Windows 7 to come in six different versions

In spite of the less than lukewarm response that greeted the various versions of Windows Vista when it was released, Microsoft has decided to release Windows 7 in no less than six different flavors. No official statement has been technically issued yet, though Microsoft appears to have independently confirmed the details with various sites on the Internet.

In a nutshell, the various versions are:

• Windows 7 Starter Edition
• Windows 7 Home Basic
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows 7 Starter Edition is aimed at emerging markets, and is limited to just three consecutive user applications. Many sites have reported that Windows 7 Starter Edition is positioned towards netbook users as well, though it is nothing other than pure conjecture. In fact, a senior executive from Microsoft has specifically noted that the improvements in Windows 7 means that it is possible for "small notebook PCs to run any version of Windows 7"

Windows 7 Home Basic, on the other hand, will bring various GUI improvements and advanced networking support not found in the Starter Edition. Folks looking for visual goodies such as the Aero Glass UI and various multimedia and UI enhancements to allow for touchscreen and multitouch implementations will have to consider Windows 7 Home Premium.

Organizations that require domain features will find themselves looking at Windows 7 Professional and better. Expect to find Encrypting File System and other nifty--and of dubious value--features like location-aware printing here as well.

Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate will come with advanced feature sets such as bitLocker data protection and DirectAccess to be used in conjunction with Windows Server 2008 R2. AppLocker, which will lock down unauthorized software, will also be found here. Ultimately, the difference between the Ultimate and Enterprise version appears to be in the fact that the Ultimate edition is catered to a hobbyist who needs to have the absolute best. As such, I will venture that the Ultimate edition will probably not feature much that the enterprise will care for.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at PCWorld
- check out this article at Microsoft

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