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Microsoft announces four Windows 8 editions

by Parm Mann on 17 April 2012, 09:32

Tags: Windows 8

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There's still no official release date for Windows 8, but we now know that when Microsoft's next major operating system does choose to arrive, it'll do so in four unique flavours.

Sounds complicated, but Microsoft has made a concerted effort to streamline the Windows 8 product editions and, on release, home consumers will have their choice narrowed down to one. In contrast to Windows 7, which launched in Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate editions (to name but a few), the one consumer edition of Windows 8 will be known simply as... you got it, Windows 8.

The primary edition will support 32-bit and 64-bit systems powered by x86 processors, and will offer in-place upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Beyond the core Windows 8 package, Microsoft will also make available Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise for business users and IT organisations. Microsoft's Pro edition will offer all the features of Windows 8 plus "features for encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity" and an option to add-on Windows Media Center. The Enterprise edition, meanwhile, will serve the needs of customers with software assurance agreements.

Three logical product editions thus far, but then there's a fourth dubbed Windows RT (yes, that's without an 8). Introduced by Microsoft as "the newest member of the Windows family," this single edition will not be available to purchase as standalone software but will instead come pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors. Named, presumably, after the new Windows runtime (WinRT), this edition will include a touch-optimised version of Microsoft Office as standard, but will not support the installation of any x86 software - relying, instead, on Metro Apps.

It's an interesting approach, and we're looking forward to seeing the first batch of Windows RT tablets, but the product name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. And Internet Explorer, Office and Microsoft Apps pre-installed by default? The EU might have something to say about that.

A breakdown of the key features belonging to each of the Windows 8 editions can be found below, and if you're hoping to pick up Windows 8 on the cheap, we've good news as Microsoft has confirmed that it will run 'limited-time programs and promotions' at launch.


Key Features Windows 8 Windows RT Windows 8 Pro Windows 8 Enterprise
Availability
Retail
OEM Only
Retail
Enterprise Only
Processor support
x86-64
ARM
x86-64
x86-64
Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium
x
 
x
x
Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate  
 
x
x
Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles
x
x
x
x
Windows Store
x
x
x
x
Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video)
x
x
x
x
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)  
x
 
 
Internet Explorer 10
x
x
x
x
Device encryption  
x
 
 
Connected standby
x
x
x
x
Microsoft account
x
x
x
x
Desktop
x
x
x
x
Installation of x86/64 and desktop software
x
 
x
x
Updated Windows Explorer
x
x
x
x
Windows Defender
x
x
x
x
SmartScreen
x
x
x
x
Windows Update
x
x
x
x
Enhanced Task Manager
x
x
x
x
Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs)
x
x
x
x
Better multiple monitor support
x
x
x
x
Storage Spaces
x
 
x
x
Windows Media Player
x
 
x
x
Exchange ActiveSync
x
x
x
x
File history
x
x
x
x
ISO / VHD mount
x
x
x
x
Mobile broadband features
x
x
x
x
Picture password
x
x
x
x
Play To
x
x
x
x
Remote Desktop (client)
x
x
x
x
Reset and refresh your PC
x
x
x
x
Snap
x
x
x
x
Touch and Thumb keyboard
x
x
x
x
Trusted boot
x
x
x
x
VPN client
x
x
x
x
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go  
 
x
x
Boot from VHD  
 
x
x
Client Hyper-V  
 
x
x
Domain Join  
 
x
x
Encrypting File System  
 
x
x
Group Policy  
 
x
x
Remote Desktop (host)  
 
x
x
Advanced features for IT organisations (deployment, virtualisation, security)
x



HEXUS Forums :: 27 Comments

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Interested what the EU is going to say about the pre-installed programs, I can remember a huge fine against Microsoft for automatic installing I.E.-Explorer on their machines without giving the costumer a opportunity to choose.
Wonder how cheap Windows RT will be pitched to OEMs? Let face it, it needs to be cheap to compete with Android “couple of dollars patient protection licences” and to also ensure the tablets are competitive in price with ipads as lets face it very few people (apart from a few on here) will pay extra for a Microsoft tablet. For people anti-apple like me we already have android to choose from…
I like the fact that Microsoft has lowered the amount of versions available.
Im just wondering what the preorder price will be now.
Not that I'm desperate for it - but the ability to obtain OEM style licenses for the -RT version would be nice. The option to install Win8 on an existing tablet (even if only to try) rather than having to buy a new one would be convenient, even if it is something I myself am not planning to do.
we now know that when Microsoft's next major operating system does choose to arrive, it'll do so in four unique flavours.
Good idea - nice and simple to understand. Win8 for Home; Win8Pro for SoHo/SMB; Win8 Enterprise for the mega corps; and Win8RT for tablets. None of this “Starter” nonsense - although I suspect that there might be a Win8RT/N for Europe.
The primary edition will support 32-bit and 64-bit systems powered by x86 processors, and will offer in-place upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium.
Hmm, anyone going to use this? Personally I'm thinking it might be better to use the user account backup feature in my current Win7Pro and then restore that into a new installation of Win8Pro.
Named, presumably, after the new Windows runtime (WinRT), this edition will include a touch-optimised version of Microsoft Office as standard, but will not support the installation of any x86 software - relying, instead, on Metro Apps
Oooh, the EU's not going to like Office pre-installed. :eek: Plus I'm not 100% convinced - surely it's going to put the price of Win8RT devices up? Expect to see a “this is anti-competitive” statement from the EU and then a “Europeanised” version of Win8RT.

I can see the point of not being able to run x86 code on ARM devices, but I thought MS were supposed to be making it “simple” to generate an ARM version from existing source - so it wasn't supposed to be a “big deal” to get your favourite x86 programs in a compatible version. If MS don't do this then surely it's going to mean a restrictive set of apps for Win8 tablets, which in turn means that they're going to fail against Android and iOS devices?

I'll wait for some benchmarks etc of Windows8, but if PC World/Amazon/etc do a good trade-up deal (like was done for Windows7) then I'll be tempted to slap in that pre-order.