Which version of vista ?

[menace2society]

New build and finally ready to take the Vista plunge.

Most of the parts are in my sig. Wondering which 64 bit version to buy, some say Biz others say Home premium. System primary use is for gaming.

Looking for opinions

TIA

[swatbat]

Do you need or want media center? If so it is home or ultimate.

Anyway the features business supports that home doesn't.

Ability to downgrade to xp pro if needbe(nice feature for business users)

Built in backup software that gives you full pc restore(both come with backup software)

Built in fax program(this really isn't a big deal anymore)

Remote Desktop connection(lets you remote into the machine and is very useful although 3rd party software does exist for this for home)

Ability to join a domain

Personally I prefer to business because of the domain support(have a domain at home) and the rdp(remote desktop) ability as I log into it from my notebook from time to time. If you haven't used vista before you might want to consider business just for the fact you can downgrade to xp pro if you don't like it. Ran vista 32 bit since launch and when my mb took a shit over the weekend loaded vista business 64 on my temp machine(core2 system).

[Catweazle]

If your rig is primarily for gaming and does not need domain networking then Home Premium is the better choice, if for no reason other than the fact that Vista Business does not include the Games Explorer.

When you get used to using it, Games Explorer is a really convenient (and neat-looking) place to organise your game launch icons. Most games automatically place a launch icon there either when installed or when first run. Those which don't automatically place an icon there can have a launch shortcut copied to there quite successfully. It even 'works' for shortcuts related to 'No-CD' patched games!

The inclusion of Media Center won't be hurting you in any way if you don't use it, and for a home based machine it's there for if you ever decide to start using it.

For most 'gamers' HP is probably the better choice. But, as swatbat just indicated, if your usage necessitates the 'Business' connectivity features and you don't want or need Media Center, then Business would maybe be a better choice for you.


All Vista versions will provide the same 'quality' of games performance, so your version choice really comes down to the features you want included for your non-gaming activity. With the exception of that 'Games Explorer', of course.


Full PC backup drive imaging facility is kinda a joke in comparison with commercial software alternatives which cost less than the additional cost of Vista Ultimate, so I wouldn't be thinking of that'n as a resonable basus for justifying an 'Ultimate' purchase, by the way.

[Zero82z]

Home Premium. The extra features that Business and Ultimate have will be useless for you and HP's multimedia-oriented features make it a better choice than business. Home Premium is basically enough for 90% of people.

[Joe Average]

Another vote for Home Premium. All I needed to see was "primarily for gaming" and that's that.

[swatbat]

If your rig is primarily for gaming and does not need domain networking then Home Premium is the better choice, if for no reason other than the fact that Vista Business does not include the Games Explorer.


Games Explorer is in vista business. I'm looking at it right now on my vista business 64bit machine. The basic games are included with it as well. You just have to add them.

Go under Programs and Features(click the uninstall or change a program from computer) and click on turn windows features on or off. Under it you can enable the games. Not sure if that installs the games explorer or if it is there before hand though.

[Catweazle]

Okay. Thanks for that, swatbat.

I'll revise the opinion then:


If your rig is primarily for gaming and does not need domain networking then Home Premium is the better choice, if for no reason other than the fact that it's less expensive!

Fixed! :D

[swatbat]

Yea for most home users the Vista HP is the best choice. One should take a strong look at business as it isn't much more if they don't need media center in case they want any of its features.

The biggest for the OP would be downgrade rights in case he doesn't like it or has issues with his programs.

[Catweazle]

I sincerely cannot see point nor purpose to worrying about 'downgrade rights' unless it is an installation intended for a corporate environment or workplace situation where compatibility of mission-critical software is a must.

[swatbat]

I sincerely cannot see point nor purpose to worrying about 'downgrade rights' unless it is an installation intended for a corporate environment or workplace situation where compatibility of mission-critical software is a must.

I've just seen a bunch of threads of people saying they went from vista back to xp for whatever reason. With that in mind it is a nice option. Personally I've been happy with vista.

[Catweazle]

I've just seen a bunch of threads of people saying they went from vista back to xp for whatever reason.

If people went 'back' to XP then they already bloodywell had the thing. Do people perhaps swallow the BS floating around about how installing Vista somehow stops your XP install from being usable? It doesn't!

[DeaconFrost]

Is it getting too redundant to just say: "Whichever version fits your needs."?