Soooo Windows 7...which version?

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:01 pm

I'm still happy with XP (except for the 3gb RAM limit, I'm running 6gb now, but get no benefit from it...and am still in 32 bit mode).

However, Win 7 is likely the OS I'll install when I have to do a reformat, or when the value of 64bit and 3+gb ram is necessary.
Which version should I get? Bubba mentioned in Ace's build thread about XP mode being only in ultimate and in Professional. Is that the only real difference that stands out from the home version to the Pro/Ultimate versions?

I'm basically only using the system for office work (word and excell), gaming, and web surfing.

Thanks!

RM

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:34 pm

the 3GB limit is not OS Based its hardware based. just FYI. you need a 64bit System for anything over 3.2 GB

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:58 pm

If he was able to install all 6 GB and BIOS recognizes it, then he is hitting the software limit, if on the other hand BIOS doesn't recognize more than 3 GB he is running into a hardware limit.

Ready: I am using an OEM copy of Windows 7 Professional. Ultimate has a few more features but honestly the only thing I wanted that even required Professional was XP mode, otherwise I likely would have gone with Home Premium.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:25 pm

did not know that Krom, i thought 32Bit addressing could only hardware support 3.2 GB?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:55 pm

The hardware limit on any given system is the maximum size of an installed memory module times the number of modules you can fit in the system. Its true that 32 bit processor can't support larger than 4 GB even if the motherboard does, but there hasn't been an actively shipping 32 bit processor on the market for years now.

Most Core i7 / Phenom II systems these days should support 4 GB DIMMs. My Core 2 / 975X chipset supports a maximum of 2 GB DIMMs x 4 slots = 8 GB. So even though you can buy a 4 GB DDR2 DIMM, it would be useless in my system because of the motherboard/chipset.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:04 pm

Home Premium isn't really that bad, and most people who aren't doing ... anything techy will probably find that it does the job just fine. I think the most likely reasons you might want Professional instead would be:

* You want XP Mode
* You have a dual-CPU system (not just dual-core, two actual CPUs in distinct sockets)
* You have more than 16 GB of RAM, or plan to get more than that
* You need to join a network domain
* You want to remotely access your machine using Remote Desktop (of course there are alternatives to this that will work on the Home version anyway)
* You want to use some kind of hard drive encryption
* You want to be able to back up to another computer in the network (attached external hard drives will still work with Home Premium)

I think those are the only ones that anybody halfway normal is likely to need. Most are geared towards high-end or business users anyway.

SirWinner · Post by **SirWinner** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:04 am

I have heard a lot of good things about \"Windows 7\"... but didn't we hear a lot of good things about \"Windows Vista\" too?

Would like to see it first hand and play with it before either: (1) buying a copy and installing it on a hard drive for the existing PC; or (2) buying a New PC with it already loaded on it.

Will have to play with it soon as the software that we write will have to be supported on Windows 7.

Let's hope that Microsoft learned from the ERRORS in \"Windows Vista\"!
- For instance, the \"are you really really really sure?\" type of messages in Windows Vista!

Those are extremely annoying.. then add in the fact they MOVED all the common Control Panel stuff to different places in Vista!

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:38 am

Windows 7 and Windows Vista share a lot since Vista is 6.0 and 7 is actually 6.1. The control panel is pretty much the same as Windows Vista, a confusing complicated mess designed to be easier for complete idiots while somehow managing to split everything up and make it that much harder to access for anyone who knew what they were doing in XP.

UAC has improved a little compared to the Vista implementation, you can get rid of most of the \"are you really really really sure\" prompts in most cases by taking ownership of all the files/folders on your drive (doesn't work if there are multiple users on the computer though). It also defaults to not prompting when you change windows settings anymore. And if it is too annoying anyway there is a simple control slider that can turn off UAC completely.

SW, if you really wanted to try it out, you should have used the Windows 7 RC version, it was free for download works until June 2010 and has identical features to the final version (although the final does run a bit better).

Burlyman · Post by **Burlyman** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:25 pm

Why does Microsoft always release watered-down versions of their flagship OS and charge an arm and a lung for the flagship one? =P Why do people put up with that? :P

User Account Control is the bomb, don't turn it off. :D

It's not annoying. :P

I wonder what Ultimate has that Pro doesn't...

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:26 pm

Because nobody needs the \"flagship\" one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:19 am

Why skimp?

VHD is my attraction

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:16 pm

Well, if you want to do that, by all means! I'm just not sure how practical that would be for most people. I guess maybe it's a way to dual-boot without messing around with multiple partitions though.

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:21 pm

Ding!

Duper · Post by **Duper** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:36 am

I recommend The WHOPPER version.

Man.. and I thought WE were weird here...

JMEaT · Post by **JMEaT** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:13 am

Win 7 Home Premium x64. Been running it for nearly 3 months now. Zero compatibility problems, even my 5 year old HP Inkjet printer has x64 drivers. UAC is still pretty much the UAC. I was naughty and turned it off.

If you'd like to save some cash and you still need XP for some reason, consider downloading Sun's VirtualBox. If you already own a copy of XP that you aren't using, you can install it in there freebie cheapie. http://www.virtualbox.org/

If you have problems finding what you are looking for in Win7, hit the Windows key and start typing. Start menu turns into a little search box that displays your results.

TechPro · Post by **TechPro** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:55 pm

You know, if the wiki info Sirius posted leaves a person unsure which Win7 version would be the right for them ... CNet has a nice review: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-10 ... 55804.html

And then, for a good understanding of how to get around in Win7 and make good use of it, LifeHacker's Complete Guide to Windows 7 is at least a good starting point. http://lifehacker.com/5386953/lifehacke ... -windows-7

Those who like using the keyboard instead of the mouse, TechRepublic's 100 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows 7 should be useful: http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/a ... id=1160059

ccb056 · Post by **ccb056** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:21 pm

I bought Windows 7 Professional from Digital River:
http://windows7.digitalriver.com

You can get it for $30 if you have a .edu email address.

I'm running it on my Thinkpad T61p, was previously running XP Pro.

I tried Vista when it first came out, hated it, tried it once again when I got the Thinkpad a little over a year ago, still hated it.

7 is a bit more refined, I haven't had any issues.

Spidey · Post by **Spidey** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:07 pm

Get the highest version, that’s within your budget.

I got XP Pro when I bought my last machine, didn’t have to have it, but never regretted it either.

TOR_LordRaven · Post by **TOR_LordRaven** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:13 pm

If all your concerned with is having \"XP Mode\", then just Download Microsoft \"Vitural PC\" and load XP into it.

I have XP 64-bit edition, but also have Vitural PC with Win98SE loaded (For old DOS games).

Works pretty good.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:40 am

the family pack seems interesting.