Does Windows Vista Home Basic come with a word processor suitable for writing University level term papers?

No. Unfortunately, you will need to use Microsoft Office (expensive) or Openoffice (free to download but not as refined) to handle all of your predictable requirements.

Premium has a 'demo' version of Microsoft Office - meaning you'll have a limited number of times that you can use it before you are required to purchase it (if you don't buy it, the program deactivates and bars you from accessing it). There is, however, Microsoft Works, which has a word program. It's available in both Basic and Premium package - the problem with this is it isn't compatible with the full-version Microsoft Word programs that everyone else has. If you don't have to worry about submitting your paper on the web, don't have to submit them on disk or CD or don't have to edit your paper at another location (library, friend's house, etc.), it's fine to use. Bear in mind that, at some point, you will have to buy the full-version of Mirosoft Word (for the afore-mentioned reasons). Premium does have a few more bells and whistles, but when you look at the different models, you'll find that the difference is mainly in the processor speed and memory. I got my package: an e-machine (Gateway bought it from Packard Bell), complete with the cpu (Intel Pentium D, 250 gb HD), monitor (19" flatscreen) and software (Vista Home Premium) for less that $600 (sometimes you just gotta love Best Buy!)

If you're thinking Microsoft Word, no, Ms Word is part of the Microsoft Office package. It DOES NOT come with Windows -- Office is sold seperately. In some cases it may come with a trial version of Office 2007 installed -- which has a 30-60 day limitation. This only happens if they OS was sold to you buy a branded company -- part of an agreement between the company and Microsoft. You can either choose to purchase it, or you can uninstall it and use free alternatives like Abiword, Google docs or the ever so popular OpenOffice.

its always better to install a word processor unless you want to be using the word pad or notepad application . you can always get star office , its free and has most of the same features of Microsoft word. i think home premium is more for multimedia applications like watching and burning DVDs and streaming media to media centres . I'm sure you can get by OK with home basic , you can always upgrade later on if you want , i think most people use it for the multimedia features and the Aero interface , however keep in mind all the advanced features of home premium and ultimate are very power hungry and can use a large amount of the CPU, ram and hdd . that's why many higher end systems use home premium and ultimate . but if its only basic stuff like surfing the web, playing music and streaming video then basic is OK

no none of them come with a good word processor. u would need to get microsoft office, or a free program like openoffice. home premium computer tend to be better than computer that just run home basic. if u dont care about cool graphic effects, or media center, go with home basic

home basic and premium come with the same word processor its called wordpad, same as was available in windows xp. the difference between basic and premium is mostly visual stuff. this website details the differences better.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsv...

you need to purchase software to do this word processing such as microsoft word or corel wordperfect, because they come with spell and grammar check and give you more formatting options than wordpad ever will.

Well Mine came with Microsoft Works, which has a word processor, but as someone else has said, it isn't fully compatible with Word. I like it, I've been using Microsoft works since it came with my old XP machine.

Neither does. Premium just adds lots of eye candy and fun stuff. I have been using OpenOffice ( http://www.openoffice.org/ ) for all my professional writing, for about three years; it is free of charge.

negative...

you have to buy microsoft office suite <students and teachers> edition if you really want to accomplish something when you'll write University term papers.

if you're solid computer end user you better off with Premium.

IMHO i'd stick with XP so far. but that's me

just go to openoffice/org and download open office. it's as good as microsoft's office program, completely compatible and free