Windows Vista™ Editions
The different Windows Vista editions are optimized around key audiences—consumers, small businesses, and medium and large organizations—and usage scenarios within each of these segments.

Windows Vista Business: Similar to XP Professional but designed to be more manageable and reliable this version is “… the operating system designed for organizations of all sizes” according to Microsoft and also features improved search capabilities and Tablet PC technology such has handwriting and digital pen recognition. Vista business has the data protection and security and application support businesses need. Most importantly Vista Business Edition supports business-class networking (business networking required to join a domain or login to a domain controller such as Windows Server).

Windows Vista Home Basic: The simplest version is focused on users with basic computing needs who need an easy and safe way to access their personal data, photos, emails and the internet. It includes all the basic operating system functionality such as email and web surfing, a new sidebar and parental controls, but does not include the Aero Interface.

Windows Vista Home Premium: Similar to XP Home, Home Premium Edition will probably have the broadest adoption and provides everything the Basic Edition does plus Aero plus better integrated search, Media Center capabilities (you can record/watch TV shows with the correct hardware), Tablet PC technology, and integrated DVD authoring and recording functions. Windows Vista Home Premium is the preferred edition of Windows Vista for home desktop and mobile PCs.

Windows Vista Ultimate: This edition combines all the features the other Business and Home Editions for those who need (or just want) everything! Perfect for those who work from home and need business level networking and security and home entertainment all rolled into one. Definitely the choice for Windows power users everywhere who want the "ultimate" Vista experience. 

*Notes: Vista Enterprise Edition is not sold by ASI (only sold through Software Assurance)
 
 Feature Comparison by Edition

 

Home Basic

Home Premium


Business


Ultimate

Key Features for All Users

Welcome Center

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

User Account Control

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Security Center

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Defender

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Firewall

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Internet Explorer 7 Protected Mode

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Internet Explorer 7 Fix My Settings

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Anti-phishing in Internet Explorer 7

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Anti-phishing in Windows Mail

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Update

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Service Hardening

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Performance self-tuning and hardware diagnostics

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Experience Index

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Next-generation TCP/IP stack

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

IPv6 and IPv4 support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows ReadyDrive

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ad hoc backup and recovery of user files and folders

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Scheduled backup of user files

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Backup of user files to a networked PC or device

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Incremental backup

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Automatic backup scheduling

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Complete PC Backup and Restore (image based)

 

 

Yes

Yes

Shadow Copy (restore previous versions of your documents)

 

 

Yes

Yes

Windows Vista Basic user interface

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Aero user experience (glass, dynamic windows, and a smoother-performing desktop)

 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Instant Search

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

File tagging

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Stacking and Group By View.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Internet Explorer 7 with RSS feed support, tabbed browsing, and integrated search

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

.NET Framework 3.0

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows CardSpace

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows SuperFetch

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows ReadyBoost

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

I/O prioritization

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Automatic hard disk defragmentation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

64-bit processor support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Maximum RAM supported with 32-bit system

4 GB

4 GB

4 GB

4 GB

Maximum RAM supported with 64-bit system

8 GB

16 GB

128+ GB

128+ GB

Two processors (two processor sockets) support

 

 

Yes

Yes

Years of product support

5

5

10

5

Key Features for Home Users

Windows Mail

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Calendar

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Sidebar

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Windows Photo Gallery—for organizing, editing, printing, and sharing photos and videos

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Themed slide shows

 

Yes