Windows Ultimate Targets "Enthusiasts" but Offers Few Extra Features

[Apt403]

Three of the features -- BranchCache, Enterprise Search, and DirectAccess are geared for specialized enterprise applications. In other words most home users, even those who run medium-size personal networks, will find these of little use. The three most publicly touted features are a full language pack, which includes support for 35 languages, Microsoft Bitlocker, and AppLocker. The first feature seems possibly useful, but it’s questionable why Microsoft didn't just include it in all the editions. Bitlocker and AppLocker on the other hand, are little used features from Vista Ultimate which even the most avid Vista Ultimate users would have trouble recalling.

Finally, there's Virtual Desktop Interface and Virtual Hard Drive Booting, two little-touted features that comprise the only real meat that the OS might have for a limited crowd of home users. The Virtual Hard Drive booting in particular might come in handy as it provides a way to make multi-boot Windows 7 systems using a VHD image with Windows 7 on it. However, be warned, VHD installs of Windows 7 lack many useful features such as the ability to hibernate.

DailyTech - Windows Ultimate Targets "Enthusiasts" but Offers Few Extra Features

[Apt403]

M$ is marketing this as the "enthusiast" version of Windows 7, but I don't think adding MORE software to an OS is what true enthusiasts want...

If Microsoft really wanted to market an enthusiast version, they should just take the Server Core version of Sever 2008, add a stripped down version of explorer, and then proceed to cut down and optimize the OS as much as possibly for performance... I mean, that's what an overclocker or bencher is going to want, not 35 different languages...

I dunno, it's more of an inaccuracy in the wording than the target market, at least hopefully... If M$ is that out of touch with reality, I'm going to stay in my room until I get DirectX running natively on Linux, and I'm going to run as far away from the 'Soft as possible.

[ColonelCain]

M$ is marketing this as the "enthusiast" version of Windows 7, but I don't think adding MORE software to an OS is what true enthusiasts want...

If Microsoft really wanted to market an enthusiast version, they should just take the Server Core version of Sever 2008, add a stripped down version of explorer, and then proceed to cut down and optimize the OS as much as possibly for performance... I mean, that's what an overclocker or bencher is going to want, not 35 different languages...

I dunno, it's more of an inaccuracy in the wording than the target market, at least hopefully... If M$ is that out of touch with reality, I'm going to stay in my room until I get DirectX running natively on Linux, and I'm going to run as far away from the 'Soft as possible.

I agree, this is more of the "E-peen" version of 7.

[YMAA]

I think we're misinterpreting what MS considers an enthusiast. We pride ourselves on lean, mean Windows installations that don't get in the way of our OCed hardware.

I think that MS believes an enthusiast wants everything at once from their computer, which is what they include with their enthusiast class OS. Not to worry though...shortly after Windows 7 comes out we'll have a tool like vLite. 7Lite maybe?

[BaldEagle]

I think we're misinterpreting what MS considers an enthusiast. We pride ourselves on lean, mean Windows installations that don't get in the way of our OCed hardware.

I think that MS believes an enthusiast wants everything at once from their computer, which is what they include with their enthusiast class OS. Not to worry though...shortly after Windows 7 comes out we'll have a tool like vLite. 7Lite maybe?

MS considers an "enthusiast" anyone who will buy something for a premium because it's new and expensive which is pretty much the same definition Apple uses.

[Apt403]

MS considers an "enthusiast" anyone who will buy something for a premium because it's new and expensive which is pretty much the same definition Apple uses.

Well, it's true for hardware, at least partially. I mean, shiny, new, most likely as a premium.. Sounds like any Asus ROG mobo. Although there's actually a point to paying the premium in that case...

When it comes to software... Yeah, pretty much vLite and anything with a keygen included comes to mind...

[Sailer]

The one and only reason I'll probably get Ultimate is the language pack. Otherwise, I could care less and would get the Professional version. Wish M$ would make the language pack part of the Profession, as that is something that is useful to professionals. But maybe doing that would require some thinking on the part of M$, thinking, that is, about real needs instead of how much money they can get away with charging.

[YMAA]

Sounds like any Asus ROG mobo. Although there's actually a point to paying the premium in that case...

I haven't used half the features on a Deluxe motherboard, let alone the ROG version. The ROG series boards don't provide that much better OCing generally speaking, the P45 series especially. The Maximus II Formula overclocked no better than the P5Q-Deluxe, which costed significantly less.

The only exception I'm aware of to the "ROG Boards Clock No Better Than Their Little Brothers" rule is the Rampage Extreme (X48 DDR3). I don't know what they did to that board to make it so much better than the P5E3-Deluxe, but the RE still holds numerous FSB world records and usurped the ASUX Commando as the best Wolfdale SuperPi benching board. The Maximus Formula was also better than the P5E-Deluxe, but the difference between them wasn't as great as P5E3 to RE.