Buying Vista Home Basic N

April 6, 2007 7:14 AM

Where Can I Buy Vista Home Basic N and have it shipped to the US from Europe?

I have tried out various Vista editions using a friend's Vista install DVD and I like Vista Home Basic N edition the best, mainly because I absolutely detest Media Player. Since (I assume) that a regular Vista Home Basic product ID code won't work with the N-version, I need to buy a real copy.

My main problem is that I am having trouble finding a copy of it that can be shipped to the US. Amazon.uk carries it but balks at it when it sees my shipping address and I can't seem to find it on the retailer sites that Microsoft.uk links to.

Any suggestions on where to find it would be appreciated (though comments about how the N-Series "sucks" won't be).

posted by DuckFOO to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Best answer: Froogle is your friend.
posted by grouse at 8:17 AM on April 6, 2007

Not an answer, but a related question: is Media Player for Vista so intrusive that you can't just choose not to use it?
posted by Goblindegook at 9:04 AM on April 6, 2007

Response by poster: Goblindegook: I absolutely hate it. I like the N Series because it doesn't include Media Player, Movie Maker, or WinSAT (Windows System Assessment Tool).

Grouse: Thanks. I did try Froogle but it was from the US version. Thanks again!
posted by DuckFOO at 9:45 AM on April 6, 2007

Doesn't look like you can - not easily at least.

These two editions of the operating system will only be available in the European Union and are stripped of all Windows Media-related technologies by decree of an antitrust ruling. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find any mention at all of the "N" editions on Microsoft's site.
~ZDNet

And I know you said "you absolutely hate it", but is it really easier to find this version of Vista than it is to uncheck a few boxes? (Maybe it is. I don't know how much you hate it.)
posted by niles at 10:07 AM on April 6, 2007

And don't forget the added cost, both for the product itself and for the international shipping.
posted by punishinglemur at 10:57 AM on April 6, 2007

Folks, he's actually TRIED OUT the software in question. He knows what he wants. Why all the moralizing? It's not like he's speaking from ignorance... he wants the N edition.

I've imported a couple of European-edition games from an English company called Software First, but I don't know if they carry operating systems, and I can't connect to the site right now. Assuming they're still in business, you could ask them about a special order. Their normal distributor will probably carry Vista N, and they'll probably be able to get it.
posted by Malor at 12:28 PM on April 6, 2007

If I were in your shoes I'd ask a European friend to buy the software and mail it to me, after I'd paid them to do so. If you don't have a European friend you could try asking a Mefite nicely.
posted by 6550 at 12:37 PM on April 6, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks for the help everyone! :)

I love MeFi!
posted by DuckFOO at 1:58 PM on April 6, 2007