[IceFire]

The verification went pretty seamlessly for me.  I knew it was happening but ... there's no real indication of it.  Not if you have a valid Windows install when you put in the disk and start the process.  From there I just wiped the old partitions and started over.

[Thaeris]

As is typical of Microsoft, there's three versions of the OS out now: Home Premium, Professional (I think that's it), and Ultimate.

Which of those would be worth buying? After all, there's a lot of crap which they throw into the current OS's (ex: Windows Media Center, which is not only slow but is never used by me... and it always has some process going on that I can't permanently shut down).

[The E]

As is typical of Microsoft, there's three versions of the OS out now: Home Premium, Professional (I think that's it), and Ultimate.

Which of those would be worth buying? After all, there's a lot of crap which they throw into the current OS's (ex: Windows Media Center, which is not only slow but is never used by me... and it always has some process going on that I can't permanently shut down).

Home Premium should be sufficient, but I would recommend Pro, if you can get it.
As for that errant process, you should check the Services in the Control panel. Disabling WMPNETWORK fixes the most resource-hogging one.

[Ford Prefect]

When doing clean install of upgrade version, you need to have Vista or XP installation disc at hand, Win7 will ask for it during install process to verify you are eligible for upgrade license.

Wait-- my laptop came with Vista installed, so I don't have a disk. What do I do?

EDIT: Also, I'm reading elsewhere that you don't need a disk. What gives?

[Thaeris]

When doing clean install of upgrade version, you need to have Vista or XP installation disc at hand, Win7 will ask for it during install process to verify you are eligible for upgrade license.

Wait-- my laptop came with Vista installed, so I don't have a disk. What do I do?

Well, in that case, you should start the Butlerian Jihad...

Also, thanks for the advice, E!
*Please accept cookie 

[Blue Lion]

Just bought a laptop today, has 7 Home on it.

[The E]

Thaeris: You can also uninstall the media player completely. If you go to the program list, and click on "Turn Windows Features on or off", you'll find the media center and the media player under media features. Uncheck the tickmark, click OK, and watch them disappear.

[IceFire]

As is typical of Microsoft, there's three versions of the OS out now: Home Premium, Professional (I think that's it), and Ultimate.

Which of those would be worth buying? After all, there's a lot of crap which they throw into the current OS's (ex: Windows Media Center, which is not only slow but is never used by me... and it always has some process going on that I can't permanently shut down).

Compare them here: http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_skus_compare.asp

Most people would be perfectly happy with Home Premium.  Rare does someone actually need the Ultimate version... although there are definitely some.

[The E]

In this case, Ultimate is definitely not worth the money. Unless you absolutely need BitLocker, or the ability to switch languages freely.

[MP-Ryan]

In this case, Ultimate is definitely not worth the money. Unless you absolutely need BitLocker, or the ability to switch languages freely.

And Bitlocker is actually inferior to TrueCrypt, which is open source.  The only reason to buy Ultimate is to be able to switch languages on the fly... not really commonly used functionality.

[Fury]

Wait-- my laptop came with Vista installed, so I don't have a disk. What do I do?

EDIT: Also, I'm reading elsewhere that you don't need a disk. What gives?

If you have Windows currently installed, that's enough for it to upgrade. If you don't have XP/Vista/Win7 installed, you need installation disc. And also, you SHOULD have Windows installation disc even if your laptop came with it preinstalled. How else you're supposed to reinstall OS if need be?

[captain-custard]

most laptops dont come with a windows disk , if your lucky they have an EISA partition that has it in there or there ws some propriety software to create a back up reinstal disk....

[Ford Prefect]

Yeah, I have a partition with recovery software, but no installation disk. I'm afraid I'm gonna start a clean install and then find out halfway through that I need a Vista disk to verify my eligibility, and then I'll be up **** Creek.

[Fury]

Then don't buy upgrade version of Win7 but either retail or OEM. OEM and upgrade prices are about same.

[Scooby_Doo]

Wait-- my laptop came with Vista installed, so I don't have a disk. What do I do?

EDIT: Also, I'm reading elsewhere that you don't need a disk. What gives?

If you have Windows currently installed, that's enough for it to upgrade. If you don't have XP/Vista/Win7 installed, you need installation disc. And also, you SHOULD have Windows installation disc even if your laptop came with it preinstalled. How else you're supposed to reinstall OS if need be?

Provided this is a upgrade version, not the full version, then from what I understand, the install disk isn't used.  You need to have a windows installed on the system before you can upgrade. There is a way of doing an full install, but not activating, then upgrading then activating.

[Grizzly]

Due to some weird... stuff, my dad, just like every other dutch teacher (A teacher who lives in NL, not one who teaches the dutch language), can get Windows 7 Ultimate...

For €17.

I, as a student, can get it for €70.

Everyone else gets it at €(Something high).

Why is that, exactly? You can get these prices by using a special software store, but how did they manage to get a 90% or more discount?

[The E]

  I got 7 for free via MSDNAA...

[Ghostavo]

I got 7 for free via MSDNAA...

@-Joshua-
In the case of your dad, the dutch government must have some sort of deal with Microsoft to supply teachers there with software at low prices.

In your case, you are a student, and several companies wish to increase their revenue with people who normally don't have much (or any) income but are not exactly poor.

[The E]

Not to mention the marketing opportunities this represents.

[IceFire]

Alright here is my mini review.

In short I love Windows 7 and so far I'm extremely pleased with it.  To be fair I was a fan of Vista as well.  I loved the new features like integrated search on the start menu, the graphical desktop, and the revised driver model making for an overall better and more stable system.  Vista had a rough start but by the end it was living up to its potential.  So why bother with Windows 7 then?  Windows 7 takes all of the good points of Vista, adds a few years of development by Microsoft and by all of the driver companies (by far the biggest offenders 2 years ago were companies like Creative and nVidia that put out crappy Vista drivers - now they have learned), and makes the whole thing awesome!

The revised UI is great.  I wasn't sure about it at first but spend an hour with it.  Its natural as a Windows user to use the new taskbar method and its infinitely better when you have large numbers of applications open.  Its all of the other UI inventions as well such as how the tray icons are hidden away unless you want them.  Or how if you want to view the desktop an unobtrusive bar at the right side of the taskbar makes it simple and easy.  Or how if you are flipping through applications you can use the preview function to isolate the window you want.

I also love how you can grab a window and shake it to make other applications go away.  Or how if you hold a window in the left or right corner of the screen it will fill up exactly 50%.  Great way to split the screen between applications.

The fun bit I love is the new theme system and the ability to have desktops that switch every X amount of minutes.  I always find myself changing the desktop back ground wanting to look at something new and different or getting annoyed with some small piece of one desktop background and going to another.  Now I worry less and enjoy more... it'll change in 30 minutes or less anyways... so who cares! Its really fantastic.

Technically I've had no problems except for some older Asus motherboard drivers that I had to use compatibility mode to get installed as they were meant for Vista.  They seem to work perfectly by the way.  I plugged in my Canon G7 the other day and that went in as smooth as butter.  I connected my XBox 360 and that is working great now too.

So in short I'm having a great time so far and I hope that the honeymoon never ends.  Windows 7 for me... and I can't speak for anyone else... is possibly the best OS Microsoft has ever put out.  It'll never be perfect but this one is a homerun.  Microsoft should do more Windows 7 and less some of their other crappy initiatives over the years.