Microsoft At Sixes With Windows 7s

Author Gordon Kelly
Published 4th Feb 2009
Microsoft At Sixes With Windows 7s
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Oh Microsoft, you were doing so well - how could you...?

To prove it still hasn't learnt from all the mistakes it made with Vista, Microsoft has officially confirmed the Windows 7 SKUs - all six of them. Yes my chums, sadly pcbeta.com was right last month (though it only detected five - as pictured below) and here's the damage:

Windows 7 Starter
Super budget edition which limits users to using three simultaneous applications (why oh why?!) and lacks the snazzy Aero UI

Windows 7 Home Basic
Shipping only to emerging markets (also lacking Aero UI)

Windows 7 Home Premium
The one you're most likely to end up with: mass availability, unlimited simultaneous applications, Aero UI, multi-touch functionality, Media Center integration and disc burning with home networking


Windows 7 Professional
OEM only edition which builds on Premium by offering more advanced networking including domain support and offline folders as well as Mobility Center and a Presentation Mode

Windows 7 Enterprise
Sold with volume licences (so often the edition to get hacked and passed around the torrents), it adds Branch Cache, Direct Access and BitLocker to the Professional feature list.

Windows 7 Ultimate
The edition we never thought we'd see again after the horrendously overpriced and neglected Vista version. It will be produced in limited numbers and combines the feature set of Enterprise with special Microsoft made 'bonus' content. Hopefully this time that will be more than a few incidental games and destroy-your-battery-life video wallpapers .

Pricing on the sextet has yet to be revealed but expect them to stick close to the current Vista breakdowns and hey, at least Microsoft now has one black and white flaw to work on for Windows 8...

Link:
via Geekzone NZ

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Latest 4 of 27 Comments

Have your say: Leave a comment below about this article.

comment Ardjuna said on 4th February 2009

@smc8788: Very good point, and apart from all the other software (and, let's be honest, some hardware too) that's exclusive to or cheaper 'on Windows', gaming a... more

comment basicasic said on 4th February 2009

@smc8788 - very true. If you're serious about playing games on your PC then Windows it is. I did buy an Xbox when I switched to Ubuntu.

@Ardjuna - Honestly I ha... more

comment stranded said on 4th February 2009

I agree with basicasic. Only games make buying (eehm...or "using") Windows thinkable. I expect nothing new from Win7, without better gaming experience they are dead. Hila... more

comment Ohmz said on 4th February 2009

@ basicasic, I tried Ubuntu on my PC and found it too confusing, too unfamiliar. I'd love to get out of Microsofts' clutches, I don't PC game at all. I like the look... more

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