Need a little help understanding Vista

[BaronBamboo]

Ok guys I have a question

I'm doing my first build and I'm a bit confused of all the Vista options. I've seen the side by side comparisons and want Vista Home Premium, yet on Newegg it is $222 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116469)

There is also another version for $120 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116470)but it says upgrade DVD and I assume that means I need to have XP first and then can upgrade to Vista, right?

I'm building a comp from scratch so which one should I go for?

thanks.

[Joe Average]

The versions of any given edition of Vista are:

Retail Full = The full legit release designed for a clean installation on a blank non-OEM machine. Yes it can be installed on an OEM box, but these days, all modern OEM boxes (Dell, Gateway, HP, etc) will come with Vista on them already. The most expensive type.

Retail Upgrade = The upgrade version designed to take older versions of Windows (2000, XP, etc) and upgrade them to Vista. Can also be used to upgrade OEM machine copies as well. Next most expensive type, most of the time.

OEM System Builder = This one is the same thing that's sold to OEMs like Dell, Gateway, HP, etc. except it's not tied to the specific brand of hardware (Dell for Dells, Gateway for Gateways, etc). It's sold with a piece of hardware to keep the licensing requirements fulfilled, so most companies like Newegg will sell a copy with a mouse, a keyboard, it really doesn't matter as long as they sell it in a "package" with a piece of hardware to 'attach' the license with. Typically, the least expensive because of various considerations. These are full install versions, not upgrades.

So the OEM System Builder version of any edition of Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate) is usually the cheapest, but it comes with no support from Microsoft - you can't call them if you have tech support issues. Also, the OEM System Builder version is not transferable from machine to machine as the Retail Full/Upgrade editions can be - OEM stuff is tied to a machine, meaning a motherboard most of the time.

Gets complicated, but that's the basics.

[BaronBamboo]

So which version of Vista is this? All it says is Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116469

So basically System builder is the version you all have, correct?

Man when did all this confusion come from X_X. So building a comp from scarth and not paying a fortune I guess I should go system builder.

[masteraleph]

So which version of Vista is this? All it says is Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116469

So basically System builder is the version you all have, correct?

Man when did all this confusion come from X_X. So building a comp from scarth and not paying a fortune I guess I should go system builder.

At that price, it's retail.

It should be noted that Joe Average's post was slightly misleading. OEM versions, while frequently sold with any piece of hardware, are really supposed to be tired to a single computer, by which MS means a single motherboard. If you're actually following the EULA, you should be buying a new version if you upgrade the motherboard at any point. In the real world, however, you can probably just claim "motherboard failure" and MS will let you reinstall automatically.

With that said, a couple of notes:

1) The OEM version is 50% the price of the full retail. So even if you plan on upgrading at some point, AND following the letter of the EULA, you've given yourself a $110 loan for a couple of years.

2) The retail and upgrade keys will work with 64-bit Vista, but the packages (except ultimate) only come with the 32 bit disc. You can either get a 64-bit package from MS (about $10 for shipping), or else borrow one from anyone out there- the keys aren't tied to specific discs. OEM versions come in either 32-bit of 64-bit flavor.

3) If you or your best friend, pet dog, etc are a college student, Vista Home Premium Upgrade (Academic version) is about $70, at various places online.

4) It's fairly common knowledge around here, but if you're looking for a new copy of Office to go with the new computer and are a college student, go to The Ultimate Steal (http://www.theultimatesteal.com/store/msshus/ContentTheme/pbPage.microsoft_office_ultimate). $60 for Office 2007 Ultimate is pretty hard to beat.

[Joe Average]

I'd sure love to know what could possibly have been "misleading" ... I pretty much cover all the bases in my posts, but whatever.

So which version of Vista is this? All it says is Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116469

So basically System builder is the version you all have, correct?

Man when did all this confusion come from X_X. So building a comp from scarth and not paying a fortune I guess I should go system builder.

The version you linked to is the Retail Full installation, used to install Vista nice and clean on a brand new machine or as a new OS on an old one. The price, as mentioned, is the tipoff.

I don't use Vista; I run XP x64, a Retail Full copy I purchased in the past.

It doesn't take a fortune to build a full working computer, really. Just takes some time, research, effort, and patience to locate the good deals and put together what you want. That's the key: figuring out what you want first - what you expect or plan to do with the PC, possible future proofing for upgrades, etc.

Figure that out first, then go from there. The hardware isn't going anywhere, no hurry. :)

[BaronBamboo]

OK I'm building a computer and need 64 bit. I have chosen Vista Home Premium, so what should I do to get to 64 bit?

also if I buy a 32 bit Vista here, will MS send me a a 64 bit one if I request one?

[Joe Average]

If you never intend to do any changes in hardware (save for a dead motherboard, which is what the activation will tie itself to when you install Vista), then get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

And you're done. Swapping out hard drives, RAM, video cards, etc - none of that should trigger a need to reactivate, but if that happens, a phone call will fix you up easily.

Again, if you use that System Builder version, you can't get support from Microsoft as you're not entitled to it with that version. But really, who the hell calls Microsoft anymore... that's what places like this forum exist for. :D

You would need to purchase a Retail or Upgrade version - and not the System Builder version - to be eligible for the 64 bit media (the 64 bit installer DVD) from Microsoft. That's why you can buy the 32 bit System Builder or the 64 bit System Builder versions individually. As noted already, the Retail Full or Upgrade versions only come with 1 DVD in the box: the 32 bit install DVD.

Ultimate comes with both DVDs in the box, but look at the price difference to see why.

[BaronBamboo]

Yeah I have zero intentions of calling MS.


You would need to purchase a Retail or Upgrade version - and not the System Builder version - to be eligible for the 64 bit media (the 64 bit installer DVD) from Microsoft. That's why you can buy the 32 bit System Builder or the 64 bit System Builder versions individually. As noted already, the Retail Full or Upgrade versions only come with 1 DVD in the box: the 32 bit install DVD.

Ultimate comes with both DVDs in the box, but look at the price difference to see why.

Ok I'm a little confused here. So there are certain Vistas that come with both, but I can buy 64-bit individually, right? Cause I don't need 32-bit because I have 4gb of RAM

ok so another question. If someone sells me a 32-bit Vista, then is there anyway I can get a 64-bit Vista from MS?

thanks

[griffinhart]

The retail versions of Ultimate, both upgrade and full, come with both 32 and 64bit media. All other retail versions have both available. If you get the 32bit version you can go to Microsoft's web site and order the 64bit media for $10 for shipping and handling. The CD key that comes with the retail box works for both 32 and 64bit installs.

Apparently, OEM versions can use the same CD key on 32 and 64bit versions, but You can't use the MS web page to get a disk. You'll need to borrow the media from someone.