LovingU Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 An examination of Microsoft internal documentation this weekend reveals that the software giant is prepping a number of major end-user features for Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn), many of which had not yet previously been revealed. Here's a rundown of many of the features we can expect in the various Windows Vista product editions (for more information about the editions, please refer to "Windows Vista Product Editions Revealed," URL below). As noted in that previous article, Microsoft is created 7 versions of Windows Vista for end users (9 if you count the N Editions that will target European markets). To differentiate these products, the company is carefully matching feature sets to the expected markets that will adopt each product version. Two low-end versions of Windows Vista, Starter Edition and Home Basic Edition, will not feature the much-vaunted Aero user interface that will adorn all other Vista versions. Instead, these versions will utilize a lower quality, XP-like user interface that is more appropriate for the low-end hardware that infrequent PC users and those emerging markets might utilize. Starter Edition and Home Basic Edition will also lack the rolodex, tab previews, and task bar previews features that other Vista editions will offer. A new version of Internet Information Services (IIS), now called Microsoft Windows Web Server, will be included with the business oriented versions of Windows Vista only (Professional, Professional N, Small Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions). These versions will also include other unique features, such as a Windows Fax client, and the ability to join an Active Directory domain. However, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition will be able to join new home-oriented domains offered by a new Longhorn Server version codenamed Quattro. In the digital media front, Home Premium Edition and all business-oriented Vista versions will get DVD authoring, Movie Maker HD publishing, advanced photography features including fine-grain editing, and premium games such as 3D Chess and Shanghai Solitaire. Vista Home Premium and Ultimate Editions will get integrated Media Center functionality and, crucially, the ability to act as software-based Media Center Extenders (codenamed Softsled). All editions, except the N Editions, will get a new version of Windows Media Player. How about mobility? Home Premium Edition and all of the business-oriented Vista versions will get Tablet PC functionality, will support auxiliary displays, and will include mobility-oriented features such as the Mobility Center and PC-to-PC sync. On the business front, Vista Enterprise Edition and Ultimate Edition will include the new Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA) and single-session Virtual PC (for backwards compatibility with legacy applications) as optional installs. Both of these editions will also support the Secure Startup technology (codenamed Cornerstone), which is the start of Microsoft's Palladium push. One feature I don't get understand is Windows Activation Services. According to the documentation I've reviewed, the business-oriented versions of Vista will not include this technology, but the home-oriented versions will. I'll try to dig around for more information. There's a lot more, but I'll pull this information into a comprehensive table for the SuperSite for Windows . Look out for the article, "Windows Vista Product Editions Preview," on Monday. Original article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Dee Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Paul just posted information on the memory and processor requirements: According to Microsoft internal documentation, most product editions of Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn), the next major Windows version, will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit (x64) versions, or will support both architectures via a single install. As I noted in "Windows Vista Product Editions Revealed" (URL below), Microsoft is dividing the Windows Vista product line into seven discrete editions (nine if you include European Union-based N editions)--Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Home N, Professional, Professional N, Small Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate Editions--and will differentiate them with various features (see "Windows Vista End User Features Revealed," URL below). Part of that differentiation involves the number and type of processors and the amount of RAM the products will support. As you might expect, Starter Edition is the most constrained. This Vista version will support 1 32-bit microprocessor and up to 256 MB of RAM. Also the screen resolution will be limited to 1024 x 768 (up from 800 x 600 in XP Starter Edition). Read the rest here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commodore Max Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 I'm getting the Ultimate one ! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chr1zt1an Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 So... those 7 product editions of Vista are official ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Behelit Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Looks like laptops will ship with the non-aero versions... Laptops w/o dedicated graphics. Which versions won't ship with DRM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_R_G Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Looks like laptops will ship with the non-aero versions... Laptops w/o dedicated graphics.Which versions won't ship with DRM? 586514429[/snapback] How does DRM affect you? If you don't like it you won't have to use it, you just won't be able to playback DRM'ed material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred65 Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 woo hoo!! no activation on the professional/ultimate versions!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcv Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 How does DRM affect you? If you don't like it you won't have to use it, you just won't be able to playback DRM'ed material. 586515787[/snapback] He just needs something to bitch about. Anything that he doesnt have 100% control over, rightfully or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts