Microsoft Windows Vista is more than 12 months old but still there are many Windows users who have not decided for upgrading yet. You are hearing every corner in internet about Windows Vista’s hardware and software incompatibility and especially Vista 64-bit edition. In this article I like to explain better the versions and features of Windows Vista and clear this question why you should upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista and if you have a CPU with a 64-bit extension then you should upgrade to Vista 64-bit.

As we know Windows XP is only in two different versions “Home and Professional Editions”. Microsoft decided to produce more variable versions for Windows Vista.

Windows Vista has been developed the following versions:

1.    Vista Starter

2.    Vista Home Basic

3.    Vista Home Premium

4.    Vista Business

5.    Vista Enterprise

6.    Vista Ultimate

7.    Vista Home Basic N (For Europe countries without Windows Media player)

8.    Vista Business N (For Europe countries without Windows Media player)

All 8 different versions are available with 64-bit extension too. That means that Microsoft has created 16 different Windows Vistas in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

Except Windows Vista Home Basic N and Vista Business N, you can find all other versions in the U.S. market. The Starter edition of Vista is only available for all developing and emerging countries with a volume licensing agreements.

Anytime Upgrade: Switch to a higher version after purchase

With Windows Vista, Microsoft grapples for first time all versions of its operating system Vista on a single DVD. Technically, this is not a problem, because it is different manifestations of the same underlying architecture.

The license keys decide which version should be installed on hard drive. The feature “Upgrade Windows Anytime” offers the possibility that you can upgrade your purchased Vista later at a higher version.

Home Basic can be upgrade to Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate. And the Home Premium and Business edition can be upgraded to the Ultimate version. Microsoft doesn´t support other upgrade variations. If you like to upgrade from Home Basic to Vista Business, you have to buy a new license of Windows Vista and it will cost more than upgrading.

Vista versions in Brief overviews

There is irritation with Windows Vista Versions. People ask always which version they should take and the most important question is what the difference between all these Vista versions is? Below are the main differences between the various Windows Vista versions.

Windows Vista Starter Edition

This version of Windows Vista is produced for developed countries and it is available only with a volume licensing agreements.

Windows Vista Home Basic

The basic version provides only the basic version of the new transparent Aero interface. In this version you cannot see any of Live Previews of open applications on the taskbar, lush animation and transparent framework. Backup capabilities are remain limited, and the Media Center and the Tablet PC components are missing.

Windows Vista Home Premium

Windows Vista Home Premium is oriented at the home users. You can find the new Aero interface, DVD playback, as well as Tablet PC and Media Center functions in this Vista edition. The Movie Maker also comes with the HD functionality.

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista business edition is thought for the smaller companies with a small OS network. It comes without the Media Center, but offers security features such as disk encryption and Network Access Protection.

Windows Vista Enterprise

This version is only available as part of a volume license and offers in comparison with business edition some additional functions and features. This includes Bitlocker function, which offers a particularly secure encryption of the hard drive using TPM-Chips, and it supports 36 different languages. It is a worldwide rollout of the same image. The Enterprise version is thought only for big companies.

Windows Vista Ultimate

All features for Windows Vista versions are combined in the Ultimate edition. That means if you purchase Vista Ultimate then you will get all Vista’s functionality in one packet.

Microsoft offers too many new features in Windows Vista and all features are separated in many different versions. You should know your Windows Usage and hardware, which you have in your PC before you purchase a Vista version. If you are a normal Windows user who usually wants to read his emails, to visit his favorite websites and to organize his photos and movies, then Windows Vista Home Premium will be a good decision.

But if you know you need more security for your online banking, internet surfing and etc. then you should purchase Windows Vista Ultimate because you do not have to be worried about losing your files, being attacked by hackers and many other security issues.

It is the first step to find out what you usually do with your computer. The next step is to find out if your hardware support Vista’s interface. You could be very disappointed if your hardware cannot be used with Windows Vista. For your security Microsoft has developed software which can show you exactly if your computer is Vista ready or not. You can find it easy at Microsoft.com.

If you like to have more security, reliability then you should decide for Windows Vista 64-bit edition. Because of 64-bit extension you will get more security, more performance and more reliability. But you should really know the exact information about your hardware and especially your CPU. If you know that your processor supports the 64-bit extension, then go for Windows Vista 64-bit edition.

I hope I could clear for your very simple which Vista version is good for you and with extension you should take. If you ask me, you should purchase your Windows Vista 32-bit edition, then anytime you will be able to get 64-bit edition for free by Microsoft. With 32-bit version you are sure that all your software, hardware and drivers can be used without any problem.