Synopsis:
What version of Windows should I buy? What are the differences between the operating system names?

Solution:
On October 22, 2009, Microsoft made available to consumers worldwide a new operating system called Windows 7, the successor to Windows Vista. At this time OIT is offering limited support for Windows 7 and recommends waiting while we complete the testing in December. For those who choose not to wait below are the preliminary recommendations which may change as OIT moves through the evaluation. In addition to the information below, OIT Software Support provides online details regarding Microsoft licensing agreements with Princeton. Questions should be directed to the OIT Help Desk.

• What version is recommended for students?
• What version is recommended for faculty/staff?
• What are the differences between the new editions of Windows 7?
• What are the differences between the editions of Windows Vista?

Students 

• If you are a current or incoming student and purchase your new Windows computer through the University, all new SCI computers will be delivered to you with Vista Ultimate installed. Why buy SCI? See: kb.princeton.edu/9592 for the benefits to all students when purchasing through the SCI program. SCI purchasers are covered under Campus Agreement from Microsoft. SCI customers are eligible to receive upgrades to all Campus Agreement products for a very small media charge for as long as they are actively enrolled at Princeton University. If you choose to upgrade to Windows 7 SCI recommends upgrading to Windows 7 Ultimate (the edition that will come on future SCI image once the testing with SCI applications is complete) only if your current SCI machine is currently running Vista.
  
• If you are a current or incoming student and purchase your Windows computer from an outside store or vendor, it is highly recommended you purchase Vista Business which is available now or Windows 7 Professional, which can be pre-order at a discount under the Student Select Agreement through OIT Software Sales. Be aware that neither of the Home Premium Editions (Vista or Windows 7) will support full integration with all campus computing services, and Vista Home Basic will not be supported by OIT.

Faculty/Staff

• If you wish to purchase a new computer for your office or your home as an institutional purchase (purchased with University monies), please review the DeSC website as well as the Faculty Computer Program (FCP) website. New computers purchased through DeSC will be delivered from Dell with Vista Home Premium and will need to be reimaged with the OIT Vista Enterprise Image on-site; new FCP computers will be delivered with Vista Business and may be reimaged as well. Both operating systems are be fully supported by OIT.
• If you buy a computer as an institutional purchase (bought with University monies) from an outside vendor or store and plan on using it on campus, it is highly recommended that you ultimately obtain Windows 7 Professional (or Ultimate if you require the multi-language packs), either from the manufacturer of your computer or through OIT Software Sales. when it becomes in stock in mid-November. If your computer was bought with University monies, even if from an outside vendor, you have the option of using Microsoft's Campus Agreement to upgrade to Enterprise or Professional when it becomes available (requires a $3 purchase of a CD). If you are interested in saving approximately $50 by purchasing your computer with the cheapest version installed from the vendor, and then are willing to invest the time in re-imaging your computer with Vista Enterprise through the University, this may be an option for you. Otherwise, purchase Windows 7 Professional with the purchase of the machine.
• If you are planning on purchasing a new computer for home use, it is recommended that, at the minimum, you purchase Vista Home Premium or Windows 7 Home Premium, and if you are an Exchange user, you should purchase Vista (Business or Ultimate) or Windows 7 Professional. This is highly recommended as Vista Home Basic will not be supported by OIT and will not support full integration with all campus computing services.

What are the differences between the new editions of Windows 7?

• Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate
  Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise are the most complete edition of Windows 7 and with limited support by OIT until December 2009. Both offer multi-language packs and Microsoft encryption software which many users will probably not need or be able to take full advantage. Enterprise will not be made available to any students, and should never be installed on any personally owned computer. Faculty and staff who purchase computers with University monies from outside vendors are recommended upgrade to the Enterprise or Ultimate. Contact OIT Software Sales to for pricing and information regarding purchasing Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate for institutionally purchased computers and personal purchased computers although Windows 7 Professional is the recommended version for most users with personally own computers.
  
• Windows 7 Professional
  Most Windows users at Princeton will find Windows 7 Professional version to meet their needs. This edition is full-featured in terms of graphic, media, and entertainment features of. and users who work extensively with visual media (e.g. photographic and video) and/or currently use the Windows XP Media Center edition, may find the added features of the Professional edition useful or required. Professional also includes networking, security, and functionality and is designed for the office environment; in fact this version was designed to meet the needs of a small business. Faculty, staff, and students who do not purchase a computer through the University should consider this the minimum operating system required to run successfully on the Princeton network, and is the recommended version for purchase for all users. Students who did not purchase through the SCI program and home-use computer owners may upgrade to Professional through University licensing agreements. Faculty and staff who purchase University computers from outside vendors may upgrade to either Professional or Enterprise. Contact OIT Software Sales for pricing.
  
• Windows 7 Home Premium
  Windows 7 Home Premium is targeted for use on computers for your home. The Home edition will not support full integration with all campus computing services. If you are planning on purchasing a new computer for home use, it is recommended that, at the minimum, you purchase Home Premium. If you are an Exchange user, you should purchase Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate.

What are the differences between the editions of Windows Vista?

• Ultimate
  Ultimate is the most complete edition of Vista and will be fully supported by OIT. Ultimate offers additional graphic, media, and entertainment features of which many users will probably not need or be able to take full advantage. However, users who work extensively with visual media (e.g. photographic and video) and/or currently use the Windows XP Media Center edition, may find the added features of the Ultimate edition useful or required. All new Student Computer Initiative (SCI) computers will be delivered with Vista Ultimate. Contact OIT Software Sales to for pricing and information regarding purchasing Vista Ultimate.
  
• Enterprise
  Princeton University is a Microsoft volume license subscriber, so any institutionally purchased computer that was purchased with University monies is licensed to install Vista Enterprise. You will never see Vista Enterprise offered in stores. This edition is full-featured in terms of networking, security, and functionality and is designed for the office environment. Enterprise will not be made available to any students, and should never be installed on any personally owned computer. All new administrative computers purchased through DeSC will be delivered with Vista Enterprise. Faculty and staff who purchase University computers from outside vendors may upgrade to Enterprise. Contact OIT Software Sales for pricing.
  
• Business
  Most Windows users at Princeton will find Vista Business version to meet their needs. This edition is full-featured in terms of networking, security, and functionality and is designed for the office environment; in fact this version was designed to meet the needs of a small business. Faculty, staff, and students who do not purchase a computer through the University should consider this the minimum operating system required to run successfully on the Princeton network, although Vista Ultimate is the recommended version for purchase for all users. Students who did not purchase through the SCI program and and home-use computer owners may upgrade to Business through University licensing agreements (although Ultimate is recommended). All new Faculty Computer Program (FCP) computers will be delivered with Vista Business. Faculty and staff who purchase University computers from outside vendors may upgrade to either Business or Enterprise. Contact OIT Software Sales for pricing.
  
• Home Basic and Home Premium
  Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium are targeted for use on computers for your home. Neither Home editions will support full integration with all campus computing services. If you are planning on purchasing a new computer for home use, it is recommended that, at the minimum, you purchase Home Premium. If you are an Exchange user, you should purchase Vista Business or Vista Ultimate. This is highly recommended as Vista Home Basic will not be supported by OIT.