Microsoft makes it so easy these days to pick the right software.
I use a Mac but need Windows in a virtual machine for some of my specialized development tools. I am currently running XP and am thinking about an upgrade to 7. The problem is what "version" do I need? I need the ability to VPN into work and run Visual Studio (not the specialized dev tool). I like the idea of the Home Premium family pack, but will I be satisfied with that? Will it work for me?
I don't care about the extras, that is what OS X is for. I just want to know what would work best for development.
This will be running in a virtual machine (Parallels) not in Boot Camp.
So really there are three questions:
- What version allows VPN (PPTP and SonicWall SSL-VPN)?
- What version can run under a virtual machine?
- What version works best to run a web development environment?
Answer
Unlike Apple, Microsoft does not put any restrictions on whether you are allowed to run in a VM, as long as you have a license for the VM copy, so any edition will fit that requirement.
You used to want the Professional Edition of Windows for development work because it included IIS, but as of Windows 7 IIS is now available on Home Premium as well. In my mind, the killer feature of Professional over Home Premium for home use is the built-in Remote Desktop server. Remote Desktop is a huge step up from VNC-based solutions like is used on the Mac. But this is hardly necessary for what you are doing.
That leaves VPN. Here, again, I suspect you'll be able to use Home Premium. However, we don't have enough information to say this for certain yet. There are at least 5 different common ways for companies to provide VPN access: PPTP, OpenVPN, IPSec, SSH-based, and Web(SSL)-based. The big vendors like Cisco and Citrix depend on those protocols for their clients. Depending on which of those you use, your IT dept may also require a version of Windows that supports group policy (ie: Professional). Probably not, but it can happen.
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