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The many faces of Windows 7
Here's the rundown:
- Windows 7 Starter Edition - for netbooks and developing markets, only runs 3 apps at a time
- Windows 7 Home Basic - also for emerging markets
- Windows 7 Home Premium - this version gets you Windows Media Center and other home use features
- Windows 7 Professional - the equivalent of Windows Vista Business, with extra security features
- Windows 7 Enterprise - this version will be sold in volume licenses for businesses
- Windows 7 Ultimate - has most of the features of the Enterprise version, but will be sold to end users
Update: As many people have pointed out in the comments, Windows has offered Starter Edition software to customers in developing nations in the past. But Windows 7 Starter Edition is different, in that Microsoft will be offering it in developed nations for the first time, specifically for manufacturers who are looking for a low cost operating system to load on netbooks.
Check out our complete coverage of Windows 7:
Windows 7 hands on - Impressive at every turn
Another Windows 7 secret revealed; desktop to have slideshows
Run Windows 7 on two computers with one install
Windows 7's Superbar in action - is it made for multitouch?
Windows 7 beta download extended
Comments
19
Subscribe to commentsScottMGSFeb 3rd 2009 1:41PM
That's disappointing. My Eee PC is more powerful than all but the last computer I bought. Why should I accept an operating system that makes a toy out of a perfectly good netbook?
JonFeb 3rd 2009 1:56PM
You do know you can buy any version you want ?
PeterFeb 3rd 2009 2:00PM
No one is saying you can buy a netbook ONLY with Starter, just that Starter is designed for those. I'm sure you will be able to buy a netbook with Ultimate if you want. The same way you can buy a laptop today with anything from Vista Basic to Ultimate.
BradleyFeb 3rd 2009 2:14PM
The fact that Microsoft even wastes time with the "Starter" edition that runs three apps at a time is a flat out joke. By the time the boneheads up in redmond figure it out, it will be too late... it might already be too late...
hazardFeb 3rd 2009 10:45PM
Ever heard the saying .. ignorance breeds contempt.
ChristianFeb 3rd 2009 3:07PM
I only recommend having the all of them still be able to have aero design or it'll be crap for me.
To be a devil's advocate, the starter makes sense since not everyone even knows how to multitask more than 3 apps though I recommend letting that version be something that's capable of instant-on or something; being able to boot in 10 seconds or less.
TurboFoolFeb 3rd 2009 3:08PM
You failed to mention some important facts:
Unlike the Vista versions, this is a fully tiered structure. Windows 7 Professional includes EVERYTHING Home Premium has, PLUS the business functionality, and Enterprise/Ultimate includes ALL of that, plus additional functions. So unlike the confusion Business vs. Home Premium caused with certain features being in only one, 7 keeps every feature as it goes up the line.
Also, to cancel out the confusion of all those versions, the only ones any average joe will see are: Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate as a rare bonus with certain packages. Three versions is pretty darn simple, and since there's no longer a downside to a higher version, there's no feature confusion. Home user? Get Home Premium. Need to join a domain or host remote desktop (just like in XP Pro)? Get Professional. Enterprise is irrelevant to home users, as it's available ONLY as a VLK for large businesses, and Ultimate's identical but without the VLK.
Three versions works for me. As long as pricing's reasonable I have no complaints.
Eli GundryFeb 3rd 2009 10:43PM
You may pick up your door prize of one internets on the way out/
burnblueFeb 3rd 2009 3:45PM
I don't know why people carry on about this. Starter isn't for you, Enterprise isn't for you. You won't even see these unless you want them. Home Basic isn't even available to you. That means all you'll see on the shelf is Home Premium and Professional, just like XP. For those that gotta have Enterprise features and know where to look, you can buy Ultimate... but it won't be in your face to confuse you. Again, Ultimate has *Enterprise* features (all, not most), but it's just individual instead of volume licensing.
Consumers buying new PCs will get Home, most geeks building their own PCs will get Professional. It's that simple.
ScottFeb 3rd 2009 4:13PM
The seventh choice: OS X
Simple.
Muffin_manFeb 3rd 2009 5:52PM
Your comment is irrelevant and simply flame bait.
ScottMGSFeb 3rd 2009 4:48PM
Sure, I *could* buy any of them but that would put a significant crimp in the ol' tight budget. I would go eeebuntu or EeePClinuxOS instead.
There are plenty of low-cost operating systems available but Windows Version 7 Starter Edition is the most expensive and least functional. Might as well call it "Windows Version 7 - The Return of Bob"
ScottFeb 3rd 2009 4:58PM
Once again proving that people will complain about Microsoft just to complain about Microsoft. Tell me, what's wrong with having options? If you only want to use "X," do you want to be forced to pay for Y and Z, too? If you can only afford $, wouldn't you rather have a couple options costing $, instead of one single version costing $$$?
As for the netbook issue, that's a tough call; do you lose money by charging less for more, and do you make owners of other hardware devices subsidize those losses? My initial opinion is to support the installation of the lower-cost editions, and if consumers want to upgrade to Home Premium, they'll have to pay. Of course, they'll complain about that, too...
GlutenBoyFeb 3rd 2009 7:27PM
The problem is that most of the time I want X and Y, but I do not want Z, E, and T. So I have to pay $$ more on top of $ just to have Y.
I really think they should just sell everything for 99$, everyone will buy it. Even me.
zushibaFeb 3rd 2009 5:11PM
If they introduce Home basic for ~$50 it'll be the most popular OS in the last 10 years.
KeegdnaBFeb 3rd 2009 9:10PM
OK, so I need some clarification here. According to Wikipedia (hence, why I'm a bit skeptical) it says that only Home Premium and Ultimate can manage Homegroups and that Pro can only join them. Somehow I doubt that would be the case since they said Pro has all Home features, and would be a turn-off for people who want Pro but are still using it on a home network.
KeegdnaBFeb 3rd 2009 10:43PM
....and the article has been altered
non-issue
Jash SayaniFeb 4th 2009 3:13PM
Hats off to MS! They really love screwing things....
AJSCOTTFeb 5th 2009 7:38AM
I say that everyone should just start using Linux... With Linux, you dont have to worry about anything going majorly wrong. Windows in the other hand keeps getting crappyer and crappyer with every OS that comes out.