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Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate DVD - Upgrade-Only version

• Windows Vista Ultimate is the most comprehensive edition of Windows Vista. It is the first operating system that combines all of the advanced infrastructure features of a business-focused operating system, all of the management and efficiency features of a mobility-focused operating system, and all of the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system.
  For the person who wants one operating system that is great for working from home, working on the road, and for entertainment, Windows Vista Ultimate is the operating system that lets you have it all.

Work from home

• Windows Vista Ultimate includes all of the features that make it easy to remotely connect to business networks. So when you're working from home, you'll have advanced networking capabilities, such as the ability to join a domain, support for Group Policy, and features such as Remote Desktop.
  Windows Vista Ultimate also includes Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption that provides new levels of protection against theft for your important business data whether you are at home, on the road, or in the office.

The latest in entertainment

• Windows Vista Ultimate delivers all of the entertainment features available in Windows Vista Home Premium. It includes everything you need to enjoy the latest in digital photography, music, movies, analog TV, or even HDTV.
  Windows Vista Ultimate has great tools such as Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker to ensure that you have everything you need to collect, manage, and edit your digital content. It also includes Windows Media Center for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center.

No compromises

• Windows Vista Ultimate delivers all of the features available to both business users and home users. It is the ideal solution for a small-business owner who wants a single PC that he or she can use at the office, on the road, and at home.
  It is also the ideal solution for someone who wants a home PC that will be used primarily for entertainment purposes but that can also be used for business purposes such as connecting to a corporate network.

New user interface

• Windows Vista Ultimate has a new user interface named Windows Aero, which is both efficient and beautiful. This new interface makes it easier than ever before to find your way around the operating system. It even makes it easier to accomplish multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all of your open applications and documents.
  Additionally, Windows Vista Ultimate helps you quickly find and organize large collections of documents, pictures, movies, videos, and music. By integrating search throughout the operating system, Windows Vista Ultimate helps you quickly find exactly what you are looking for.

Improved mobility

• Windows Vista Ultimate makes it easy to take your home computing Experience with you wherever you go. For example, Windows Vista Ultimate includes Windows Tablet and Touch Technology that enables you to interact with your Tablet PC-compatible computer with a digital pen or with your fingertip instead of having to use a keyboard.
  Computers that include Windows Vista Ultimate and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off.
  It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect to your favorite WiFi hotspot.

More entertaining

• Windows Vista Ultimate will improve every aspect of your digital entertainment experiences including viewing and sharing photos, video, TV, movies, music, games, and more.
  For example, Windows Vista Ultimate enables you to create your own DVDs and edit your own high-definition movies. Most significantly, Windows Vista Ultimate includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. Windows Media Center in Windows Vista provides new ways for you to enjoy your music, photos, and DVD movies.
  You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. You will also be able to connect Windows Vista Ultimate to your Microsoft Xbox 360 to extend your Media Center experience to multiple rooms in your home.

Package: Upgrade Only

• Upgrade-Only installations of Vista are s ubstantially less expensive than the Full Retail versions, making this a good choice for people who still want a shiny box, all the manuals and paperwork, and access to Microsoft technical support, but who don’t plan to ever install the Operating System on a new, blank hard drive.
  
  The Upgrade-Only version works very much as its name implies: if you have a pre-existing version of Windows XP on your system, you can purchase an Upgrade-Only copy of Vista and apply it over your original Operating System. The result is a direct update to Windows Vista, while retaining all of your original programs, applications, documents, and files.

  It should be noted, however, that many programs are not yet fully Vista-compatible, so the Upgrade Installation will prompt you as it goes along to remove or disable any applications which are conflicting. Most developers are hard at work to update their software to Vista-readiness, however, so odds are that you won’t have to leave those precious programs uninstalled for long.

  Finally, there are a few special circumstances here to keep in mind: the Vista Upgrade path you may choose is somewhat limited by your pre-existing version of XP.

  For example, most users are running the 32-bit version of Windows XP. As a result, you must upgrade to the 32-bit version of Vista. Likewise, those few who are using the 64-bit developer version may only upgrade Vista 64-bit (if you’re unsure which you have, contact Microsoft with your Windows license key and they can tell you).

  Additionally, your choice of XP Home, XP Media Center, or XP Professional also plays a role.

  "XP Home" or "XP Media Center" users can only upgrade to one of the two Vista Home versions, or must move all the way up to the all-inclusive Vista Ultimate; those running "XP Professional" can only use Vista Business or Vista Enterprise (or again, Vista Ultimate, if your budget allows it).

  So before you upgrade, be sure to know what you have, as this will influence how much you need to spend to get the version of Vista that you want.