Whats the difference in Win7 versions?

[Mini-Me]

As per thread title, what actually are the major differences between all the different versions?

I would also like to know what the difference is between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions - is it just that the 64-bit version can handle huge RAM and HDD volumes, or are there other advantages to the 64-bit versions?

[PrntRhd]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...mpare?T1=tab20

The Starter version you would likely never see unless you were in a developing country.
Home premium is ok for home users.
Pro allows joining Domains for business, encrypted drives, granulated network file sharing and backups on a network, Remote Desktop, and Windows XP mode.
Ultimate allows 35 languages, bit locker security.

You can do Live Upgrades within 32 bit offerings and within 64 bit offerings to any version. Just pay MS for the correct license application and they give you the code for that version.

[Paul Komski]

The Starter version you would likely never see unless you were in a developing country.

I have seen some sort of Starter edition on Netbooks. There is supposed to be some limitation as to the number of applications that can run simultaneously on that version but the last one that went through my hands and which was a Samsung bought via Amazon.co.uk (noting that I bumped up the RAM from 1 to 2 GB) seemed to run multiple apps perfectly OK.

[azzey]

I've seen Started on some Dell netbooks as well

[Mini-Me]

Yeah, starter is on all the netbooks available here in NZ too.(the cheaper ones)

[LochLomonder]

I don't know why home users would go for anything more than the Home Premium version. After all, how many people use the added features in the other versions?

[jolly17]

There is also a difference in MS support time for different versions.

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14498
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14481
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=14484

Don't know if you care about such things, but there you go.

[michaelc]

Different versions can work most compatible with different set of hardware. To use your hardware efficiently, you should choose the right one.

It is said that for 4 GB ram or more=>64 bit