Cheapest Vista (UK)

[themoose]

Hey

I'm considering upgrading to Vista, and I'm looking for the cheapest Vista Ultimate out there.

Cheapest I've found so far is Aria.co.uk (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Software/Operating+Systems/Windows+Vista+Ultimate+32bit+OEM?productId=25912) @ £120.14 inc. VAT.

Does anybody know of any cheaper?

Thanks

TM

[tandoc]

Out of interest, why Ultimate? What's wrong with Home Premium?

[edit]

also, is that OEM? You may want to look into that, it's generally a lot cheaper. Vista Ultimate OEM here is $253, which is a little less than 100 GBP.

[edit2]

so it is OEM, nvm :P

[Decker]

:whatthe: :sick:

That's probably about as good as it gets at the mo :)

That should be retail, OEM shouldn't be on sale individually, the old 2000/XP situation with OEM was allowed if bought with a major component (MB usually) that would cause it to lock out for too many system changes after an upgrade, don't know if the licensing is the same for Vista.
Premium & Ultimate is just the same MS con of making one product then taking bits out to get basic and pro editions, with Ultimate it is the complete product, below it is the 'crippled versions'

Price difference can dissappear once shipping and tax is added to buy in the US and ship to the UK

[tandoc]

:whatthe: :sick:

That's probably about as good as it gets at the mo :)

That should be retail, OEM shouldn't be on sale individually, the old 2000/XP situation with OEM was allowed if bought with a major component (MB usually) that would cause it to lock out for too many system changes after an upgrade, don't know if the licensing is the same for Vista.
Premium & Ultimate is just the same MS con of making one product then taking bits out to get basic and pro editions, with Ultimate it is the complete product, below it is the 'crippled versions'

Price difference can dissappear once shipping and tax is added to buy in the US and ship to the UK

Haven't really looked into the licensing, but as long as it works.

How are the versions below it *crippled*?

The only differences between Home Premium and Ultimate, according to the Micoshaft website, are 'Easier business networking connectivity', Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, 'Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore' and a really big price tag.

All of these features are easily replaced and bettered by 3rd party software, usually free.

So, explain, how are Home Premium and Business 'crippled'?

Seems to me m$ is into a new con, charging a crapload of money for features that aren't really worth it.

[themoose]

If Home is really that close to Ultimate, I could go with that... it's £55.

And tandoc, UK always gets the ---- end of prices. With everything. Seriously.

[Decker]

Crippled as in bits removed, like the ones you say and multimedia 'extras' comparisons here
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

It's still to be seen how many 3rd party apps will actually work properly with Vista, giving all the system core limitations (like those for AV) have been implimented.

As for business edition it really is stripped to the bone.

[tandoc]

Crippled as in bits removed, like the ones you say and multimedia 'extras' comparisons here
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

It's still to be seen how many 3rd party apps will actually work properly with Vista, giving all the system core limitations (like those for AV) have been implimented.

As for business edition it really is stripped to the bone.

As I said before, Home Basic is the ONLY crippled version of Vista. Home Premium is ONLY missing the things I mentioned. With respect to AV, Microsoft's own AV solution works with all versions of Vista.

As for Business Edition, it doesn't seem to be missing anything that would result in it being crippled. While it doesn't feature any of the multimedia functionality that Home Premium and Ultimate have, if you're looking at purchasing Business Edition, you probably don't need it. That said, if this is what corporations are to be using, you don't necessarily want the multimedia functionality to be there. It's not as if it wouldn't be disabled in a corporate environment, anyway.

[Decker]

Okay - simple terms to clarify - using the phrase 'crippled' is legacy terminology refering to MS taking bits out to make 'cheaper' options to purchase their software dating back a good few years, might be I'm the only one old enough to remember it ;) , better :D

I agree, business verson is only a basic OS corp apps then get applied to suit the job, jury still out but MS AV, it's their first expidition into it still looking at it to see who they bought so they could have one....

[snackman]

Okay - simple terms to clarify - using the phrase 'crippled' is legacy terminology refering to MS taking bits out to make 'cheaper' options to purchase their software dating back a good few years, might be I'm the only one old enough to remember it ;) , better :D

I agree, business verson is only a basic OS corp apps then get applied to suit the job, jury still out but MS AV, it's their first expidition into it still looking at it to see who they bought so they could have one....

im thinking about getting windows vista but should i wait for all the bugs to get out?

[JonnyH]

I'm running on the Buisness version and I have to say it's pants. Not for home use at all (Well that is known by the name). It doesn't have media center :(

[Yellowmc]

Aria are one of the cheapest I have seen, Savastore (http://savastore.com) usually have good prices but are slightly more expensive on Vista.

[Wojtek]

If I had to buy Vista, I'd take Home Premium.
The only thing I've worried about is the lack of Remote Desktop. Perhaps it would be possible to just copy the .exe from business or ultimate?

[Decker]

Wouldn't think so, too many libs and reg entries, might be packed as an add on at some point though. Probably sold as MS Remote Desktop.

[themoose]

I've never used remote desktop on my home machine anyway, so I wouldn't be needing that.

[Wojtek]

Never had a windows server eh? ;)

[themoose]

OH you mean it doesn't support remote desktop to a server? I've used that before, but rarely.

[Wojtek]

From what I understand, yea.

No checkmark under "Easier business networking connectivity"
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

[stuffradio]

M$ gives me XP/Server, etc. for free :p

[Dini]

That Aria store is way to expensive! In my 3rd world country I can get better prices

[themoose]

Yeah, Dini, that's because we have a booming economy and 17.5% VAT. We can get charged more and the companies can get away with it.

[Decker]

All except the booming economy!!!!

[themoose]

All except the booming economy!!!!

?        

[Decker]

Yeah, Dini, that's because we have a booming economy and 17.5% VAT. We can get charged more and the companies can get away with it.

Maybe where you live in the UK :P

[Craig]

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=16260&GroupID=0 123 GBP INC VAT.

Aria are cool, was down their on Saturday to pick up some stuff.

Checkout Aria's forum http://www.lucyslair.co.uk (great place)

You might be able to pickup a good deal on eBay, not checked though.

[Decker]

You might be able to pickup a good deal on eBay

You can, it comes with Vista DOH! Edition in nice felt pen on the disk :D

[Wojtek]

haha, good one Rickie :lol:

[Dini]

Yeah, Dini, that's because we have a booming economy and 17.5% VAT. We can get charged more and the companies can get away with it.

Well, the fact that I buy on some very dark streets may contribute to these low prices, but we still pay a 19% IVA (some kind of VAT) so it's strange we've got this prices.

Still Vista is more expensive here, but we've got cheaper computer parts, even cheaper that in the US (most of them)

[themoose]

Wikipedia has a good section on differences:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista#Editions_and_pricing

Oh, and a funny comic :p:

http://www.imghut.net/images/107.gif

[Decker]

:lol: Nice TM ROTFLMAO

[themoose]

I contacted Aria about the OEM conditions, and they said as long as you buy ANY hardware (inc mouse MSE-GENERIC-PS2 costing £1.47) then you can get the OEM no problems.

[Decker]

That's kind of 'bending' the rules a bit :)

[themoose]

Whatever, it's still within the rules :p

[themoose]

Bought Ultimate Version (OEM of course :p).

[Decker]

They're comming to get you :lol:

Ultimate is nice - pretty even, still gonna try out every bit and see what the benifits are and then break it :evilb:

[NoelF1]

Windows Vista in my opinion is a bit over priced! but atleast the new theme looks great! :D

...so i think bill gates this time got my money agian... altought i more love the macs but in Malta arent that popular and you more find windows than macs and linux :/ and Vista is gonna cost me over Lm270 (Lm = Maltese Liri)

[Nug]

If I had to buy Vista, I'd take Home Premium.
The only thing I've worried about is the lack of Remote Desktop. Perhaps it would be possible to just copy the .exe from business or ultimate?

Wtf?? XP has Remote Desktop! How can they remove features from a old version?

[themoose]

Nugi, he's saying Home Premium doesn't have Remote Desktop. I believe XP Home doesn't either.

[Dini]

Wikipedia has a good section on differences:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista#Editions_and_pricing

Oh, and a funny comic :p:

http://www.imghut.net/images/107.gif

note the guy has a sad face when he says "I'd like to buy Vista". I'd be sad too ;)

[Nug]

Thanks to the guy who gave me good rep saying "You stupid but nice"
Made my day :lol:

[heymrdj]

I can get Vista Business for free through the College/Microsoft student technology system :P.