Windows 7: The Six Versions Explained

5 comments | 14I like it!
March 2, 2009, 09:43 AM —  CIO.com — 

Despite pleas from users to stop the confusion and craft one version of Windows 7, Microsoft is continuing down the path it followed with XP and Vista releasing multiple versions or SKUs (stock-keeping units) of Windows 7.

Six Windows 7 versions, to be precise. But most users only need to decide between two versions. Microsoft has said that 80 percent of users will be deploying Windows 7 Home Premium (consumers) or Windows 7 Professional (small businesses, remote workers). This is where Microsoft will put most of its marketing muscle.

"We have over 1 billion customers. It's hard to satisfy all of them [with a single version]," Windows General Manager Mike Ybarra has said. "There are vocal customers who want every feature, and more regular consumers who say 'I want a version that can grow with me.'"

Yet some analysts are accusing Microsoft of manipulating customers and padding profit margins with the high number of versions and bloggers are emphasizing that three versions are enough.

Here's a look at the features of each of the six Windows flavors and who might want them. Microsoft has not yet announced pricing for Windows 7.

Windows 7 Starter

This is the bare-bones, 32-bit only version of Windows 7 intended for users in developing countries, to serve the most basic computing needs.

Starter is designed for lightweight, portable netbooks, though Microsoft claims any of its versions will be able to run on netbooks.

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Comments

Please - no Ultimate Extras versions

Vista didn't delivery on the hyped over-priced Vista Ultimate version. The few extras delivered were readily available for free on any freeware site. I'll stick with the premium version this time, unless I abandon Windows for Apple in the next few months.
| reply

Waste of Time Article

May I ask, Shane, why you have posted your same exact article from a week ago? Do you feel you did not receive enough attention?
| reply

FREE upgrade from Vista to 7

So, if we already have a valid Vista COA, do we get a free upgrade to the same level Win7?
I've been using Win7 beta for a month or so and really enjoy the speed over XP.
Wish I could say the same about Vista. I had to remove it and replace it with XPP, just too slow to boot and sounded like it was going to kill my HD.
While Vista & Win7 may share the same kernel, Win7 is a fast boot, operation and shutdown with a minimum of UAC interference.
MS, please throw us dissatified Vista users a bone!
| reply
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Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
- mburton325

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