Editorial Review:Product Description:The most complete choice for your business just got better.Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 helps you focus on what matters the most: you, your business, and your customers. Special enhancements and security protocols help make this Vista truly ultimate. This is the most complete edition of Windows Vista - with the power, security, and mobility features that you need for work with fun entertainment features. Windows Vista Ultimate has an advanced, business-focused infrastructure, mobile productivity, and a premium home digital entertainment experience, all in one box. It combines all of the features found in Windows Vista Home Premium (like Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker with high-definition support, and Windows DVD Maker) and Windows Vista Business (like business networking, centralized management tools, and advanced system backup features). It also has all of the security and data protection features that you need. Found only in the Ultimate edition are Windows Ultimate Extras, add-ons that extend the capabilities of your system including:
Windows Defender & Windows Firewall - safeguard your PC against security threats Easier use of a PC with Windows Tablet & Touch Technology - pen-and-ink functionality, improved navigation, improved handwriting recognition & built-in touch screen support Collaborate & share documents with Windows Meeting Space Enjoy Windows Media Center on your TV with Xbox 360 & other devices Business networking connectivity with Networking Center & Remote DesktopSystem Requirements 800 MHz processor & 512 MB of system memory 20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space Super VGA graphics support If you want a single PC that fulfills all of your work, travel, and entertainment needs, Windows Vista Ultimate is the system for you.
Amazon.com:Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 is the choice for those who want to have it all. Easily shift between the worlds of productivity and play with the most complete edition of Windows Vista. Ultimate provides the power, security, and mobility features needed for work, and all the entertainment features that you want for fun.
| Compare Windows Vista editions. |
Use Instant Search to quickly find the information you need. View larger. |
Windows Vista Aero provides spectacular visual effects such as glass-like interface elements that you can see through. |
The redesigned Windows Media Center in Windows Vista lets you enjoy your media throughout your home, even on your Xbox 360. View larger. |
Improved Reliability and Performance Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and improvements delivered by hardware and software partners increase the reliability, performance, and compatibility of Windows Vista-based PCs.
With Windows Vista with SP1, many of the most common causes of operating system crashes and hangs have been addressed. Windows Vista includes new, innovative technologies that help pinpoint and diagnose issues reported anonymously by Windows Vista-based PCs from millions of users who have elected to have their PC send us system information.
Windows Vista with SP1 supports a number of important new technology standards, so it will keep making your PC easier and more enjoyable to use for years to come.
The most complete edition of Windows Vista--with the power, security, and mobility features that you need for work, and all of the entertainment features that you want for fun When you want to have it all, including the ability to shift smoothly between the worlds of play and productivity, there's Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1. You'll never have to worry about having the most advanced capabilitiesÑthey're all here. This edition of Windows Vista offers an advanced, business-focused infrastructure, mobile productivity, and a premium home digital entertainment experience, all in a single offering.
Specifically, Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Home Premium, including Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker with high-definition support, and Windows DVD Maker. It also offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Business, including business networking, centralized management tools, and advanced system backup features. And Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 has all of the new security and data protection features that help take Windows Vista to a whole new level of dependability.
In addition, Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 includes support for all of the new mobility features in Windows Vista, including Windows Tablet and Touch Technology, Windows SideShow, Windows Mobility Center, and other new, advanced mobility features.
Exclusive to Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 are Windows Ultimate Extras. Windows Ultimate Extras are add-ons that extend certain capabilities of your operating system or just make using your PC more fun. Windows Ultimate Extras currently available include:
- Windows DreamScene, an Extra that enables you to use looped, full-motion video as your desktop wallpaper instead of a static image
- Windows Hold'em, a poker game for players of all skill levels
- Language packs for Windows multi-language interface, where users can install and use multiple languages on a single PC. Great for multi-lingual households or if you are learning a new language.
- Secure Online Key Backup, where Ultimate users can store their BitLocker recovery password and Encrypting File System certificate on Windows Marketplace's Digital Locker website for access to the key anytime, anyplace, and from any computer that has an Internet connection
- BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool, an automated tool which removes the complexity of setting up your PC to use this exclusive data security feature.
Whenever a new Windows Ultimate Extra is ready for distribution by Microsoft, you will see the Ultimate Extra control panel inform you that there are new extras to download. Simply download and install the Extras and begin enjoying these exclusive software and services that give your Windows Vista experience an extra lift!
If you want a single PC that fulfills all of your work, travel, and entertainment needs, or if you simply want to be confident that you have the very best, Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 is the no-compromise edition for you.
Windows Sidebar gives you quick access to gadgets like picture slide shows, Windows Media Player controls, or news headlines. You pick the gadgets you want to see in Windows Sidebar. View larger. |
Use Flip 3D to navigate through open windows using the scroll wheel on your mouse. View larger. |
Safety Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 helps protect your family and your personal information from threats from malicious software and phishing scams and helps you keep your PC backed-up and running smoothly.
Parental Controls help parents keep children safer while using PCs through convenient tools to manage and monitor children's computer use, access to websites, and ability to play certain games and use certain applications.
PCs running Windows Vista are 60% less likely to be infected with viruses, worms and rootkits than PCs running Windows XP SP2.
Windows Internet Explorer 7 helps protect your PC and your personal information against malicious software, fraudulent websites, and online phishing scams. New phishing attacks are more than 25 times as common as new viruses, and over 20,000 fraudulent phishing websites are created every month. Internet Explorer 7 is now blocking nearly one million inadvertent attempts to access fake phishing sites per week.
Help defend your PC against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software with Windows Defender. Windows Defender in Windows Vista automatically scans Internet Explorer 7 downloads to help bring spyware to your attention before it can infect your computer.
More easily back-up the content on your PC--including digital photos, music, movies, and documents--with Scheduled and Network Backup.
If you have serious PC problems, Complete PC Backup and Restore makes it easier to restore your PC by not only backing up all your files, but also the entire operating system and all of your applications.
Help ensure that the data on your computer stays confidential, even if your PC is lost or stolen. windows BitLocker Drive Encryption provides full-volume encryption and boot integrity monitoring (alerting you if someone has tampered with your PC).
Entertainment Windows Vista with SP1 is more entertaining. With Windows Media Center, you can enjoy your digital photos and music on your TV as well as on your PC. And it can turn your PC into a digital video recorder, so you can record TV and watch it on your schedule, not theirs.
Sit back and enjoy recorded TV, photos, music, home videos, games and DVDs from the comfort of your couch with Windows Media Center.
Access and project your TV, music, photos, and movies to any room in your house using an Xbox 360 console connected to your wired or wireless home network. It's like having your Media Center PC wherever you have an Xbox 360!
Author and burn movies, photos, and music to DVDs you can play on your PC or a DVD player with Windows DVD Maker.
Live the game! It's easier for you to find, play, and manage your games with GAMES EXPLORER. Games Explorer provides detailed information including when you last played, game genre, and rating of your games. With DirectX 10, play vivid and engaging games with unrivalled realism. Also, use the same game controller with both your PC and your Xbox 360 system.
Ease It's easier and faster than ever to find, use, manage and share the information on your PC or on the Web with Windows Vista with SP1.
Most Windows Vista-based PCs boot in less than a minute, which can be an improvement over Windows XP boot times.
The Windows Vista sleep and resume features can bring your PC to life in a snap. The vast majority of Windows Vista-based PCs resume from sleep in less than six seconds.
See everything you're working on more clearly with Windows Aero and quickly switch between windows or tasks using Windows Flip 3D.
Find it fast! Simply type something about a file, picture, or song, such as a word contained in a document or e-mail message, the artist of a song, or the date a picture was taken, and Instant Search will bring back any matches instantly.
Organize a lifetime of photos and movies with ease using Windows Photo Gallery. Tag your photos by date, keyword, star rating or any identifying label you choose--so you can find them anytime you want them.
Display live information, like weather, stocks, and news, directly on your desktop with easy-to-use Gadgets and Windows Sidebar.
View multiple web pages simultaneously with Quick Tabs in Windows Internet Explorer 7.
Get up and running faster than ever with Windows Easy Transfer that automatically copies your files and settings from your old PC.
Mobility With special features to help you go mobile, Windows Vista with SP1 makes computing and connecting away from home or the office easier than ever.
Work the way you want with touch and digital input and handwriting. Tablet and Touch Technology makes your notebook PC experience truly personal.
Set up a wireless network at home with Network and Sharing Center--so you can experience the freedom of working virtually anywhere in your home. Then easily find and join a wireless network at your favorite hotspot--so you can stay productive wherever you go.
Optimize your power and mobil settings centrally with Windows Mobility Center.
Easily sync and manage your music, contacts and pictures across your devices and other PCs with Sync Center.
Share your desktop or any program with Windows Meeting Space. Co-edit documents, and pass notes in class, a favorite hotspot, or where no network exists.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Be aware of the Intel & Microsoft Monopoly
You cannot beat the market dictatorship run by Intel together with Microsoft. AMD has created a much better processor than Intel and introduced it faster into the market, but the AMD Turion X2 64bit is not 100% supported by Microsoft. When I tried to install the Windows Vista 64bit, after 70% done the installation failed and when I tried the Windows Vista 32bit, it failed after 96%. 96% supported does not make it work. So I had to throw away my AMD-based laptop and had to buy an Intel-based laptop instead. I figured out my fight is doomed and I had lost enough money and time already resisting the Wintel monopoly. Very sad.
The money I spent on Vista, wasted as well. HP warns about Windows XP not actually running on the AMD processores unless using HP fixes, but I needed to upgrade to Vista. So do not buy HP with AMD processors if you want to use them more than a year.
Rating: 
-
XP was finally becoming solid, so its upgrade time from Micro$oft
* Alas many service packs later and bugs ironed out, Microsoft moves on to another money-maker as Windows XP was finally becoming a very reliable operating system. Vista does have many nice new features, especially designed for the net administrator wannabe or average Joe who wants to try to setup a mini network in his basement. I am by no means an expert on the subject, as I am the type of person who knows computers just enough to be dangerous. That said, I do have some thoughts on this operating system I hope will be helpful.
First off, I see Vista as XP with some bling. Unfortunately there's a price. Its called compatibility. Be careful if you are a PC gamer and wish to still play your older games (this meaning a game from a year ago or more), or have your video graphics card perform exactly as it did before, etc. I still can't get games (First person shooters) to work quite as smoothly since my upgrade, regardless of having the latest graphics driver, etc. I've even heard that some people can't get their printers to work yet when it comes to hardware plug-and-play I've been quite fortunate with Vista and have had no issues. Some suggest to create a dual-boot machine where you can use XP for some programs and Vista for another, but I think most people aren't familiar with how to do that or should even have to go through the trouble. So apart from incompatibility issues if you are upgrading an existing system or using older software, we can now move on to the bling. As far as a visual interface for daily Windows activity be it internet browsing, exploring your files, using media, etc. Vista is beautiful. However, it turns out you can download the look of Vista on an XP operating system if you want. So why should you buy Windows Vista and why do I give it 4 stars? Well, no matter how happy you may have been with, say, Windows 98... you don't really have a CHOICE when it comes to Microsoft operating systems should you continue to use the internet or buy new software, unless you are going to go Linux or some other OS. So to be up and current with the world is not a bad thing for sure when it comes to your operating system. Plus you'll have the latest protection with Vista's security, despite whatever anti-virus software you get. Another reason I give Vista 4 stars is I haven't had any real issues be it crashing or anything, so far it has been quite stable. If you have XP and are happy with it, I think you could stick around for the next OS release, as I hear it's coming much sooner than the long gap we had while XP dominated the market. If you want a simple way to have a slick look for your day-to-day tasks, \"the latest thing\" then go for Vista.
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Rating: 
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Best OS from Microsoft Yet
Vista is leaps and bounds over XP. From its increased security, faster start-up times and faster intall times.
I have been dealing with it since Beta 1 and have had zero issues. My machine is used for everything from gaming to development to multi-media. Vista performs as well as, or in some cases better than XP.
I generally recommend that people upgrade to Vista.
With any product, there are of course some downfalls. Some of Vista's include:
Increased resources - although this doesn't come as surprise, as every version has demanded more, I think Vista's resources came as a bit of a shock. It generally runs well, even on slightly low end hardware, I do not recommend anything less than 1GB of RAM, preferably 2GB. You will need a decent size hard drive as well. If you have a low end processor, you will want to stick with XP.
Price - the price is insanely more money than any previous version of Windows. In this, MS seems to be keeping with the trend, as every new piece of hardware and software this generation has almost doubled in price.
In closing, don't believe all those negative ads on TV or internet forums. Vista is truly the best OS to come out of Redmond yet. Go and try it for yourself.
Rating: -
Unable to install
* I was unable to complete installation due to inadequate room on my hard drive. The only reason I'm giving it such a high review is that it has been well received by other people I know who have been able to install theirs, and I will continue to hold onto it until I get an upgrade on my own pc. ...
Rating: -
Most computers will run slower with this upgrade
There are many pros and cons to Microsoft Vista. If you are buying a new computer, then Vista is a good option. The computer manufacturer will have installed Vista, with all of the correct drivers. The modern computer will also likely be fast enough to run Vista. However, if you are looking at buying this product, then you are likely installing Vista on an existing computer.
I installed Vista on a Dell with Intel hyper threading. This computer now runs about 80% as fast as it did before. I needed to perform screen shots with Microsoft's latest, so this was a good upgrade for me. However, for most computers, that are already running just fine, I do not see why Vista really adds that is worth the performance sacrifice that it will likely exact from older hardware.
Vista does have many features beyond what XP provides. The screens are much cleaner and visually appealing. Security is improved. Though you will frequently get security pop-up's asking if its okay to do something. The improvements to Vista, for the vast majority of users, are mostly cosmetic. It may not be worth the hassle of finding drivers and slowing down your computer just to run Vista.
