Which version of Vista is best for audio?

[AlexDavis]

Hey all,

I'm a bit confused by the number of options I have when upgrading to Vista. Do I want home basic, home premium, business, or the ultimate "empty your pockets" edition?

I haven't yet found a resource that clearly identifies the differences for those running a sequencer and lots of plugins. If it's really all the same as far as audio performance is concerned, I'd prefer to save the bucks.

Thanks!

-Alex

[fizbin]

I think this may be answered by providing some direct comparisons to XP versions. From my understanding the versions and features match up between XP and Vista basically like this -

Vista Ultimate - A hybrid of Windows XP Pro and XP Media Center edition
Vista Enterprise - Windows XP Pro/Vista Business with extra stuff you'd never want on a DAW. Available only under volume licensing.
Vista Business - Windows XP Pro
Vista Home Premium - Windows XP Media Center edition
Vista Home Basic - Windows XP Home - can't run Aero - I believe there is some limited functionality with the Search Indexer or availability of it - this version may be ideal for DAW use for a majority of users though.

Basically, you just want it to run your DAW-centric apps without unnecessary overhead/eyecandy/background services that aren't essential to what you need to do on this machine. I'm banking on Vista Business edition for use on my DAW when the time comes. I don't want the Media Center overhead (I just need a simple media player), and I do want to be able to remote into the machine over wireless to control from the recording room, so neither Home version would work here. I could be wrong, but I don't think Vista Home Premium or Basic will allow you to remote desktop into it.

Jay

[Haydn]

Another vote for Vista Business. I plan on using the x64 version.

Jim

[AlexDavis]

I do want to be able to remote into the machine over wireless to control from the recording room, so neither Home version would work here. I could be wrong, but I don't think Vista Home Premium or Basic will allow you to remote desktop into it.
Jay

Wow, thanks for the info. I would need remote desktop as well, so if you're right about Home Basic/Home Premium not supporting it, I s'pose the Business version is the right choice for me.

I definitely don't want unecessary stuff on the computer, so it looks like the ultimate edition would be out as well. That'll be a wallet saver for sure!

Thanks again,

Alex

[Daryl]

I would check the Remote thingy very carefully, as many people make mistakes on this one with XP. I have heard so many people say that you need XP Pro to do Remote Desktop and this just isn't true. It only has to be Pro for the host (controlling) PC; the slaves can be on Home. It might be the same for Vista, so it is worth checking very carefully.

D

[fizbin]

I would check the Remote thingy very carefully, as many people make mistakes on this one with XP. I have heard so many people say that you need XP Pro to do Remote Desktop and this just isn't true. It only has to be Pro for the host (controlling) PC; the slaves can be on Home. It might be the same for Vista, so it is worth checking very carefully.

D

To be clear - your DAW must be running on XP Pro or Vista Business or Ultimate , but the laptop or whatever your using as the remote client can run XP Home or Pro, or any flavor of Vista. I think that's what you just said, but allow me to re-say it.

[Daryl]

To be clear - your DAW must be running on XP Pro or Vista Business or Ultimate , but the laptop or whatever your using as the remote client can run XP Home or Pro, or any flavor of Vista. I think that's what you just said, but allow me to re-say it.
Yes, we agree. Hurrah..........!

D

[Houston Haynes]

Another vote for Vista Business. I plan on using the x64 version.

Jim

Hey Jim - have you seen anything on date-of-release for Vista x64?

[Richard Berg]

It only has to be Pro for the host (controlling) PC; the slaves can be on Home. It might be the same for Vista, so it is worth checking very carefully.
You've got this backwards. Anyone (XP Home, Win9x, Mac...) can install the Terminal Services client. Only XP Pro and Vista Business/Enterprise/Ultimate can run the service.

What XP Home and the Vista Home editions have instead is "Remote Assistance." This allows anyone to control the machine in response to a request for help. The downside is that you need someone to be logged into the machine to send you a request -- you can't run a Home machine headless and hope to TS into it.

[Richard Berg]

Hey Jim - have you seen anything on date-of-release for Vista x64?
All Vista editions shipped simultaneously about a week ago. A quick search shows that Vista x64 is indeed for sale at Newegg etc.

[Houston Haynes]

All Vista editions shipped simultaneously about a week ago. A quick search shows that Vista x64 is indeed for sale at Newegg etc.

Thanks - all I could find was the 32-bit update with instructions on how to get the 64-bit distro on DVD-ROM directly from MS *after* buying the 32-bit version.

The 64-bit version (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116211)is available as an OEM product (for system builders, per se), which is fine by me.

[Richard Berg]

You can get x64 at retail too -- you just have to jump thru a few hoops. Unlike OEM, the license key provided in each retail package can be used to activate the x86 OR x64 version of that edition. However, the box only contains the x86 (32-bit) DVD. Once purchased, you can get x64 media sent to you via this form: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

[keithjfuller]

the best version of vista is the one you don't get.

[Daryl]

the best version of vista is the one you don't get.
Which one have you tried?

D