Product DescriptionMicrosoft Windows Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1 From viewing photos to writing e-mail and browsing the Internet, Windows Vista™ Home Basic helps you make effective use of your home computer. Plus, it is easy to learn, features improved search, and has improved security compared to previous versions of Windows. Windows Vista Home Basic is the operating system for homes with basic computing needs. It is easy to set up, it helps you use your PC more securely and reliably, and like all of the editions of Windows Vista, it is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that you use and trust. If you simply want to use your PC for tasks such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks, then Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable, and more productive computing environment. Service Pack 1 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is the complete set of Windows Vista updates Microsoft has issued over the past year plus additional enhancements to improve your PC experience. SP1 doesn't add new features or require you to learn anything new—it simply makes your PC more reliable, run more smoothly, and even more enjoyable to use, all at no charge. - User-friendly software features search and organize innovations as well as improved networking opportunities
- Designed for users with the most basic computer needs
- Helps people use their PCs securely and reliably, makes it simple to stay better connected, and is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that people use and trust every day
- Rich new interface, innovative ways to organize and find the information stored on your PC, and a multitude of entertainment options with live and recorded TV on your PC
- Provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail
- Format: CD-ROM
Customer ReviewsReviewed on 2008-04-13 
Wait for SP2 or 3 or 4, or Upgrade Now, that is the Question
In the Mac world updates to the operating system sometimes seem to come fast and furious, but unless it's a major upgrade, like from Tiger to Leopard (10.4 to 10.5) they are always free. In the windows world you pay for them. For example XP to Vista is similar to the Tiger - Leopard example and you expect to pay. Now tell me the difference between upgrading from 10.5.2 to 10.5.3 in the Mac world, a free upgrade and Vista to Vista with SP1. Is not the whole raison d'etre of SP1 to fix the mistakes of Vista, as are those free upgrades in the Mac world.
What a great cash cow Microsoft has going for it. Deliver a flawed operating system, charge a lot of money for it, then charge a gang of money to fix some, but not all of the flaws. That said, the SP1 upgrade does seem a bit faster and they say it's more secure and I guess I'll believe them.
Would I upgrade to SP1 from Vista if I were you. It depends. I'm not a power user, so I didn't see all that much difference, so if you're like me and everything is ticking along fine, then I suppose I'd leave well enough alone. But if you're someone who is concerned about all those hundreds of little problems they say plague Vista, then you might want to upgrade. Do I sleep better knowing those problems aren't lurking in my computer waiting to strike when I least expect it. Not really, because if I was that kind of person, then I'd probably lie awake nights, hoping, waiting, praying for SP2. Come on Microsoft, these upgrades should be free.
I know, I know, I shouldn't be complaining, because I got a free review copy of SP1 and because I haven't really had a bad Vista experience, so I guess I'll shut up now and just say, in my opinion if you're still running XP, then I'd upgrade, but if you're running Vista, I think I'd wait till SP2, or 3 or 4.
Still, upset as I am about Microsoft's business practice of charging for these upgrades, mine was flawless, everything still works (I did a clean install, after backing up) and the performance does seem better, so five stars from me for the upgrade. |  | Reviewed on 2008-04-08
How Many Windows, Let Me Count the Ways
First there's Vista Home Basic which, like all the versions of Vista, has your basic digital media features like Windows Photo Gallery, but it doesn't do Aero. You get Windows Flip, but no 3D and no live taskbar thumbnails. If that stuff means nothing to you, go with it.
Second there's Vista Home Premium. Add Flip 3D and Aero to the version above and the availability to do scheduled backups. Also you get Windows Media Player, which you don't get with Home Basic. Windows Media Center can truly can handle all your Media needs. It comes with HDTV support, Xbox 360 Center Extender compatibility (which means nothing to me as I'm not a gamer), Windows DVD Maker and Windows Movie Maker.
Third there's Vista Business. You get everything you get in the above versions, but no Windows Media Player, but you do get business features like Windows Fax and Scan, offline files and folder support and Remote Desktop. If you're a business person, then perhaps this is the version for you.
Fourth there's Vista Ultimate. With this version you get it all, the business stuff plus the media stuff.
And then there's the Upgrades, like the four versions above, they are all upgrades to the SP1 versions.
So far we have eight versions. The first four, plus the four upgrades. That's eight different prices. But wait, I'm not finished. There's four more upgrades, you can upgrade from Home Basic to Home Premium, from Business to Ultimate, from Premium to Ultimate, from Basic to Ultimate.
That's a lot to digest. Then there's still a version you can't buy, one you've got to be a Microsoft Assurance customer to get, called Windows Vista Enterprise.
That's a lot of windows in the Microsoft Operating System house, but I'm guessing there are only three versions that will be of interest to most. Vista Home Basic, because it's the cheapest. Home Premium, because you get the Aero interface and Windows Media Player, or lastly Vista Ultimate, because with this one you get it all.
I was pretty confused when I started this review and maybe I still am, a little, but I think I've got it all sorted out in my head and I'm wondering if I've been any help to you, dear reader, at all. For the money, Basic is the best deal, but me, I'd go with Home Premium or even Ultimate, because I can afford it and because it's the latest and the greatest.
Now with all that out of the way, do I like Vista? Absolutely. I've been an XP girl for way too long. I didn't upgrade straightaway when Vista first came out, because I'd heard all the horror stories. I have Vista now and I'm happy with it. Will I go back to XP? Answer, no. I've got Vista now and I'm sticking with it. | | Reviewed on 2008-04-08
I'm Pretty Impressed, So There You Go 5 Stars
I've been using Vista with SP1 for a couple weeks now on two different computers, my MacBook Pro and my iMac, both running on Bootcamp partitions and I have to say I'm pretty darned impressed.
I have lots of ram, ram to spare in both my machines, as I'm a Photoshop girl and both my machines are the latest and greatest Apple has to off, so I was good to go as far as hardware was concerned. I had no problems running the Aero eye candy and though it's no Leopard, it's quite nice. I liked the transparent window frames and I liked the minimizing and restoring effects, but again, I'm used to the Mac, so for me they were no great shakes.
I like the search box in the start menu, but I like spotlight better. Still it's very handy. The Widgets are a copy of Mac's Dashboard and Flip 3D is a copy of Expose, but then again Microsoft has been copying Apple for years.
I had to go online and download the printer driver again for my Brother printer, but that was no big deal and a couple of my Photoshop plugins had to be updated, but then I hadn't used them for awhile. I was just checking everything because of the new Vista install.
In conclusion I guess I'd say if you've got the hardware and are not a Mac person, this is a pretty good operating system and it seems stable. I know, I know, you've probably read all the same stuff I have about how Vista crashes and crashes and crashes and I've experienced plenty of crashes myself, but those problems seem to have been solved with the SP1 upgrade.
The Home Premium version I have on my MacBook hasn't crashed yet and Vista Ultimate on my iMac has only brought down my machine one time. Granted, it's early days yet, but as for now I'll say it again, I'm pretty impressed.
However there is one thing I just cannot seem to wrap my mind around. Why oh why are there so many versions of Vista. Well that bothered me with XP as well. Do you really need:
Vista Home Basic with SP1
Vista Home Premium with SP1
Vista Business with SP1
Ultimate with SP1
Vista Home Basic Upgrade with SP1
Vista Home Premium Upgrade with SP1
Vista Business Upgrade with SP1
Ultimate Upgrade with SP1
That's an awful lot of Vistas. Then there's:
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Home Basic to Home Premium]
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Business to Ultimate]
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Home Premium to Ultimate]
Vista Anytime Upgrade Pack with SP1 [Home Basic to Ultimate]
Come on, Microsoft, how about a one size fits all operating system like they do over in the Mac world. And this business about your copy protection, lighten up. Maybe some people do rip off Mr. Jobs' Leopard, you know buy it and put it on more than one machine, but how many computers can they use at a time. Yes, yes, maybe a husband and wife could be on at the same time, or one of the kiddies, but sheesh, give us a break.
I know you have to protect yourself from the hordes who want free software, but Apple's making a pretty penny with Leopard even while they trust their users, you could too.
Still, I guess I have to give all your Vistas with SP1 five stars, grudgingly, because of the way I think you do business, but I've got Vista working fine on two different computers, plus my husband has it on a couple others and we're not having major problems, so there you go, five stars.
Reviewed by Sara Hackett | |
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