Tuesday, April 17th 2012

Microsoft Reveals Main Windows 8 Editions

by
Cristian_25H
 Discuss (62 Comments)
Crushing previous reports saying that Windows 8 would have up to nine editions, Microsoft has officially announced that its next Windows release, due in the second half of this year, will come in three main flavors, two for x86 systems - Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, and one for ARM-based devices - Windows 8 RT.

The 'standard' x86 Windows 8 SKU will target consumer-grade PCs and tablets and will allow upgrading from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium. Windows 8 Pro, which is aimed towards tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals, includes everything in the non-Pro SKU and adds goodies like BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, Boot from VHD, Hyper-V, Encrypting File System, Group Policy and Remote Desktop (host). This edition also supports upgrades from Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.

As for Windows 8 RT, it will "only be available pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors" and will boast device encryption capabilities, and touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, but it's going to lack the Windows Media Player, Storage Spaces, or any 'Pro' features.

For more info about the Windows 8 trio see the Windows Team Blog.

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62 Comments on Microsoft Reveals Main Windows 8 Editions

#1
lyndonguitar
I play games
thanks MS, but ill stick with windows 7
Posted on Reply
#2
Nkd
I must admit I hated the interface at first, but once getting used to it, I am appreciating it much more than windows 7. This thing is fast and it flies. At first I didn't even understand how to mess with settings but getting to know the interface helps alot, and once you get used to it you learn to appreciate the ease of use on this thing.
Posted on Reply
#3
lyndonguitar
I play games
NkdI must admit I hated the interface at first, but once getting used to it, I am appreciating it much more than windows 7. This thing is fast and it flies. At first I didn't even understand how to mess with settings but getting to know the interface helps alot, and once you get used to it you learn to appreciate the ease of use on this thing.
for tablets its very nice but compatibility for applications, softwares, and drivers its another thing
Posted on Reply
#4
a_ump
NkdI must admit I hated the interface at first, but once getting used to it, I am appreciating it much more than windows 7. This thing is fast and it flies. At first I didn't even understand how to mess with settings but getting to know the interface helps alot, and once you get used to it you learn to appreciate the ease of use on this thing.
eh, i can't judge till i've used it, but i know the only thing about windows 7 that i strongly disliked is i had to dig more to get the options i wanted compared to Vista. This appears to further that "option burring" atrocity, which i really don't like. I mean i know that the world is getting filled with lazier people, which means dumber people that complain there's too much in their face on the screen, but i truly hope there's an option to go back to win 7 interface or something.
Posted on Reply
#5
James1o1o
lyndonguitarfor tablets its very nice but compatibility for applications, softwares, and drivers its another thing
No reason why they should work. Windows 8 is basically what Windows 7 was to Vista, an extension/upgrade rather than total remake of the OS. Drivers for certain things will need updates but not all, and applications will only need an update if they want to use the Metro UI.
Posted on Reply
#7
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
screwdrvrWhat no 64 bit versions?
x86 and x86-64.

But this is good stuff. One "normal" Windows and one for advanced users. It's how it should be imo.
Posted on Reply
#9
Completely Bonkers
Cristian_25Hbut it's going to lack the Windows Media Player
So will there be a replacement Media Player? Let's hope that MS isnt thinking that Tablets dont need to be able to play media content...
Posted on Reply
#10
qwerty_lesh
a_umpeh, i can't judge till i've used it, but i know the only thing about windows 7 that i strongly disliked is i had to dig more to get the options i wanted compared to Vista. This appears to further that "option burring" atrocity, which i really don't like. I mean i know that the world is getting filled with lazier people, which means dumber people that complain there's too much in their face on the screen, but i truly hope there's an option to go back to win 7 interface or something.
you have got to be kidding right :nutkick:
Win7 has got to be one of the better OS's for ease of access to options and settings. to get to virtually anything in the OS you simple partially type it into the start bar and hit enter and your at the settings you want to access. What is so buried about that?
if you can't do that and rely on context menus to access areas of the OS then thats your limitation and not one of the OS.
Posted on Reply
#11
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
qwerty_leshyou have got to be kidding right :nutkick:
Win7 has got to be one of the better OS's for ease of access to options and settings. to get to virtually anything in the OS you simple partially type it into the start bar and hit enter and your at the settings you want to access. What is so buried about that?
if you can't do that and rely on context menus to access areas of the OS then thats your limitation and not one of the OS.
its pure laziness on his part and not learning how Windows Works, I was introduced to it using 95, then I had even dabbled in 3.1/NT3.1. Was easier to use than MAC OS.

seems like WIndows 8 is like Windows 1.0-3.1 and it wasnt till Win NT 4.0 that things look like what Windows 7 is today. 8 Feels cluttered
Posted on Reply
#12
hhumas
its for tablets not for desktop
Posted on Reply
#13
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Completely BonkersSo will there be a replacement Media Player? Let's hope that MS isnt thinking that Tablets dont need to be able to play media content...
It's like Zune software but not "Zune." It's basically the Windows Phone 7 music store/content management system/media player but, they called it "Zune" on Windows Phone 7. It's effectively the same thing but with a different name. There was a news article on it a while back.


I'm still annoyed by Microsoft having different SKUs of the "home" version of Windows. They should just have Windows 8 (effectively Home Premium) and Windows 8 Professional and that's it. 9 "editions" is silly.
Posted on Reply
#14
Prima.Vera
So, how do you disable that Metro crap, and revert to default desktop with the Start button. Can someone post some details please?
Posted on Reply
#16
laszlo
will this os have the same fate as vista compared to xp&7?
Posted on Reply
#17
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Prima.VeraSo, how do you disable that Metro crap, and revert to default desktop with the Start button. Can someone post some details please?
Just don't open the Metro interface. Seriously, I think you'll like Metro once you use it. Most people only use 3-5 functions in the "Start" menu and Metro would allow you to make those 5 functions big and prominent. All the stuff that is rarely used can be made small in a tucked away in a corner. For example, I really only use Control Panel, Paint, Calculator, Windows Media Center, and Games Explorer. I could make those functions prominent.
laszlowill this os have the same fate as vista compared to xp&7?
No, because it is Vista/Windows 7 with more features added. The usability changes between XP and Vista were significant which caused upgrade lag. The changes between Windows Vista and 8 as well as Windows 7 and 8 are minimal. Vista also had upgrade lag because it had huge hardware requirements compared to XP. By the time Windows 7 rolled around, those hardware requirements were the norm (e.g. DirectX 10 graphics, dual-core processors, and 3+ GiB RAM).
Posted on Reply
#18
babash*t
Hated it at first but got to appreciate the new UI. Still has ati make a strong case for me n most other to upgrade
Posted on Reply
#19
BumbleBee
Windows 7 is going to have a nice long shelf life...
Posted on Reply
#20
laszlo
FordGT90ConceptNo, because it is Vista/Windows 7 with more features added. The usability changes between XP and Vista were significant which caused upgrade lag. The changes between Windows Vista and 8 as well as Windows 7 and 8 are minimal. Vista also had upgrade lag because it had huge hardware requirements compared to XP. By the time Windows 7 rolled around, those hardware requirements were the norm (e.g. DirectX 10 graphics, dual-core processors, and 3 GiB RAM).
i think u missed the point of my question however u already admitted that changes between 7 & 8 are minimal

when vista appeared was not embraced by the community;was not faster than xp, resource eater etc...so many people preferred to remain with xp till 7 appeared; as i see now 8 won't be embraced by many ,ugly interface (my opinion) ,minimal changes compared to 7... so why trow money when maybe the 9 will be like 7 compared to xp;is an intermediate unneeded product for many of us no?
Posted on Reply
#21
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Because 7 will be pulled from retailer shelves not long after 8 is released. There's no reason, in their eyes, to keep both stocked for the long term.

Most people don't upgrade operating systems, they upgrade computers which come pre-installed with newer operating systems; therefore, you have to look to Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, and the other computer manufacturers to see how quickly the old will be shoved out of the way to make room for the new. In the case of Vista, that was a very, very long time mostly because of consumer anxiety over Vista. In the case of Windows 8, that's likely to be almost instaneous.
Posted on Reply
#22
BumbleBee
there is no incentive to upgrade.
Posted on Reply
#23
laszlo
FordGT90ConceptBecause 7 will be pulled from retailer shelves not long after 8 is released. There's no reason, in their eyes, to keep both stocked for the long term.

Most people don't upgrade operating systems, they upgrade computers which come pre-installed with newer operating systems; therefore, you have to look to Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, and the other computer manufacturers to see how quickly the old will be shoved out of the way to make room for the new. In the case of Vista, that was a very, very long time mostly because of consumer anxiety over Vista. In the case of Windows 8, that's likely to be almost instaneous.
lol xp still on sale.....

www.amazon.com/dp/B0002423YK/?tag=tec06d-20
Posted on Reply
#24
BumbleBee
give Microsoft more money to replace the Start button with a tablet UI which wouldn't be so bad if there was an incentive to upgrade like DX12.
Posted on Reply
#25
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
laszlolol xp still on sale.....

www.amazon.com/dp/B0002423YK/?tag=tec06d-20
Not from Microsoft: windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle

June 30, 2008 was the end of retail sales and October 22, 2010 was the end of pre-installs. They're selling leftover, surplus stock.
BumbleBeegive Microsoft more money to replace the Start button with a tablet UI which wouldn't be so bad if there was an incentive to upgrade like DX12.
As I said, virtually no one upgrades OS, they upgrade computers that come preinstalled with a new OS. The performance a new computer provides is the incentive, not the change in OS itself. Paid OS "upgrades" (Tiger, Snow Leopard, Lion, etc.) are strictly a Mac OS X phenomena.
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