After looking at the features, no. MS said this time around, Ultimate will not have any extra goodies. Ultimate just has bitlocker and multi-language support. I'm now getting Pro. Also realized these are just the upgrade versions. Not that exciting but I'll still get it. I have a copy of Vista somewhere... it just sucks that every time I'd wanna install Win 7, I'd have to install Vista first.
I don't think you do? I thought all you needed was the vista disk.. If you want to install Win7 put in the disk, then at some point it asks for a vista or XP CD.. just pop it in to verify, then put back in Win7 I thought?
There's some bad news regarding upgrade versions of Windows 7. To actually use them, you need to have an activated copy of Vista installed. So no, you can't simply put your Vista disc in and select "upgrade"... and re-using the same Vista key over and over, every time you want to reformat, can be a hassle with MS. On the plus side, you can upgrade from Windows 7 RC to Windows 7. Also, once you have Windows 7 installed, make an image of that too. Windows 7 comes with its own image creating utility (but I recommend using Norton Ghost 11.0 as it's the best for the job, imo...avoid Ghost 12.0 and above). So before you install any sort of drivers, backup your main partition. This will ensure your image is still compatible in the case of changing your system board or other hardware. If you run a RAID array like I do, you'll need to use DriveClone software to do it. Source for some of this info.
About to say, I thought that this was only for Vista >> 7 and not XP >> 7 (which I still use). Alternatively, Newegg use to have (might still have) a deal where if you bought Windows Vista you could have the comparable version of free (they give you a coupon). Might have to do it, or just chalk it up, save some and just buy 7 when it comes out :_:
This sucks, why do they always have to make it difficult. A lot of people are skipping Vista waiting for Win 7, so this is a 'fuck you' to them if they can't upgrade from XP.
Upgrade disks are a waste.. just find the OEM version for 7 when it comes out.. did that with XP and saved quite a bit.
I read somewhere that XP can be used as a base for the upgrade. I wish i still had the link for it. Mind you, it wasn't directly from MS though..
the MS site that was up during the promo did say this. however, now that the promo is over and a different deal is going on with its own set of rules.
Windows 7 Upgrade products will work the same way whether they're being sold on discount or not. The free upgrade offer for new purchases of Windows Vista, I presume, is restricted to Vista only (of course, it's not too easy to get new copies of XP these days).