Windows 7 Final Editions

So today information has emerged about the final skus for Windows 7.  One thing I find particularly surprising is that all of the SKU’s Home Premium and higher come with Media Center in box.  I think this is a great move on Microsoft’s part and simplifies the SKU feature set.  Customers can now buy Pro and get most of the features.  You will only need Ultimate if you have a need for the bitlocker related features or the VHD mounting feature.

The SKU’s are as follows according to Neowin:

Windows 7 Starter
Market: Emerging markets, with new PCs only
Key features: Enhanced taskbar, Jump Lists, Windows Media Player, Backup and Restore, Action Center, Device Stage, Play To, Fax and Scan, basic games
What’s missing: Aero Glass, many Aero desktop enhancements, Windows Touch, Media Center, Live thumbnail previews, Home Group creation

Windows 7 Home Premium
Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Aero Glass, Aero Background, Windows Touch, Home Group creation, Media Center, DVD playback and authoring, premium games
What’s missing: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, advanced backup, EFS, Mobility Center, Offline Folders

Windows 7 Professional (superset of Home)
Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, location aware printing, EFS, Mobility Center, Presentation Mode, Offline Folders, Media Center
What’s missing: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD

Windows 7 Enterprise
Market: Volume-license business customers only
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What’s missing: Retail licensing

Windows 7 Ultimate
Market: Retail market, limited availability
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What’s missing: Volume licensing

There will be a Home Basic edition, but it will only be released to emerging markets. "We know emerging markets have unique needs and we will offer Windows 7 Home Basic, only in emerging markets, for customers looking for an entry-point Windows experience on a full-size value PC", said Windows General Manager Mike Ybarra. Paul Thurrot is reporting that Home Basic will lack "Aero Glass, Live Thumbnail Previews, Internet Connection Sharing, and a few other goodies."

I am glad that Home basic will be restricted to emerging markets.  There was just too much confusion with Vista having 2 home editions and some will argue that Home Basic is not really Vista (which I happen to agree with).  Now there will be two mainstream versions avalable.  Home and Pro, and if users choose they will be able to get Ultimate if they have a need for the higher feature set.

What are your thoughts on this new SKU set?  Do you think it will simplify things for the consumer and the OEM PC buyer?  Post your thoughts, I’m curious to see what people think of this.

Posted by: Chris123NT

Published on: February 3rd, 2009 at 4:33 PM

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Posted in Windows 7

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6 Responses to 'Windows 7 Final Editions'

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  1. February 4, 2009 at 3:27 am

    FireRx:

    They need to Cut down the SKU’s to three. Let’s use the K.I.S.S. methodology on this {Keep It Simple Stupid}. Just have the 3 SKU for public consumption Home , Professional, & Business. And put all that other goobly-gut in those three boxes. With the economy the way it is, let no piss people off more than they’ll be already. Also has any price points been discussed. Again let’s no forget the folks out there that maybe have to choose whether to buy the upgrade, or buy other essencials.

  2. February 4, 2009 at 3:30 am

    FireRx:

    They need to Cut down the SKU’s to three. Let’s use the K.I.S.S. methodology on this {Keep It Simple Stupid}. Just have the 3 SKU for public consumption, Home , Professional, & Business. And put all that other goobly-gut in those three boxes. With the economy the way it is, let’s not piss people off more than they’ll be already. Also has any price points been discussed. Again let’s no forget the folks out there that maybe have to choose whether to buy the upgrade, or buy other essensials.

  3. February 4, 2009 at 10:07 am

    Camride:

    I don’t see the need for a Professional and an Enterprise edition. Get rid of Enterprise and allow Volume Licensing in Pro and leave it at that. Everything else looks fine to me.

  4. February 4, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Chris123NT:

    @Camride yeah I get your point but Enterprise is actually on equal level with Ultimate for Windows 7. But your point still stands, they could just allow VL on ultimate as well and be done with it, but I guess they want something to differentiate the two.

  5. February 5, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    asf:

    why the hell is Mobility Center not in home premium. They also ALWAYS remove lots of command line tools and policy editor even tho lots of kb articles and tutorials use them, _so_ stupid.

  6. February 11, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    Kasuboski:

    barkod dedi?imizde bundan birka? y?l ?nce akl?m?za sadece ?izgiler ve bo?lukar gelirdi. Zaten t?rk?eye de ?izgi kod olarak uyarland?. Ama ?uanda teknolojinin geli?mesine paralel olarak, bir?ok barkod g?rseli varyasyonu ?retildi.

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