Paul Thurrott, the news editor for Windows IT Pro reported that the Windows Vista aka code name Longhorn will ship in no less than 7 different editions or SKUs.
Windows Vista will be available in two categories, Home and Business as that of XP Home and Professional. Vista Home category will have four product editions and three in Business category. A brief overview of all seven are listed below:
- HOME CATEGORY
- Starter Edition
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- For users in emerging markets who can only afford a low cost PC
- Available only in 32-bit
- Will allow only three applications and/or three windows to run simultaneously
- Will not allow incoming network communications
- Will not provide fast user switiching (FUS)
- New edition in Windows OS family
- Basic Edition
- Its the baseline version of Vista aimed at single PC homes (general consumers, Windows 9X/XP starter Edition upgraders and first-time buyers)
- Will have features such as Firewall, Security Center, Wireless Networking, Parental controls, Anti-spam/Anti-virus/Anti-spyware functionality, Network Map, Windows search, Aero UI, Movie Maker, Photo Library, Windows Media Player, Outlook Express with RSS support, P2P Messenger and many more
- It is roughly similar to that of XP Home
- Premium Edition
- Aimed at PC Enthusiasts, Multiple PC homes, Homes with Kids and Notebook users
- Will include everything from Vista Home Basic
- Will have Media Center and Media Center Externder functionality (including Cable card support), DVD video authoring and HDTV support, DVD ripping support, Tablet PC functionality, Mobility Center, Auxiliary Display support, P2P ad-hoc meeting capabilities, Wi-Fi auto-config and roaming, Unified parental control that work over multiple PCs, Backup to network funcationality, Internet File sharing, Offline folders, PC-to-PC sync and support for Quattro Home Server
- Similar to XP Media Center Edition, except it adds nemerous other new features and functionality
- Ultimate Edition
- Is a superset of both Home basic, Home Premium and Professional edition (see below in business category)
- Best OS ever offered for a personal PC, optimized for a personal PC aimed at high-end PC users and technology influencers, gamers, digital media enthusiasts and students
- Adds Game performance, Podcast creation utility, online “Club” services (access to music, movies etc)
- This is a new edition in Windows OS family
- BUSINESS CATEGORY
- Professional Edition
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- Powerful, reliable and secure OS for business of all sizes
- Will include domain join and management funcationality, compatibility with non-Microsoft network protocols (SNMP, Netware, etc), Remote Desktop, IIS web server and encrypted File System (EFS) along with Tablet PC funcationality.
- Similar to as that of Windows XP Professional
- Small Business Edition
- Designed for small business without staff and aimed at small business oweners and managers
- Includes everything from Professional edition and adds features like Backup, Shadow copy support, Castle and server-join networking, PC fax and scanning.
- Pre-paid access to Windows Live! subscription service
- This is a new edition in Windows OS family
- Enterprise Edition
- Optimized for the Enterprise and aimed at business decision makers, IT managers and Developers
- True superset of Pro and Small business edition.
- Additionally will have unique features like Virtual PC, Multi-language user interface (MUI) and Secure startup/full volumn encryption technologies (“Cornerstone”)
- This is a new edition in Windows OS family