Basic question, windows selection

[sbb155]

I just purchased the base mbp, with the 2.4 and 2gb ram.
I definitely need to use bootcamp for some windows corporate powerpoint presentations and some other corporate things.
Here are my basic questions.
I don't plan on upgrading RAM, and vista doesn't bother me as "bad".
I use my mac for video editing primarily.

My questions:
1. Does it matter, for compatibility, which version of windows I get? 32/64? vista vs xp? I was going to just get vista basic, as it will run the programs I need
2. Does it matter if I buy in a retail store?
3. I assume I need to buy the full retail version, and it will be authenticated in the usual way?
4. Is there a 3rd partiition that can be made to share files between windows and OSX?
5. Lastly, OWC shows a large increase in performance for upgrading to 3gb, and little increase wigh 4gb. Is 3gb (a $50 upgrade at OWC) the sweetspot for windows and osx?

Thanks for all of your help gentlemen and ladies.
Samantha

 

[stainlessliquid]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202

I dont think you should get basic, the non aero interface is questionable and always felt buggy to me. If you want to play games then get the 64bit version, otherwise the 32bit version is more friendly to 32bit programs (ie 90% of windows programs).

You should get Vista, it will last longer than XP and is much more secure. And since the MBP exceeds all the videocard requirements for Vista it will feel snappier than XP.

4. You can create a 3rd partition that is HFS+ and then get Macdrive for Windows which will allow you to read and write to mac partitions (Macdrive does not work with 64bit). Or you dont have to create a 3rd partition, since Macdrive can read and write to your main Leopard partition just as well.

 

[sbb155]

How can that vista be half the price of the same version at amazon or other places?

 

[stainlessliquid]

Its OEM. It comes in a paper sleeve instead of the retail box and can only be activated on one machine. Its what computer builders use. The retail version apart from the obvious packaging difference is more flexible with activation and isnt tied to the original computer it was activated on. Otherwise they are the same.