Comparing The Five Editions of Vista
ITS often runs into new clients that have purchased PCs with the Home or Media Center editions of Windows XP and want to connect to their Windows Server domain, which won't work. Windows Vista won't make it much easier. Vista comes in at least five editions, from Vista Home Basic to Vista Ultimate, with a dizzying array of upgrade options. Below we detail the differences between the five editions of Windows Vista, along with a feature comparison and an upgrade chart.
Vista Home Basic
A no-frills upgrade from XP, Vista Basic does not include the new Aero 3D interface, but adds new features such as parental controls to limit Internet access. Home Basic lacks Media Center applications such as DVD Maker and Movie Maker, and Windows Fax and Scan. Most existing Windows XP computers can upgrade to Home Basic without major upgrades, however, a DVD-ROM drive is still required for the retail version. Home Basic cannot join a Windows Server domain, and comes in only a 32-bit version (the other editions include 64-bit code in the box).
Vista Home Premium
This edition includes all features of Home Basic plus the Aero interface with its transparent effects and 3D program switching that shows live thumbnails of each program window. Home Premium includes features found in Windows XP Media Center and Tablet PC editions. Home Premium cannot join a Windows Server domain. Plan on installing 2 GB of RAM and a high speed video card before installing Vista Home Premium.
Vista Business
This edition adds backup tools, Remote Desktop for working from home, Windows Fax and Scan, wireless network management, and business networking features like Windows Server compatibility. Vista Business does not include Media Center features, but includes most other features from Home Premium. PCs should have 2 GB of RAM and a high speed video card to use Windows Vista Business.
Vista Enterprise
The Enterprise edition of Windows Vista is only available via Microsoft's volume licensing programs, however that is still within reach of many small businesses. Enterprise includes support for some legacy and Unix programs, as well as BitLocker encryption for encrypting hard drives. Vista Enterprise also includes all the features of Vista Business.
Vista Ultimate
As its name implies, this edition includes the kitchen sink, including all the features of Home Premium and Business, plus BitLocker hardware encryption compatibility for hard drives. On the flip side its list price is $399 (new) or $259 (upgrade).
System Requirements
Vista is a hefty upgrade from Windows XP and as such needs hefty hardwdare. The new Aero interface requires a video card with 128MB of video memory, which many business PCs do not have. Also do not plan on using Aero on PCs with "integrated" video, a way for mass-market PCs to save costs by allocating system RAM for video use.
As detailed above, Windows Vista likes lots and lots of RAM. Plan for 2 GB of RAM in Vista PCs, except possibly Home Basic which can get by with less.
Feature Comparison Chart
| Home Basic |
Home Premium |
Business | Enterprise | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supports Aero interface |  |
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| User Account Control | |
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| Windows Firewall; Defender | |
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| Remote Desktop client | |
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| Remote Desktop host | |
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| Parental controls | |
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| Photo Gallery | |
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| Backup and Recover | |
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| Backup scheduling | |
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| Media Center features | |
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| Windows DVD Maker | |
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| Tablet PC functionality | |
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| Windows SideShow (duplicate displays) | |
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| Fax and Scan | |
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| Advanced wireless network provisioning | |
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| Built-in diagnostics | |
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| Windows Shadow Copy (document recovery) | |
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| Integrated smart card management | |
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| Connect to Windows Server domain | |
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| Group Policy support | |
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| Roaming user profiles | |
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| Supports two CPU sockets | |
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| Virtual PC Express | |
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| BitLocker drive encryption | |
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| Downloadable upgrade to higher version | |
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| Maximum supported RAM (32-bit version) | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Maximum supported RAM (64-bit version) | 8 GB | 16 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
In-Place Upgrade Chart
The following chart shows to which Vista edition one can upgrade, starting from a PC running Windows XP or 2000:
| Home Basic |
Home Premium |
Business | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows XP Home | |
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| Windows XP Media Center | |
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| Windows XP Professional | |
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| Windows XP Tablet PC | |
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| Windows XP Professional x64 | |
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| Windows 2000 Professional | |
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Note that even if there is no in-place upgrade path for unchecked editions of Windows XP and 2000, upgrade pricing is still be available. For these editions a "clean install" must be performed to save old files and settings, install Vista onto a new drive or directory, and restore those files and settings.
For those who want to upgrade existing PCs, note that the upgrade software only comes on DVD and not CD.
January 2007
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