---
layout: post
status: publish
published: true
title: Is Vista Home Basic enough?
author:
display_name: ''
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wordpress_id: 476
wordpress_url: http://blog.10ninox.com/2009/02/27/is-vista-home-basic-enough/
date: '2009-02-27 13:55:19 +0700'
date_gmt: '2009-02-27 18:55:19 +0700'
categories:
- Vista
tags: []
---
One of the most requests in Windows 7 blog is to eliminate the least popular version – less features version. In the past, I had used Windows XP Home all the time and I had no single issue with it. No remote connection? No sort of professional utilities? Not an issue for me. It’s probably I didn’t play with network or things much. However, in Vista, Home Basic version is cut off the most eye-candy feature—Aero interface—out. What else has been cut off? Remote connection, Windows Media Center, tablet PC feature, domain network, Virtualization, encryption, and bla bla bla are not what regular folks use (or even know if they are existed) anyway.
To see what Vista Home Basic has; pretty basic interface, system restore (w/o shadow copy service) and backup and restore center (w/o network capability). Missing Windows Media Center can be easily fixed by installing ffmpeg codec or using VLC. Therefore, only real missing feature is Aero!
Well, after talking of only what we miss, is there anything we gain using Vista Home Basic? Yes! there is at least one—energy-wise. The basic interface really shines when using on the battery. About at least a watt less than Aero interface. No gain, no pain, huh? My GF who has Vista Home Basic on her Thinkpad won’t allow me to install left over Vista Ultimate license on because she doesn’t think that she would get any better (performance-wise) She has all she needs; that’s what she claims.
If you don’t care much about transparent window border, Vista Home Basic is enough for you absolutely and so far I don’t see any reason cutting out affordable/cheap version. Just please make it cheap enough for 3rd world countries, hey! $100 in Thailand is almost 4-week paycheck for non-degree folks, if you like to know.
Reference: Below is what Home Basic misses. [Full comparison matrix at mydigitallife.info]
| Feature |
Home Basic |
Home Premium |
Business |
Enterprise |
Ultimate |
| Themed Slide Shows |
|
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
| Windows Media Center with CableCard support |
|
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
| Windows DVD Maker |
|
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
| Windows Movie Maker HD |
|
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
| Scheduled Backup of User Files |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Backup User Files to Network Device |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Network Projection |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Presentation Settings |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| PC to PC Sync |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Aero User Interface with Glass |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows ShadowCopy |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows SideShow |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Tablet PC Features |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| New Premium Games |
|
Yes |
Yes* |
Yes* |
Yes |
| Administrator Control Over Installation of Device Drivers |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Centralized Power Management through Group Policy |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Client-Side Caching |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Complete System Image-based Backup and Recovery |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Dual (2) Processors (Sockets) Support |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Desktop Deployment Tools for Managed Networks |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Domain Join for Windows Server |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Encrypting File System |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Folder Redirection |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Group Policy Support |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Integrated Smart Card management |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Network Access Protection Client Agent |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Offline Files and Folder Support |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Pluggable Logon Authentication Architecture |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Policy-based Quality of Service (QoS) for Networking |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Previous Versions |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Roaming User Profiles |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Virtual PC Express |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) Client |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Wireless network provisioning |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Fax and Scan |
|
|
Yes |
Yes* |
Yes* |
| Internet Information Server |
|
|
Yes* |
Yes* |
Yes* |
| All 35 Worldwide User Interface Languages Available |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Support for Simultaneous Installation of Multiple User Interface Languages |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Ultimate Extras |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
| Windows Anytime Upgrade |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
| Remote Desktop |
Client Only |
Client Only |
Host & Client |
Host & Client |
Host & Client |
| Simultaneous SMB peer network connections |
5 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
| Maximum RAM supported with 32-bit processor-based system |
4GB |
4GB |
4GB |
4GB |
4GB |
| Maximum RAM supported with 64-bit processor-based system |
8GB |
16GB |
128+GB |
128+GB |
128+GB |