This whole story of upgrades, full installs and OEM versions of Windows is a real mess. And Windows Vista is not helping clarify what you can do, and what you can't do.
Take a simple example: I have Windows XP Pro on my laptop. I want to upgrade to Windows Vista, but I decided the Home Premium version was enough for me. Well, according to Microsoft, I can't! What? My laptop is 6 months old, this must be a joke? Since I want the media center stuff, I have to go for either the Ultimate upgrade, or the Home Premium full install, both 300$ CAD instead of 170$ CAD for the Home Premium upgrade.
And boy do I feel stupid having paid an extra 100$ for XP Pro on my laptop. I can't transfer that version to my XP Home desktop machine, even though both are Dell machines. Even if it's feasible, I'm breaking the EULA, and the last thing I want to do with my new software company is break rules. I've bought every piece of software I use so I can claim to be legal, and feel good about myself (it works, try it!), but Vista will cost me a fortune.
I could go for an MSDN Subscription, but again, the different flavors available only add to the confusion, and I'm not even sure of what I can install for production and what I can't install.
I urgently need a Vista copy, because my RC1 isn't a good test bench anymore (and I want to use Vista myself, obviously), while I must keep XP somewhere for tests. My desktop machine is a dual boot XP Home OEM / Vista RC1, and my laptop is an XP Pro OEM, currently running SQL Server and Virtual PC 2007 (they don't install on XP Home). What should I do?
I'm currently leaning towards two solutions:
- Buy a Home Premium upgrade for my desktop only. Remove the RC1 boot, and only upgrade XP Home. Keep XP Pro on my laptop.
COST: 170$
Future Home Basic licenses: 130$
I can't change my mind and install it elsewhere later.
- Buy an Ultimate full install for my desktop and reinstall over the RC1 partition. I get to keep the XP home which my wife is familiar with, and have a future opportunity to get two Vista Home upgrades via the Family Pack.
COST: 500$ (gulp)
Future Home Basic licenses (up to 2): 50$ (if I understand right)
I can install it elsewhere later, but must watch out not to invalidate an XP license I want to keep.
Argh... Difficult decision. What do you think?