Windows 7 – Which edition is right for you?
So you want to upgrade to Microsoft® Windows™ 7, but you’re not sure which version is the right choice…
Essentially there are only three choices for consumers in the US this time: Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate… and certainly you can go through the matrix and figure out what’s best, but here’s my advice.
If your computer won’t be used in a business setting where it’s necessary that you join a domain (Active Directory Service) then you may not need anything more than Home Premium. If you have ADS on your home network, consider therapy.
If your computer is not capable of hardware virtualization (you can use the detection tool below) then you won’t be able to use the Virtual XP mode of Professional or Ultimate.
If your motherboard doesn’t have the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) you won’t be able to use the enhanced security of Professional or Ultimate.
The only other useful feature in Professional/Ultimate that’s not in Home Premium is the ability to be an RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) server that would allow remote access from another machine. All versions support remote assistance requests.
There’s absolutely no reason to buy a higher end version than you can use; it will not run any faster or better. The version you install will be locked to the hardware you install it on, and it’s hard to move it to another computer (it might be impossible).
Don’t waste your money by stroking your ego — buy the version that fits your hardware and your needs best; and for most people that’s going to be Home Premium.
Microsoft® Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool
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