The most recent leaked screenshots of Windows 7 build 7025 suggests 5 versions, but Gregg Keizer of Computer World reports that Microsoft hasn't decided on it yet.A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed the 5 version names in Windows 7 beta, but said they were only preliminary. She also added that Microsoft will continue to take customer feedback from the beta test period into account as they refine the SKU set for Windows 7 and will share more information when its available.
As far as netbook is concerned Cnet UK reported that Microsoft plans to make a single version of Windows 7 for netbook alone. Microsoft also plans to release a Small Business version of Windows 7, an Enterprise edition and two additional 'N' versions of Windows 7 for customers in the EU. This makes the edition count of Windows 7 rise to 10.
Paul Thurrott, a well-known Windows blogger, rules out the possibilities of Starter edition, netbook SKU edition, Home Basic being included in Windows 7. According to him, Microsoft plans to rename Business edition to Professional edition and include Media Center features as well as eliminate Enterprise edition and offer its features as add-ons to corporate customers. Thurrott believes Microsoft's best strategy will be to release Windows 7 in just 3 versions Home, Professional and Ultimate (excuding EU versions)
Do you think Microsoft should release multiple versions of Windows 7 or just one? Vote in the poll below.
I'd like it if there was just one single version that had everything and you simply selected what features to install but unfortunately that doesn't coincide with Microsoft's pricing structure.
One 7 for all.
Make Home real basic. The Ultimate stuff should be in a add-on package, like when they had this Windows 98 Plus. Could be split in 2 or 3 differents packages. MCE should be a separate package also. You buy what you need.
Is it supposed to be funny?
It was actually.
They should however have an option during the installation to do a 'low-end' install for netbooks which doesnt include all the bollocks and defaults to low-power and low-visuals settings.
Despite protests from the business IT community, I don't see why we need a separate version for "businesses" anymore.
And since MS doesn't actually have any "Ultimate" extras beside the video wallpaper (which I love), we don't really need a normal and "deluxe" version. Because honestly, shouldn't EVERYBODY'S computer have full backup, encryption, and remote desktop assistant capability in this day and age? I mean...Apple's default OS has a hell of a lot more top drawer applications shipping with it than MS does, so why deliver Windows 7 in ANY gimped versions?!
Ultimate on top of the two would already be pushing it, but still be barely acceptable.
Anything more would be total overkill. I hope they learned something from the Vista debacle, also in form of releasing way too much editions.
@gamestargrinder
Being able to do a custom install would be abolutely great (no more need for nLite), but somehow I doubt they would do something that user friendly.
Ultimate would be better off just being Professional with a bundled add-on disc. Throw in some OneCare, themes, games, and an XP Virtual PC image to make it worthwhile to the tech crowd. There's nothing in Windows 7 that deserves to be crippled for the Professional version with the sole reason being to justify Ultimate's existance.
Windows 7 Professional with Ultimate Extras. Has a nice ring to it, no?
So I'm all for the 3 versions.
forget the basic, for that you may as well stick with Win98.
or for the Mac fanboys.
Dumb / Dumber / Dumbest.
They do, Windows Vista/7 Ultimate.
Windows 7
and make the 7 really big on the box
It all boils down to a nice big 7 :p
Yes, it would be nice to only have one consumer version but everybody knows that will never happen and honestly what does it really matter? You all know most people here will be running Ultimate, most people that buy laptops will have Home Premium or whatever the equivalent SKU for that will be and business users will either run Business or Enterprise (I don't really know the difference between the two other than their names).
And as far as the EU SKU's - has anyone actually purchased one? Ever? I think those are just to shut those idiots up who ordered Microsoft to make these in the first place. The simple fact that nobody really uses them just goes to prove even further that the knuckleheads at the EU who ordered Microsoft to release the N versions are complete morons.
Since I actually have (legal) access to the Enterprise version, I hope that will not go away. There are a lot of features in there I like (plus the name makes me feel like my computer is from Star Trek)
Since I actually have (legal) access to the Enterprise version, I hope that will not go away. There are a lot of features in there I like (plus the name makes me feel like my computer is from Star Trek)
Enterprise isn't going away.
Since I actually have (legal) access to the Enterprise version, I hope that will not go away. There are a lot of features in there I like (plus the name makes me feel like my computer is from Star Trek)
Enterprise isn't going away.
The SKU or the Starship
Scirwode
Since I actually have (legal) access to the Enterprise version, I hope that will not go away. There are a lot of features in there I like (plus the name makes me feel like my computer is from Star Trek)
Does it travel at warp speed?
A streamlined edition for home use, and a more full-fledged one that can either act as a "pro" edition, or as one for home users for "special needs" (domains, remote desktop, what have you...). So basically a Home and Pro edition, where Pro doubles as both Ultimate and "Business". Where, if you want it for business use, you should of course be able to skip home-oriented features at install time, perhaps with just a single check box. The price for this edition could be somewhere closer to Business than Ultimate IMHO; Ultimate was just way overpriced. I can't see it having done very good outside of piracy circles.
As Home would be more streamlined, it would also be suitable for netbooks.
My reason for not just one edition is simplicity for OEM's; pretty much all consumer systems would then have Home installed, so they wouldn't have a plethora of preinstalled features they'd never use for a home OS.
Last edited by Jugalator on 30 Jan 2009 - 01:34
If they do away with the basic, then I hope they put a disclaimer so they will not run into the lame law suit situation that they did with Vista Basic.
Not everyone need all features.
There should be like a version for home users, businesses and the ultimate version.
Im not counting the N version.
A custom-install option hasn't been offered in the business side since Windows 2000 Professional, and on the home side since Windows ME (notice that neither XP or Vista has such an option unless you go third-party), and some specialized configurations (such as netbooks) would demand a custom install.
Also, there could easily be such creatures as Aero-capable netbooks.
One 7 for all.
Just Windows 7.
Double clicking on WMP icon installs it (like in default WinXP install); double clicking on Windows Media Center install it; double clicking on Remote Desktop icon installs it, and so on. And the ultimate features (i don't think calling they as 'ultimate features' are correct - 'encryption' and 'full backup' must be shipped, they are important as ever - in 2008/09 we say a gigantic growth in notebooks and netbooks sales).
Anyway, that is just my personal take on things.
3 versions, Home, Business & Ultimate
Ye i hate the fact you can no longer select which items are installed its fricken retarded.
It does nothing of the sort. We already know Busines is going to be called Professional this time around. So if that name is wrong, what else on that screenshot is wrong? No. More likely the list is just a copy of what was there in Vista and they haven't made any changes yet.
On-topic though, They should drop home basic and just have Home, Pro and Ultimate (with perhaps a different name?). You need Home so that home users aren't paying for business features, vice versa for the Pro version. And you also need Ultimate for those power users who want all the features from both. To have a single version just doesn't make business sense. As a home user I flat our refuse to pay for features I don't use. I'd rather have a lower priced version without the business features in it.
Less than Linux, more than OSX.
Suits me fine, as each of the three have their own target market, and the varieties suit each very well.
Yes, we know you don't think there is.
However, the long forum discussions about it, involving all sorts of analogies, would disagree. Discussions which I'm sure you've been a part of.
So, both arguments fail in a modern context. If you don't need encryption or windows media center, don't run it. It's chump change in drive space these days and doesn't take up any RAM or resources if you don't use it. In fact, with superfetch, anything you don't run won't even be cached, etc.
It's all out of date now. Something I give Apple due credit for.
Business / Home
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