Microsoft Reveals Main Windows 8 Editions

Cristian_25H · Apr 17, 2012

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.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

lyndonguitar · Apr 17, 2012

thanks MS, but ill stick with windows 7

Nkd · Apr 17, 2012

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.

lyndonguitar · Apr 17, 2012

Nkd said:
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.

for tablets its very nice but compatibility for applications, softwares, and drivers its another thing

a_ump · Apr 17, 2012

Nkd said:
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.

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.

James1o1o · Apr 17, 2012

lyndonguitar said:
for 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.

screwdrvr · Apr 17, 2012

What no 64 bit versions?

Frick · Apr 17, 2012

screwdrvr said:
What 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.

de.das.dude · Apr 17, 2012

Win7 it is

Completely Bonkers · Apr 17, 2012

Cristian_25H said:
but 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...

qwerty_lesh · Apr 17, 2012

a_ump said:
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.

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.

eidairaman1 · Apr 17, 2012

qwerty_lesh said:
you have got to be kidding right
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

hhumas · Apr 17, 2012

its for tablets not for desktop

FordGT90Concept · Apr 17, 2012

Completely Bonkers said:
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...

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.

Prima.Vera · Apr 17, 2012

So, how do you disable that Metro crap, and revert to default desktop with the Start button. Can someone post some details please?

BumbleBee · Apr 17, 2012

Prima.Vera said:
So, how do you disable that Metro crap, and revert to default desktop with the Start button. Can someone post some details please?

there is no more Start button but..

http://razetheworld.com/software/stardock-ceo-says-they-will-make-a-windows-8-start-menu/

laszlo · Apr 17, 2012

will this os have the same fate as vista compared to xp&7?

FordGT90Concept · Apr 17, 2012

Prima.Vera said:
So, 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.

laszlo said:
will 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).

babash*t · Apr 17, 2012

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

BumbleBee · Apr 17, 2012

Windows 7 is going to have a nice long shelf life...

laszlo · Apr 17, 2012

FordGT90Concept said:
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).

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?

FordGT90Concept · Apr 17, 2012

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.

BumbleBee · Apr 17, 2012

there is no incentive to upgrade.

laszlo · Apr 17, 2012

FordGT90Concept said:
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.

lol xp still on sale.....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002423YK/?tag=tec06d-20

BumbleBee · Apr 17, 2012

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.

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Microsoft Reveals Main Windows 8 Editions

Cristian_25H

lyndonguitar

I play games

Nkd

lyndonguitar

I play games

a_ump

James1o1o

screwdrvr

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

de.das.dude

Pro Indian Modder

Completely Bonkers

New Member

qwerty_lesh

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

hhumas

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

Prima.Vera

BumbleBee

laszlo

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

babash*t

New Member

BumbleBee

laszlo

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

BumbleBee

laszlo

BumbleBee

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VR HMD	;_;
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