bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: good display

Weaknesses: takes more ram

Summary: if you want the latest OS then vista ultimate is best..display quality is good if u have good video card..it also has some nice 3d gadgets which makes it unique

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Excellent graphics if you have the right video card. Fun switching between windows with the new Flip 3D. Fun and useful gadgets. Great Backup system if you have an external drive.

Weaknesses: Memory intensive, so buy as much RAM as you can. Security questions with almost every application and operation that you run.

Summary: If you want or need to see the latest OS from Microsoft, get Windows Ultimate, but, if you can hold off, Windows XP will be adequate you for a while. I am sure Windows Home Premium will be okay as well, but you do not get the Backup and Restore feature that you get with Ultimate. Restore from Backup is relatively quick if you have a fast computer and External Drive as is the initial backup. Do not pay dollar for what ever OS that you buy. Compare prices online!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 21

Strengths: DX10, Aero, Bitlocker, UAC, Good multimonitor support

Weaknesses: Needs a modern PC to run.

Summary: This is Microsoft latest and greatest and is worth moving up to if you have a modern PC. If you have an ancient one, then you might not want to bother unless you are willing to upgrade it. Most people complain that Vista takes too many resources to run and that is true. But so what? XP used more resources than ME, 2000 or 98. This is how advancing technology works.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Nice interface, the transparent look, DX10

Weaknesses: Security reminders, cost, no realy special additions for ultimate only

Summary: Nice interface, the transparent look, DX10Security reminders are annoying although you can turn them off, cost is high, no realy special additions for ultimate onlyIt requires a great deal of memory and will slow down your computer, very nice graphics though.DX10 Games are just starting to become available.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 30 Days

Strengths: User Interface, ability to run unix commands, better remote access, ability to create hi-def movies

Weaknesses: Needs an internet connection to validate itself every 6 months, compatibility with older hardware and software..

Summary: As I mentioned the OS is super with 3D effects and very good interface. You could even run unix commands. It is more secure. But the major drawback is realetd to the licensing - this needs to be revalidated every 6 months. I had a centrino laptop with 1 gb of ram, but installation of windows vista ultimate nearly used up all resources and I had to revert back to windows XP. But it has been running fine on my new dual core desktop with 2gb ram.