Microsoft Windows Vista: What PC Buyers Choose

When you buy your next PC, which version of Windows Vista should you choose? Vista Home Basic lacks the spiffy Aero environment but costs the least; Vista Ultimate has everything Microsoft offers in an operating system, but costs an arm and a leg. And the variations in between are hard to tell apart. (For a quick look at the versions, go to "Windows Vista Versions Unveiled.") One edition, however, has emerged as the favorite among PC buyers.

According to Al Gillen of IDC Research, during 2007 approximately 75 percent of consumer PCs shipped with Vista Home Premium, while most of the rest shipped with Vista Home Basic. Vista Ultimate accounts for only a couple of percentage points.

On the business side, Windows XP still rules, but Windows Vista Business accounted for around 90 percent of the business PCs shipping with a Vista version.