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 enlarge | From: Microsoft Software
Category: Software
List Price: $339.99
Buy New: $88.00
You Save: $251.99 (74%)
New (71) Used (7) from $88.00
Rating:  106 reviews
Sales Rank: 267
Format: Dvd-rom
Platform: Windows Vista
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Ultimate
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 85.2 x 61.2 x 12
MPN: 66R-02261
Model: 66R-02261
UPC: 882224661447
EAN: 0882224661492
ASIN: B0013O77GM
Release Date: March 19, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good If You Have The Resources April 10, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I installed Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit Edition on a brand new, relatively inexpensive system that I plan to use mostly for a Media Center PC. I have an AMD 64 X2 5000+ CPU on an ASUS M2A-VM HDMI Motherboard with 2 Gig of DDR2 Memory using the onboard ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 Video. Installation took a little longer than expected, during which time it looked like the system had froze up a couple of times, only to continue on its way several minutes later. Some of the slowdown may be accounted by using a single IDE cable for both my DVD drive and Hard Drive during installation due to motherboard constraints and lack of a ATA Hard Drive. After installation, the only driver I needed to install was for the onboard video. After putting in the CD to install the drivers, I quickly ran across one of my major annoyances with Vista, as I was prompted a few times to verify that it was ok to run the needed programs. I can see why this could be a good thing for a typical user, but it does get really old while setting up the system. Apparently there is a way to turn it off, but I haven't looked fully at the ramifications of doing so. After restart, windows recognized my video card, but the AERO effects still did not turn on, as I was first required to re-run the tests to update my Windows Experience Index for it to recognize that my graphics capabilities were in fact deserving of more than a 1.0 score. Once I jumped through this hoop, I was able to get the new AERO look and everything still ran surprisingly smooth. Another immediately noticeable feature of Vista is the included Desktop Gadgets, which reminded me a lot of Google Desktop, where you can add various applications to run automatically on your desktop. Other nice features, include real-time taskbar thumbnails and window switching, which allow you to see what are on the different windows you have open before switching to them. There are also improved search capabilities and some of the media aspects are also improved enough to make it worth choosing over XP for my application. Whether or not a typical desktop PC, especially an older system, would benefit enough from the enhanced features to offset any possible slowdown due to the high system requirements, I am still unsure.
 Excellent OS April 9, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've been running Vista Ultimate for about a year now on an old P4 based computer I built 4 years ago. I've found no flaws in it, it doesn't require a 2007 or newer computer, and it doesn't need 4GB of RAM. I'm running 2GB and it runs faster than XP did. XP is to Vista as 98 was to XP. It makes XP seem old and clunky. Everybody I work with that has Vista on their home machines loves it and would never go back to XP. Unfortunately, we have to use XP at work. The only people I know that don't care for Vista or have problems with it are people that aren't very computer smart to begin with. Those people may want to stick with XP.
 Be VERY wary... April 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Unless you have a new machine (2007 or better) with at least 4 GB of RAM (yes, I said 4 not 2 GM of RAM), do not bother upgrading from Windows XP until you purchase a new machine in the years to come. This operating system has some nice bells and whistles BUT without the proper hardware, you will be facing a situation akin to a Windows 98 to Windows ME upgrade...in other words...don't fry your computer.
Although the SP's for XP will end in June 2008, Microsoft will not entirely take away XP (they still have a huge international clientelle using it) until 2014.
Additionally, I do not expect the June transition will go well with end users...and strongly suspect the SP's will be up and running again.
I am a huge Microsoft fan, and have been very pleased with most of their software & operating systems, but unless you have the $$$ for a top-grade current system...wait on VISTA. You will be glad you did.
How Many Windows, Let Me Count the Ways April 8, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
First there's Vista Home Basic which, like all the versions of Vista, has your basic digital media features like Windows Photo Gallery, but it doesn't do Aero. You get Windows Flip, but no 3D and no live taskbar thumbnails. If that stuff means nothing to you, go with it.
Second there's Vista Home Premium. Add Flip 3D and Aero to the version above and the availability to do scheduled backups. Also you get Windows Media Player, which you don't get with Home Basic. Windows Media Center can truly can handle all your Media needs. It comes with HDTV support, Xbox 360 Center Extender compatibility (which means nothing to me as I'm not a gamer), Windows DVD Maker and Windows Movie Maker.
Third there's Vista Business. You get everything you get in the above versions, but no Windows Media Player, but you do get business features like Windows Fax and Scan, offline files and folder support and Remote Desktop. If you're a business person, then perhaps this is the version for you.
Fourth there's Vista Ultimate. With this version you get it all, the business stuff plus the media stuff.
And then there's the Upgrades, like the four versions above, they are all upgrades to the SP1 versions.
So far we have eight versions. The first four, plus the four upgrades. That's eight different prices. But wait, I'm not finished. There's four more upgrades, you can upgrade from Home Basic to Home Premium, from Business to Ultimate, from Premium to Ultimate, from Basic to Ultimate.
That's a lot to digest. Then there's still a version you can't buy, one you've got to be a Microsoft Assurance customer to get, called Windows Vista Enterprise.
That's a lot of windows in the Microsoft Operating System house, but I'm guessing there are only three versions that will be of interest to most. Vista Home Basic, because it's the cheapest. Home Premium, because you get the Aero interface and Windows Media Player, or lastly Vista Ultimate, because with this one you get it all.
I was pretty confused when I started this review and maybe I still am, a little, but I think I've got it all sorted out in my head and I'm wondering if I've been any help to you, dear reader, at all. For the money, Basic is the best deal, but me, I'd go with Home Premium or even Ultimate, because I can afford it and because it's the latest and the greatest.
Now with all that out of the way, do I like Vista? Absolutely. I've been an XP girl for way too long. I didn't upgrade straightaway when Vista first came out, because I'd heard all the horror stories. I have Vista now and I'm happy with it. Will I go back to XP? Answer, no. I've got Vista now and I'm sticking with it.
I'm Pretty Impressed, So There You Go 5 Stars April 8, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've been using Vista with SP1 for a couple weeks now on two different computers, my MacBook Pro and my iMac, both running on Bootcamp partitions and I have to say I'm pretty darned impressed.
I have lots of ram, ram to spare in both my machines, as I'm a Photoshop girl and both my machines are the latest and greatest Apple has to off, so I was good to go as far as hardware was concerned. I had no problems running the Aero eye candy and though it's no Leopard, it's quite nice. I liked the transparent window frames and I liked the minimizing and restoring effects, but again, I'm used to the Mac, so for me they were no great shakes.
I like the search box in the start menu, but I like spotlight better. Still it's very handy. The Widgets are a copy of Mac's Dashboard and Flip 3D is a copy of Expose, but then again Microsoft has been copying Apple for years.
I had to go online and download the printer driver again for my Brother printer, but that was no big deal and a couple of my Photoshop plugins had to be updated, but then I hadn't used them for awhile. I was just checking everything because of the new Vista install.
In conclusion I guess I'd say if you've got the hardware and are not a Mac person, this is a pretty good operating system and it seems stable. I know, I know, you've probably read all the same stuff I have about how Vista crashes and crashes and crashes and I've experienced plenty of crashes myself, but those problems seem to have been solved with the SP1 upgrade.
The Home Premium version I have on my MacBook hasn't crashed yet and Vista Ultimate on my iMac has only brought down my machine one time. Granted, it's early days yet, but as for now I'll say it again, I'm pretty impressed.
However there is one thing I just cannot seem to wrap my mind around. Why oh why are there so many versions of Vista. Well that bothered me with XP as well. Do you really need:
Vista Home Basic with SP1
Vista Home Premium with SP1
Vista Business with SP1
Ultimate with SP1
Vista Home Basic Upgrade with SP1
Vista Home Premium Upgrade with SP1
Vista Business Upgrade with SP1
Ultimate Upgrade with SP1
That's an awful lot of Vistas. Then there's:
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Home Basic to Home Premium]
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Business to Ultimate]
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Home Premium to Ultimate]
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Home Basic to Ultimate]
Come on, Microsoft, how about a one size fits all operating system like they do over in the Mac world. And this business about your copy protection, lighten up. Maybe some people do rip off Mr. Jobs' Leopard, you know buy it and put it on more than one machine, but how many computers can they use at a time. Yes, yes, maybe a husband and wife could be on at the same time, or one of the kiddies, but sheesh, give us a break.
I know you have to protect yourself from the hordes who want free software, but Apple's making a pretty penny with Leopard even while they trust their users, you could too.
Still, I guess I have to give all your Vistas with SP1 five stars, grudgingly, because of the way I think you do business, but I've got Vista working fine on two different computers, plus my husband has it on a couple others and we're not having major problems, so there you go, five stars.
Reviewed by Sara Hackett
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