Official Windows 7 SKUs revealed: six editions

After a ton of guesswork and rumors flying around, Microsoft has finally confirmed what much of the evidence was pointing to: there will indeed be six editions of Windows 7, just like there were for Windows XP and Windows Vista. Customers will be able to choose from Windows 7 Starter Edition, Windows 7 Home Basic Edition, Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, Windows 7 Professional Edition, Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, and Windows 7 Enterprise Edition. The news comes hot on the heels of the Windows 7 Ecosystem Readiness Program announced yesterday.
All editions will be available in worldwide markets except for Home Basic, which will be offered in emerging markets. Starter will be also available worldwide but only via OEMs.

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. We’ll also continue to offer Windows Starter edition, which will only be offered pre-installed by an OEM. Windows Starter edition will now be available worldwide. This edition is available only in the OEM channel on new PCs limited to specific types of hardware.​

Most users will only Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, which is why Microsoft is expected to only offer upgrade paths for these three. Microsoft will have a press release on this news over at PressPass (not available at publishing time).

Full Story: Official Windows 7 SKUs revealed: six editions - Ars Technica

 

[avgwarhawk]

So, your ok with having Vista perform poorly for years, paid for it, spent hours doing nothing but maintenance of your Vista OS? Sure no one is forcing anyone to upgrade but why stick with a OS this is riddled with bugs?

 

[Slimy]

Vista doesn't perform poorly for me, so yeah, I'm ok with it. And, it's not riddle with bugs either.

 

[avgwarhawk]

I have Vista and is runs great for me. I'm just baffled that the trials and tribulations by users over the past years is rewarded with a new OS and price tag. This does not make you think?

 

[Slimy]

It happens with every single release of Windows, there is always a sucessor. I don't see your problem. It's not like Microsoft is cutting off Vista support and not offering service packs and hot fixes. Hell, Microsoft is still supporting XP.

 

[wwoods]

So, your ok with having Vista perform poorly for years, paid for it, spent hours doing nothing but maintenance of your Vista OS? Sure no one is forcing anyone to upgrade but why stick with a OS this is riddled with bugs?

Well, Vista has not performed poorly for years for me, it has actually been quite good. I have 3 fairly high end laptops (mine, wife's and sons), 2 tower systems, all run Vista Ultimate64, (ok well except for the Windows Home Server) and run it quite well. Cant say I have ever had a BSOD, had one virus (wife connected to a untrusted AP).....all in all Vista has been pretty good to me.

I manage updates, only update what I truely need or is critical, I defrag the registry, and use Diskeeper to keep the HD defragged.I make sure all the apps I use will run OK under 64 bit, also when I buy a periphial I make sure (beforehand) there are 64 bit drivers avaliable.

Will I upgrade to 7 when it comes out, maby not immediately, but I will. I will buy 5 Windows7 Full installs (not upgrades), why you may ask, since I am entitled to a upgrade ? a Clean install is almost ALWAYS better than a upgrade. Although right now, since I will be upgrading 7 systems, I am looking into either volume lisencing or a MSDN sub.

Yea, guess I am ok with it.

 

[wwoods]

I have Vista and is runs great for me. I'm just baffled that the trials and tribulations by users over the past years is rewarded with a new OS and price tag. This does not make you think?

I honestly question how many of those "trials and tribulations" were user caused....

 

[avgwarhawk]

I agree with you Slimy, however, Vista seems to be a test bed to me (beta) that was sold to consumers. Not really a free beta or remotely complete OS. This is the reason for the bad press, no? Bad press was earned from the looks of it. So, we see the results of the 7 beta, people say it is the best ever! It just does not add up for me.

 

[avgwarhawk]

I have Vista and is runs great for me. I'm just baffled that the trials and tribulations by users over the past years is rewarded with a new OS and price tag. This does not make you think?

I honestly question how many of those "trials and tribulations" were user caused....

Very good question and I'm sure a lot. However, not everyone is grad in computer science. Most just push away at the keyboard. Should a OS be in such a form that one false move and the whole sha-bang just shuts off

 

[avgwarhawk]

So, your ok with having Vista perform poorly for years, paid for it, spent hours doing nothing but maintenance of your Vista OS? Sure no one is forcing anyone to upgrade but why stick with a OS this is riddled with bugs?

Well, Vista has not performed poorly for years for me, it has actually been quite good. I have 3 fairly high end laptops (mine, wife's and sons), 2 tower systems, all run Vista Ultimate64, (ok well except for the Windows Home Server) and run it quite well. Cant say I have ever had a BSOD, had one virus (wife connected to a untrusted AP).....all in all Vista has been pretty good to me.

I manage updates, only update what I truely need or is critical, I defrag the registry, and use Diskeeper to keep the HD defragged.I make sure all the apps I use will run OK under 64 bit, also when I buy a periphial I make sure (beforehand) there are 64 bit drivers avaliable.

Will I upgrade to 7 when it comes out, maby not immediately, but I will. I will buy 5 Windows7 Full installs (not upgrades), why you may ask, since I am entitled to a upgrade ? a Clean install is almost ALWAYS better than a upgrade. Although right now, since I will be upgrading 7 systems, I am looking into either volume lisencing or a MSDN sub.

Yea, guess I am ok with it.

As stated in a my previous post, I'm ok with Vista and mine works just great (thanks to those who went before me and figured it out) but, look at your laundry list of things you do for Vista. Are you using the computer for enjoyment or spending more time with maintenance, looking twice before installing something or clicking on link in hopes it works? Perhaps what I'm thinking is the transition from one OS to the next in this instance was not very good IMO. Will I upgrade to 7? You bet because 7 will and already does command more support and attention.

 

[wwoods]

So, your ok with having Vista perform poorly for years, paid for it, spent hours doing nothing but maintenance of your Vista OS? Sure no one is forcing anyone to upgrade but why stick with a OS this is riddled with bugs?

Well, Vista has not performed poorly for years for me, it has actually been quite good. I have 3 fairly high end laptops (mine, wife's and sons), 2 tower systems, all run Vista Ultimate64, (ok well except for the Windows Home Server) and run it quite well. Cant say I have ever had a BSOD, had one virus (wife connected to a untrusted AP).....all in all Vista has been pretty good to me.

I manage updates, only update what I truely need or is critical, I defrag the registry, and use Diskeeper to keep the HD defragged.I make sure all the apps I use will run OK under 64 bit, also when I buy a periphial I make sure (beforehand) there are 64 bit drivers avaliable.

Will I upgrade to 7 when it comes out, maby not immediately, but I will. I will buy 5 Windows7 Full installs (not upgrades), why you may ask, since I am entitled to a upgrade ? a Clean install is almost ALWAYS better than a upgrade. Although right now, since I will be upgrading 7 systems, I am looking into either volume lisencing or a MSDN sub.

Yea, guess I am ok with it.

As stated in a my previous post, I'm ok with Vista and mine works just great (thanks to those who went before me and figured it out) but, look at your laundry list of things you do for Vista. Are you using the computer for enjoyment or spending more time with maintenance, looking twice before installing something or clicking on link in hopes it works? Perhaps what I'm thinking is the transition from one OS to the next in this instance was not very good IMO. Will I upgrade to 7? You bet because 7 will and already does command more support and attention.

Not a laundry list by any means, I use my systems for work/enjoyment. I spend MABY 2hrs a week in maint, if that. I dont click on a link "in hopes it works". It either will or I dont click. (yes, I aim to be that sure) And once I have my system in a state I need/want...not much tinkering to do with it.

What I listed was verry basic , common sence. Just simple takeing care of what ya own. Look it like owning a car, prevenative maintenance is a good thing. Again, I believe most of the "issues" we have herd complaints about has been caused by one of two things...bad apps (drivers included) or bad users.

 

[Slimy]

I agree with you Slimy, however, Vista seems to be a test bed to me (beta) that was sold to consumers. Not really a free beta or remotely complete OS. This is the reason for the bad press, no? Bad press was earned from the looks of it. So, we see the results of the 7 beta, people say it is the best ever! It just does not add up for me.

Vista at RTM had compatibility and driver issues. At SP1 it is a perfectly good OS and is superior to XP in every way. If there is any bad press that Vista is getting now then it is simply trolling. However, I agree with you that press is a big factor in people's opinions of Vista. Have a look at my editorial about it here: What killed Vista will make Windows 7 fly - Ars Technica

 

[avgwarhawk]

I'm still of the mind that Vista should not have been killed so soon by Windows 7. Ultimately, this is why I feel the way I do about a new OS when the only 2 years young Vista has been sidelined. In short, being sidelined after making the purchase of Vista leaves users disenchanted with MS as a whole. Vista should have been perfected, not given a new color called Windows 7...IMO.

 

[wwoods]

I'm still of the mind that Vista should not have been killed so soon by Windows 7. Ultimately, this is why I feel the way I do about a new OS when the only 2 years young Vista has been sidelined. In short, being sidelined after making the purchase of Vista leaves users disenchanted with MS as a whole. Vista should have been perfected, not given a new color called Windows 7...IMO.

Vista hasnt been "killed" by any means, it will still be supported for years. You can still use VIsta for the next several years just fine, and will still get support, still get fixes and patches.

Again, youre not being forced to upgrade, hell, DONT upgrade if you dont want to, I dont see anything wrong with staying with Vista till 2010 at least.

 

[avgwarhawk]

I agree with you Slimy, however, Vista seems to be a test bed to me (beta) that was sold to consumers. Not really a free beta or remotely complete OS. This is the reason for the bad press, no? Bad press was earned from the looks of it. So, we see the results of the 7 beta, people say it is the best ever! It just does not add up for me.

Vista at RTM had compatibility and driver issues. At SP1 it is a perfectly good OS and is superior to XP in every way. If there is any bad press that Vista is getting now then it is simply trolling. However, I agree with you that press is a big factor in people's opinions of Vista. Have a look at my editorial about it here: What killed Vista will make Windows 7 fly - Ars Technica

Yes I did and it is very insightful. You are dead on in your assessment. Like I said, I have Vista 64 for about 3 weeks. After getting help from this forum on admin accounts and loading games etc, the computer is set up to where I need it to be. I spend no time in the administrators account. I play and have fun in my user account. With exception of the "did you start this" by the admin function, I have no issues.

 

[96accord]

Had a question about Starter: does that mean 3 con-current applications installed on the PC or 3 con-current applications running at one time??

 

[wwoods]

Had a question about Starter: does that mean 3 con-current applications installed on the PC or 3 con-current applications running at one time??

While I am not 100% SURE, I would think 3 con-current apps running at the same time.

 

[avgwarhawk]

I'm still of the mind that Vista should not have been killed so soon by Windows 7. Ultimately, this is why I feel the way I do about a new OS when the only 2 years young Vista has been sidelined. In short, being sidelined after making the purchase of Vista leaves users disenchanted with MS as a whole. Vista should have been perfected, not given a new color called Windows 7...IMO.

Vista hasnt been "killed" by any means, it will still be supported for years. You can still use VIsta for the next several years just fine, and will still get support, still get fixes and patches.

Again, youre not being forced to upgrade, hell, DONT upgrade if you dont want to, I dont see anything wrong with staying with Vista till 2010 at least.

Until 2010? Less than a year?

 

[Slimy]

Vista will be supported much longer than 2010, he's just giving you a ballpark for his own opinion.

 

[avgwarhawk]

Vista will be supported much longer than 2010, he's just giving you a ballpark for his own opinion.

My concern is how much support. With excitement by media and users for 7, I think all attention within MS and 3rd party will focus on 7. But, being that 7 is based on Vista, perhaps Vista will not be left in the corner.

 

[96accord]

While I am not 100% SURE, I would think 3 con-current apps running at the same time.

Thanks for the information.

Was curious.