Which Edition of Windows 7?

[ChrisGreaves]

Which Edition of Windows 7?

So tomorrow I head off and by the little ACER netbook, cdn$229 or thereabouts.
I'm betting it comes with a weak/trial version of Windows 7.
I'm also betting I need the "Professional" edition, not the "Home" edition.
I'm also betting that I don't need the tail fins on "Ultimate" because I use TrueCrypt and work (on the computer) only in English.

I'd be interested in comments from Win7 users, especially from those of you who have, by now, gained an understanding of where I am up to in desktop computing.

And I suppose some of you will groan and say "There goes the Win7 neighbourhood!"

[HansV]

For most purposes, Windows 7 Home Premium (the version I have) is sufficient, but if you want to be able to join a domain, Windows 7 Professional is the one to get. Pro also comes with Windows XP emulation and some other extra features. Windows 7 Ultimate is overkill in my opinion.

[PaulB]

Home premium here. No need to join a domain. No need to run XP in a virtual machine environment (can always set up to dual-boot to XP if really needed). In any event, you may not have any choice as to what comes preloaded on the netbook.

[JoeP]

If you use or plan on using Windows Backup the "pro" version of Windows 7 allows you to backup to a network device where the home version does not.

You should look at Which one is right for you? for a feature comparison. Almost all the features are links to more detailed information about the feature.

Joe

[ChrisGreaves]

For most purposes, Windows 7 Home Premium (the version I have) is sufficient,

Thanks Hans. Home Premium it is.

I noted when I was enquiring (in the store) about Office 2010 that one can purchase a "key" for it that activates(?) the trial version embedded on the netbook, or for more $$ one can buy a DVD.

The key is valid only for that netbook, but the DVD can be installed legally on two machines.
I reckoned that for my purposes the DVD was a better buy.

Perhaps the same will apply to Windows 7 when I get into the store tomorrow.

I am fascinated by the progress from a 2,000 punched card FORTRAN II compiler through stuff on a casette tape, on a 5.25" floppy, on a set of 1.44MB floppies (Word 2.0/6.0) to a CD, to a DVD and currently, but not finally, to an empty cardboard box which you take to the counter.

[ChrisGreaves]

Home premium here. ... In any event, you may not have any choice as to what comes preloaded on the netbook.

Thanks Paul.
I suspect the netbook comes preloaded with a trial version of Home.
Please see also my response to Hans.
I may be better off spending more $$ and purchasing a multi-license DVD.
As well I am somewhat hesitant at being dependent on my hard drive on a burner-less netbook.

[ChrisGreaves]

If you use or plan on using Windows Backup

Thanks Joe, but no. RoboCopy and a decent DOS batch file for me!

You should look at Which one is right for you? for a feature comparison.

Thanks too for this. I am printing out to make better use of the chart before heading to the store.

[PaulB]

...with a trial version of Home.

I've never heard of a computer coming preloaded with a 'trial' version of the OS. Knowing Acer (have one myself) the computer will come with the OS preloaded (OEM version) and with a recovery disk in lieu of a MS Windows 7 DVD.

[ChrisGreaves]

...with a trial version of Home.

I've never heard of a computer coming preloaded with a 'trial' version of the OS. Knowing Acer (have one myself) the computer will come with the OS preloaded (OEM version) and with a recovery disk in lieu of a MS Windows 7 DVD.

Oh. Thanks Paul.
That's fine.
That sounds like $229 gets me the machine and the OS. I'll have to check exactly what edition is preloaded.

[wasbit]

...with a trial version of Home.

....... and with a recovery disk in lieu of a MS Windows 7 DVD.

Not in the UK - you have to burn your own recovery disks.

Regards
wasbit

[PaulB]

You are right, Wasbit. I just checked and I did have to burn my own recovery disks.

[JoeP]

It is very unusual for a retail PC to be shipped with separate recovery media these days. Almost all have a recovery partition and a utility to burn a recovery DVD.

Joe

[DaveA]

The trouble with MOST of these "NetBooks" the hardware is nowhere in the range that is needed to support Pro or Ultimate.
They are mostly a stripped down low end device with either Home Starter or Basic. Most OEMs will not do a OS upgrade as the hardware is not up to pare.

And NO machine come with a Trial version of the OS, but may have a trial version of Office.

[ChrisGreaves]

So tomorrow I head off and by the little ACER netbook,

I bought it, more later.
But in traipsing around Best Buy, Fture Shop and Tiger Direct here in Toronto, I learned that every Netbook I looked at came with Windows 7 Starter edition; I don't get a choice.
Unless I d/l and pay for a Home Premium.

[PaulB]

Two thoughts, Chris:

1- You may (and I stress, may) be able to take advantage of Microsoft's 'Anytime Upgrade', simply paying the difference in cost between Home Starter edition and Home Premium edition. Look for any information on this in the Acer packaging. Mine came with an 'Anytime Upgrade' DVD.

2- Take note of Dave's caution (above). Does your netbook have the power to run Home Premium?

I also remember reading somewhere (Woody, I think) that W7 Starter Edition was not as restricted in functionality as originally thought.

[ChrisGreaves]

Almost all have a recovery partition and a utility to burn a recovery DVD.

Thanks Joe.
I'm going to trot off and by an external burner this week.

[ChrisGreaves]

2- Take note of Dave's caution (above). Does your netbook have the power to run Home Premium?

Thanks Paul, and Dave.
I've been toying with the wee little beastie for two weeks now. It certainly seems sluggish after the laptop.
I think I'll see if I can get an upgrade price on a DVD, which yields two licenses.
One license will ultimately be for the laptop.
If the upgrade won't load/function on the net-book, I'll just have to buy myself another laptop (grin!)

[JoeP]

If you are considering upgrading multiple machines of your own to Windows 7 you should check into Amazon.com: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Family Pack (3-User): Software. Also, see Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium - Upgrade - offers - Bing Shopping for a list of several vendors & prices.

Joe

[John Gray]

I'm going to trot off and buy an external burner this week.

That's just one of the downsides of netbooks - very little of the Stuff you want at almost the price of a proper laptop...

[wasbit]

FYI The specifications for netbooks are set by Microsoft :

Key Specs......XP/Vista .. Win 7 Starter/Home Basic
Screensize ... 12.1" ....... 10.2"
Memory ....... 1GB ......... 1GB
Hard Drive ... 160GB ...... 250GB
or a SDD .... 32GB ........ 64GB
Graphics ..... DX9 .......... No limit
CPU 1core .. 1GHz ......... 2GHz

The minimum requirements for Windows 7 are :

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit).
16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit).
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.

I'll leave you to do the maths as to whether your netnook is upgradable.
To keep the cost down, look for a student edition of Windows 7 Upgrade.
To qualify (in the UK), the PC only has to have a sniff of a child or adult who will use it in the course of their education/school/college.