Which Windows Vista is for me?

[Tangerine]

Hello,

I'm planning on getting Windows Vista for my Mac Pro, but I'm confused which version of Windows Vista because there is too many. I have narrow it down and I think Windows Vista Ultimate will suit me best. However, there is 2 versions of it. One is x64 and the other is x86 version. What is the best one to get? What is the different between this two? My Mac Pro use a 64 Bit Processor, so I would think x64 is make more sense? I want the version that work like Windows XP Pro Edition, in term of more drivers and softwares compatibility.

Thank You

 

[apfhex]

Well... you're going to have software/driver compatibility problems with the first release of Vista no matter what edition you get. I don't think any edition of Vista is more limiting in that regard.

According to Paul Turott, "you don't need to buy a x64-specific versions of Vista. Instead, all Windows Vista editions, except for Vista Starter, will come with both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions in the box, on separate DVDs."

You can read the rest of it here at Windows Vista Feature Focus: 64-Bit (x64) Support. It's from May 2006, so it may be out of date information, but I don't know. As with WinXP, though, "32-bit device drivers are not supported, so you can't use any of the existing hardware drivers out there, but must instead use the subset of x64-based drivers out there."

Ultimately unless you really know you need 64-bit, it's probably a good idea to stick with the regular version.

 

[timswim78]

The versions of Windows shouldn't be that confusing. There are four versions: two of them are home versions, and two are pro versions.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx

Vista Ultimate is nice, but it is pretty expensive (about $400). I ordered Home Premium. It has all of the stuff that I am interested in (new graphics, media center, and laptop features).

In my opinion, the only reasons to go with one of the pro versions are:
the need to connect to a Windows domain
the need to use more than 16gb of RAM.

I don't really see any benefit from the x64 version. Most software doesn't run any faster on it.

 

[Tangerine]

So I won't benefit any speed from x64 version because my Mac Pro is 64 Bits? Sorry, I'm kinda noob at this Computer stuff. I think I will get the 32 Bits version. Have any one try out Windows Vista on a Mac Pro yet? How it is in term of Drivers and Software compatibility and speed?

Thanks

 

[SMM]

Unless you have a windows application you want to run, and it is optimized for 64 bit, do yourself a favor and stay away from it. I bought a couple XP 64 workstations and have fought driver issues ever since. Well, not quite. I gave the machines to some other users who are not allowed to alter the HW/SW. Now they are fairly stable. As for performance gain, never discerned any.