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Personal Tech

Vista at a glance

Which Vista version is best for you?

By TIMES STAFF
Published January 29, 2007

Windows Vista comes in five editions, though two are marketed at businesses: Business ($299, or upgrade for $199) and the more powerful Enterprise, which isn't available for retail purchase. Here are the consumer options:

Home Basic

Price: $199, or upgrade for $99.95

What you should know: It includes the improved security and search functions, but won't be able to run the new Windows Aero desktop interface and doesn't have the Windows Media Center and Windows Tablet functions. Most users shouldn't consider this stripped-down version, but if you bought a PC in the past few months, and it had a "Vista Capable" sticker on it, it should be able to run at least Home Basic.

Home Premium

Price: $239, or upgrade for $159

What you should know: This is the one most consumers will want. It contains the full Aero interface and it includes the functionality of Windows Media Center and Windows Tablet. Recent PC purchases that were labeled "Premium Ready" should be able to handle this version, and most mid-range and high-end consumer PCs for sale will come loaded with Home Premium.

Ultimate

Price: $399, or upgrade for $259

What you should know: This wraps up everything in Home Premium with some features from the business versions. It has additional hardware failure precautionary features, remote desktop abilities and Windows BitLocker, which guards your laptop against loss or theft by encrypting the hard drive. It's for power users, but some regular users may need Ultimate if their companies have network configurations that make it impossible to connect with other versions.

Sources: John Torro, Wall Street Journal, PC Magazine.

[Last modified January 29, 2007, 06:08:26]