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The company has not yet said how it will sell Vista, and an announcement is not expected for some months. However, buried within the test code handed out to developers on Tuesday is a reference to six separate versions of Vista. Earlier on Tuesday, Microsoft announced plans for a community technology preview version of Vista. That software was handed out to developers attending the Professional Developers Conference here.
In at least one place, the software makes reference to Home Basic Edition, Home Premium Edition, Ultimate Edition and three versions of Vista Professional: Standard Edition, Small Business Edition and Enterprise Edition.
Microsoft Group Product Manager Greg Sullivan said in an interview that no final decisions have been made.
"They're really placeholders," he said, referring to the references to different editions within the current code.
With Windows XP, Microsoft has its mainstay home and professional editions, as well as Tablet and Media Center. Windows XP Starter Edition, a limited version of the operating system, is sold with new PCs in emerging markets such as India, Thailand and Brazil. The company also sells a version of XP Pro that is designed to work with 64-bit chips from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.
CEO Steve Ballmer first made reference to the enterprise version of Windows Vista in a meeting with financial analysts in July. He also announced plans for a premium version of Office that will come with Office 12 next year. Microsoft has not provided details of either version.
Various Microsoft executives have also noted that with Vista, high-end laptops should be able to combine both Media Center and Tablet PC capabilities.
Windows enthusiast site WinInfo on Monday reported the same packaging plans as those that were included with the Vista preview code. WinInfo also said there will be a starter edition of Vista.
In a statement, a Microsoft representative said the company plans "to share more about the Windows Vista product editions, as we continue through the beta process."
"At this time, no final decisions have been made" regarding the Vista lineup, the representative said.
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Microsoft Windows Vista, reference, tablet, small business, Media Center PC
WIndows 2000 WS and Server. That's over 7 different versions for many different people and shops.
Windows has become so fragmented that its hard to keep up with upgrading and installing patches for them, knowing which PC has which is a real pain and which version can and can't run on a PC with file systems different then the other OS was a nightmare especially trying to run Windows 98 with 2000 on the same machine becuase Windows 98 didn't recognize NTFS volumes much less see them.
Now Microsoft wants to create 6 different versions of Windows Vista. Versions for Home Basic Edition, Home Premium Edition, Ultimate Edition and three versions of Vista Professional: Standard Edition, Small Business Edition and Enterprise Edition.
I know that everyone has different needs for and OS but is it realy nessasary to have a Home Basic Edition? A majority of people who have used Windows 2000 or XP for many years know how to use Windows and besides Home Basic Edition is
just dumbing Windows down. Just like they did with Windows XP Home which removed all of the essential Domain Name Services, VPN client stuff which users realy need!
Windows Vista Basic Home Edition. Oh Microsoft give me a break and just make one verison which can be used both in the home and office. Denoting windows for each environment is very old hat. Who says you need a home, professional,
Ultimate? whatever that is?, small business or enterprise edition no matter where you are Windows is Windows.
Windows should not be dependent on the environment you work in it should just be three things to everybody can agree on: starts fast, works reliably and is more secure from VISTA:
Viruses, Infections, Snakes, Trojans and more attacks.
WIndows 2000 WS and Server. That's over 7 different versions for many different people and shops.
Windows has become so fragmented that its hard to keep up with upgrading and installing patches for them, knowing which PC has which is a real pain and which version can and can't run on a PC with file systems different then the other OS was a nightmare especially trying to run Windows 98 with 2000 on the same machine becuase Windows 98 didn't recognize NTFS volumes much less see them.
Now Microsoft wants to create 6 different versions of Windows Vista. Versions for Home Basic Edition, Home Premium Edition, Ultimate Edition and three versions of Vista Professional: Standard Edition, Small Business Edition and Enterprise Edition.
I know that everyone has different needs for and OS but is it realy nessasary to have a Home Basic Edition? A majority of people who have used Windows 2000 or XP for many years know how to use Windows and besides Home Basic Edition is
just dumbing Windows down. Just like they did with Windows XP Home which removed all of the essential Domain Name Services, VPN client stuff which users realy need!
Windows Vista Basic Home Edition. Oh Microsoft give me a break and just make one verison which can be used both in the home and office. Denoting windows for each environment is very old hat. Who says you need a home, professional,
Ultimate? whatever that is?, small business or enterprise edition no matter where you are Windows is Windows.
Windows should not be dependent on the environment you work in it should just be three things to everybody can agree on: starts fast, works reliably and is more secure from VISTA:
Viruses, Infections, Snakes, Trojans and more attacks.