Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate DVD

Pros: Stable, stable, stable. I was extremely worried for having dropped a bucketload of cash for this, but I'm satisfied. Plus, I'm set for the next 4+ years when it starts to show its true colors. While it took a bit of getting used to to skin it down to the essentials, even now it runs just as well as XP Pro SP2, if not better.

Cons: The typical Windows phenomenon is as is with Vista: lots of useless features need to be removed, and a few bizarre measures need to be taken to do so. Something as simple as tweaking the default folder view can take a bit of experimenting. I needed to take some time to read up on how these changes can be met, as should anyone looking forward to this OS. That said, there are no catastrophic errors and issues involved directly with it.

Overall Review: No one should be using the 64-bit installation. All 64-bit versions of Windows are confined to several compatibility problems which are easily confused with problems with the OS. Use the 32-bit version just for a couple more years until manufacturer's get used to the 64-bit architecture. Then put it in at your own convenience.

Pros: Good operating system, this will get you all the goodies offered. I find that I can do common tasks much faster in Vista compared to XP.

Cons: Added features may not be worth the extra money. The Ultimate Extras is definitely a joke.

Overall Review: Vista 64 bit is great.

Pros: Vista x64 has a lot of eye candy, and it's extremely stable with drivers. Lots of bells in whistles in the premium, beautiful design and interface. Aero Glass looks amazing, new hardware support is great. Microsoft is actually updating drivers within Windows Update often, and requires signed drivers (much more stable). The MOST important thing is that this is the Retail Edition. It's more than a pretty case. It is a fully transferable license that can be moved to another PC or motherboard. If you upgrade a lot, or don't want to have to fight MS if your mobo dies a few days after install, it's much better. Rather than bickering on the phone with Microsoft to transfer an OEM license (like I had to do with Windows XP), I just called the automated phone line and it reactivated no problem, in five minutes. This comes with both x64 and x32 media, and you can switch between install types.

Cons: First thing: the price is expensive. If you're going to use the features, it's not so bad, but my wallet is still crying. Second: The new DVD case is innovative, but it's a pain to open. Thirdly, a large clear sticker took my Certificate of Authenticity (I have it b/c I saved the sticker, this is the pretty multicolored label, NOT the product key). Fourthly, the case scratches extremely easily and was already scratched (but not open) upon arrival. The CDs and other materials inside were pristine.

Overall Review: Having used both the x64 version and x32 version, I can easily say that the future-prepped x64 version is much more stable and better overall (4GB+ of RAM is becoming a reality- a limitation of 32 bit OSes). But the price is high. Don't rush to upgrade your old case from XP; but, if you're building a new machine, x64 Vista Ultimate runs like an absolute dream.

Pros: Nice interface, eye candy, very stable, runs great on a good computer.

Cons: If you don't know what you are doing (like most of the people who rate Vista poorly), it can be difficult to get drivers and programs to work. If your computer isn't up to date, Vista will not run very well. Only put this OS on a new computer. Don't install if you have no idea what you're doing on a computer.

Overall Review: Not worth the money, but a good OS none the less.

Pros: Very fast, very stable, gorgeous design, easily the best version of windows yet.

Cons: None

Overall Review: People who complain about Vista don't know what they are talking about, it is superior to XP in so many ways. I'm currently using the 32bit version and within about an hour I knew where to find everything without a problem, runs great.

Pros: Well Vista is here and with all the bells and whistles that we wanted. Aero is lovely, search is very neat, caching system while strange does its job pretty well. Vista does not need a hyper computer to run it also, do not buy into that it is meant to be ran from all types of systems.

Cons: Installation issues: Don't let Vista back up old Windows files if you have alot, it will run very slow if you do. I had 180gb of old stuff and Vista choked really bad because of it's indexing service. Drivers issues: Well thank Sound Blasters for this, no new drivers yet planned. EAX removed from Vista oh yeah. DirectSound3D also gone. Indexing service sucks with anything over 5gigs. Eats up your systems resources at times. Some games still not working with it either, but thats not Vista's fault, mostly.

Overall Review: WoW works nicely, the drivers built into Vista for video from nVidia work nicely. Creative is still lacking in there setups, of course. Other than that Vista installed and recognized everything I popped into it. One major exception - iTunes + iPod = NO NO. My old Shuffle will not reset or install a new update to it, that is a Vista + Apple problem however. Some things you can do without some things you need. Vista until Service Pack 1 is almost useless unless you want visual stuff now. There are still bugs that need to be worked out of course.

Pros: Retail does come with 32 and 64 bit. No driver issues with 64, loaded them all. Took about 30 min to install

Cons: expensive, can reinstall over and over even to another pc. just can only be one at a time

Overall Review: If i pay for retail, I feel as if I should be able to install it on both my desktop and laptop. I mean come on now. we're not all as rich as Bill Gates!

Pros: the only thing i really liked about Vista is that when you reformat from say XP to Vista, Vista keeps all your old data and just writes over the system files and puts everything from your XP into a folder called Windows.old which is a nice thing that i didnt know till after i reformated. the security options are very nice but uneeded for just a home gaming computer. DX10 very nice.

Cons: when you have opperations crash its alittle more difficult to deal with then say with XP

Overall Review: vista isnt as bad as everyone says it is. quite nice actually.