Explained: The Different Versions of Windows 7
By
Tom Macmillan
There are actually six different versions of Microsoft's current
flagship operating system. This articles aims to describe the
differences between them. We'll explore each one in order of
sophistication, examining some of the features that each possesses. It's
worth noting that each 'upgrade' contains all the features of the
previous version, so there is no kind of trade-off when changing
versions.
Firstly, Starter is the most basic, only available in 32-bit (all the other versions allow for 32- and 64-bit) and has very few features that can be modified by the user - the desktop wallpaper and other visual features are no editable. This version is suited to simple netbooks and other small, low-powered devices.
Home Basic is similar to Home Premium (see below) but is aimed at "emerging markets" (South America, Africa etc) and has fewer features.
Home Premium is the version that most people will be familiar with, as it is best suited to home PC use and includes Windows Media Centre for things like home movies and video editing.
Targeted at small businesses, Professional has some extra features suited to the corporate environment such as printer location tools, backups, and the useful XP Mode.
Enterprise is similarly aimed at the corporate sector but is sold through Microsoft's licensing channel (Microsoft Software Assurance). It contains a number of benefits such as a Multi-lingual user interface and support for UNIX applications.
Ultimate has all the same features as Enterprise but is available for home use. It is possible to upgrade from Vista to Ultimate without doing a complete re-install; this is not possible with Enterprise.
In conclusion, it's somewhat unclear why there are so many versions of the same basic OS. Home Premium is what is bundled with the majority of PC sold in consolidated markets (i.e the Western world, US, UK, Western Europe and so on) and can be considered, to an extent, the default or standard edition. The differences between Home Basic (for emerging markets) and Home Premium are puzzling: Microsoft seem to be differentiating for the sake of it. Market segmentation is important, and the advanced editions like Enterprise and Ultimate are understandable, but it seems odd to hobble certain users based on geographical location.
Finally, it's interesting to note that whatever version you have installed on your machine, it will contain every available feature (as in Enterprise or Ultimate) but you only have access to the version you have installed. Upgrading to a more advanced version simply means unlocking more features.
-Tom Macmillan
Firstly, Starter is the most basic, only available in 32-bit (all the other versions allow for 32- and 64-bit) and has very few features that can be modified by the user - the desktop wallpaper and other visual features are no editable. This version is suited to simple netbooks and other small, low-powered devices.
Home Basic is similar to Home Premium (see below) but is aimed at "emerging markets" (South America, Africa etc) and has fewer features.
Home Premium is the version that most people will be familiar with, as it is best suited to home PC use and includes Windows Media Centre for things like home movies and video editing.
Targeted at small businesses, Professional has some extra features suited to the corporate environment such as printer location tools, backups, and the useful XP Mode.
Enterprise is similarly aimed at the corporate sector but is sold through Microsoft's licensing channel (Microsoft Software Assurance). It contains a number of benefits such as a Multi-lingual user interface and support for UNIX applications.
Ultimate has all the same features as Enterprise but is available for home use. It is possible to upgrade from Vista to Ultimate without doing a complete re-install; this is not possible with Enterprise.
In conclusion, it's somewhat unclear why there are so many versions of the same basic OS. Home Premium is what is bundled with the majority of PC sold in consolidated markets (i.e the Western world, US, UK, Western Europe and so on) and can be considered, to an extent, the default or standard edition. The differences between Home Basic (for emerging markets) and Home Premium are puzzling: Microsoft seem to be differentiating for the sake of it. Market segmentation is important, and the advanced editions like Enterprise and Ultimate are understandable, but it seems odd to hobble certain users based on geographical location.
Finally, it's interesting to note that whatever version you have installed on your machine, it will contain every available feature (as in Enterprise or Ultimate) but you only have access to the version you have installed. Upgrading to a more advanced version simply means unlocking more features.
-Tom Macmillan
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