What version of Windows 7 for Developers?
It has become quite cliché to point out that owners of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition got ripped-off. True, the ultimate extras never really materialized (a poker game or two and animated wallpaper do not count), however, most software developers like myself just had to get the Ultimate Edition for seven simple reasons:
- We wanted Media Center, even though we did not need it
- We wanted DVD authoring, event though we could live without it
- We could not live without remote access (server and client)
- Nor could we survive without Fax Manager, Disk Image Backup and Restore
- Installing (legally) another instance in a Virtual PC was a bonus
- Mobility Center and Bitlocker for the laptops
- And most of us need to join a domain
Or, maybe it was just two of these
- Join a Domain
- Media Center
Or these two?
- Media Center
- Remote Access Server
Either way, Ultimate was the only answer. But what about windows 7?
Windows 7 Editions
Windows 7 Editions are cumulative! Could purchasing merely the Professional Edition be the way to go …
- Remote Desktop Host (all of us) [Professional and up]
- Backup images to network shares (most of us) [Professional and up]
- Domain Join (some of us) [Professional and up]
However, with Professional Edition, we give up
- Boot from VHD
- Bit Locker to go
How could we possibly give up boot from VHD?
Looks like Ultimate Edition is the only choice for developers in Windows 7, just as it was for Vista.