System Requirements

• Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium require a PC with at least an 800 MHz processor, 512 MB of system RAM, a 20 GB hard drive with 15 GB of free space, a CD-ROM drive, and a graphics card and monitor with support for Super VGA. Vista Basic requires a graphics card with 32 MB of video memory, WDDM and DirectX 9 support, while Vista Home Premium needs a graphics card with 128 MB of memory. To use all the features of Windows Vista, your computer should have a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 40 GB hard drive with 15 GB free, a DVD-ROM drive, an audio output and an active Internet connection.
  
  

Features

• Features such as Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, Instant Search, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker and the Network and Sharing Center come included with Vista Basic and Home Premium. However, with Vista Home Premium, you will get added features such as Windows Media Center, Aero, Flip 3D, Live Thumbnails, multiple monitor support, Windows DVD Maker and Scheduled Backup. Both editions of Vista support multicore processors, but Vista Home Premium also supports multiple processors.
  
  

Function

• Vista Basic is useful for common computing tasks such as surfing the Web, checking your email, simple photo editing and managing your computer's security. Vista Home Premium's additional features also make it ideal for home entertainment, multimedia and multitasking. Both operating systems are intended for home use, and may not have sufficient features for use in a business setting. However, Vista Home Premium may be adequate for businesses that use only one computer or don't need to join a domain.
  
  

Price

• Since Windows Vista isn't Microsoft's latest product, you can get a used copy of the operating system for at a discounted price. The prices vary widely, so you should shop around for new and used copies of Vista Basic or Home Premium. You must also consider whether you want the full version of Vista Basic or Home Premium or an upgrade version. If you purchase the upgrade, you may save some money, but you must have Windows 2000, XP or Vista already installed. You will save even more with an OEM version of Vista, but you must purchase and run the OS on the computer it was originally installed on.