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

#26
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
FordGT90ConceptAs I said, virtually no one upgrades OS, they upgrade computers that come preinstalled with a new OS.
It would be interesting to see data on this actually, how many licenses are sold to private people I mean. When I was at MS tech support we had a fair number of people having problems with upgrade licenses.
Posted on Reply
#27
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
FrickIt would be interesting to see data on this actually, how many licenses are sold to private people I mean. When I was at MS tech support we had a fair number of people having problems with upgrade licenses.
I searched, I couldn't find anything. :(

To clarify, I don't mean Windows 7 Starter to Home Premium or Home Basic to Professional. I mean XP to Vista and/or Vista to 7.
Posted on Reply
#28
laszlo
it doesn't really matter who sale it if u still find;from 25.oct.2001 when appeared we talk about 11 years... and i think 7 will last at least 10 years...and will be found than for sale also...

almost forget ref built oem pc's... preinstalled ones... they can't force u to buy it only on lappys and even there u can find dos ones only so is up to buyer...


found the below market-share fresh enough
Posted on Reply
#29
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
FordGT90ConceptI searched, I couldn't find anything. :(

To clarify, I don't mean Windows 7 Starter to Home Premium or Home Basic to Professional. I mean XP to Vista and/or Vista to 7.
Too bad. .(

And I got that, so I don't think the market is as small as you say it is. But without data it's hard to say. :(
Posted on Reply
#30
syeef
What about Server Editions?
Posted on Reply
#33
ironwolf
As a system builder, I welcome the smaller number of SKU's. I sell very few 32-bit versions of Win7 as it is already, and Premium as the default version. So this will be very easy to offer to people. Gets frustrating trying to describe to people all the different versions.
Posted on Reply
#34
wiak
Windows 8 (x86/x64) for your family
Windows 8 Professional (x86/x64) for you!
Windows 8 RP for ARM tablets
Posted on Reply
#35
faramir
FordGT90ConceptMost people only use 3-5 functions in the "Start" menu and Metro would allow you to make those 5 functions big and prominent.
I have my desktop full of application icons (things that I use more often than the others which are only present in the Programs Start menu) ... simply cannot afford to have that metrosexual daltonist crap occupy so much space without bringing any benefits whatsoever.
Posted on Reply
#36
johnnyfiive
I'm excited for the Pro version (gotta have hyper-v), new metro features, and vs2011 express.
Posted on Reply
#37
gumpty
I hope MS run the same sort or pre-order deals that they did to get early uptake of Win 7. I bought three retail versions at the time (one 7-Pro for myself and 2 7-Home Premium just in case). Ended up saving myself plenty of money later on when I had to get new licenses for secondary machines.
Posted on Reply
#38
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
gumptyI hope MS run the same sort or pre-order deals that they did to get early uptake of Win 7. I bought three retail versions at the time (one 7-Pro for myself and 2 7-Home Premium just in case). Ended up saving myself plenty of money later on when I had to get new licenses for secondary machines.
+1. I also hope they release family packs.
Posted on Reply
#39
MeanBruce
I love it, I installed Windows 8 Consumer Preview and 2 hours later AMD had a newly compatible driver for my video card available for download, dropped my “streaming” temps down from 50c to 44c just like idle. Windows 8 seems much faster.

And Now for Something Completely Different

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoG1xXqm2PY

… I just love the Chihuahua!:D
Posted on Reply
#40
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
In All Honesty they should just Have 3 versions, Windows Home, Windows Pro, Windows Enterprise.

Totally do away with having 2 home editions which are crippled as of certain access anyway and get rid of starter, cuz Home Premium can be setup like starter edition.
Posted on Reply
#41
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
FordGT90ConceptI'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.
How can you still be annoyed by this, this news article is saying Microsoft is doing exactly what you want...:ohwell:
Posted on Reply
#42
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Oh, I was exhausted yesterday and it's obvious I misread a lot in there. In which case, kudos to Microsoft for finally doing the right thing:

Windows 8 32-bit
Windows 8 64-bit
Windows 8 Pro 32-bit
Windows 8 Pro 64-bit
Windows 8 RT

Windows Server "8" 64-bit (editions are unnamed)
Posted on Reply
#43
TurdFergasun
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.
you mean like how well and fully utilized dx10 and 11 are in vistake and win7? console ports with dx10 or 11 slapped on the back of them don't entice anyone really, it's just a number at this point considering only a handful of games have ever used the new api's to any great effect, and those that do are barely playable on the majority of systems, but hey if you're into benchmarking i guess thats alot of fun....
Posted on Reply
#44
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
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.
I moved from XP to 7 on both Desktop and laptop and it literally breathed new life into them
Posted on Reply
#45
Pjokerxp_
the PC era is doomed.
its now laptops handhelds mobile devices notpads
Posted on Reply
#46
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
eidairaman1I moved from XP to 7 on both Desktop and laptop and it literally breathed new life into them
Windows 7 reduced hardware requirements compared to Windows Vista, especially the memory footprint.
Pjokerxp_the PC era is doomed.
its now laptops handhelds mobile devices notpads
Good thing Windows 8 RT is designed for mobile devices then.
Posted on Reply
#47
gumpty
Pjokerxp_the PC era is doomed.
its now laptops handhelds mobile devices notpads
Maybe. Maybe not.

From my six months or so of owning a tablet I've found that they are really only good for content consumption - they still struggle with anything more than basic content creation and the problem is as much software related as it is form-factor and hardware related.

Laptops still run Windows (or OSX) and probably will do for a while yet.
Posted on Reply
#48
RevengE
I'll Keep 7 Ultimate. I don't see the point in upgrading so fast. They are releasing OS's alot faster then they used to.
Posted on Reply
#49
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Back during Windows 95-XP, they released a new one every 2-3 years (95 -> 98 -> 2000 -> ME -> XP). They're returning to that rapid release schedule.
Posted on Reply
#50
FierceRed
FordGT90ConceptOh, I was exhausted yesterday and it's obvious I misread a lot in there. In which case, kudos to Microsoft for finally doing the right thing:

Windows 8 32-bit
Windows 8 64-bit
Windows 8 Pro 32-bit
Windows 8 Pro 64-bit
Windows 8 RT

Windows Server "8" 64-bit (editions are unnamed)
I still don't get why at this juncture they're still putting out a 32bit version. (Yes, I get it works fine for Tablets, doesn't diminish my point though)

Don't get me wrong, I understand the whole "dinosaur Enterprise spanning IT system may be incompatible" argument or the "but my 32bit programs won't be able to run!~" FUD. It's just brow furrowing why the built in memory limitations of a 32bit OS wouldn't be Scorched Earthed out of the upcoming OS releases by now. We have very literally gotten to the point where John Average could buy a computer with a 32bit OS and yet it contain more than 4GB of memory resources. Unless I'm mistaken (and if I am please correct me, I love learning), LAA helps applications bypass this, but it doesn't help the entire OS be aware of and efficiently use/manage the resources available.

I just don't see what crashes and burns so horribly when it attempts to run on a 64bit OS as opposed to a 32bit OS that the entire existence of a 32bit OS continues to be justified. Can't these mission critical problem programs just get a workaround developed? Is NASA, NORAD, ECHELON and the entire Pentagon running on 32bit or something??

At this point, the only way the world is going to get on 64bit is if the OS developers shove it down all throats, everywhere. Moore's Law, like Time, isn't going to wait for the inept technological Man much longer.
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