Windows 7: Home Premium or Professional?

[OnePingOnly]

Hi all,

I've already pre-ordered Home Premium but would it be prudent of me to cancel it and pre-order Professional due to future hardware upgrade concerns? Seeing how XP has been around since 2001 and is still the predominant OS today, would it be wise to purchase Professional in order to overcome the 16GB RAM limitation?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Eh...I willing to bet by the time you're needing 16GB RAM, the next windows OS will have already been out anyway. Do you make extensive use of virtual machines?

 

[Dahak]

not only that you would have to use the 64bit version of home premium as the 32bit is still limited to 4gb

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Eh...I willing to bet by the time you're needing 16GB RAM, the next windows OS will have already been out anyway. Do you make extensive use of virtual machines?

i dunno you gotta open your mind a bit. People never thought we would ever need even MBs of ram.

XP came out in 2001 most people had what 256MB of ram?

Today most people have 2-4GB thats 8-16 X more ram used today than what was used when xp came out. If people wanna use 7 for a generation or 2. They will prob want more than 16GB by then. Which is an insane amoutn of memory lol. But only 4-8 X as much as today...

Anyways i would just go with home premium As i wont skip a windows generation.

 

[RebateMonger]

So spend the extra fifty dollars and get Professional and be sure. If you are planning on using Win7 for eight years, that's $6 a year extra.

Historically, eBay resale prices on Microsoft Windows RETAIL Full and Upgrade editions are pretty high, anyway. You can buy a Retail box, use it for five years, and re-sell it for 50% of what you paid for it. It's pretty hard to lose much money, especially at the lowered pre-order prices.

 

[dguy6789]

I see the 16GB as an issue. I am hoping to use Windows 7 for about as long as XP lasted. In that time frame I'd expect it might be possible for 16GB to be obsolete.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
I see the 16GB as an issue. I am hoping to use Windows 7 for about as long as XP lasted. In that time frame I'd expect it might be possible for 16GB to be obsolete.

Do remember not all motherboards support more then 16GB ram,personally I probably be on (64 bit version) Win8 or 9 by then so don't see 16GB restriction as an issue.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Historically, eBay resale prices on Microsoft Windows RETAIL Full and Upgrade editions are pretty high, anyway. You can buy a Retail box, use it for five years, and re-sell it for 50% of what you paid for it. It's pretty hard to lose much money, especially at the lowered pre-order prices.

Clarify this for me please.

I purchased my XP Home retail copy in 2002, installed it on an Atom 330 last month, one of many installs since 2002.

So my questions:
1- If I buy the Win 7 upgrade, I would need to install XP first, before Win7, correct?
2- If I get a retail Win7 (not upgrade) what restrictions would I have Installing it multiple times like I did my copy of XP?

Thanks

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Historically, eBay resale prices on Microsoft Windows RETAIL Full and Upgrade editions are pretty high, anyway. You can buy a Retail box, use it for five years, and re-sell it for 50% of what you paid for it. It's pretty hard to lose much money, especially at the lowered pre-order prices.

Clarify this for me please.

I purchased my XP Home retail copy in 2002, installed it on an Atom 330 last month, one of many installs since 2002.

So my questions:
1- If I buy the Win 7 upgrade, I would need to install XP first, before Win7, correct?
2- If I get a retail Win7 (not upgrade) what restrictions would I have Installing it multiple times like I did my copy of XP?

Thanks

1. No
2. Technically can't install it on more than one computer...but otherwise none really.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Historically, eBay resale prices on Microsoft Windows RETAIL Full and Upgrade editions are pretty high, anyway. You can buy a Retail box, use it for five years, and re-sell it for 50% of what you paid for it. It's pretty hard to lose much money, especially at the lowered pre-order prices.

Clarify this for me please.

I purchased my XP Home retail copy in 2002, installed it on an Atom 330 last month, one of many installs since 2002.

So my questions:
1- If I buy the Win 7 upgrade, I would need to install XP first, before Win7, correct?
2- If I get a retail Win7 (not upgrade) what restrictions would I have Installing it multiple times like I did my copy of XP?

Thanks

1. No
2. Technically can't install it on more than one computer...but otherwise none really.

Then how is the "upgrade" verified? Do I simply type in my Win XP key as well as my Win 7 key?

Thanks for the prompt reply.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Historically, eBay resale prices on Microsoft Windows RETAIL Full and Upgrade editions are pretty high, anyway. You can buy a Retail box, use it for five years, and re-sell it for 50% of what you paid for it. It's pretty hard to lose much money, especially at the lowered pre-order prices.

Clarify this for me please.

I purchased my XP Home retail copy in 2002, installed it on an Atom 330 last month, one of many installs since 2002.

So my questions:
1- If I buy the Win 7 upgrade, I would need to install XP first, before Win7, correct?
2- If I get a retail Win7 (not upgrade) what restrictions would I have Installing it multiple times like I did my copy of XP?

Thanks

1. No
2. Technically can't install it on more than one computer...but otherwise none really.

Then how is the "upgrade" verified? Do I simply type in my Win XP key as well as my Win 7 key?

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Yes, you type in your CD key during installation.

The upgrade edition is a full copy. It doesn't rely on another disc to supplement it. All it needs to know is that you have a previous copy of windows.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: 21stHermit

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Historically, eBay resale prices on Microsoft Windows RETAIL Full and Upgrade editions are pretty high, anyway. You can buy a Retail box, use it for five years, and re-sell it for 50% of what you paid for it. It's pretty hard to lose much money, especially at the lowered pre-order prices.

Clarify this for me please.

I purchased my XP Home retail copy in 2002, installed it on an Atom 330 last month, one of many installs since 2002.

So my questions:
1- If I buy the Win 7 upgrade, I would need to install XP first, before Win7, correct?
2- If I get a retail Win7 (not upgrade) what restrictions would I have Installing it multiple times like I did my copy of XP?

Thanks

1. No
2. Technically can't install it on more than one computer...but otherwise none really.

Then how is the "upgrade" verified? Do I simply type in my Win XP key as well as my Win 7 key?

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Yes, you type in your CD key during installation.

The upgrade edition is a full copy. It doesn't rely on another disc to supplement it. All it needs to know is that you have a previous copy of windows.

That's a pleasant surprise and different from my past experiences.

I have a copy of Frontpage for my website. In order to load it, I have to:
1- Load an ancient copy of MS Works
2- Load MS Office 2002 Upgrade version w/ Frontpage
3- Load the Frontpage upgrade version.

So I assumed that Win 7 Upgrade worked the same. So a large sigh of relief.

Thanks

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: dguy6789
I see the 16GB as an issue. I am hoping to use Windows 7 for about as long as XP lasted. In that time frame I'd expect it might be possible for 16GB to be obsolete.

Do remember not all motherboards support more then 16GB ram,personally I probably be on (64 bit version) Win8 or 9 by then so don't see 16GB restriction as an issue.

I am hoping to just keep this single OS and span it across several computer lifetimes.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Yes, you type in your CD key during installation.

The upgrade edition is a full copy. It doesn't rely on another disc to supplement it. All it needs to know is that you have a previous copy of windows.

I haven't heard anywhere where that is documented. AFAIK, you must have XP installed on the HD first, then you run the Win7 upgrade installer from within XP, and then it verifies you have a valid XP license, then it blows away the partition and installs 7.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Yes, you type in your CD key during installation.

The upgrade edition is a full copy. It doesn't rely on another disc to supplement it. All it needs to know is that you have a previous copy of windows.

I haven't heard anywhere where that is documented. AFAIK, you must have XP installed on the HD first, then you run the Win7 upgrade installer from within XP, and then it verifies you have a valid XP license, then it blows away the partition and installs 7.

I believe its by history. From what I've read upgrades to Vista were done by entering the CD key during the install.

 

[iCyborg]

Originally posted by: JRussellDMD
Hi all,

I've already pre-ordered Home Premium but would it be prudent of me to cancel it and pre-order Professional due to future hardware upgrade concerns? Seeing how XP has been around since 2001 and is still the predominant OS today, would it be wise to purchase Professional in order to overcome the 16GB RAM limitation?

Now that Win 7 Pro includes stuff from Win 7 Home, you should be able to upgrade from Home to Pro at any time later (and if not, Ultimate isn't much more expensive either), perhaps losing a few bucks because of the preorder prices. I don't think 16gb limit is going to be an issue any time soon, and if this is the only reason, you may well end up wasting money.

 

[Majic 7]

I've read that you can install on a clean formatted HD by inserting your old OS DVD when asked to. And conflicting reports on the double install thing. Some say it will still work , others that it is disabled. Clean install is fine for me now anyway. I will wait and see if the double install thing works.

edit: Looking on the MS answers site they say you have to have a valid OS installed to install the upgrade. But what else would they say.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I believe its by history. From what I've read upgrades to Vista were done by entering the CD key during the install.

It's a new day. Microsoft wants to a) get rid of XP and b) minimize any and all schemes to avoid paying for a new license for each machine. The upgrade versions only work with an installed OS.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Yes, you type in your CD key during installation.

The upgrade edition is a full copy. It doesn't rely on another disc to supplement it. All it needs to know is that you have a previous copy of windows.

I haven't heard anywhere where that is documented. AFAIK, you must have XP installed on the HD first, then you run the Win7 upgrade installer from within XP, and then it verifies you have a valid XP license, then it blows away the partition and installs 7.

I believe its by history. From what I've read upgrades to Vista were done by entering the CD key during the install.

Only XP and previous used this method. With Vista, you had to have an actual previous OS installed before you could start the upgrade method.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: Athena

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I believe its by history. From what I've read upgrades to Vista were done by entering the CD key during the install.

It's a new day. Microsoft wants to a) get rid of XP and b) minimize any and all schemes to avoid paying for a new license for each machine. The upgrade versions only work with an installed OS.

No doubt you are correct and for me all the hassle will encourage me to just keep XP, I've yet to find a compelling reason for either Vista or Win 7.

 

[egale]

Doing a little research, I was trying to get a handle on all the differences between pro and home. Doesn't seem like an awfull lot.

How important is the XP mode that Microsoft touts? I haven't had the need for it so far. I don't see going over 16gb any time soon either.

I preordered a copy of both. Not sure which to keep but knowing me, I will be happier with the pro, even though I don't need it!!!

 

[alm4rr]

the only thing im concerned about, too, is the ram limit...

i build my own and am still using my base rig since 2001, updated over time. i expect to build a new one @ December and hope to keep it for at least 5 years....
(net, office apps, & -games-) The most taxing thing my comp runs is m2 total war and it does it OK - I want to play Empire and GTA4 on the new build.

But I'm still hesitating re: the 16 Gig limit....


ps - it seems all the consumer MB have a 16gb memory limit, so maybe for this generation OS 16GB will be OK?

pps - ack, the MSI X58M goes up to 24gb... so I suppose the 16GB limit is already technically on the horizon before the Win7 release! Just a matter of RAM pricing

ppps - the other consideration is to later do a windows anytime electronic upgrade

 

[dguy6789]

If anyone plans on using Windows 7 for as long as XP, there's no way 16GB is enough if you're an enthusiast. Everyone will run into the same problem that they ran into with XP 32 bit. 16GB total also includes video ram. In 3 years does anyone really think your system ram + video ram will be less than 16GB when regular video cards have around 1GB now and you can buy 8GB of system memory for $100?

 

[alm4rr]

well i pulled the trigger on premium - $102 for shipping and a sdcard case on tigerdirect, but with $10 back in Bing credit... you can also get it for @80 with first time Bill-me-know use, but that requires a credit check...

 

[Silicon Spear]

Consider the prices:
$50 for Home Premium upgrade preorder
$200 for Home Premium full

$100 for Professional upgrade preorder
$300 for Professional full


The savings are $150-200.
I'm willing to bet that you'll find an OEM copy of Windows Vista Home Basic to install on for under $150 on Ebay, if you end up needing it. So there's pretty much a zero chance of losing money by preordering Windows 7.