Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - Upgrade

Windows Vista Home Premium - Academic Upgrade

Strengths: Inexpensive. Easy installation.

Weakness: Need more than 1GB memory to run it smoothly.

This is an academic upgrade version of Microsoft Windows Vista, which means it has the same features but is much less expensive. Only eligible people can buy only one copy, though. At first, I installed it only my desktop, which is not so powerful and has only 1GB mmemory. Installation process is very easy. 1GB is spacious enough for XP, but painful for Vista Home Premium especially when I turned...

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VIAO and VISTA

Strengths: Its Better than XP, leaner and better streamlining of data.

Weakness: We havnt found one.

My wife got a SONY VGN-220E notebook this year and it came fully loaded. I still use XP HOME on our home PC, and I must say after getting use to VISTA...WITH NO 3RD PARTY ANYTHING..except for the McAfee ISecurity program, every down load and every data update is 100 Xs easier, effortless all across the board Iam getting VIsTA to replace the XP on our PC

Academic Vista

Strengths: It's definitely easier to understand. It has a lot of features to help the impaired.

Weakness: Any old program that you may have had with XP may not be compatible with Vista. So you have to go and get new "Vista" ready software.

I love the software. It's user-friendly for sure. The graphics are definitely better. It's just an all around great product, and I would definitely recommend everyone upgrade to Vista.

Vista - new paint job but same old MS

Strengths: Installed very easily in my new system. Has a great new look, lots of bells & whistles plus flashing lights! Academic version is the cheapest way to go.

Weakness: Doesn't support 64-bit. Read the small print. Had to order a new disc from MS for $10 more (except the Ultimate version). LAN trouble with XP & too many annoying verification pop-ups. Typical MS-BS.

I installed the 32-bit upgrade version on a bare drive to try out while I wait for my 64-bit disc to arrive. (Thank you very little, MS.) It can be done without entering the key, but against their warnings of failure at a later date. I guess I'll find out one way or the other how the activation process will go after I get the new disc. Meanwhile, all I can say is "buy at own risk".

Worthwhile if you need it

Strengths: Media Center program is very good support is pretty good

Weakness: sucks up memory and CPU and video card (GPU) like there's no tomorrow

If you need this, get it. If you are already using XP Pro and you're happy, don't upgrade. If you have an older system, don't upgrade. If you really need some of the new features, get it....

Nice New Looks but .....

Strengths: The Acedmic Upgrade's greatest strength is the discount price. About 50 percent cheaper then the retail version. Includes all the same features as the retail version.

Weakness: Slows down computer. Memory Hog(I Recommend 2 gigs of Ram) Caller ID feature removed.

Windows Vista Home Premium is nice on the eyes but can be hard on the wallet. The new system requirements make it seem like buying a new computer with 2 gigs of ram might be a better option then purchasing the upgrade at all. I also wish it had the caller id feature that was built into XP Media Center 2005. Overall I would wait a few years until it becomes mainstream.

VISTA Home Premium Upgrade AE Retail

Strengths: Good resolution. Very reasonable price for this version. Some added features such as the sidebar with clock, and other various usefull features.

Weakness: Instalation is not completely trouble-free. This operating system is not always workable with some of the XP compatible hardware and software . . . and not all new features are improvements to XP.

After working with XP Pro for several years now, new is not always better. XP for me was stable and reliable . . . I am not yet convinced that Vista will be so good. Many drivers must be updated (if available) and various other software incompatibility issues exist, reminding me of the old ME operating system. You should also plan on 2GB of memory for the system to run well. Things may improve...

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By member: BigNinja - Mar 30, 2007

VISTA Home Premium Upgrade AE Retail

Strengths: High quality resolution. Fast and easy installation. Price is right.

Weakness: Had to start learning the operating system all over again. Unlike previous upgrades, this one makes a big change. Had to remove a few programs and change some drivers. Haven't found my favorite games.

My biggest complaint is I no longer have on-line hearts or backgammon...my favorite games! I will keep looking for them...hope I can find them! I was a real pro at XP Pro...now I feel like a novice. With time and patience, I should figure it all out.

Windows Vista Home Premium (Academic Upgrade) 32 bit...

Strengths: More security Aeroglass interface Very Stable

Weakness: Some manufacturers are slow to build good drivers with Vista signatures. Some programs crash in Vista, Or at least behave a little differently. User Account Control.

Windows Vista is the latest version of Microsoft's Home and Business Operating systems. For the new user, it is very nice and self maintaining. However, for the very experienced user of MS products, it will take some time to find most items as they have been moved to new locations, sometimes hidden, etc. The OS is very stable. Though some programs need a little work to work properly in the new...

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Vista Home Premium Upgrade Review

Strengths: Upgrade installs easily and faster than previous versions. Clean interface and graphics much improved over Windows XP.

Weakness: None yet.

About the only thing in the upgrade process I do not like is the fact that the upgrade does not let you delete partitions and make new ones. I prefer to do a complete clean setup and format of the hard disk when upgrading. While you can still do what what Microsoft calls a "clean install", you have to do it in the existing partitions.