Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #800 in Software
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: 66I-00018
• Released on: 2007-01-30
• Platform: Windows Vista
• Format: DVD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 2.42 pounds

Features

• Windows Vista Home Prem EN, UPG DVD

Computer Shopper
Vista is far easier to use than Windows XP

Amazon.co.uk Information
By buying this product, you are still able to get Vista Service Pack 1 after installation.

Instructions:

Set Windows Update to automatically download important updates.Windows Update will download SP1 when it becomes available for your PC. To ensure Windows Update is set to Automatic:

1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.

2. In the left pane, click Change Settings.

3. Choose the option that you want.

4. Under Recommended updates, select the Include Recommended Updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box, and then click OK. Administrator Permission Required: If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Manufacturer's Description:

Windows Vista Home Premium makes finding information, staying connected, and interacting with your PC easier and more secure. Whether you use your PC for organizing and sharing photos, watching videos and TV programs, balancing your chequebook, doing homework, or listening to music, Vista Home Premium makes it easy to enjoy your computing time. An ideal operating system for homes with advanced computer needs, Vista Home Premium combines the features of Vista Home Basic with even more impressive and user-friendly capabilities. It will help you use your laptop or desktop PC more effectively as well as enable you to take advantage of cutting-edge digital entertainment experiences--all with the benefit of added security and reliability.

Windows Sidebar gives you quick access to gadgets like picture slide shows, Windows Media Player controls, or news headlines. You pick the gadgets you want to see in Windows Sidebar. View larger.	Breakthrough Windows Vista Experience Designed to help you feel confident in your ability to view, find, and organize information and to control your computing experience, all editions of Windows Vista introduce a breakthrough user experience. The visual sophistication of Windows Vista helps streamline your computing experience by refining common window elements so you can better focus on the content on the screen rather than on how to access it. The desktop experience is more informative, intuitive, and helpful. And new tools bring better clarity to the information on your computer, so you can see what your files contain without opening them, find applications and files instantly, navigate efficiently among open windows, and use wizards and dialog boxes more confidently. Innovative User Interface Vista Home Premium has a new user interface named Windows Aero, which is both efficient and visually stunning. This new interface makes it easier than ever before to find your way around the operating system; it even makes it a snap to accomplish multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all of your open applications and documents. Additionally, Vista Home Premium helps you quickly find and organize large collections of documents, pictures, movies, videos, and music. By integrating search throughout the operating system, this software helps you quickly find exactly what you are looking for. Improved Mobility Vista Home Premium makes it easy to take your home computing experience with you wherever you go. For example, the system includes Windows Tablet and Touch Technology that enables you to interact with your Tablet PC-compatible computer with a digital pen or your fingertip instead of having to use a keyboard. Computers that include Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. You'll even be able to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect to your favourite Wi-Fi hotspot. More Entertainment Options Vista Home Premium has the power to improve every aspect of your digital entertainment experiences, including viewing and sharing photos, video, TV, movies, music, games, and more. For example, you can create your own DVDs and edit your own high-definition movies. The most exciting news, however, is that Vista Home Premium includes all of the Windows Media Centre capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment centre so you can enjoy your music, photos, and DVD movies. You can also use Windows Media Centre to record and watch your favourite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. You will also be able to connect Windows Vista Home Premium to your Microsoft Xbox 360 to extend your Media Centre experience to multiple rooms in your home.	Compare Windows Vista editions. Use Instant Search to quickly find the information you need. View larger. Windows Vista Aero provides spectacular visual effects such as glass-like interface elements that you can see through.
Use Flip 3D to navigate through open windows using the scroll wheel on your mouse. View larger.
The redesigned Windows Media Centre in Windows Vista lets you enjoy your media throughout your home, even on your Xbox 360. View larger.

Customer Reviews

Vista, wait for 9 months but then buy it!
I am one of those early adopters of OS's but have learned from Windows 3.1 / 98 / 2000 / XP to tread carefully when its time to upgrade so I loaded my Vista HP on a seperate Hard drive allowing me to dual boot and keep using XP while I found out how to use Vista. There have been a number of times I've thought of dumping the harddrive in the bin, and others where I've wanted to pull my hair out, but 2 weeks later Vista runs perfectly and quickly too. Beware though, if you belong to the "Why should I buy a new version of Word / Outlook etc when my existing one works perfectly well" brigade then anything pre 2003 will struggle with Vista. Outlook 2002 won't save passwords and Old MS Money won't either. Still expecting backward compatability for ever is a bit optimistic. Overall though I love Vista, but I'm a PC expert and had I been a novice I would have bought a new PC by now. My advice is wait until all the hardware and software manufacturers release their drivers / patches for Vista then upgrade, but first use the downloadable Vista checker to see what hardware or software problems you need to sort out PRIOR to upgrading. Give it 9 months and stick it on your Christmas list.

Hold Off Buying This - At Least For A While
Anyone considering upgrading their existing PC to Windows Vista should wait at least six months before doing so.

Having bought the upgrade on launch day, I am still endeavouring to get it fully functioning. Considering that Vista is over two years late in being released, I am staggered at the number of companies who have yet to provide updated drivers for their hardware components. Creative, HP, Dell and Logitech to name but a few have yet to have finished versions for all but their newest hardware and whilst ATI have released drivers, they appear very basic and have obviously been rushed out as a temporary measure.

Don't think you can install all your existing programs either, many will fall foul of the new User Access Control feature whose sole purpose seems to want to prevent you running anything not written by Microsoft!

I am now seriously considering reinstalling Windows XP until the world's component manufacturers get their act together.

All in all, a very disappointing upgrading experience.

More hype than The Sun
This product has perhaps been the biggest exercise in over-marketing this century! [...] I recently bought a laptop with Vista installed, and have had compatibility nightmares ever since, virtually all my hardware had some niggling problem tying in with the OS, many of these problems which I would have easily fixed in XP. Maybe I am being unduly dismissive, but I have as yet found NO advantage in the new system, and I certainly would not upgrade my main PC unless a great deal of the problems are to be ironed out. Certainly would not recommend for self built computers.