Hardware requirements for Windows Vista should not be taken lightly. However, all features-even if you paid for them-are dependent on specific hardware configurations being present if you don't have the proper graphics hardware, for example, you'll simply never see the Aero graphic effects on that old Dell computer in your basement. This means users who opt for the lesser editions can always upgrade (assuming they have the proper hardware) by downloading some additional code and securing a new product key online. The Windows Vista DVD disc includes a Windows Imaging (WIM) format of the code, so whether you buy the Home Basic edition or the Ultimate edition, the code remains the same only the product key unlocks your specific set of features.
