Contemplating Home business: What OS should I use?

[cbn]

First off I am a novice user.

I am contemplating a new computer build but at the same time I am thinking of starting a Home business.

Normally I would pick Vista 64 bit Home version but I am wondering if there are any serious reasons to pick Vista Home Premium, Vista Business or Vista Ultimate. (I am not really familiar with the differences between these)

 

[mechBgon]

Vista Business and Vista Ultimate have Shadow Copy so you can recover old versions of files, and/or deleted files. That might be useful in a business scenario (example: you accidentally save over an important spreadsheet).

More comparison of the different features, with some commentary: http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_02.asp

 

[MadRat]

mechBgon is giving you good advice. No matter how much people bitch about Vista, its the best current OS available for your business. XP has too short of life left in it for someone future minded.

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Originally posted by: MadRat
mechBgon is giving you good advice. No matter how much people bitch about Vista, its the best current OS available for your business. XP has too short of life left in it for someone future minded.

Uhh... considering he said his first choice would be Vista x64 and the options he presented us with are Vista Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate, I don't think he was too afraid of Vista FUD.

 

[MadRat]

Obviously. And my editorial comments had nothing to do with recommending XP, I was simply affirming mechBgone's reasoning. Perhaps you read into it more.

 

[Nizbot]

If you want to save a little money, go with Home Premium. I don't think you'd really benefit from the additional features of Business or Ultimate.

 

[dderolph]

Originally posted by: Nizology
If you want to save a little money, go with Home Premium. I don't think you'd really benefit from the additional features of Business or Ultimate.

I agree.

 

[KeypoX]

whats the difference in price anyways? Glad i got a free copy of vista

need to find free windows 7 now.

Also shouldnt there be a ton of retail licences going unused as soon as 7 comes out?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: dderolph

Originally posted by: Nizology
If you want to save a little money, go with Home Premium. I don't think you'd really benefit from the additional features of Business or Ultimate.

I agree.

Me three...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116488 (Newegg Link - Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit OEM)

100 bucks with free shipping, and call it a day...

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: Nizology
If you want to save a little money, go with Home Premium. I don't think you'd really benefit from the additional features of Business or Ultimate.

Incorrect, Shadow Copy is extremely useful for recovering lost files, accidentally deleted files. Another good feature is BitLocker if he wants to encrypt his Hard Drive in case of unauthorized access.

Edit: For Business.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: Nizology
If you want to save a little money, go with Home Premium. I don't think you'd really benefit from the additional features of Business or Ultimate.

Incorrect, Shadow Copy is extremely useful for recovering lost files, accidentally deleted files. Another good feature is BitLocker if he wants to encrypt his Hard Drive in case of unauthorized access.

Edit: For Business.

I agree. In one ohnosecond, the loss of one important document could easily cost you 10x the money you saved by buying a version of Vista that doesn't have Shadow Copy. Spend the extra $40.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
...by buying a version of Vista that doesn't have Shadow Copy...

Um... clarification...

AFAIK, all versions of Vista have "Shadow Copy" capability.

What the Vista "Home" versions lack is a feature called "Shadow Copy for Shared Folders", i.e. "Shadow Copy", e.g. "Previous Versions."

No big deal! All you need for Shadow Copy capability, so called, is some 3rd party software. The 'basics' are already there, in the OS.

Here's a freebie: http://www.runtime.org/shadow-copy.htm (Shadow Copy by Runtime Software)

Adds Shadow Copy / Previous Versions to XP Pro and Server 2003, too - not just Vista "Home" versions...

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Have you actually used that shadow copy program? just curious to see what you think of it...

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: mechBgon
...by buying a version of Vista that doesn't have Shadow Copy...

Um... clarification...

AFAIK, all versions of Vista have "Shadow Copy" capability.

What the Vista "Home" versions lack is a feature called "Shadow Copy for Shared Folders", i.e. "Shadow Copy", e.g. "Previous Versions."

No big deal! All you need for Shadow Copy capability, so called, is some 3rd party software. The 'basics' are already there, in the OS.

Here's a freebie: http://www.runtime.org/shadow-copy.htm (Shadow Copy by Runtime Software)

Adds Shadow Copy / Previous Versions to XP Pro and Server 2003, too - not just Vista "Home" versions...

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Chiefcrowe
Have you actually used that shadow copy program? just curious to see what you think of it...

And will that freeware be supported until ~2017 like Vista Business will? Just sayin'...

 

[SickBeast]

I'd actually say Ubuntu Linux is the way to go, depending on the software requirements of the business.

TBH Windows XP is good enough for now, and you can upgrade to Windows 7 soon enough.

I would not recommend Vista at all; too much bloat and too many problems IMO.

 

[MadRat]

He's not looking for a Linux distribution, nor XP; the typical responses around here. He actually wanted a clarification of which Vista solution. What does he gain by going Ubuntu or XP? What, money? Time? Head aches?

This is one area he does not want to skimp and just go for the best solution for him; either Vista Business and Vista Ultimate. The little he would save now will only cost him so much more later.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: MadRat
What does he gain by going Ubuntu or XP? What, money? Time? Head aches?

I was going to suggest Linux, but decided not to. By going with Linux, you gain network security, and no vendor lock in on software. It sounds like it's all new to him, so if you're learning anyway, you might as well pick the solution that keeps the future free.

Arguments could be made that proprietary software is the standard, and is "better" than open source( I honestly don't know), but you can make do with any provided tools. Work with what you've got, and if it isn't sufficient, you can recode it yourself, or pay someone else to do it for you(you can't do that with proprietary software).

 

[Chiefcrowe]

If you're going windows, i'd get Vista 64 Business or ultimate , and then if you can afford to wait get windows 7 64. otherwise upgrade when it comes out.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: MadRat
He's not looking for a Linux distribution, nor XP; the typical responses around here. He actually wanted a clarification of which Vista solution. What does he gain by going Ubuntu or XP? What, money? Time? Head aches?

This is one area he does not want to skimp and just go for the best solution for him; either Vista Business and Vista Ultimate. The little he would save now will only cost him so much more later.

As a novice user he has a right to know that Vista is a terrible OS in most circumstances.

He would gain a more mature platform with XP that will run well on lesser hardware. I have no idea what the system is like that he will be putting this on, but I know for sure that I would not want Vista on a computer with 512mb of ram.

I'd actually suggest running the Windows 7 Release Candidate until the op can upgrade to the final version.

Vista is just $100+ out the window at this point IMO.