Vista Premium doesn't come with 64-Bit version in the box!!!

[BroadbandGamer]

Check this out:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

I was under the impression that all retail verisons of Vista came with both versions. Apparently, only the Ultimate version comes with both discs. This isn't good for 64-Bit computing. Making people jump through extra hoops just to get the 64-Bit version is a bad move IMO.

Can anyone confirm whether or not Ultimate comes with both discs?

At the bottom of this link it says Ultimate comes with the 64-Bit version.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx

 

[WT]

Both versions (retail and upgrade) of Ultimate come with both sets of DVDs. It's about $10 to order a DVD for any other version of Vista 64 bit.

Use this link and use your 32bit license key to install the 64 bit version:
Vista 64 DVD order

 

[stefan9]

According to the MS reps here in SA. All versions except basic comes with 32 bit and 64 bit thats the full versions. But only ultimate has it in the box. You will have to redeem an coupon with business and home premium. But they will ship the 64 bit disc for free. The coupon will be in the box.

Really weird and stupid why not just put both discs in the box from the start.

 

[SilentRunning]

Originally posted by: stefan9
According to the MS reps here in SA. All versions except basic comes with 32 bit and 64 bit thats the full versions. But only ultimate has it in the box. You will have to redeem an coupon with business and home premium. But they will ship the 64 bit disc for free. The coupon will be in the box.

Really weird and stupid why not just put both discs in the box from the start.

Isn't it obvious, Microsoft has been increasing the incentives to purchase Ultimate. It is all about marketing.

 

[Nothinman]

Making people jump through extra hoops just to get the 64-Bit version is a bad move IMO.

Considering that most people will never notice the difference anyway, I'm not seeing an issue here.

 

[theNEOone]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Making people jump through extra hoops just to get the 64-Bit version is a bad move IMO.

Considering that most people will never notice the difference anyway, I'm not seeing an issue here.

exactly. 99% of people don't even know what 32bit is, let alone care that their operating system is 32 vs 64.

marketing? um...not in this case.


=|

 

[xenolith]

Originally posted by: theNEOone

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Making people jump through extra hoops just to get the 64-Bit version is a bad move IMO.

Considering that most people will never notice the difference anyway, I'm not seeing an issue here.

exactly. 99% of people don't even know what 32bit is, let alone care that their operating system is 32 vs 64.

marketing? um...not in this case.


=|

Correct. MS tried to make this OS launch as newb friendly as possible. I can just imagine the service calls MS saved themselves by not including both versions.

 

[masteraleph]

Originally posted by: SilentRunning

Originally posted by: stefan9
According to the MS reps here in SA. All versions except basic comes with 32 bit and 64 bit thats the full versions. But only ultimate has it in the box. You will have to redeem an coupon with business and home premium. But they will ship the 64 bit disc for free. The coupon will be in the box.

Really weird and stupid why not just put both discs in the box from the start.

Isn't it obvious, Microsoft has been increasing the incentives to purchase Ultimate. It is all about marketing.

Not just that.

32 and 64 bit are completely different, and together are more than 4.7GB. Therefore, MS had the choice of either including both on a dual layer DVD, including both on separate DVDs, or only including the 32 bit version but on a single layer DVD, which is what they did. Sounds silly, but if they sell 100 million+ DVDs and it costs $.10 extra for dual layer, it's worth it.

 

[mechBgon]

64-bit reportedly has better security potential, due to PatchGuard and Address Space Layout Randomization, too. Some overview at http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_ff_x64.asp:

When taken together, these features ensure that the x64 versions of Windows Vista will be both the most secure and reliable versions of Windows ever created. Likewise, they will be more secure and reliable than the 32-bit Vista versions.

 

[stash]

32 and 64 bit are completely different, and together are more than 4.7GB. Therefore, MS had the choice of either including both on a dual layer DVD, including both on separate DVDs, or only including the 32 bit version but on a single layer DVD, which is what they did. Sounds silly, but if they sell 100 million+ DVDs and it costs $.10 extra for dual layer, it's worth it.

Ding ding ding!!

Finally, someone who understands business

 

[DynCA]

I was SO happy when I picked up my RETAIL copy of Vista Ultimate to see the X64/X86 discs.
I thought I had to order them online

and then lo and behold.. 2 different DVD's. One for 32 bit and 64 bit.

Score one for the people willing to shell out!

 

[AdamK47]

This is one of the reasons why purchasing Vista Home Premium OEM 64-bit was an easy decision for me. The $129 price helped too. Reactivating Vista OEM after a major hardware upgrade is easy as well.

 

[RedShirt]

I just got back from Best Buy with Home Premium Upgrade (hey, it came with free Altec Lansing speakers! I was in need).

I was shocked to open it up to not find the 64-bit disc. I thought someone had stolen it, or I had bought a "defective" product (assembly line machine didn't put in the 64-bit disc, etc).

Then I found the TINY print saying it includes only the 32-bit version. There was an insert that gave instructions how to order the 64-bit disc online.

SIGH, Guess I'm waiting 10 more days to be able to use all 4 gigs of my RAM.

WHY DON'T THEY JUST PUT THE ISO ONLINE?

 

[lxskllr]

To divert the topic slightly... I ordered the 64bit disc and have it sitting on a shelf. Are there any legal issues, or hassles involved in dual booting 32bit and 64bit on the same machine using the same key?

 

[rip]

Originally posted by: AdamK47
This is one of the reasons why purchasing Vista Home Premium OEM 64-bit was an easy decision for me. The $129 price helped too. Reactivating Vista OEM after a major hardware upgrade is easy as well.

Really? did that upgrade include mobo?

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
To divert the topic slightly... I ordered the 64bit disc and have it sitting on a shelf. Are there any legal issues, or hassles involved in dual booting 32bit and 64bit on the same machine using the same key?

Generally, Microsoft only allows a Key to be used only on one installation at a time.

This thread in Microsoft's public vista newsgroup has this statement from Carey Frisch, Microsoft MVP:

"Every time you install Windows, a new Product ID number is generated.
Thus, you would have two different Product IDs for the same license
and one will not be activated nor deemed "genuine"."

 

[Nothinman]

To divert the topic slightly... I ordered the 64bit disc and have it sitting on a shelf. Are there any legal issues, or hassles involved in dual booting 32bit and 64bit on the same machine using the same key?

You should probably call MS and ask, I would assume that they only want you using one or the other.

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[Hauk]

Not just that.

32 and 64 bit are completely different, and together are more than 4.7GB. Therefore, MS had the choice of either including both on a dual layer DVD, including both on separate DVDs, or only including the 32 bit version but on a single layer DVD, which is what they did. Sounds silly, but if they sell 100 million+ DVDs and it costs $.10 extra for dual layer, it's worth it.

Exactly...