Product Description

WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE SP1 DVD NA DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #501 in Software
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: 66R-02261
• Released on: 2008-03-19
• Platform: Windows Vista
• Format: DVD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 5.20" h x 7.50" w x 1.60" l, .75 pounds

Features

• Mobility-based operating system meets all your computing needs whether you're working from home, working on the road, or searching for entertainment options
• Combines all the features of a business-focused operating system, all the efficiency features of a mobility-focused operating system, and all of the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system
• Remotely connect to business networks; Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption provides improved levels of protection against theft for your important business data whether you are at home, on the road, or in the office
• Delivers all of the entertainment features available in Windows Vista Home Premium; includes everything you need to enjoy the latest in digital photography, music, movies, analog TV, or even HDTV
• Ideal for both business and home entertainment use

Amazon.com
Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 is the choice for those who want to have it all. Easily shift between the worlds of productivity and play with the most complete edition of Windows Vista. Ultimate provides the power, security, and mobility features needed for work, and all the entertainment features that you want for fun.

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.

The redesigned Windows Media Center in Windows Vista lets you enjoy your media throughout your home, even on your Xbox 360. View larger.

Improved Reliability and Performance
Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and improvements delivered by hardware and software partners increase the reliability, performance, and compatibility of Windows Vista-based PCs.

With Windows Vista with SP1, many of the most common causes of operating system crashes and hangs have been addressed. Windows Vista includes new, innovative technologies that help pinpoint and diagnose issues reported anonymously by Windows Vista-based PCs from millions of users who have elected to have their PC send us system information.

Windows Vista with SP1 supports a number of important new technology standards, so it will keep making your PC easier and more enjoyable to use for years to come.

The most complete edition of Windows Vista--with the power, security, and mobility features that you need for work, and all of the entertainment features that you want for fun
When you want to have it all, including the ability to shift smoothly between the worlds of play and productivity, there's Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1. You'll never have to worry about having the most advanced capabilitiesÑthey're all here. This edition of Windows Vista offers an advanced, business-focused infrastructure, mobile productivity, and a premium home digital entertainment experience, all in a single offering.

Specifically, Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Home Premium, including Windows Media Center, Windows Movie Maker with high-definition support, and Windows DVD Maker. It also offers all of the features found in Windows Vista Business, including business networking, centralized management tools, and advanced system backup features. And Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 has all of the new security and data protection features that help take Windows Vista to a whole new level of dependability.

In addition, Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 includes support for all of the new mobility features in Windows Vista, including Windows Tablet and Touch Technology, Windows SideShow, Windows Mobility Center, and other new, advanced mobility features.

Exclusive to Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 are Windows Ultimate Extras. Windows Ultimate Extras are add-ons that extend certain capabilities of your operating system or just make using your PC more fun. Windows Ultimate Extras currently available include:

• Windows DreamScene, an Extra that enables you to use looped, full-motion video as your desktop wallpaper instead of a static image
• Windows Hold'em, a poker game for players of all skill levels
• Language packs for Windows multi-language interface, where users can install and use multiple languages on a single PC. Great for multi-lingual households or if you are learning a new language.
• Secure Online Key Backup, where Ultimate users can store their BitLocker recovery password and Encrypting File System certificate on Windows Marketplace's Digital Locker website for access to the key anytime, anyplace, and from any computer that has an Internet connection
• BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool, an automated tool which removes the complexity of setting up your PC to use this exclusive data security feature.

Whenever a new Windows Ultimate Extra is ready for distribution by Microsoft, you will see the Ultimate Extra control panel inform you that there are new extras to download. Simply download and install the Extras and begin enjoying these exclusive software and services that give your Windows Vista experience an extra lift!

If you want a single PC that fulfills all of your work, travel, and entertainment needs, or if you simply want to be confident that you have the very best, Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 is the no-compromise edition for you.

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.

Use Flip 3D to navigate through open windows using the scroll wheel on your mouse. View larger.

Safety
Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 helps protect your family and your personal information from threats from malicious software and phishing scams and helps you keep your PC backed-up and running smoothly.

Parental Controls help parents keep children safer while using PCs through convenient tools to manage and monitor children's computer use, access to websites, and ability to play certain games and use certain applications.

PCs running Windows Vista are 60% less likely to be infected with viruses, worms and rootkits than PCs running Windows XP SP2.

Windows Internet Explorer 7 helps protect your PC and your personal information against malicious software, fraudulent websites, and online phishing scams. New phishing attacks are more than 25 times as common as new viruses, and over 20,000 fraudulent phishing websites are created every month. Internet Explorer 7 is now blocking nearly one million inadvertent attempts to access fake phishing sites per week.

Help defend your PC against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software with Windows Defender. Windows Defender in Windows Vista automatically scans Internet Explorer 7 downloads to help bring spyware to your attention before it can infect your computer.

More easily back-up the content on your PC--including digital photos, music, movies, and documents--with Scheduled and Network Backup.

If you have serious PC problems, Complete PC Backup and Restore makes it easier to restore your PC by not only backing up all your files, but also the entire operating system and all of your applications.

Help ensure that the data on your computer stays confidential, even if your PC is lost or stolen. windows BitLocker Drive Encryption provides full-volume encryption and boot integrity monitoring (alerting you if someone has tampered with your PC).

Entertainment
Windows Vista with SP1 is more entertaining. With Windows Media Center, you can enjoy your digital photos and music on your TV as well as on your PC. And it can turn your PC into a digital video recorder, so you can record TV and watch it on your schedule, not theirs.

Sit back and enjoy recorded TV, photos, music, home videos, games and DVDs from the comfort of your couch with Windows Media Center.

Access and project your TV, music, photos, and movies to any room in your house using an Xbox 360 console connected to your wired or wireless home network. It's like having your Media Center PC wherever you have an Xbox 360!

Author and burn movies, photos, and music to DVDs you can play on your PC or a DVD player with Windows DVD Maker.

Live the game! It's easier for you to find, play, and manage your games with GAMES EXPLORER. Games Explorer provides detailed information including when you last played, game genre, and rating of your games. With DirectX 10, play vivid and engaging games with unrivalled realism. Also, use the same game controller with both your PC and your Xbox 360 system.

Ease
It's easier and faster than ever to find, use, manage and share the information on your PC or on the Web with Windows Vista with SP1.

Most Windows Vista-based PCs boot in less than a minute, which can be an improvement over Windows XP boot times.

The Windows Vista sleep and resume features can bring your PC to life in a snap. The vast majority of Windows Vista-based PCs resume from sleep in less than six seconds.

See everything you're working on more clearly with Windows Aero and quickly switch between windows or tasks using Windows Flip 3D.

Find it fast! Simply type something about a file, picture, or song, such as a word contained in a document or e-mail message, the artist of a song, or the date a picture was taken, and Instant Search will bring back any matches instantly.

Organize a lifetime of photos and movies with ease using Windows Photo Gallery. Tag your photos by date, keyword, star rating or any identifying label you choose--so you can find them anytime you want them.

Display live information, like weather, stocks, and news, directly on your desktop with easy-to-use Gadgets and Windows Sidebar.

View multiple web pages simultaneously with Quick Tabs in Windows Internet Explorer 7.

Get up and running faster than ever with Windows Easy Transfer that automatically copies your files and settings from your old PC.

Mobility
With special features to help you go mobile, Windows Vista with SP1 makes computing and connecting away from home or the office easier than ever.

Work the way you want with touch and digital input and handwriting. Tablet and Touch Technology makes your notebook PC experience truly personal.

Set up a wireless network at home with Network and Sharing Center--so you can experience the freedom of working virtually anywhere in your home. Then easily find and join a wireless network at your favorite hotspot--so you can stay productive wherever you go.

Optimize your power and mobil settings centrally with Windows Mobility Center.

Easily sync and manage your music, contacts and pictures across your devices and other PCs with Sync Center.

Share your desktop or any program with Windows Meeting Space. Co-edit documents, and pass notes in class, a favorite hotspot, or where no network exists.

Customer Reviews

Works with Mac
I was mostly interested in having Vista work on my Macbook Pro using Bootcamp. There are some programs (visio) that do not have a Macintosh program, and I wanted to find out if Vista would work well or not. It does, and installation was a breeze. I know some people don't like Vista, but I have to say it work perfectly well on my Macbook Pro. All applications work, it saw and used my three printers, and networking (wireless) was perfect.

Vista Ultimate vs. Retestrak XP

First, you need to know a few things about me before reading this review:

1. I'm a novelist and a screenwriter living and working in Los Angeles. Most of my education is in Computer Sciences and English.
2. I do not now and have never worked for Microsoft or any sub-contractor thereof.
3. I did not purchase my copy of Windows Vista Ultimate. I was offered it free of charge due to membership in Amazon Vine. Every month I'm offered numerous items to review and this month, I selected this product.
4. My first computer was a Sinclair "Zed" X-81. Nuff said.

I'm not going to write the usual benefit bloated review of this product. There are large quantities of MS Shills and MS Stooges on Amazon leaving phony reviews in praise of this product and other products by Microsoft, and they are all annoying and as bloated as the programs they praise. There are also enough MS Haters reviewing as well, just to be fair.

Most people are here for two reasons:

1. They are on the verge of buying this product and are probably ready to let go of XP.
2. They already own this product and are looking for some insight.

This is a key point. I'm not going to tell you how great this product is, you can go anywhere for that, or just read the package. I'm going to do my best in telling you how to optimize this product for best results so that it's effective for the rest of us, including our not-so-windows savvy parents, that way you can feel better about purchasing or not purchasing - which is the point of Amazon reviews anyhow.

My Machine ...

For the last handful of years, and I wont give a length of time on this, due to a probable lawsuit; but I've been running what's commonly known as Retestrak XP on one of my machines. Google it. It's a pretty sophisticated piece of OS for users wishing to remain "off the grid". The serial code is one of those FCKGW codes that was probably intended to be a political statement, but turned out to be the most populated serial code of all time, and probably the biggest nightmare for Microsoft as well.

Supposedly, Retestrak is a pirate version of Windows XP that does not dial home to Redmond, it's been modified to run faster and it installs with everything you need to operate including antivirus and firewalls. It's been pretty interesting and problem free using it, and it's a shame MS can't seem to take a que from the European Programmer that Frankenstein'd the thing together because it's pretty awesome and has a lot of underground support, much like Linux. If I start getting hate mail from Sniper's Redemption Network, the author, then I may go into hiding. Someone's going to say I'm insane for admitting my use of Retestrak, but whatever. To quote Humphrey Bogart: "I left a note in my apartment, they'll know where to find me."

In the first comment, I've left my Machine stats below to see for benchmark and comparison.

I tell you this history, so you can understand the machine I'm putting Vista on and my reluctance to run a MS OS unchecked. Like most people, I don't trust Microsoft ... and rightly so. I have several other machines at the house, my laptop runs Vista Home ( a Dell), one's a Mac and another still has Windows 2000 on it (a very nice OS) , and all are registered.

The Install ...

First - unplug all your external hard-drives, flash card readers, what have you. If you want to chance leaving your printer connected, go for it, but you may be playing with fire by doing so. I would say unplug everything but your keyboard, monitor and mouse. I say this because your equipment might be old and Vista may not have the driver, thus causing problems during the install * even if it already said you're fine.

Second - Nobody but a fool would recommend doing an upgrade. If you're going to install this thing, do it right and do a full install.

Third - if you're worried about losing information from your old OS, then let me say a few things here:

Go buy an External Hard Drive and keep everything personal on it.
Buy two if you believe in redundancy as I do.
Never put anything but the Operating System on the C drive.
Never put anything but the Operating System on the C drive.
Never put anything but the Operating System on the C drive.
Do not partition your C drive.
Do not let other people tell you to partition your C drive.
Do not run multiple Operating Systems one drive.
Back up all your files elsewhere. Don't EVER use a backup program. It's tedious and a waste of resources.

Now, back to the program ...

The Installation process was relatively painless. After checking my computer with the Vista Upgrade tool, which has to be downloaded, everything but my wireless Belkin transmitter would apparently survive the installation. Above, in the pictures section I've left a few screenshots for anyone curious to see what this Vista Checker looks like and what it found.

Surprisingly, the installation was only 46 minutes in total from having control of my machine - to having control of my machine again. It rebooted a total of four times at 25 minutes, 33, 37 and 40 minutes, respectively. I wasn't too put out about the time I spent, as all I missed was another late-night Cold Case re-run. Vista does want to fine tune itself after it's all said and done - which was annoying and then it "must prepare the desktop". What is that, like a turndown service at a hotel? I could've done with out all the delay. But overall, it wasn't bad. No crashes, no blue screens and no lock-ups. Microsoft must have also taken a hint about all the annoying nag prompt boxes, as I didn't encounter a single one, not even once I got on the internet.

Boot time ...

Here are some records I kept to benchmark the basics of the two Operating Systems. I'm comparing Vista against Restestrak XP as I believe this is really, the only true test worth running ...

Retestrak Boot Time: 1:08 secs (fully operational - HDD quiet)
Retestrak Shut Down Time: 0:21 secs (completely off)

Vista Ultimate Boot Time: 2:10 secs (fully operational - HDD quiet)
Vista Ultimate Shut Down Time: 0:08 secs (completely off)

After adjusting services.msc, I got the boot time down to 1:48 seconds. Please keep in mind that the boot time for Vista reflects a fresh install, while my Restestrak XP had about 40 programs installed. Over time, you may experience a longer boot-time with the more programs you add. Please see msconfig below for improvement.

Retestrak XP Program Benchmarks:
MS Word / Ms Office 2003 - 1 Second
Adobe Photoshop 7.0 - 4 Seconds
Adobe Photoshop CS3 - 7 Seconds

Vista Ultimate Benchmarks:
MS Word / Ms Office 2003 - 15 Seconds
Adobe Photoshop 7.0 - 12 Seconds
Adobe Photoshop CS3 - 16 Seconds


Services.msc ...

This is the first stop of places to visit once you're up and running. To activate the panel, click start and then type SERVICES.MSC in the start search box at the bottom, which is the equivalent of the Run Prompt and Search from XP and beyond. They've finally combined it.

When the box pops open you can then make the needed adjustments which will improve the ability of your system dramatically. I have listed the basic settings/ adjustments that I have chosen for each instance in the comments section below in the second comment. I have listed only some of what you will see within services. Some people recommend disabling everything and turning your computer back to the stone ages. These options cover a few glaring security issues, memory and CPU drains and processes that are just outright unnecessary for just about everyone. I've left Vista's functionality, firewall and visual effects alone as those can be manipulated elsewhere.

A quick search of the internet will put you in touch with a lot of advice about managing your services. I say to err on the side of caution and if want to turn a lot more of these things off, then turn them to the manual setting instead of disabled; that way they'll come on when needed. But be careful and read up, as you're trudging in murky waters adjusting any more of these things than I suggest in the post.

Msconfig ...

Going back to the Start menu and the search box, you will then type msconfig and hit enter. Once the System configuration box pops up, click on the start-up tab. If you look down the list of items, you'll see every program that automatically starts up when you power on. Note, these programs come on whether you need them or not and most of the time - you don't need any of them. The best thing to do is to uncheck anything that says:
iTunes, Apple, Adobe, Dell support, Ecenter, Google Desktop, Java, Nero, Quicktime, ... whatever. These programs will all come on when you decide you want them, instead of hanging around in the background hogging up memory for no apparent reason. Just Google anything that you're unsure of, and you'll get a quick answer.

Please be advised, that the advice I give in this review is information from tweaking Microsoft's Operating Systems for about the last decade. This review and information below is intended for the general user and not the die-hard gamer or C++ Programmer. Those folks will probably have an even tighter and faster running machine than my own. This review may take a lot of negative votes and may receive a lot of negative comments, but I would suggest that you take all of it with a grain of salt as the whole world typically wants to express themselves, and everyone's opinion differs, especially when it comes to Microsoft and computers in general.


And please, understand that you are using these suggestions at your own risk.

Conclusion ...

I would suggest anyone thinking of switching to Vista to make sure that you have at least two Gigabytes of Memory and a relatively new processor. Anything below 2 Gigabytes will give you sluggish performance no matter what. And don't be too hard on Microsoft about this OS being a memory hog, as most OS's from now on will probably be bigger, more bloated and require more memory to run. It's the wave of the future, accept it.

I've given Vista Ultimate 4 stars instead of 5 for the following reasons:

1. It's still slow doing tasks, opening certain programs and multitasking, even with 2 GB of RAM Memory.
2. The OS is bloated and should install with all the cool junk turned off. Microsoft should've already come up with an easy to use instrument panel which turns features on and off.
3. MS Live OneCare should've been built into the OS, instead of trying to nickel and dime the customer to death. At the amount of money they want, the absence of real protection, Virus and spyware control is incredibly questionable.

Other than that, it seems like a vast improvement over it's predecessor. If I could replace my Vista Home edition with Vista Ultimate, I would.

EDIT: One Week Later ...

After using the OS for about a week, I wanted to report on a few developments.

1. I did begin to experience the prompt screens that everyone talks about once I configured my internet.

2. After I did configure the internet, Microsoft Vista actually scanned my computer, knew which drivers I needed from my ATI Video Card, to the Motherboard and my Belkin Wireless adapter ... and then retireved them and installed them, with no effort on my part at all. very cool. About time you guys.

3. The Vista Dreamscape download is an extra but animates the desktop and is pretty cool.

4. I was able to fully customize my boot sequence and other operations to streamline the OS for booting and memory optimization with no problems.

5. Having never used Windows Media Center before, I gave it a chance and I'm really impressed by it and the Photo Gallery. I typically use iTunes and Picasa ... but who knows, in time I may migrate.

6. Vista put my old OS into a folder called windows.old, and from it I was able to extract or retrieve anything I needed after the installation which was a benefit. After I deleted it, I recovered about 10 gigs.

It seems that MS may have worked out the majority of the early OS kinks that accompanied the previous version. Not bad.

This OS is just as good as XP if not better.

Gift Horse in the Mouth
Wow, said I the day Amazon offered Vista through the Amazon Vine program. Microsoft must really want to negate the bad publicity about Vista really, really bad if they're willing to give it to Amazon reviewers. Sign me up, says I, after all, if they want reviews this intently, they must be sending out a new, improved and bug-free version, eh?

Not so fast, says my IT professional room-mate. These have a nasty reputation...and I don't know if I can repair the damage it may cause. But little old me was insistent, figuring (again) that if Microsoft was fishing for positive reviews, they must have this disc polished, shiny and flawless. My IT partner again warns me to think twice, then agrees to back up my system in case his prophecies come to pass.

In short, I should have listened to him. If you want to install Vista on your old computer, be prepared for some serious headaches. While my copy loaded into my system in less than an hour, the problems began mounting almost immediately after. To begin with, as most reviews point out, there is the very time-consuming process of authorizing all the old software on your computer to work with the new OS. Much of my old stuff simply got rejected...including my printer. Too old for these new-fangled improved systems, it seems. Then came the real deal killer. My old Office refused to perform. Yes, if I really wanted to, I could throw a couple hundred dollars on the NEW Microsoft Office (as the pop-up quickly informed me). Hell, no, says I and continue seeing what else would happen.

Then up pops another refusal. My old adobe photoshop, loyal and working perfectly since 1999 is outmoded for this OS. Phooey, says I. So that is two old but useful programs - disappeared. Then it says it won't recognize my DVD player. I manage to find a way around this, but the following day when I attempt to boot up, the same issue. It keeps saying no DVD player. At this point, it was strike three and you're outta here.

I tucked my tail between my legs and approached my IT partner who gave me a big shot of "I told you so" with a "why did you not listen to me in the first place" chaser, and he switched out the hard drive with the back up he so kindly made two days earlier. Everything works again, DVD's play, my manuscripts are all visible and my picture editing is all in place. Buyer, beware. Unless you happen to have a geek on the grounds who can fix your Puck-ufs, get VISTA pre-installed on a new computer, only. But trying to re-fit years of collected works? Better have a full bottle of aspirin at the work desk. You're gonna need it.

On the plus side, it looks terrific. That being the ONLY positive experience I had with this lumpadung, I guess I can't recommend it.