EdgeWord: Which Version of Windows 7, Home or Professional?
“Should you spring for the extra money?”
by Jack Dunning

One of the problems that I have with Windows Vista and Windows 7 is that the Home Premium version does not support Windows Remote Desktop Host. By that I mean that I can access my other Business and Professional version computers remotely from anywhere in the world with any of the Windows computers, including Home versions, but I can't access my Home Premium laptop. The vast majority of the laptops come with Windows Home Premium installed, requiring an upgrade for anything more.

This has not been a major problem, since the laptop is my primary working machine and doesn't need to act as a host. When I'm writing the Windows Tips and Tricks column, I'm often accessing the XP Professional, Vista Business, and Windows 7 RC machines with the Vista laptop via Remote Desktop. This saves me going upstairs to get on some of the computers (or driving 11 miles, as would be the case with the XP machine). The fact is that I've never had a need to access the Vista Home Premium laptop as a Windows Remote Desktop Host, but if I get a Windows 7 laptop, I will increasingly want to reach the old Vista laptop remotely.

There are other services such as LogMeIn and GoToMyPC that will serve the same function as Windows Remote Desktop, but they charge a regular fee. It has always been so easy for me to use Remote Desktop that I've never even considered a paid service. I wish every Windows version included the remote hosting function.

For most people, there are not enough more features in the Professional version of Windows 7 that are not found in Home Premium to justify the additional cost. The few capabilities missing from Home Premium will not be needed by a majority of users. The key items not found in the Home Premium version, other than Windows Remote Desktop Host, are the remote syncing/backup capability and the Windows XP compatibility mode.

It seems that Microsoft was arbitrary when it decided to create various versions of Windows. I can understand the lack of Windows Remote Desktop (although I don't like it). When you own a laptop and you're traveling, the computers that you usually want to access are at home. The machines at home (or work) are the only ones that usually would need the remote-hosting capability. However, if you have kids with Home Premium computers, it would certainly help to be able to get on their machines in the middle of the night while they are sleeping. (Yes, I'm an advocate of keeping an eye on your kids.)

I use the syncing program in Windows Vista Business (Profession for Windows 7) to automatically maintain a real-time backup of critical files on my laptop. I can add or edit any of the synced files on either computer and they both stay up-to-date. But I must use the syncing program on the Vista Business machine because the Home machine doesn't have the capability to sync to a network drive. It serves my purpose, but I don't know what makes syncing with a network drive a business-only application. You will need at least Windows 7 Professional if you want to do automatic network drive syncing/backup.

The other significant feature that's missing from the Home Premium version of Windows 7 is the Windows XP compatibility mode. This is just plain silly. It seems that the people most likely to want to run older programs are those very same people who buy the least expensive computer—which will come with Home Premium. The purpose of the XP compatibility mode is to run in an emulation mode XP programs that are not supported by Vista or Win 7. This could turn into a reason for some XP users to avoid Windows 7 completely—as they did Vista.

Microsoft doesn't fool anyone with its pricing structure. It's $199 ($119 for an upgrade) for the Home Premium version; $299 ($199 for an upgrade) for the Professional version; $319 ($219 for an upgrade) for the Ultimate version. The little you get for the extra $100 between Home Premium and Professional is ridiculous, but if you need one of those features (there are always third-party programs) you may opt for it. The $20 between Professional and Ultimate seems strange. It's like announcing that there is not much difference between the two packages—and there isn't. There is a family pack of three upgrades to Home Premiums priced at $150, but they can only be used to upgrade Home Premium versions of Vista and XP.

Microsoft is trying to make more money through the confusion caused by the different versions of Windows 7—as it did with Vista. There are many people who will spring for the extra $100 to be called a Professional user rather than a Home user—even though they will probably never use the extra features. It's an ego thing. "And, for only $20 more, I can be the Ultimate user!"

If you're buying a computer with Windows 7 installed, you are probably just as well off with Home Premium unless (as I noted above) you need Remote Desktop Hosting, remote drive syncing/backup, or the XP compatibility mode. Otherwise, it might cost you an extra 100 bucks.

Comments and Letters about EdgeWord: Which Version of Windows 7, Home or Professional?
“Should you spring for the extra money?”
by Jack Dunning

Windows7, Home or Professional?

Absolutely, Jack. I completely agree.

I have a friend that asked me this very question and I really had no definitive answer for him, other than don't waste your money if you don't have to.

I have said it before... Microsoft is a commercial software company. They are in business to make money. That is their sole objective and everything they do—from pricing to licensing, to development, to marketing, to all of their slick talk about their wonderful products—the only reason for any of it is to make a profit. And if we can keep this in mind when we are considering which version of Windows 7 to buy, we will be better off.

It is very similar to buying a car from a dealer. You had better not walk into a dealer with the idea in mind that they have your best interest in mind. Microsoft, like a car dealer, has only one goal in mind and that is for us to spend money—it's that simple. It is our job, then, to determine which product will best suit us. We cannot get emotional. We cannot afford to get all worked up about ego and words like "Ultimate" or "Professional".

My considered opinion about all these varied and confusing versions and pricing schemes is to take a look at what is and is not included for each product and then make the best choice based on what we truly need. Pay little attention on the label of the product. It is little more than a marketing ploy to get us to part with more of our money.

I found a pretty good comparison chart that gives all the features of each version of Windows 7.

Thanks for this great explanation of where we can waste money if we are not careful.

—Pete Choppin