Windows Vista Home Premium

[Euphoria]

Not sure how many people have seen the different advertisments around at the moment, but what's the deal with buying a new copy of Media Center XP for around £70 and getting an upgrade voucher for Vista Home Premium... surely that is a bargain way to get Vista? I know there must be some catch somewhere. Also does anyone know if the Home Premium version of Vista is 64Bit?

[Archaon]

IIRC all versions of Vista are both 32-bit and 64-bit. Aside from the crippled one designed for emerging markets, that is.

Are you sure you get an upgrade voucher with MCE, though? It seems a bit wierd that they'd give a free upgrade for OEM software. Especially when Amazon has the upgrade for Home Premium listed at £150. Which does seem a bit steep for MS, I don't think it's an official price so I hope it comes down, because they list the same thing in the USA for $153, which is like £76...I think it's far more likely that you have to buy the retail versions - which eliminates MCE and doubles the cost of Home and Pro compared to the OEM versions.

[[GPO]Solitaire]

The only "Free Upgrades" to Vista i've seen it with New PC's with OEM versions of XP. You get a voucher for the OEM makers site to order a Vista CD for Home Premium Upgrade DVD when it's released, all you pay is P&P.

It sounds like you're getting offered an "upgrade" voucher for Vista and all you'll pay is the diffrence between MCE and Home Premium + P&P.

But if you DO see this in a shop ask about the fine print! may turn out you'll have to have bought an OEM copy with a computer to qualify!

[Euphoria]

IIRC all versions of Vista are both 32-bit and 64-bit.

So you get the option to install either version when installing?

What does IIRC stand for?!

[Euphoria]

Solitaire;386129']The only "Free Upgrades" to Vista i've seen it with New PC's with OEM versions of XP. You get a voucher for the OEM makers site to order a Vista CD for Home Premium Upgrade DVD when it's released, all you pay is P&P.

It sounds like you're getting offered an "upgrade" voucher for Vista and all you'll pay is the diffrence between MCE and Home Premium + P&P.

But if you DO see this in a shop ask about the fine print! may turn out you'll have to have bought an OEM copy with a computer to qualify!

I think the upgrade disk basically overwrites your XP install with Vista, but you need to have an OS installed for it to work (what a friend just told me).

[Tami]

For Euphoria, "What does IIRC stand for?!"

If I Remember Correctly it's "If I Remember Correctly"

[Euphoria]

Thanks! Always wondered that!

[Cosmo_1847]

Express Upgrade to Windows Vista

Worried about purchasing a PC today that's not equipped with Windows Vista? Worry no more, because Alienware has got you covered. Purchase any Alienware system from now until January 30th and you'll be eligible for a free* express upgrade to Windows Vista at no extra charge.

<Small Print>
Not all Windows Vista™ features are available for use on all Windows Vista Capable PCs. All Windows Vista Capable PCs will run the core experiences of Windows Vista, such as innovations in organising and finding information, security, and reliability. Some features available in premium editions of Windows Vista -- like the new Windows® Aero™ user interface -- require advanced or additional hardware. Check www.windowsvista.com/getready for details.

* While the licence royalty is free for the Alienware Express Upgrade to Windows Vista promotion, a shipping and handling charge will be incurred at the time of redemption to be eligible for the upgrade.

Alienware offer free upgrades from XP Pro to Vista Business but they don't seem to offer that for their workstations :s

[Jerryneedshelp]

On the dell website i am buying a Inspiron 1501 and its OS is MCE but you get a FREE upgrade to vista but have to pay 16 euro for shipment when vista is realesed
Quote From Dell Website
"MCE to Vista Premium Upgrade on www.dellvistaupgrade.com before 03/31/07
FREE Upgrade plus shipping+handling costs(€16)payable at time of redemption"

all i am wondering is there much difference in MCE and Vista??

[Euphoria]

To be honest, I don't mind paying for Vista as it's something I do want, but I want to make damn sure that I'm buying a 64bit OS not 32. Nothing on the Vista site indicates which versions are which.

[[GPO]Solitaire]

Think the way Vista install works is that ALL versions are on the disk, it's your CD-Key that determans which parts are installed and activated.

so if you have a 64Bit Vista Home Premium CD-Key then it will install the 64bit Home Premium OS.

I've installed Vista Business and Ultimate from the same CD onto 2 diff comps.

[Euphoria]

Forgive me for being stupid, but how do you get the 64bit key? Or do you get 2 keys when you purchase the software?

[Archaon]

I believe it works like Solitaire said; the disc includes everything but only installs the features allowed by the licence you have. (As far as I'm aware) you can't buy specific 32-bit or 64-bit versions and you don't get a choice, it installs whichever one is appropriate for your system. Presumably it would install 64-bit on anything with 64-bit extensions, and 32-bit on everything else.

[Euphoria]

That would make sense! I'll probably put a pre-order in somewhere while the prices are cheaper than full retail.

[georDIE]

For Euphoria, "What does IIRC stand for?!"

If I Remember Correctly it's "If I Remember Correctly"

I always thought it was "If I Recall Correctly", but I guess that's just words to the same effect :)

[Koolpc]

Vista looks like an Awesome OS.

[g3RC4n]

all it is is becasue ms want xp gone and everyone to go xp, there not really selling xp, but vista in advanced with xp to use at the moment

oem versions of vista will probably cost about £70 anyway so i don't see what your getting at

and btw retail version of vista home preme upgrade is £150

[Herminator]

Instead of starting a new thread I might aswell ask here.

With all these fancy effects Vista uses, will it need a good graphics card just for desktop use? Or should I be able to get by with on board graphics on the Abit il-90MV?

Graphics

* Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 supports DirectX 9


http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?pMODEL_NAME=iL-90MV&fMTYPE=Mobile%20Socket&pPRODINFO=Specifications&fSEARCHTEXT=iL-90MV

It will be running at a high rez (Dell 2407fpw) but it won't be playing any games.

[Euphoria]

If you don't want to take advantage of games and DX10 then onboard graphics will serve you fine.

[digit]

I'm not overly sure aero and the fancy graphics stuff will work though, I've hardly used it myself so can't really comment.

[Euphoria]

The Vista Upgrade available for £150ish, do you need to install XP then upgrade to Vista or can your simply do a fresh install with it?

[Cosmo_1847]

I think it will be like the XP upgrades where you can do a fresh install and at some point it will ask you to put in the windows XP CD and possibley a key to prove that you own a copy of XP before it will install vista onto your computer.

[F A B Scott]

Instead of starting a new thread I might aswell ask here.

With all these fancy effects Vista uses, will it need a good graphics card just for desktop use? Or should I be able to get by with on board graphics on the Abit il-90MV?
Check here to see if your computer is ready for Vista. (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx)

[Euphoria]

I think it will be like the XP upgrades where you can do a fresh install and at some point it will ask you to put in the windows XP CD and possibley a key to prove that you own a copy of XP before it will install vista onto your computer.

That's what I was thinking also! Would rather save money where possible! And just dug out my XP Pro CD to find a HUGE crack in it... not happy.

[DarkEntity]

I can bung you a copy if you need it, since you have a legit serial number.

[Euphoria]

I made a copy just incase this happened! Thanks anyway though :)

[Cosmo_1847]

I have a XP home image on my server so I can make more copies if something happens to the one I have.

[Sampler]

Vitsa Ultimate OEM is going to be £120.71 for 32-bit and £120.80 for 64-bit from a certain online retailer so it's cheaper than the upgrade to home premium, with more features - though i do wonder why it costs 9p more for the 64-bit version.

[movinginthedark]

Sampler - Can you PM me the link to that site please?

[Cosmo_1847]

I've just had a look and from what I have the OEM are either 32bit or 64bit where as the retail verisons are all 32bit and 64bit.

[Euphoria]

Vitsa Ultimate OEM is going to be £120.71 for 32-bit and £120.80 for 64-bit from a certain online retailer so it's cheaper than the upgrade to home premium, with more features - though i do wonder why it costs 9p more for the 64-bit version.

Could you send me the link too please :)

[jacobzcoool]

hmmm, how good is 64bit vista? because I really don't want to get 64bit and then find it is really buggy and has no driver support.

also, does it still support 32bit stuff?

[Euphoria]

It definatelly supports 32bit software! Would be a daft move by Microsoft if it didn't!

[Tami]

With the retail versions you get both 32 and 64.

[Euphoria]

I've got a 64bit OEM veresion of Home Premium on the way for £75. Due for release on the 19th Jan.