Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade 64-Bit Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

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MikeMaroon
Chattanooga, TN

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Don't Believe the Naysayers. Vista Rules

Every day computer user, Owned almost all Windows versions, LOVED Windows XP, Normally an early adapter

Pros

Improved, easier to use interface, Better security than XP, Easiest Windows to install yet, Much better search engine, Easy back up

Cons

Use Account Control can be annoying, Slight learning curve, Too many versions

OCT

2008

Ah! Remember the good old days, when Windows XP was released to replace Windows 98? Remember how everyone just loved it and nobody complained about it? Me neither. Because Microsoft Windows XP, which is now considered by almost all to be the gold standard of operating systems, received just about the same kind of welcome Vista got 2 years ago as it was released.    Howls of protest and screams of a let down. It just seemed the screams were a little louder this time. Why? Because you can't make everybody happy no matter how hard you try, that's why.

Starting with Windows 3.11, I've used every Windows operating system at some point. Except Windows ME. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. If you see that for sale somewhere at a flea market or something, report the seller for trying to sell crap disguised as something usable. Every other incarnation of Windows, though, I've owned and used. I attribute this to the fact I like shiny new things, and with the exception noted above, each new version of Windows has improved upon the previous version, some more than others. Vista is an improvement over XP, and I really, really like XP. I jumped on Windows XP as soon as it came out and it was a vast improvement over Windows 98. Leaps and bounds. And I think that is where the main rub comes from the haters. Vista IS an improvement over XP in several significant areas. Its just not as big a leap as 98 to XP was, and I think that disappointed a lot of folks.

Windows Vista was released in late 2006 in no less than FOUR different versions. Compare that to XP's TWO versions, Home and Professional. Vista is available in these 4 versions and I list them showing the differences:

Vista Home Basic: "Basic" is the operative word. It has the new security features, instant search and Internet Explorer 7. There is little else, except of course, the basic operating system, which resembles XP.    Nope, no cool Aero interface, which is one of the big draws for Vista. The ONLY reason to buy this version is to say "I have Vista!". Not much of a reason. Upgrade version costs about $99.

Vista Home Premium: This is the version Microsoft recommends for most home users. Me, too. I bought Ultimate because I wanted 64-bit capability. I'll explain that later. It has the features of Basic plus the sleek new Aero interface, enhanced laptop and PC tablet support, Windows Meeting Space for collaborating on and sharing documents, Windows Media Center(lets you hook your PC up to your HDTV and game consoles), and Scheduled Backup, which automatically backs up your files. Upgrade version is about $130.

Vista Business: Just what it says it is. Not really appropriate for home use. You won't be out anything if you use it but the $130 the upgrade costs. It has all the features of Home Premium minus Media Center and adds enhanced back-up capabilities aimed at businesses and capability to remotely access your business (Remote Desktop Connection)

Vista Ultimate: Contains all the features above plus Windows bit-locker drive encryption to better protect your data, Windows back up and restore, and lets not forget, the kitchen sink. Ultimate is the only version that ships with a 64-bit version and the upgrade retails for around $180.   There are varying price points for all versions depending on if you buy the full version (for hard drives that have no operating system installed) or the "OEM" version, which is meant for new computers that have just been built and never had an operating system installed.

I bought Ultimate upgrade for two reasons, the main one being I wanted the 64-bit version. Now most people reading this are going to say, "64 huh? what?". So, rather than go all medieval technical on you and put you to sleep, lets just say that you probably run a 32-bit version of Windows right now (over 95% of you do, in fact). Before XP there was no such thing as a 64-bit version. So, if you don't understand the difference, don't sweat it. If you find yourself needing more computing power to run some intense applications or you have more than 3 gigabytes of RAM, you might consider going 64-bit. If not, the "regular" version will do you just fine. I have 4 gigabytes of RAM and Windows XP and Vista 32-bit can't see that much. So, I had memory sitting there doing nothing. That's the primary reason I chose the 64-bit version. Also, because my processor (Intel Core 2 Duo E7200), like most processors these days is a 64-bit processor and will handle it.

The other reason I opted for Vista when I was perfectly happy with XP was, I needed a new operating system because my stepson had taken the downstairs PC to college and I had a case, motherboard and hard drive sitting around from a past upgrade. Since you can't legally put a copy of an operating system on more than one PC at the same time, I bought an upgrade version of Vista and wiped XP off the newest PC. I then put Vista on that one and XP on the one with the older hardware.

Even if you buy an upgrade version of Vista, it will give you the option to do a clean install (erasing the old software and putting on the new) in the set up screen. I could not do an upgrade install (which must be started from within Windows and saves all you old settings while installing the new Windows) on my XP Professional anyway, because I was going from 32-bit to 64-bit. To prepare, I downloaded all the drivers and software I thought I would need and backed up all my data to an external hard drive.

The installation process? I couldn't have been happier. Once I started the process I had to just input some basic information and the software did the rest. It was pretty hands-off. When it gets to the screen that asks you to enter the product key, I highly recommend doing just that. See, all versions actually have ALL the versions (except 64-bit) on the install disc. So, you can install Ultimate from the Home Basic disk if you want and not enter the product key right now. The catch is, in 30 days it's going to force you to enter the product key and activate your Windows. If the version you install doesn't match the product key, back to square one for you!!

Also, much to my surprise, once the very painless install routine was done I discovered that Vista had loaded ALL the hardware drivers I needed with the exception of my video card, sound card, printer and the SM bus (don't ask, it doesn't matter). THAT is impressive. It had installed all my motherboard drivers and the myriad of drivers that go with that. XP did a pretty good job of that, but not THIS good!

All I had to do was install my other drivers and I was up and running in no time. No glitches and all my programs ran great, with the exception of Spyware Doctor, which doesn't support the 64-bit platform yet. (Shame on you PC Tools!)

The Aero interface is sleek, beautiful and just plain pretty too look at. It's very functional, too. if you have several windows open at once, you can move the mouse over any of them on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and see a mini-version of that window.   Need to search for something? Click on the Start button and a search box pops up. Just type in a word and start looking.

The User Account Control box will pop up if you install third-party software and force you to confirm you really want to do that. I really don't understand why people complain about it. It protects you from third parties from installing apps you don't want. All you have to do is click a button and it goes away, allowing you to install. You can disable it if you want, but I don't recommend it and I won't tell you how.

BOTTOM LINE:

Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit is a nice improvement in look, functionality and security over Windows XP. There were problems in the beginning, but almost all of them went away with the addition of Service Pack 1 (a software patch that makes changes in the way the operating system works). So, I recommend you buy the new, improved version with Service Patch 1. It DOES take up a lot of space. This version took up about 85GB of hard drive space, as best I can tell, on my 500GB hard drive.

It is NOT slow. If it runs slow on your system, you have an older system not really designed to accommodate it. I have a middle of the road system and it runs great on mine. Some of the problems, in my opinion, are caused by trying to run it on a system too small to accommodate it. As I learned years ago, Microsoft's minimum system requirements as listed on the box means "yeah, it will run on that, but it's just a technicality." XP had the same exact problem when it was released. If you have at least 1GB of RAM, a fairly new motherboard, at least 250GB hard drive and an Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD 64 bit processor, it will run just fine. Don't try running this with a Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon processor. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I've been running this for a month now and am convinced Windows Vista is a more than worthy successor to XP. My games and apps run faster and, because it recognizes all my RAM, the graphics appear brighter and more detailed. If you are happy with XP, fine keep it. If you want to move up in the world, go Vista. I would give Windows Vista Ultimate two thumbs up but Roger Ebert might sue me. I can't afford that. I just spent $180 on Vista. GRADE: A

Last edited on Oct 21, 2008

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade 64-Bit is recommended by MikeMaroon

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Comments about MikeMaroon’s Review

MikeMaroon wrote on Oct 26, 2008 at 11:58AM

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In response to Jo's comment from Oct 26, 2008 at 9:36AM:

LoL. Yeah, you gotta watch out for the bogus programs. There are all kinds of idiots out there trying to get you to download maleware!

Jo wrote on Oct 26, 2008 at 9:36AM

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Hmm.. interesting. I almost downloaded something that really seemed to be coming from Microsoft and when I went to their website they had a list of bogus stuff. Not that this is - just an OT winding, rambling thought.

krislynn wrote on Oct 22, 2008 at 3:04AM

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This year I bought a new Dell laptop and it came with Vista. I love Vista better than the XP that is on my desktop. Great job on the review!

kid-kansas wrote on Oct 22, 2008 at 1:47AM

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In response to MikeMaroon's comment from Oct 21, 2008 at 12:57PM:

I will take the plunge just not sure when...I have a laptop and a desktop....;)

LadyMagic wrote on Oct 21, 2008 at 2:59PM

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Great informative review, Mike! From your descriptions I'm not sure but I think we have the Vistas Home Premium. Ours came in our computor. We purchased a Toshiba Satellite A205-55859 laptop from Circuit City this year. It has the potential to do the things you mentioned. Besides toying with the built in web cam we're considering hooking it up to our HD tv so we can check out some of those free internet movies and of course some You tube videos. Enjoyed your review.

LisaCarey wrote on Oct 21, 2008 at 2:44PM

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It took me awhile to like it, but now I love it!

MikeMaroon wrote on Oct 21, 2008 at 12:57PM

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In response to kid-kansas's comment from Oct 21, 2008 at 12:02AM:

Thanks! I've been reading all the articles on Vista for a year before I made the switch. I felt, after all the research, that the geeks hating on it was keeping the public away from it and that most people who ignored the geeks and bought it were happy with it. It wasn't that I was unhappy with XP, I just needed a new OS license and bought Vista because XP support is going away and I wanted to try it anyway. I was pleasantly surprised!