Is Windows 7 Ultimate Really Necessary?
Posted 07/09/09 at 09:21:04 AM by Paul Lilly
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Microsoft's reduced pre-order pricing for upgrade versions of Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional remains in effect until July 11th, but you might be wondering, 'Am I better off picking up a copy of Ultimate?' At $219 for the upgrade disc and $319 for the full version, compared to as little as $50 for Premium (pre-order Upgrade), that becomes a big (or at least costly) decision. We won't tell you which copy to get, but while Microsoft peddles Windows 7 Ultimate to enthusiasts, let's look at what the extra Benjamin(s)+ buys you.
Windows 7 Ultimate brings to the table several features not found in the Premium and Professional versions, at least eight of them that we know about. Three of them include BranchCache, Enterprise Search, and DirectAccess, all of which are of much more interest to Enterprise environments than for a typical home user. For the latter group, the full language pack, Bitlocker, and AppLocker might hold a bit more appeal.
That leaves Virtual Desktop Interface and Virtual Hard Drive Booting as the two remaining known features that only Ultimate users will have access to, plus whatever "Unspecified Features" Microsoft has on tap.
"There is a small set of customers who want everything Windows 7 has to offer. So, we will continue to have Windows 7 Ultimate Edition to meet that specialized need," Windows General Manager Mike Ybarra stated in a Microsoft PressPass interview describing Ultimate as the OS for "enthusiasts."
Image Credit: Microsoft
I'm getting Ultimate
Submitted by UltraTron on Sun, 07/19/2009 - 7:53am
After many years of being a computer nerd I have nothing on paper to prove it.
I'm studying for Comptia A+ and buying a new laptop when Windows 7 is released. I would feel a touch miffed if there was a feature I needed for my studies/future work/whatever and only Ultimate had it and I opted for Home Premium. It's only an extra 120 bucks so I'm going for Ultimate.
I'm not giddy with joy I assure you. I was content with CP/M and grumbled when MS-DOS was making waves :)
Submitted by internetReklam on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 7:06am
Submitted by sasquatch1955 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:28pm
The $50 upgrade version of Windows 7 Premium is more than sufficient for my computing needs. Pre-purchased two for our household.
Submitted by mesiah on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 8:56pm
Wouldn't it be funny if we all payed for pro and premium, then after we get it we find out that MS was holding back information about ultimate. And that it had some feature we just couldn't go without?
"Windows 7 Ultimate - Now with the MS game awsomifier! Increases framerates by 300% while simultaneously cooking your hot pockets!"
I just want the cheapest
Submitted by Jox on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 2:28pm
I just want the cheapest version that will have the virtual XP option.
-Jox
go with Pro
Submitted by alanmc76 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 3:21pm
...then you will want Win 7 Pro.
__________________________________________
-- "What am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?"--
Submitted by fastlock on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 1:03pm
Angelman is a good example of the mess generated by how Vista was distributed. This misleaded and confused user is just confusing everybody else. Let me see if I can help with some guidance:
Previously : Vista Starter Edition... Limited to 3 concurrent apps.
Vista Home Basic...Same as starter without the 3 apps or windows limit.
Now : WIndows 7 Starter Edition. Both Versions are integrated as one. No 3 limit simultaneus application cap mentioned. No AERO. No WMC. Only the essentials.
Previously : Vista Home Premium.
Now : Windows 7 Home Premium. MS it's keeping this format practically without changes on distribution.
Previously : Vista Bussiness Edition
Now : Windows 7 Professional Edition. MS decided to get rid of the Bussiness label to get back to XP days labeling by using the PRO moto. Same as Win7 HP meanning you don't sacrifice the option of getting WMC included. Also comes with Pro options such as backup and some other.
Both Ultimate editions are based in the same distro model.
So, consumers will only be able to get any of the following editions:
Home Premium
Professional
Ultimate
Nobody needs to worry for the Starter Edition as this is intended to come preloaded on new Netbooks.
Obviously, I'm not being specific to mention all features for each package. Just check MPC website for this kind of info.
Much more sense than Vista
Submitted by Baer on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 12:33pm
What are you anti MS ranters talking about? There are three versions fot the USA. The EU versions are because of the greed of the E U lawyers.
The three USA versions all build on each other unlike the confusion caused by Vista. If you want free use Linux, yeah I know there are those of you that think LInux is the answer to the worlds problems but to me it is just a pain and I am done with it.
I am using WIn 7 RC and I like it so much that all of our boxes will have Win 7 on them as soon as it is commercially available. THe OS is great and the price is reasonable considering that it should last me for 3 to 4 years.
Submitted by Angelman0401 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:54am
You are exactly the reason MS is making billions off of uneducated people like you. As of June 26 there are SIX versions. Yeah that's real simple. I hate apple, but they aren't selling Snow leopard Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. MS relies on tools like you that don't anything to bite on this. ITS THE SAME CODE. What part of that do you not understand? The code for ultimate is already written then they go ahead and strip it down to sell you crippled versions. Whether you like it or not this is confusing to the mass majority of computers and you not knowing that just shows how much you know. Starter doesn't support Windows Aero, Home basic partially supports it and home premium supports it fully. XP mode is supported in professional, enterprise and ultimate but not in the starter, home basic, and premium editions....this is not simple for the average consumer. You go ahead and make MS richer and let them rip you if you want to but Snow Leopard upgrade is going to cost $30 to upgrade. I don't like apple but you sound like an idiot when you imply that somehow it's fair that microsoft cripples software to make artificial tiers of one single OS. Best of luck with that $319 dollars you'll spend on Windows 7 ultimate. I'll wait for consumers to get tired of MS BS and not buy what Vista should have been in the first place. Just maybe then they'll stop ripping people off...
Submitted by alanmc76 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 3:19pm
Angelman, have you ever bought a car? How about a house? An ice cream sundae? It's all the same deal. First, you educate yourself on the available options. Then, you make your purchase based on what you really want versus what you can afford. It's really very simple. Microsoft did not invent this marketing style, it's basic economics.
And BTW, why do you keep mentioning your dislike of Apple whilst complaining about Microsoft, in a thread on Windows? You do know they are competing companies, right???
___________________________________________
-- "What am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?"--
I don;t know what your
Submitted by nekollx on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 12:06pm
I don;t know what your smoking dude but i want a hit.
let me use big letters so your little brain can follow along, i'll also try to use small words
MICROSOFT
ON-LY
RE-LEASE-ED
THREE
VER-SIONS
OF
SEV-EN
TO
CON-SU-MERS
THE
OT-HER
VER-SIONS
ARE
FOR
LIM-IT-ED
MAR-KETS
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
LOL!!! Yeah, like starter
Submitted by gatorXXX on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 12:58pm
LOL!!! Yeah, like starter edition is for the "starter countries"! ya know, the countries that haven't quite filled out it's bra yet and doesn't have a national anthem!
ATTICA,!!!!!!!!
Submitted by u217946 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 12:29pm
ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA,!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Angelman0401 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 10:25am
Maybe some of you don't care or maybe don't know, but I hope you understand that buying Windows 7 early is a huge mistake. MS is playing everyone with their multiple version scheme and is laughing all the way to the bank. Just like with Vista they are offering different versions of the SAME SAME SAME SAME a million times the SAME OS with features taken out to create these bogus brackets to suck out as much money as possible. It costs exactly the same amount of money to make Windows 7 Ultimate as it does to create home or premium or whatever other bogus tag they put on it. They are scamming millions and getting away with it. Note to microsoft: "Sell one version, or if you MUST make stupid versions, three Windows 7 packages. 8 versions of OS is confusing to the consumer and really uneccessary." To all those waiting to upgrade, don't. When Microsoft decides that they want to put out a quality product at a fair price go ahead and purchase.Until then send a message to them saying that the consumer (that's us) isn't going to put up with their attempt to rip people off with 8 versions of an OS that only differs in the features they purposely remove to make more money. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Personally, I think you have
Submitted by Tekzel on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:18am
Personally, I think you have gone way off the reservation on this one. They have very much simplified the multiple version scheme with Windows 7, as each new version superceeds the previous. This one shouldn't confuse anyone, and if they are confused, they need to take a 15 year old along with them to hold their hand.
As for ripping people off, thats just way off the mark. If I make a program, and sell it with these features for the "lite" version for x amount, and add in some premium features to the "pro" version and sell it for more, how in any SANE persons mind is that ripping off anyone? It seems to me that they could just make the Ultimate version with everything and sell it for the Ultimate version price. Then everyone gets everything, including a bunch of shit they don't even need. Instead, they go a reasonable route and sell multiple versions including a different mix of features in each so a person can, GASP, choose to balance what they want or need vs what they are willing to pay. Seems like good economical sense to me.
You seriously need to go back on your meds, or if you aren't on any go see someone who can get you what you need.
Submitted by u217946 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 12:29pm
ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA, ATTICA,!!!!!!!! burn Apple!! Burn Macs!!! LMAO
you are all crazy.....I love this site.
Submitted by tkddan87 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 10:23am
I dont see the different distros. of 7 any different than any other part of a computer. Theres a entry, mid, and power user level. i also dont see much of a gripe about the price...$200-$300 for software that makes your hardware work? Consider how much other components cost.. $500 for a videocard, $250 for a mobo, $300 for a proc. if you want price to complain about talk about apple, $1500 for a 8 cores, 4 hard drives(no raid option), capibility of 4 graphics cards but no crossfire or sli. and it ships witha gpu compariable to the GeForce 8600... nope i think 7 is a good deal
Submitted by canbbb on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 9:01am
... I am not buying the upgrade, but not because I am holding off for Ultimate. It's because there was another post on MaxPC that hinted that there could be (finally) a family pack for Win7. I run 3 PCs at home (HTPC, my wife's and mine), so I'm definitely interested in the family pack.
Any other insights on how much this pack would cost ?
Submitted by gatorXXX on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 1:05pm
they said in a past article that it would MOST likely be cheaper to purchase 3 upgrades at 50$ as it might be 189$ - 200$ for the family pack.
Submitted by Tekzel on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:21am
I held off for a few minutes thinking the same thing, as I have 3 machines I am going to be upgrading to 7, but then I thought that 1) That is a rumor at this point, what if it turns out to not be true? Now I have to pay damn near 3 times as much because I waited. 2) Even if it is true, what is the likelyhood that a 3 license version is going to be cheaper than $50.00 per machine? I think pretty low myself. So, I preordered my 3 copies.
Submitted by nekollx on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:42am
the thing is that my main home pc is still being built.But i don't want ot have to wait 3 months for a newOS, ir pre order now and pick up the os in 3 months. The timings just dont work well for me.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by nekollx on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 9:30am
amen! By the time Seven coems out ill have 4 or 5 pcs in my home, and all but 1 of them will be running Seven
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
What happened to the
Submitted by BlazePC on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 8:44am
What happened to the "complete backup" facility (system imaging) in Ultimate. I don't see that being discussed anywhere. It's always worked for me in a pinch. Did this go away in Windows 7?
Submitted by Tekzel on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:23am
From what I read, and I could be wrong here, the image based backup feature is being moved to the Home Premium version. Which makes sense to me.
pro FTW. i cant wait to say
Submitted by dracx619 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 8:01am
pro FTW. i cant wait to say goodbye to xp FOREVER. im running the rc right now with xp but i havnt migrated all my programs and stuff to the rc cause i dont want to have to re do it all again once i get retail. cant it be october tomorrow?
Submitted by Rich_27603 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 7:58am
As I understand the upgrade path, you have purchase an equal version or higher. This means that the upgrade path for Vista Ultimate can ONLY be Windows 7 Ultimate. Or am I wrong?
Submitted by Stever on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 8:03am
If you want to run an actual *upgrade* that's correct. If you buy a *lower* version of 7 than you have of Vista, then you have to do a clean install of 7. So, it's no problem if you buy a *lower* version of 7 other than having to do a clean install. In fact, that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm currently driving Vista Ultimate and pre-ordered 7 Pro. I'm fine with having to do a clean install as my system needs it anyway.
Hope this helps!
Submitted by Stever on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 7:50am
I picked up Vista Ultimate simply because there were Ultimate-specific features that I thought I might one day want to utilize. I've been running Vista Ultimate for quite some time and have yet to access those features. As such, I've already pre-ordered a copy of Win7 Pro and feel pretty good about the decision.
Submitted by D3lt4 on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 7:30am
So....
What exactly do those features do or mean? Couldn't you find similar features as stand alone apps and probably for free?
I might buy Ultimate...
Submitted by Devo85x on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 7:17am
However, I am not going to be an early Win7 adopter (I'm using the RC in VirtualBox and like it, but I'm gona wait till I get a new rig to install a full version), and the only way im buying Ultimate over Premium is if the OEM price difference isnt much...
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