8 versions of Vista?

[jolle]

Infoheavy page about the different versions right here:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp
Lots of tables and stuff.

[evilghost]

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1931478,00.asp seems to indicate there won't be arch version differences.

[Son Goku]

Actually the comment in that article says:

The new line up is "more focused on how people will use their PCs, rather than around hardware types," Goffe explained.

not so much that there won't be differences in the versions for a respective arch. What's more, they couldn't exactly say this, given the fact that a 32-bit OS has a much more limited range of addressable memory, then a 64-bit OS. A 64-bit computer system and it's OS aren't restricted to a 4 GB address space. This also translates to the removal of a limitation on the allowed paged pool size in the OS.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889654

Comparison of memory and CPU limits in the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows

General memory limits 32-bit 64-bit
Total virtual address space 4 gigabytes (GB) 16 terabytes
Virtual address space per 32-bit process 2 GB, 3 GB if the system is booted with the /3GB switch 2 GB, 4 GB if the system is compiled with the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE switch
Virtual address space per 64-bit process Not applicable 8 terabytes
Paged pool 470 megabytes (MB) 128 GB
Non-paged pool 256 MB 128 GB
System cache 1 GB 1 terabyte

Sorry if that doesn't look clear, but not sure how to get a table into a forum post. And though this is not specific to Vista itself, this is not a limitation they could get around, short of using segmented memory (such as was used in the 16-bit version of Windows 3.1). That more then 4 GB can't be addressed in a 32-bit addressing space, isn't just a limitation of the software itself...

Beyond this, previous versions of winNT (which 2k and XP are based on) tended to keep the architecture specifics down to the level of the hardware abstraction layer and the microkernel. Some DLL files, I've heard it indicated can also embed a small amount of assembly in some critical functions. The HAL is entirely written in assembly, and the rest of the OS in C... Beyond the HAL and the micro-kernel, it has tended to be the same OS, and I hadn't said otherwise.

However, it would still present more boxes... And that some people can get the wrong one :D Lets just say an OEM I knew had a problem with a customer of theirs. They bought a system which used the DEC Alpha processor and Windows NT 4.0. The person came into the store after their system ceased to function. As it turned out, the person put x86 drivers to a new piece of hardware on their Alpha :rofl

As they were mentioning this, it went like this...

OEM: So, you put PC drivers onto your Alpha?

customer: Yes

OEM: Well, didn't you think this would be a bad idea?

customer: No, it's Windows afterall... Same difference :udawg:

OEM: No, you don't have a PC. You're system is Alpha NT...

They had to reinstall the system, and whether the person did get it in the end, don't know...

BTW, Vista is probably the place where I'll make the break from a 32-bit OS. I also have an Athlon 64 now...

[Mudcrutch]

this may make things easier... but i still dont like the idea of all these versions:

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1269

(may go down due to digg effect)

[superklye]

INCREMENT! That's the word I was looking for!

[Son Goku]

INCREMENT! That's the word I was looking for!

Well, all I can say, is I'm not sure I would want to know what you were doing, or what room of the house you were in when you posted that :o For increment to have become excrement, I think the answer might have been obvious :eek:

[Riptide]

So have they said whether there will be upgrades for current XP users or not?

[supra]

So have they said whether there will be upgrades for current XP users or not?

dunno if its true or not but i think i remember reading somewhere that you wont be able to upgrade from xp to vista. but that may be a lie :)

[retsam]

So have they said whether there will be upgrades for current XP users or not?yes you can, there has always been an upgrade option for all there OS's why stop now.

[supra]

yes you can, there has always been an upgrade option for all there OS's why stop now.

well u cant upgrade from win32 to 64bit right? (i dunno maybe wrong).

but then again. even if you could do an upgrade, would you?

I would prefer to do a clean format and install even if i had the choice

[jolle]

So have they said whether there will be upgrades for current XP users or not?
My GUESS is that you can do a Licence upgrade, but not a Upgrade Install..
So you only pay for a upgrade (like with all MS OSes sofar right?), but you still need to a fresh install..
I read some mention of some comprahensive migration tool in Vista, but that might only be from Vista-> Vista install, on the same or new computer.

[Riptide]

Sounds OK to me - I never do upgrades anyway. But it would be nice to not have to pay max. price if you already have a legit copy of XP.

[Son Goku]

My GUESS is that you can do a Licence upgrade, but not a Upgrade Install..
So you only pay for a upgrade (like with all MS OSes sofar right?), but you still need to a fresh install..
I read some mention of some comprahensive migration tool in Vista, but that might only be from Vista-> Vista install, on the same or new computer.

In previous cases, there was an install upgrade... However, the last time I messed with that was from win 3.1 ---> win95. Never again...

They way they checked to see if one qualified for the upgrade was to scan the drives for the previous version. However, keeping the old instillation media, and placing the floppy/CD in the drive, and then when it came back and said

"Can't find previous version, please indicate where it is..."

so as to assure upgrade qualification, one could point it to the floppy or CD drive. It'd see the installer for the old version, and just continue...

It's been awhile since we've had any new OS (XP came out several years ago), and longer since I messed with this, as I had MSDN subscription when XP and win2k came out), albeit that's what I remember...

Oh and supra, I'd do a clean format yes, but the cheaper "upgrade" pricing would be nice... Why pay the full $200, if one can get the upgrade for $100... Remember also, that when win64 first came out, Microsoft was offering free CDs to people with winXP 32 for a time. Some people just didn't have A64s then, so there would be basis for the cheaper "upgrade" liscensing cost. As to the install, the method I mentioned above did work for a clean install, using the upgrade, at least in the past...

[jolle]

Yeah its a bit hard to say, upgrade install have a history of getting a bit messy..
But they even offered them from ME -> XP didnt they? even tho it wasnt as comprahensive as Home-> Pro perhaps.. if memory serves..
And Vista is still somewhere close to XP in a way I guess, so maybe they WILL offer upgrade installs..
But by the sound of it they are shooting for a pretty cleaned up OS, alot of torn out and rewritten parts and a heavily modified kernel, so perhaps its not worth the effort.. but the Migration tool might do the trick to set up the clean install with alot of the previous XP settings..

[Riptide]

I just want to pay a reduced price for an upgrade LICENSE, not necessarily run an upgrade on the existing install. :)

[superklye]

Well, all I can say, is I'm not sure I would want to know what you were doing, or what room of the house you were in when you posted that :o For increment to have become excrement, I think the answer might have been obvious :eek:
Bah, whatever. They're two letters off from each other and sound nearly indenitcal. :p

[supra]

lol, reminds me of simpsons

Me fail english? thats unpossible