office to your corporate network, firewall settings can be configured to open the ports needed to allow the use of IT management tools. Group Policy will detect the reconnection to the corporate network and automatically begin processing policy changes instead of waiting for the next detection cycle.
Network Diagnostics
It's easy to become frustrated over network connection failures, especially when there's a lack of information and guidance on how to solve the problem. That's why Windows Vista provides Network Diagnostics to analyze the situation and present either immediate solutions or a list of possible causes and solutions so that you can fix the problem yourself.
Network Diagnostics will either solve your problem automatically or walk you through the process to solve it. For example, a common error that occurs when you're browsing the Internet is that a web page will not load. An error message indicates the failure to complete the task (such as, "Page cannot be displayed" or "Server is not available") and prompts you to run Network Diagnostics. Within a few moments, a Network Diagnostics dialog box will display a description of the actual error and provide a recommendation on how to fix it.
Network Diagnostics helps you solve your own problems by giving you a list of potential causes and solutions.
Networking Optimized for Speed
Windows Vista automatically tunes itself to receive more data at any given time by detecting the speed of your Internet connection and the amount of bandwidth available to you. As a result, you can download files and stream multimedia clips much faster with your existing high-speed Internet access, which means you spend more time working with your content and less time waiting for it to arrive.
Better protect your data
against loss or theft with Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption
More Info
In a corporate network environment, securing access to data across shared computersas well as access to the network itselfis easier for system administrators who use Windows Vista and Windows Server code named "Longhorn." Take a look at some of the features of Windows Vista that make the protection of corporate and client data much easier to manage.
Remote Access
If any members of your workforce travel as part of their jobs or divide their work time between home and the office, they need secure and dependable remote access to your corporate network, any time and any place. Windows Vista, in conjunction with the forthcoming Windows Server Longhorn, offers a better-together solution that simplifies remote access and ensures a high level of securitywithout a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
Whether your employees work from the road or work remotely on a home computer, Windows Vista makes it quick and easy for them to access your corporate network whenever they need it.
Simplified remote access
With the Remote Desktop Connection feature in Windows Vista, your workforce can have easier remote access to resources and applications. For example, if a salesperson needs remote access to a financial application or a customer relationship management (CRM) application on your network, with Windows Vista your corporate IT manager can place an icon for that application on the salesperson's desktop. When the salesperson clicks the icon, an automatic Terminal Services Remote Program connection is made to the company over the Internet and to the Terminal Server in Windows Server Longhornall without the use of a VPN.
Access from home computers
Terminal Services Gateway in Windows Server Longhorn also provides home computers that are running Windows Vista with additional features to access corporate networks. If employees use their home PCs to log on to the corporate network, they can simply access the corporate website over the Internet, and then click links that have been set up to go straight to corporate resources.
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption
According to Microsoft studies, a large percentage of a company's digitized information can reside on computer hard disk drives. With an increasingly mobile workforce, your company's sensitive data is at risk if a laptop is lost or stolen.
BitLocker Drive Encryption is a hardware-enabled data protection feature that addresses the growing concern that corporate and customer data could be accessed from lost or stolen computers. By encrypting the entire Windows system volume, data is better protected, which prevents unauthorized users from compromising Windows file and system protection on any lost or stolen PCs. Using BitLocker also helps your organization comply with data privacy regulations and reduces concerns about repurposing equipment. Available with Windows Vista Enterprise or Windows Vista Ultimate, BitLocker is simple to deploy and use, and makes recovery easy when the need arises.
Encrypting File System
Encrypting File System (EFS) is useful for user-level file and folder encryption. For example, if two people share a computer running Windows Vista, EFS can be used to encrypt each person's data so that it is not available to the other user of the computer. Windows Vista enhances the administrator's ability to manage EFS on a network by supporting storage of EFS keys on smart cards. This way, the rights assigned to each individual's smart card determine what content he or she has access to on a computer and across the network.
Control over device installation
--
What I think about the versions
If your going to be getting Windows Vista with a new PC your buying, then you should not go for the basic. But I would go for the top of the range version, if your planning to keep your PC for more then 2-3 years at least or if you upgrade every 5 years.
However if get a new Hard Drive every 2 years then go for the Premium.
im lost 
