Available Dell systems with Windows 7 Ultimate? (Apparently, not Inspiron and not even all Latitudes?)

I'm looking at purchasing another Dell laptop, but more basic than my current Latitude E6500. I had a Inspiron 15 perfectly configured, except for the operating system. Apparently, Windows 7 Home Premium is the only available choice for an operating system (with or without a Belkin easy transfer cable). I was first shopping through SMB. When I called them, they said I'd need to purchase through Home & Home Office to get Ultimate. However, after checking there, I see it's not listed as an option through them, either.

I went back an checked on Latitudes, thinking that it should be offered there, as Latitudes are more of a business-class model. At least through SMB, apparently Ultimate isn't offered on the E5400 or the E5500 - only the E6400 and E6500?

The Inspiron 15 I had configured is $947, before a $259 savings for a sub-total of $688. I'd like to just pay the extra $120 and get it with Ultimate instead of Home Premium, which would make the sub-total just over $800.

Is anyone aware of any possibilities to get the basic computer I want with the version of Windows I want (7 Ultimate x64), still through Dell? It seems silly to have to purchase more expensive hardware just to get the choice for more software - when the Inspiron is perfectly capable of running any edition of Win7. I'm more worried about running into limitations of the software due to the Windows edition, not limitations on the hardware. If I can't purchase it as part of the system, I know I'm going to have to pay extra after-the-fact for an upgrade, and then have to deal with both the original disc and an upgrade disc.

The ironic thing is, under the "Help me choose" links for Operating System, Dell has Ultimate listed. It just doesn't show up as a selection for purchase.

Thanks!

 

That seems strange indeed. I would probably just call them again and tell them their config pages seem to not list all the options available (as usual) and just say you want Ultimate. Don't even ask if it's possible, just say what you want. Some reps don't look any further than the same screen you get when ordering online but you can always have them ask a manager to be sure. Try your luck with another salesrep

 

Check the Studio XPS 16, under certain configs, coupled with a good coupon, you can get one that matches the normal Studio 15. But, DO you realy, absolutely NEED ultimate?

 

Studio 15 - but not Inspiron 15 (?). From what I can see, the Studio's start at more than the Inspiron 15 configured with upgrades.

No, I don't need. However, I certainly would've desired and made use of some of the advanced features, including Windows XP mode (available in professional), as well as virtual hard disk booting (enterprise / ultimate only).

I did make a number of additional phone calls to Dell, and escalated to managers - in both the Home and SMB lines, and apparently it is just not possible to get the more advanced editions of Windows 7 on an Inspiron. I'm ordering with Home Premium, and will just have to pay (and pay more) for an anytime upgrade.

 

Ultimate is being downplayed this year, even by Microsoft themselves. Why this "about face" from the "ultimate's the best" drumbeat that Microsoft had with Vista?

1. The feature distribution among Windows 7 versions is different than Vista. In Windows XP, when you moved up to "professional" you retained all the features of Home Edition. In Windows Vista, when you moved up to Business, you lost some clutch features like Windows Movie Maker HD edition, Windows DVD Maker, Media Center, and Parental Controls.

In the spirit of Windows 7's new found simplicity, the feature distribution has returned to Windows XP style. Now, when you move up to Professional, you get all the features of Home Premium, with all the new features for business like XP mode. This makes Ultimate pretty redundant, with only 2 features that professional doesn't offer-Bitlocker Drive Encryption, and the ability to choose languages (this can be added to Pro as well)

2. Not so "ultimate extras"-In Windows Vista, Ultimate was supposed to be the OS enthususts used, and to reward them for the added expense, Microsoft said they'd release exclusive software and services for Ultimate owners known as "Ultimate Extras." Unfortunetly, this never really got off the ground running, and as a result only a few extras came out-DreamScene animated wallpaper, Texas Hold Em card game, language packs (that arguably should be included in the OS outright, Sound Schemes, and Tinker-A puzzle game. All of these extras aren't included in Windows 7 Ultimate at all.

With that said the new market positioning for Ultimate is the fringe of the market. They are aiming it at OEM's of high end PC's where the "ultimate" name will bring brand cachet to the item. Also, they are suggesting Ultimate "bundles" where PC's will have it preloaded along with other items.

Clearly though, Home Premium and Professional are the new "mainstream" versions of the OS.

 

Now I'm a little frustrated. Apparently everyone I talked to at Dell about this as I was looking into it lied to me. Even "I'm not sure" or "let me check" would have been o.k. answers, but as far as I'm concerned, I was lied to by several people at Dell from both the Home and SMB divisions.

Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate ARE available on an Inspiron 15, through the Employee Purchase Program (EPP). This was despite several people at Dell from both divisions telling me in no uncertainty that there was no way to get these editions of Windows on an Inspiron 15 anywhere through Dell.

The pricing through EPP was the same. I either wanted to get my order adjusted, or canceled and a new equivalent order placed through EPP. I emailed both the person who took my order through the Home division, as well as their manager on 12-4, and never received any response. I followed up several times by calling Dell, but was placed on hold for over an hour each time, and was never able to make any progress. I finally got through to someone today. Unfortunately, the system has already shipped. (How convenient.) After talking to both her and her manager, their only suggestion was to transfer me to Dell Sales where I could purchase an upgrade - for significantly more than the $120 difference that it should have cost.

Even Win7 Professional would have been acceptable. At least I could remote desktop back into the machine, and backup to the network.

At this point, it appears I'm left with the difficult choice to return the order and place a new one. Unfortunately, this will cost both Dell & I additional time, effort, and expenses - including shipping. Can't they just charge me the additional $120 difference and perform an exchange on the installation media and license?

If there is anyone that has any contacts within Dell, or that could help better resolve this issue, please reply or PM me.

Thanks!

 

I received a Dell Windows 7 upgrade disc with my new Studio laptop but my IT dept wont support it - can I use it on another system? Does the Dell upgrade disc do a hardware check to verify whether it's actually upgrading a Dell system?

 

You might want to look into the unresolved issues system Dell has, esp. since you contacted Dell already and got nowhere: https://support.dell.com/support/to...t/dellcare/outstanding_issues?c=us&l=en&s=gen

 

Back in August when I ordered my XPS16, I specifically wanted the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista, regardless of the free Win7 upgrade option, sue to the fact that I didn't want anything left out. The fact that certain editions leave out features is a bit dumb, imo considering that it all boils down to architecture and machines running x64 versions of both home premium and ultimate are capable of running either one. I owned Home Premium of Vista and it worked fine, but when it came to customizing my new Dell, call it "impulse buying", I just thought it best to get everything and be done with it. Now, after I received the laptop, registered and activated Windows and everything else, it was cool to have all of those "advanced" windows vista features, but was seriously ticked off when i upgraded to Win7 and it gave me the message that Ultimate Extras were not available with Win7 Ultimate. I took it with a grain of salt, mainly because some day soon when Win7 becomes the standard, microsoft MAY release "ultimate only" add-ons, but sitll in retrospect, the whole concept of having only certain features available to certain versions is still not a good marketing tactic.

Back on topic though, I did notice the same thing with Dell's site how certain models of machines only had up to Home Premium available which didn't make sense to me. The way i see it, you get a brand new machine with up-to-date hardware, why NOT have ALL editions available? Again, it's all about the processor architecture and that's a no brainer which Dell can easily place explanations and warnings on their site...takes 5 minutes and makes a world of difference to the consumer, lessening the confusion and/or frustration.

Imo, your best bet is to not fight it. get your machine with home Premium and then do the anytime upgrade to ultimate and I believe the cost difference may be the same if not a little less than getting ultimate outright from Dell.

 

Three words: Windows Anytime Upgrade

All Windows 7 installations are Ultimate...you just need a key to activate those parts.