Reading mode: Light Dark

Which edition of Windows 7 should I get for PS

Go to last post
Nely

Nely

Well-known member
Messages
112
Reaction score
50
Location
US
I am putting together a new home computer that will primarily be used for Photoshop, and for organizing and viewing my photo files. I have ordered Windows 7 home premium for $99, but have since realized I can order Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate through my Tech School. The Professional edition would cost $69 and the Ultimate $82. At this point I can still return the Home Premium, as it is unopened.

My question is, are there any advantages to using these upgraded editions in my case, or are they just going to cause more clutter and unused functions, possibly even using more system resources and slowing my system down?

Thanks for any help! Nelly ;-)
 
Nely said:
I am putting together a new home computer that will primarily be used for Photoshop, and for organizing and viewing my photo files. I have ordered Windows 7 home premium for $99, but have since realized I can order Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate through my Tech School. The Professional edition would cost $69 and the Ultimate $82. At this point I can still return the Home Premium, as it is unopened.

My question is, are there any advantages to using these upgraded editions in my case, or are they just going to cause more clutter and unused functions, possibly even using more system resources and slowing my system down?

Thanks for any help! Nelly ;-)
Click to expand...
I think home is enough for most people. You may need pro to install more than 16GB of memory but will you really do that?

It also has built-in XP emulation, but if you already have an XP install around you could also install that as a second boot option and it would work vastly better than the 7 Pro XP emulator anyway, especially for games.

It probably has fancier backup software but you can surely buy better third party stuff anyway.

I would install the 64bit version, although a very few things may not work (if you have an old vista or XP around then you can install that as a second boot option and then not even worry at all about 64bits for W7). Nikon Coolscan scanners don't work in 64bits and a few games and a few really old peripherals that they never botehr updated drivers for. SOme plug-ins won't work with 64bit photoshop but it lets you install the old 32bit copy at the same time so you are good there.

I would stick with home (unless of course it was $69 total and not $69 extra for Pro hah).
 
I suggest either the Pro or Ultimate, I believe the major difference is Ultimate includes a language pack and bitlocker.

Either will work, just install the x64 versions as this will allow you to install additional ram above the 32-bit constaint of 3GB. x64 allows you to expand your system as needed and photo apps do require a lot of ram and CPU to keep processing speeds up.

The Home version can be installed x64 as well, however, the Home version does not have Windows XP mode available. This is useful if you have some older programs you would like to run.

Check out the link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare
 
Jimmy C said:
I suggest either the Pro or Ultimate, I believe the major difference is Ultimate includes a language pack and bitlocker.
Click to expand...
There's another consideration for anyone wanting long lasting support. From what I can determine, Microsoft intends to provide support until January 2015 for all versions of Windows 7, and will extend, or continue their support for the two "Business" editions of Windows 7 until January 2020. These two are Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise. The Consumer Editions that will be supported only until January 2015 (unless changed at some future date by Microsoft) are the Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows 7. These are shown in the ZDNet table below. Microsoft also provides the support end dates, but so far I can only find them listed individually on their own pages. What I don't know is what the requirements are for extended support. This may only be a viable option for business that pay a significant premium for the extended support. Maybe this can be answered by some other forum member, or you could check with Microsoft.




http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/how-long-will-microsoft-support-xp-vista-and-windows-7/2304

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselectindex#W
 
bronxbombers wrote:
...
bronxbombers said:
I would install the 64bit version, although a very few things may not work (if you have an old vista or XP around then you can install that as a second boot option and then not even worry at all about 64bits for W7). Nikon Coolscan scanners don't work in 64bits and a few games and a few really old peripherals that they never botehr updated drivers for.
Click to expand...
.....

I have two Coolscan scanners working on 64 bit - with a minor bit of coaxing on the internet

--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca
 
tony field said:
tony field said:
I would install the 64bit version, although a very few things may not work (if you have an old vista or XP around then you can install that as a second boot option and then not even worry at all about 64bits for W7). Nikon Coolscan scanners don't work in 64bits and a few games and a few really old peripherals that they never botehr updated drivers for.
Click to expand...
.....

I have two Coolscan scanners working on 64 bit - with a minor bit of coaxing on the internet

--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca
Click to expand...
yeah i forgot you can get the USB ones working using some tricks from the net but I haven't gotten the firewire only ones like the 9000ED working on 64bit

i don't suppose you've managed to get those working too?
that would be sweet!
but i bet you mean the USB ones
 
If you look at the differences between their packages, they are minimal and kind of a laugh. Pro has multiple XP simulation modes and the Ultimate is for high end gaming.

You should be fine with Home Premium. Photoshop is just a RAM intensive program, which you don't even need a high end video card with tons of video RAM unless you do a lot of 3D rendering (aka product design).
--
http://roberthoy.zenfolio.com/
http://www.photographybyhoy.com
 
I would get either the 64-bit Pro or Ultimate versions. PS has a 64-bit version so might as well take advantage of that.
 
I got the Win 7 64 bit Home Premium with my new computer and it worked great with CS5, though I did need to download a couple of scanner and printer drivers for old devices.

I finally updated to the Win 7 64 bit Professional version so I could use some (VERY) old programs, particularly a financial program that dates back to the Windows 95/98!

I don't see any value (for me or normal users) in the Ultimate version.
 
They are limited programs and usually give trouble. I build my own systems, always use the Pro version and hardly ever have a problem, but my friends do, with 'Home' versions, particularly with imaging.
 
Skipper494 said:
They are limited programs and usually give trouble. I build my own systems, always use the Pro version and hardly ever have a problem, but my friends do, with 'Home' versions, particularly with imaging.
Click to expand...
It's not really that limited in the W7 case.

None of the code base is any different at all.

What do you lose? A less than ideal XP emulator? Far better to just maintain your old OS install that use that.

More than 16GB (or maybe it is 32, i forget) memory? could be a probably for a few, but likely not for most for the next few years.

You can get better imaging and backup software third party than whatever any Windows gives.
 
I'd be inclined to take those "end of support" dates with a huge grain of salt. History, at least, suggests that they will be repeatedly extended, though that obviously isn't guaranteed. Windows 2000, for example, did not actually go "EOL" until June of last year. Even now, my W2000 Pro platform gets a few Tuesday updates, although they're now limited to the .NET framework, IE7 upgrades, etc. And IIRC, MS has committed to XP support until sometime in 2014.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top