[ET3D]

Note: This competition is run by me, ET3D, and not by DriverHeaven.

Windows 7 is finally with us, and I'd urge any XP holdouts to get it. Microsoft offered and is still offering ways to get it for not a lot of money. But in case you're still using XP, and you can't get the offer (perhaps because of where you live), or want to put the money towards a new graphics card, or whatever, here's your chance to get an OS that will allow you to use the latest tech.

Sure, Vista is something of a resource hog, but gone are the early days of instabilities and incompatibilities. It typically runs games better than XP does, and it supports the latest graphics technologies, DX10 and DX11. It even allow upgrading from XP and using an XP-like UI, things that Windows 7 doesn't offer.

Originally I thought of offering Vista Home Basic, but I decided to up the stakes and offer the winner a choice between Home Basic and Ultimate Upgrade.

Home Basic (box pictured below) is Vista without the fluff, and a decent choice if you want to run Vista alongside XP. It still allows DX10/11 gaming and supports 64-bit PC's with up to 8GB, so you get all the important stuff. I'm giving away a US version, though, so the user interface will be in English. If English isn't your native language, you'll still be able to run programs and type in your own language, since Vista comes with all keyboard configurations and fonts necessary.

Ultimate has the flashy Vista UI (Aero Glass) and other stuff not in the Home Basic version. It also allows downloading any language version you want, so even though it's a US version you can get a fully localised UI. This is the upgrade version, so if you feel like you're ready to put XP behind you, that's the way to go.

To enter, post a message in this thread completing one of the following sentences, depending on the version you want to win. (Don't worry, you'll be able to change you mind later.)

"Vista Home Basic is the perfect OS for me because..."

"Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because..."

If you want you can also tell me why you should be selected to win.


The competition will close on November 26, 2009. I will pick a winner shortly thereafter. The competition is open worldwide, but see note on delivery below.

The prize can be delivered by e-mail or by snail mail. For e-mail, I will open the box, and send the product key as well as any photos and scans the winner asks for. You will need to get a Vista install DVD yourself. E-mail delivery is the preferred method, and anyone anywhere can get the prize this way.

If you really want the box, I'm willing to pay for airmail delivery to most countries. I won't be responsible if the package is lost or damaged on the way, and if you're asked for any duties and such, you'll have to pay them.

If you have any questions, feel free to post at this thread: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/off-topi...petitions.html

[niceguyrichy]

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because... it would stop people like Z ridiculing me for sticking with XP for so long..

[Zardon]

Thread stuck !

[Cow_160483]

Vista is the Ultimate upgrade because here its way tooo expensive to purchase as there are only a few retailers who sell it and they probably decided among themselves not to sell it at a reasonable price WTF i hate their guts .....

I absolutely am not kidding Vista ultimate here costs 320USD which is the same as W7 and W7 costs a whopping 560USD

[niceguyrichy]

Originally Posted by Cow_160483

I absolutely am not kidding Vista ultimate here costs 320USD which is the same as W7 and W7 costs a whopping 560USD

$374US in the UK mate, you don't have it all that bad

[Cow_160483]

Originally Posted by niceguyrichy

$374US in the UK mate, you don't have it all that bad

thats just crazy : i vote we give it to the person for whome it costs the most to purchase . niceguyrichy your it

[Cow_160483]

Hay is no one interested in this grate prize ??

Hay ET3D do multiple entries count?, i really wouldn't mind winning this lol

[Tyrsonswood]

"Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because..." I've never used it and have heard all kinds of claims, good and bad........


Really, I just need an OS and I'm not picky.

[imagination]

Vista Home Basic is the perfect OS for me because...i find 7even too fast for me and want to give my current 98 OS to my grandma.

I should be selected to win because i`m a active member here and winning this is the only way i can have my OS licensed.


ps: 400$ for 7 here and almost 360$ for Vista

[DJ BIG T]

Vista is the Ultimate upgrade because i cant afford the upgrade..

[Bolletje]

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because my laptop came with Basic. Then I can use Areo and the multimedia functions

Nice to see you give stuff away

[buburuza76]

"Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because...i can`t afford 7 as i just got fired "

[Grafos]

Vista Home Basic is the perfect OS for me because...
...everyone on this competition will go for the Ultimate Edition,
and someone (*hint* that's me)
has to take the Home Basic as a prize!

[larissa]

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because it doesn`t really matter, for me, if Vista keeps my RAM occupied and it runs all the unnecessary services and processes. I just love Vista. It means a big step forward for me from my old XP. Go Vista, go!

[andrei45]

Vista Home Basic is the perfect OS for me because...i can`t stand XP anymore. I can`t imagine how all the people around me have VISTA and 7even and i`m stuck with XP

[Optix]

I'm running Home Premium but wanted to say that anybody who is on the fence about Vista because of what they have heard shouldn't listen to the media hype. Since Service Pack 2 rolled out it has been smooth sailing and because of it I'm not in any rush to switch to Windows 7.

Good luck!

[bizkit.levi]

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because i don`t know how to use Linux or that thing from Apple. XP is kinda old, 7even is too recent, so i`ll stick with Vista.Ultimate. I`m sick of HomeBasic-sounds like me staying home...unemployed.Yuck! Ultimate!

[ET3D]

One week left.

[Robert McClelland]

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because Just incase you need second computer you don't have any other money to spend on.

[ET3D]

Just to let you know, I won't have net access next weekend, so even though this competition ends on the 26th, it will be a few days before I choose the winners.

[niceguyrichy]

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because.. my stupid motherboard on my gaming rig crapped out on me and now i have to do a complete rebuild
would be nice to have Vista Ultimate to put on, seeing as how i can't afford win 7 this close to xmas.

[ET3D]

I had a difficult time deciding who to give the prizes to. I'd hoped there'd be some creative completions of the sentences, but the entries were pretty lame. Then there was the matter that I thought I'd give just one prize, with the winner choosing which version. Obviously that wasn't clear, but I decided that's fine, and I'll be giving both versions. No reason to be cheap. Though you'll note that it didn't work the way some of you thought, and the winner of the Home Basic is someone who asked for Ultimate.

In the end, I decided to give the Ultimate Upgrade to Cow_160483. The Home Basic goes to niceguyrichy for his new rig.

[Cow_160483]

Originally Posted by ET3D

I had a difficult time deciding who to give the prizes to. I'd hoped there'd be some creative completions of the sentences, but the entries were pretty lame. Then there was the matter that I thought I'd give just one prize, with the winner choosing which version. Obviously that wasn't clear, but I decided that's fine, and I'll be giving both versions. No reason to be cheap. Though you'll note that it didn't work the way some of you thought, and the winner of the Home Basic is someone who asked for Ultimate.

In the end, I decided to give the Ultimate Upgrade to Cow_160483. The Home Basic goes to niceguyrichy for his new rig.

Wow man thanks a lot this is the first thing I have ever won in my whole life (not joking), it will definitely be the upgrade that am looking forward to thanks again

[Tyrsonswood]

Congratulations Cow and Richy

[Bolletje]

Congratzzzz ;D

[Optix]

Congrats fellers.

Kudos to ET3D for another great contest.

[Cow_160483]

thanks guys and thanks to ET3D and DH

[iPlayer]

Originally Posted by Bolletje

Vista is the Ultimate Upgrade because my laptop came with Basic. Then I can use Areo and the multimedia functions

Nice to see you give stuff away

I go out of my way to turn all that fluff off on my pcs, although aero can be useful at times -_-.

[buburuza76]

congrats for the winners! bill is watching you

[SeraphicSorcerer]

Congratulations folks. I hope you enjoy Vista, don't forget to get SP2 installed right away!