7 different versions of Windows VISTA

[13Gigatons]

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/47665/47665.html?Ad=1

I'm guessing Ultimate will priced sky high.

Here's how the product editions will break down:

Windows Vista Starter Edition: Aimed at beginner computer users in emerging markets who can only afford a low cost PC. As with the XP version, Windows Vista Starter Edition is a subset of Home Edition, and will ship in a 32-bit version only (no 64-bit x64 version). Starter Edition will allow only three applications (and/or three windows) to run simultaneously, will provide Internet connectivity but not incoming network communications, and will not provide for logon passwords or Fast User Switching (FUS). Windows Vista Starter Edition is analogous to XP Starter Edition. This version will only be sold in emerging markets.

Windows Vista Home Basic Edition: A simple version of Windows Vista that is aimed at single PC homes. Windows Vista Home Basic is the baseline version of Windows Vista, and the version that all other product editions will build from. It will include features such as Windows Firewall, Windows Security Center, secure wireless networking, parental controls, anti-spam/anti-virus/anti-spyware functionality, network map, Windows Search, the Aero user interface, Movie Maker, Photo Library, Windows Media Player, Outlook Express with RSS support, P2P Messenger, and more. Windows Vista Home Basic Edition is roughly analogous to Windows XP Home Edition. This version is aimed at general consumers, Windows 9x/XP Starter Edition upgraders, and price sensitive/first-time buyers.

Windows Vista Home Premium Edition: Whole home entertainment and personal productivity throughout the home and on the go. As a true superset of Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition will include everything from Home Basic, as well as Media Center and Media Center Extender functionality (including Cable Card support), DVD video authoring and HDTV support, DVD ripping support (yes, you read that right), Tablet PC functionality, Mobility Center and other mobility and presentation features, auxiliary display support, P2P ad-hoc meeting capabilities, Wi-Fi auto-config and roaming, unified parental controls that work over multiple PCs, backup to network functionality, Internet File Sharing, Offline Folders, PC-to-PC sync, Sync Manager, and support for Quattro Home Server. Windows Vista Premium Edition is similar to XP Media Center Edition, except that it adds numerous other features and functionality, including Tablet PC support. My guess is that this will be the volume consumer offering in the Windows Vista timeframe (today, XP Pro is the dominant seller). This version is aimed at PC enthusiasts, multiple-PC homes, homes with kids, and notebook users.

Windows Vista Professional Edition: A powerful, reliable and secure OS for businesses of all sizes. Windows Vista Pro Edition will include domain join and management functionality, compatibility with non-Microsoft networking protocols (Netware, SNMP, etc.), Remote Desktop, IIS Web server, and Encrypted File System (EFS). Additionally, Pro Standard will include Tablet PC functionality. Windows Vista Pro is roughly analogous to XP Pro today. This version is aimed at business decision makers and IT managers and generalists.

Windows Vista Small Business Edition: Designed for small businesses without IT staff. Small Business Edition is a superset of Vista Pro Standard Edition, and includes the following unique features: Backup and Shadow Copy support, Castle and server-join networking, and PC fax and scanning utility. Additionally, Microsoft is looking at including a number of other features, many of which might be cut: These include Small Business Edition guided tour, pre-paid access to the Windows Live! Small Business or Microsoft Office Live! subscription services, Multi-PC Health (a managed version of Microsoft One Care Live), and membership in the Microsoft Small Business Club online service. Microsoft will offer a Step-Up program for Small Business Edition that will allow customers to upgrade to Windows Vista Enterprise Edition (see below) or Windows Vista Ultimate Edition (see below) at a reduced cost. This SKU is new to Windows Vista; there is no XP Small Business Edition. This version is aimed at small business owners and managers.

Windows Vista Enterprise Edition. Optimized for the enterprise, this version will be a true superset of Windows Vista Pro Edition. It will also include unique features such as Virtual PC, the multi-language user interface (MUI), and the Secure Startup/full volume encryption security technologies ("Cornerstone"). There is no analogous XP version for this product. This version is aimed at business decision makers, IT managers and decision makers, and information workers/general business users.

Windows Vista Ultimate Edition: The best operating system ever offered for a personal PC, optimized for the individual. Windows Vista Ultimate Edition is a superset of both Vista Home Premium and Vista Pro Edition, so it includes all of the features of both of those product versions, plus adds Game Performance Tweaker with integrated gaming experiences, a Podcast creation utility (under consideration, may be cut from product), and online "Club" services (exclusive access to music, movies, services and preferred customer care) and other offerings (also under consideration, may be cut from product). Microsoft is still investigating how to position its most impressive Windows release yet, and is looking into offering Ultimate Edition owners such services as extended A1 subscriptions, free music downloads, free movie downloads, Online Spotlight and entertainment software, preferred product support, and custom themes. There is nothing like Vista Ultimate Edition today. This version is aimed at high-end PC users and technology influencers, gamers, digital media enthusiasts, and students.

According to internal Microsoft documentation, the goal of the product edition differentiations in Windows Vista is to provide "clear value proposition" to all customer segments and take XP-era innovations, such as the Media Center and Tablet PC functionality, to the mainstream. Windows Vista is also being positioned as a transitionary product for the x64 platform: Almost all Windows Vista editions will be offered in both x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) versions. Microsoft expects to transition almost completely to x64 post-Vista.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Sounds complicated.

Your sig is huge.

 

[chcarnage]

Seven versions? Am I at Mc Donald's?

Seriously, some versions are obvious and the crippled one only exists to sell something in markets with sky-high piracy percentages. But I don't think it will work that way.

 

[drag]

That's the way it's always been with Microsoft.

For instance take Windows 2000:
Windows 2000 pro -- business desktop/workstation
Windows 2000 Server -- standard small single/dual(?) cpu server
Windows 2000 Advanced Server -- dual/quad(?) cpu server with extra stuff
Windows 2000 Datacenter -- high end scalable server system, many cpus.
Then there are other varations based on licenses and seats you can get, for example 'Exchange Server'.

With that Windows ME was the 'home' OS that they released at the time, then when windows XP was released, it's more of a updated version of Windows 2000 with toy-like GUI. And that was Windows XP home, and Windows XP pro, and later on Windows XP 'media edition'. With Windows 2003 they had at one point a few dozen different 'versions' or whatnot. Like a 'web' version, small business server, or exchange version.. so on and so forth. Something like that. Since then they calmed down a bit.

I expect that this is just speculation, some sort of marketing thing. They'll crop down the number to 3 or so before it gets released, I'd bet.

 

[JackMDS]

How many car Models GM offers?

:sun:

 

[Nothinman]

And I thought all of the anti-Linux people said that regular users were confused by too many choices?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
How many car Models GM offers?

:sun:

How many different Malibus does GM offer?

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: JackMDS
How many car Models GM offers?

:sun:

How many different Malibus does GM offer?

LoL

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: drag
That's the way it's always been with Microsoft.

For instance take Windows 2000:
Windows 2000 pro -- business desktop/workstation
Windows 2000 Server -- standard small single/dual(?) cpu server
Windows 2000 Advanced Server -- dual/quad(?) cpu server with extra stuff
Windows 2000 Datacenter -- high end scalable server system, many cpus.
Then there are other varations based on licenses and seats you can get, for example 'Exchange Server'.

With that Windows ME was the 'home' OS that they released at the time, then when windows XP was released, it's more of a updated version of Windows 2000 with toy-like GUI. And that was Windows XP home, and Windows XP pro, and later on Windows XP 'media edition'. With Windows 2003 they had at one point a few dozen different 'versions' or whatnot. Like a 'web' version, small business server, or exchange version.. so on and so forth. Something like that. Since then they calmed down a bit.

I expect that this is just speculation, some sort of marketing thing. They'll crop down the number to 3 or so before it gets released, I'd bet.

Longhorn server isn't even mentioned, this is just desktop and workstation.

 

[13Gigatons]

I'm thinking that Ultimate version will be widely pirated.

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
And I thought all of the anti-Linux people said that regular users were confused by too many choices?

The vast majority of users won't see the choice. They'll buy their HP, Gateway, or Dell, and it will come with whatever version unless they pay the $x00 extra for features they don't understand... and come post threads here when they run into something weird because of a version difference .

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: CTho9305

Originally posted by: Nothinman
And I thought all of the anti-Linux people said that regular users were confused by too many choices?

The vast majority of users won't see the choice. They'll buy their HP, Gateway, or Dell, and it will come with whatever version unless they pay the $x00 extra for features they don't understand... and come post threads here when they run into something weird because of a version difference .

Prepare for the "What's the difference between...?" threads now!

 

[intogamer]

:shocked:

 

[spyordie007]

Windows XP Starter Edition
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Media Center edition
Windows XP Tablet PC edition
Windows XP x64 edition

They have 6 SKUs now; 7 isnt really that much more. A lot of the functionality from MCE and Tablet PC is going to be rolled into vista and than they are going to break it apart in differant revisions.

Also this list of SKUs is far from finalized. Microsoft may very well decide to combine some of these and/or create new ones.

 

[Corporate Thug]

i think MS and ATi are working together to produce as many similar yet slightly different products as possible...

 

[firewall]

Originally posted by: chcarnage
Seven versions? Am I at Mc Donald's?

Seriously, some versions are obvious and the crippled one only exists to sell something in markets with sky-high piracy percentages. But I don't think it will work that way.

Seems like a fools strategy IMO. Pirates will begin selling the Ultimate version with all the features. If somone foolish will want the handicapped diseased versions with so restricted functionality, they have a much better option in Linux.

 

[firewall]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
I'm thinking that Ultimate version will be widely pirated.

 

[doornail]

How about Windows Vista: No IE, Outlook, MSN, or Media Player Edition?

I'd pay extra for that!

I have to hand it to Microsoft -- in just a few years they've gone from having someone buy a copy of Windows and load it on multiple computers to having people buy multiple copies of Windows for the same computer.

 

[kamper]

So first they develop the best version with all the features. It's all ready to go to market. Then they pay for more engineering to purposely castrate the good versions. Then they pay for marketing to put a huge spin on it all. And this, in the end, is supposed to deliver more "value"? This is why it's better to have software that you can do whatever the f**k you want with (free software).

 

[stash]

Where's that option to hide sigs...?

Oh yeah. The seven SKUs plan leaked. Yawn. As Erik says, theres six versions now.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Interesting. I can't decide if I'd want Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate. I don't necessarily think so many versions is a good thing... But in any case, my choice will likely be heavily influenced by my university's software licensing agreement - whichever version I can buy for under $20, I'll get.

 

[Jeff7]

"Clear value proposition". They'll probably ALL still be pretty damn expensive.

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Sounds complicated.

Your sig is huge.

I agree! If this is true, it is just stupid.

This is no way to keep a 95% market share, IMO. Especially, when OS X does pretty much everything out of the box, as do most Linux distro's.

 

[Nothinman]

"Clear value proposition". They'll probably ALL still be pretty damn expensive.

If you think about how much time alone goes into a Windows release it's really not that bad. The amount of money spent on hardware and employees alone has to be enormous.

 

[Jeff7]

Ok, to take the analogy to cars.
Sure, a BMW might take a lot of work, and it may be worth it, but you've got other options that easily get the job done for considerably less money. Not exactly the case here. And don't say Linux. Linux is not yet ready to compete directly with Windows. It is too different for the average user to adapt to easily. If you switch from a BMW to a cheap car, you'll still figure it out pretty quickly. Not so with a Windows to Linux switch.
I do look forward to seeing their prices though. Should be interesting.