Microsoft announces four Windows 8 editions

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.