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- Quick specs
- Price: Purchase $99.95 to buy
- Operating system: Windows XP
- Date added: January 29, 2007
- Total Downloads: 144,749
- Downloads last week: 1,522
- See full specifications
- Average user rating: stars out of 12 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
The bad: Windows Vista Home Basic does not put Search on the desktop (it's buried within applications, within the Start Menu); no Aero graphics system in Home Basic; no new software yet written exclusively for Windows Vista; optimized only for the Microsoft Windows ecosystem (for example, RSS feeds from IE7 get preferential treatment); and little reason to leave Windows XP.
The bottom line: Windows Vista Home Basic is essentially warmed-over Windows XP, Windows XP SP3. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.
Reviewed by: Robert Vamosi; Reviewed on: 1/24/07; Release date: 1/30/07
Publisher's description
From Microsoft :CNET Editor's Note: This downloadable version of Windows Vista is an upgrade only. Users can only upgrade to Windows Vista Home Basic from Windows XP Home version.
Windows Vista Home Basic is the edition of Windows for just the essential home computing needs, such as using e-mail, browsing the Internet, or viewing photos. While it lacks many of the features of Home Premium, it is easier and safer than Windows XP.
Instantly find information on your computer--including documents, e-mails, photos, and even music files--with Instant Search, which is integrated throughout Windows Vista. See the information you care about instantly with Windows Sidebar and gadgets, which bring real-time information, like weather and news, directly to your desktop. With Windows Photo Gallery, it's easier to download photos from your digital camera and then organize, edit, view, and share them with family and friends. Windows Defender helps automatically safeguard your PC against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. With Parental Controls, you can manage the rules for your children's computer use. You can set time limits and manage their access to the web and to PC games.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.7 stars out of 12 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 6 user reviewsSee all 6 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
18 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Vista Home Basic upgrade
"Duo is better, hard on the single core systems"
Pros: I like the graphics, new windows media center, new look in general, easy to find files and applications. Better security and easy to setup networking capabilities.
Cons: Resource hungry, it has to many tasks running in the background.
I ran Vista on a 3.5ghz 1 gb of ram and 256mb graphic card, World of Warcraft ran just fine, but all in all my system ran slower, the Windows XP, I would defiently run this on a duo core or better, still slow starting and shut down compared to my Apple G5
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Vista Home Basic upgrade
Pros: Better security, new look
Cons: UAC, lack of features, outrageous price for something that bad
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Version: Windows Vista Home Basic upgrade
"Basic is the best for older computers"
Pros: Better security, User interface good even without Aero. Better speed then with Vista Premium. This runs as well for me on a Dell E510 Dimension with a P4 and 2GB Ram as it did with XP Pro. I really did not need Media Center nor did I want Aero effects which I have found create a slowing effect for the system. To me Premium and ultimate is over kill unless your doing Media projects with your computer.
Cons: Does use about 750 to 800 MB ram so you will want 2GB memory. I don't like the fact that if you share a printer the security automatically sets a password. In a home network this is hardly needed.
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Version: Windows Vista Home Basic upgrade
Pros: r
Cons: r
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Windows Vista Home Basic upgrade
Pros: Nothing
Cons: This system isn't nearly complete. I've seen linux alpha's being more stable then
this. Although stable isn't the right expression. It will run alright but anything else,
hardware or software will give you a pain. Be prepared to buy memory aswell as replacing your printer. Your network will be slow especially if you like to surf on your favorite mp3's. Memory expension will not help you here. The list is longer then these simple complaints, much longer.....
- See all 6 user reviews Write review
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