7 different versions of Windows VISTA

[Nothinman]

That's why the anti-trust lawsuit happened. But if you don't want to use Windows you do have choices, it's just up to you whether it's more worthwhile to learn how to use Linux or drop money on Windows.

 

[Shamrock]

Originally posted by: 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

But only 2 of those came out at one time (Home & Pro), are the 7 Vistas expected to come out all at once?

AFAIK, it was Home & Pro, then MC, then Tablet, then x64, then Starter edition...correct me if I'm wrong. In a 4 year span.

 

[Nocturnal]

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.

Well the thing is this isn't even considering the types of "Server" OSes that are going to be released by MS in the near distant future. The OSes being released under Vista are just regular OSes for everyday people, not Server OSes.

 

[13Gigatons]

If Microsoft was smart they would build a basic OS and let you add on features for a price. No need to buy any "edition".

 

[Sunner]

Damn....

 

[firewall]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
If Microsoft was smart they would build a basic OS and let you add on features for a price. No need to buy any "edition".

I would call for 2 permenant editions: Home and Professional and a custom version where you select each feature you pay for.

 

[makken]

Originally posted by: asadasif

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
If Microsoft was smart they would build a basic OS and let you add on features for a price. No need to buy any "edition".

I would call for 2 permenant editions: Home and Professional and a custom version where you select each feature you pay for.

I think that's the best way to do it. Have 3 main lines, then under each, have specialized "modules" of software packages. ie:

Windows Vista Home
-Home Starter / Basic Edition
-Home Media Center Edition
-Home Notebook Edition
-Home Tablet Notebook Edition
Windows Vista Professional
-Professional Performance Edition
-Professional Business Edition
-Professional Notebook Edition
-Professional Tablet Notebook Edition
Windows Vista Server
-Web Server Edition
-File Server Edition
-Media Server Edition

Even more choices there, but it'll be a lot less confusing as to which one to get. Plus all of the features being modular means you can pick and choose which ones you want to add. (eg. If you have a notebook used for Lan parties, you can buy the Notebook edition (advanced power management and wi-fi features), then buy and download the Performance modular software (benchmarking and tweaks optimized for gaming). then you can quickly switch which modular software you want active.

Honestly, Part of me thinks that MS did all of that purposly to get people to just buy the Ultimate edition over everything else.

 

[chcarnage]

What about

Windows Vista
Windows Vista Server Edition

like Apple handles it? Business models aside, are there reasons for not keeping it that simple?

 

[Phoenix86]

XP has about as many versions...

Home, Pro, OEM, VLA, 64 Pro, SE, MCE, tablet, and it wouldn't suprise me if there was one or two I'm missing.

 

[slash196]

The Ultimate Edition: Geared towards gamers who know enough to care, but not enough to know better. "Game Performance Tweaker"? More like "Useless bell and/or whistle designed to add 20 dollars to the retail price".

 

[Zedtom]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
If Microsoft was smart they would build a basic OS and let you add on features for a price. No need to buy any "edition".

Maybe some company with deep pockets, (Google?), will do just that.

 

[Alex]

i think its pretty decent and the differences are pretty clear-cut to me... they just need to make sure they market it correctly so as not to confuse consumers...

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
XP has about as many versions...

Home, Pro, OEM, VLA, 64 Pro, SE, MCE, tablet, and it wouldn't suprise me if there was one or two I'm missing.

OEM isn't a version in itself, that's just a designation, there's no difference between an OEM Pro and a Retail Pro, WPA issues aside.
Tablet isn't sold anywhere as far as I know, you just get it with tablet computers, same with MCE no?
Same with x64 Pro, it's not a version in it's own right, it's just a 64 bit version of the regular pro(though it's supposedly based on 5.2 rather than 5.1).

What you'll see in a store is typically just Home and Pro.

 

[imported_Stew]

Sheesh, this is ridiculous. I just hope Ultimate isn't over 300 bucks :/

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: Sunner
What you'll see in a store is typically just Home and Pro (XP).

...and that's going to change how?

People are really missing the point here.

Windows Vista Starter Edition=Windows XP Starter Edition.
Windows Vista Home Basic Edition=Windows XP Home.
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition=Windows XP MCE.
Windows Vista Professional Edition=Windows XP Pro.

You *might* see one of the other 3 new ones on the shelf, probably Small Business.

edit: The differences in the last three are laughable, they really should be one product.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: Sunner
What you'll see in a store is typically just Home and Pro (XP).

...and that's going to change how?

People are really missing the point here.

Windows Vista Starter Edition=Windows XP Starter Edition.
Windows Vista Home Basic Edition=Windows XP Home.
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition=Windows XP MCE.
Windows Vista Professional Edition=Windows XP Pro.

You *might* see one of the other 3 new ones on the shelf, probably Small Business.

edit: The differences in the last three are laughable, they really should be one product.

Don't think I've ever seen MCE on the shelf.
Guessing Ultimate will be sold retail, maybe Premium, definitely Pro, possibly SBE, still an assload of versions.

 

[13Gigatons]

Most of the editions will come in 32 bit and 64 bit flavors.

 

[b4u]

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

This one made me change my sig ...

 

[biostud]

with this very short overview of the features : http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp

I don't think I will have any problems choosing the home premium edition. I don't need all those advanced networking options, basically I just need a gaming/media computer and that seems to fit my needs.

 

[tbooth]

Has there been any word on whether or not developers will be releasing software/drivers in 64-bit for most new releases by the time Vista is released? I'm just curious if it will be feasible to run a 64-bit OS on a primary system (gaming/work) by then. I realize this is probably speculation, but I was wondering if people had any thoughts or official info on this.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: tbooth
Has there been any word on whether or not developers will be releasing software/drivers in 64-bit for most new releases by the time Vista is released? I'm just curious if it will be feasible to run a 64-bit OS on a primary system (gaming/work) by then. I realize this is probably speculation, but I was wondering if people had any thoughts or official info on this.

hopefully vista will have unified 32/64-bit drivers........ some way.

 

[daveshel]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: Sunner
What you'll see in a store is typically just Home and Pro (XP).

...and that's going to change how?

People are really missing the point here.

Windows Vista Starter Edition=Windows XP Starter Edition.
Windows Vista Home Basic Edition=Windows XP Home.
Windows Vista Home Premium Edition=Windows XP MCE.
Windows Vista Professional Edition=Windows XP Pro.

You *might* see one of the other 3 new ones on the shelf, probably Small Business.

edit: The differences in the last three are laughable, they really should be one product.

But this round has more functionality that was previously available in all versions stripped out in the lower versions - stuff like EFS, offline folders. That wasn't going on so much in XP.

 

[BladeVenom]

There will be 7 main editions, then there will be 32 and 64 bit editions, so that's 14 versions. Then they'll also have to have their N, no media, versions of those. So we are looking at 28 flavors of Windows Vista, and that's just to start with.

What happens when new technologies come out, or MS decides they need so new market angle? We'll get even more versions. Like with Windows Media edition, and Windows 64. By the time they make their next new operating system Windows will have 101 flavors.

 

[scottish144]

My main issue with this is the 64bitness. Windows XP64 is already a proven disaster in compatability. Even some of MS's own products didn't run on it. I would like to switch to 64-bit for the performance/memory increase, but XP64's record makes me skeptical. Personally, I'll wait a few months and read the reviews (and AT Postings ) to see how the compatability turns out. If Vista 64-bot DOES work, it may cause a huge rush in 64 bit software which, combined with a nice Dual Core = HUGE performance increase. Comps without a dual core would still be at least 1.5x faster. As far as the CPU goes, that turns an A64 4000+ into a A64 6000+!!!!!

 

[JonnyBlaze]

Originally posted by: scottish144
Comps without a dual core would still be at least 1.5x faster. As far as the CPU goes, that turns an A64 4000+ into a A64 6000+!!!!!

do you really believe that??