windows 7 - Versions Annouced

[DaveTaylor]

Windows 7 Starter
Market: Worldwide availability this time but with new PCs only
Key features: Enhanced taskbar, Jump Lists, Windows Media Player, Backup and Restore, Action Center, Device Stage, Play To, Fax and Scan, basic games
What's missing: Aero Glass, many Aero desktop enhancements, Windows Touch, Media Center, Live thumbnail previews, Home Group creation

This version will only be sold through PC makers to users, but unlike with Vista, it will be sold worldwide. This suggests that netbook makers will choose this version, even in the US. As with previous Windows Starter Edition products, it is limited in some ways: You can run only three applications at once, don't get Windows 7's full mobility capabilities, and can participate in but not create a Home Group. Also, there's no Aero Glass.

Windows 7 Home Premium
Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Aero Glass, Aero Background, Windows Touch, Home Group creation, Media Center, DVD playback and authoring, premium games
What's missing: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, advanced backup, EFS, Mobility Center, Offline Folders

The volume Windows 7 offering for consumers builds on Starter and includes Mobility Center, Aero Glass, advanced windows navigation features like Aero Snap and Aero Peek, and multi-touch, as well as the ability to both create and participate in Home Groups. Home Premium will be sold at retail and be included with new computers.

Windows 7 Professional
Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, location aware printing, EFS, Mobility Center, Presentation Mode, Offline Folders
What's missing: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD

This volume Windows 7 version builds on Home Premium and adds features like domain join, Group Policy (GP) controls, location aware printing, advanced backup, EFS, and offline folders. Pro will be sold at retail and be included with new computers

Windows 7 Enterprise
Market: Volume-license business customers only
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What's missing: Retail licensing

As before, Enterprise is aimed at Microsoft's Software Assurance (SA) volume license customers. This time, however, Enterprise is a superset of Professional and adds much-heralded Windows 7 features like Direct Access, Branch Cache, BitLocker, and BitLocker To Go.

Windows 7 Ultimate
Market: Retail market, limited availability
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What's missing: Volume licensing

For those few customers who simply must have everything, Windows 7 Ultimate offers all of the features from Enterprise but loses the volume licensing requirement. So you can think of Ultimate edition as Enterprise for consumers (and other retail customers).

Windows 7 Ultimate is kind of a wild-card. It will be available at retail and with new PCs, but Microsoft suggested that it will not be heavily marketed and will instead be "offer-based" via occasional promotions and offers from both PC makers and retailers.

"We're experimenting with the kinds of offers we can make for Windows 7 Ultimate," Veghte said. "It's going to be a low-single digit run rate (i.e. low market share) product. We expect retailers and OEMs to occasionally offer Ultimate with new PCs as part of special promotions. But in terms of run rate, it will be a tiny, tiny percentage of the volume. We will keep the marketing energy on Home Premium and Professional."

[kk.]

basically the same editions as vista but with different features on some of them?

and what!! only 3 applications with the starter one!? whats the point!! Whens W7 meant to be out?

[Agnostic Bear]

I imagine I'll be getting Professional or Home Premium then :8

[Soy]

I'll get it ASAP, can't stand vista.

[Turbocom]

Heres the thing I hate with Microsoft. They make an operating system and have multiple versions.

Windows XP
- Windows XP Home Edition
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows XP Media Center Edition

There was no difference between HOME and PRO, I did a lot of research and it has nothing different.

Windows XP PRO, and Media are the exact same except Media has an enhanced Media Player.

Windows Vista

There really was no difference between any of them except Basic which I wouldn't even have released.

Can anyone honestly tell me the difference between home premium and ultimate without looking it up?

What Microsoft doesn't understand is people don't wanna be standing in FutureShop or Best Buy debating on what version to buy. They want to pick up a package, pick up an office package check out and go.

They have failed with these versions, and I think they will fail with all these versions. Ultimate should be the only one, Office 07 Ultimate should be the only one.


I'm going to get Ultimate when it comes out because I love it.

[DaveTaylor]

i'll prob get ultimate again....

[Chippiewill]

You can pay for the useless extra features if you want.....

Like bitlocker and drive encryption e.t.c. (US goverment still finds the porn on your laptop -.-).

Tbh though there should be a fully optional version where at install you can tick any features you want and each bit is priced.

[Jordy]

There's also Home Basic isn't there which is only being released in developing nations? This'll be somewhere between Starter and Home Premium.

[kk.]

Heres the thing I hate with Microsoft. They make an operating system and have multiple versions.

Windows XP
- Windows XP Home Edition
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows XP Media Center Edition

There was no difference between HOME and PRO, I did a lot of research and it has nothing different.

Windows XP PRO, and Media are the exact same except Media has an enhanced Media Player.

Windows Vista

There really was no difference between any of them except Basic which I wouldn't even have released.

Can anyone honestly tell me the difference between home premium and ultimate without looking it up?

What Microsoft doesn't understand is people don't wanna be standing in FutureShop or Best Buy debating on what version to buy. They want to pick up a package, pick up an office package check out and go.

They have failed with these versions, and I think they will fail with all these versions. Ultimate should be the only one, Office 07 Ultimate should be the only one.


I'm going to get Ultimate when it comes out because I love it.

you have absolutely no idea why they have different packages... Its called supply and demand. Having different packages means that they can target 4 different markets and 4 different price ranges. People will tend to go for the one they can afford. So, for arguments sake say the packages were 50, 100, 150 and 200. People who earn £75 can only buy the £50 package and not above. People who earn over £100, can go for both the first two packages. But because they can afford it, they will normally buy the £100 package. Now, this goes on and on for the next two packages.

Now say they only offered a £125 package. people who could buy the 50 and 100 package are buggared. They cant afford it and so microsoft lose out. People who can afford the £200 package will want to spend more but are content to spend less. Theyre getting mroe than there moneys worth.

Its all about stretching your profit margins. People will spend time picking a package because they can. It happens...

ill probably get ultimate or premium

[GommeInc]

Can anyone honestly tell me the difference between home premium and ultimate without looking it up?

I'm going to get Ultimate when it comes out because I love it.

Am I the only one who noticed how slightly hypocritical that was ?

I'd just get Home Prem. or Professional, not too fussed.