Microsoft boxes up Vista

Although it is still working to finish the code for Windows Vista, Microsoft has reached a decision on which versions of the operating system to offer.

Microsoft has settled on six versions, including an Ultimate edition that will combine the best of the company's corporate and consumer features. The company is aiming to have all of the versions ready for launch in the second half of this year.

"We're really trying to make sure we have the right set of offerings for different customers," said Barry Goffe, a director in Microsoft's Windows client unit.

Consumers will also be able to buy either Vista Home Basic or Vista Home Premium, in addition to the Ultimate edition, while businesses will be able to choose Vista Business or, if they have a volume licensing deal, they can opt for a higher-end Vista Enterprise edition. Microsoft also plans a Vista Starter edition that will be sold only on new PCs in emerging markets.

The final versions that Microsoft is announcing on Monday are similar to the ones Microsoft has long been considering, with one exception; there is not a version specifically for small businesses. Instead, Microsoft is adding a number of small business features, including advanced backup and additional tutorials, as part of its Vista Business edition.

Microsoft is also doing away with the notion of Media Center and Tablet PC as distinct flavors of the operating system, as was the case with Windows XP. With Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate, consumers will be able to buy a machine that has both Media Center and Tablet PC capabilities. Tablet PC functions will also be included in Vista Business and Vista Enterprise.

With Windows XP, Goffe said, people "really have to compromise."

"Either I get all the great media experience or I get all of the mobility features," he said. "What if I want a great home experience and a great business experience?"

Goffe said that Windows Vista Ultimate is Microsoft's answer to that question. "More and more customers are using the same PC at work and at home, particularly small businesses," he said. "We are delivering an offering that brings everything together." Ultimate combines features from the Enterprise and Premium versions.

Another of the new packages for Microsoft is Windows Vista Enterprise, which is limited to customers that have a Software Assurance contract or an Enterprise Agreement licensing plan and adds several features that won't be in the standard business version.

It will include two features designed to help with compatibility issues. This means a new subsystem that can run Unix Applications and Virtual PC express and a limited version of Microsoft's emulation software that will allow Vista enterprise users to run an older version of Windows as a virtual machine. Vista Enterprise will also have built-in support for BitLocker, an encryption feature that prevents others from accessing data if a PC is lost or stolen. BitLocker is also available in Vista Ultimate, which includes all of the features of Vista Business and Vista Home Premium.

Microsoft has been planning for some time to offer higher-end versions of its OS with Vista. CEO Steve Ballmer first noted that an Enterprise version was coming at a financial analysts' meeting last summer. Microsoft had also long hinted that with Vista, customers would be able to buy a machine that had both Tablet and Media Center features.

On the consumer side, the Home Basic version will have most of the searching and security features, but won't be able to do the advanced "Glass" graphics effects that are part of Vista's Aero user interface. The basic version, which is aimed at low-end PCs and very price-conscious buyers, also won't have the same music and media-center abilities of Home Premium.

[Greenbeanx]

Way to many, who wants all those Vistas?

I see six Vistas as being way overkill. Who wants Vistal Home Basic? I seee people just wanting the preminum version. Same with Businesses. Who wants a Vista without all the bells and whistles? People will get the Ulimate version since it as all the features. People are dumping XP Home for the fully functional Professional version. I see the same thing happening with Vista.

[Greenbeanx]

To many Vistas, Who wants them?

I see six Vistas as being way overkill. Who wants Vista Home Basic? I seee people just wanting the preminum version. Same with Businesses. Who wants a Vista without all the bells and whistles? People will get the Ulimate version since it as all the features. People are dumping XP Home for the fully functional Professional version. I see the same thing happening with Vista.

[Michael G.]

If You Desire the Look Of Vista...

Get the free Brico pack(Vista Inspirat), from the Crystal XP.net website. This transforms a computer into the Vista look, without all the hassles of upgrading to Vista. This is a great transformation, as it integrates everything to look like Vista...including IE6 and Firefox, as well as Outlook Express and Thunderbird, into the same Vista theme.

Note to Firefox/Thunderbird users. You must set the Firefox/Thunderbird themes to default before installing Vista Inspirat---if you don't, it will take over your themes and every Firefox/Thunderbird theme will look exactly the same as the default one modified. This caused me to perform a system restore the first time I installed. When I re-installed using default themes, the other themes remained unaltered. Otherwise I had no problems installing this.

I greatly enjoy Vista Inspirat---it was well worth installing, four days ago. Here's the link, for anyone else that is interested:

http://www.crystalxp.net/bricopack/en.htm

[Michael G.]

If You Desire the Look of Vista...

Get the free Brico pack(Vista Inspirat), from the Crystal XP.net website. This transforms a computer into the Vista look, without all the hassles of upgrading to Vista. This is a great transformation, as it integrates everything to look like Vista...including IE6 and Firefox, as well as Outlook Express and Thunderbird, into the same Vista theme.

Note to Firefox/Thunderbird users. You must set the Firefox/Thunderbird themes to default before installing Vista Inspirat---if you don't, it will take over your themes and every Firefox/Thunderbird theme will look exactly the same as the default one modified. This caused me to perform a system restore the first time I installed. When I re-installed using default themes, the other themes remained unaltered. Otherwise I had no problems installing this.

I greatly enjoy Vista Inspirat---it was well worth installing, four days ago. Here's the link, for anyone else that is interested:

http://www.crystalxp.net/bricopack/en.htm

[microsoft slayer]

Who cares...

I've been using Mac OS X for over 2 years now. Like I want to use a clone of it!

[mcobian]

dump windows, get a mac

Why should anyone have to decide between 6 versions of an
operating system. Apple has done a great job at offering tons of
features and functionality while having only 1 version of Mac OS X
and pricing it at just $129, and it gets even better, students and
teachers get it at only $69! Its years ahead of windows.

[Stating]

Why Not Just Do Feature Licensing?

Why on earth should anyone living in the 21st Century be forced to figure out in advance what Vista features they are going to need in perpetuity? Why not just sell optional feature license keys to turn on features that are needed at a given point in time? Maybe I don't need multimedia capability today, but next month I do. This kind of lock-you-in thinking from Microsoft is so 20th Century. "Billy Gates, will you never learn?"

[shralpmeister]

One version of OS X?

Actually last time I checked there were two. OS X and OS X Server.

[NeedFiction]

Who's the marketing genius?

I agree, this is to many choices for the average consumer. This is just dumb. Have a server/business version if you want, but I have to agree that OS X gives you all the features you want in one easy package. (XP user here).

C'mon Mac users / Windows bashers

Choice is a good thing - but then you probably think 1 size really does fit all. You only have 1 choice.

Why would the little old lady, who really only does email & a bit of web browsing, want the very same OS as a fortune500 company with thousands of employees ?

[waywardvariable]

Well MS We really only need one "Edition"

How about Windows Vista "Half way decent Security Edition", how much will that one set the consumer back?

Seriously though, IMHO it's getting to the point where Microsoft should just consider selling feature packs for the OS (i.e. similar to the old IBM "golden screw driver" concept), where you buy a base package and then have the flexibility to add sets of features as you want/need them. Yeah it's silly that they are differentiating on features that should be in the OS to begin with, however if they are going to do it at least the give the customer the flexibility to change in the future without having to pay for a whole new OS "version" to do it.

[steven.randolph]

Just Plain Dumb

Micro$oft's decision to offer Vista in umpteen different versions is dumb. It's going to cause unnecessary confusion among the users / buyers. What is better is an OS that includes everything but a simple and secure way to turn off features that are not needed.

[JJWhitney]

No new interface on base version

All this really is about is that to charge a priemium you need a base model.

What also raises my eyebrows is that they disabled the new interface on the base consumer version. The two explanations for that are that it won't run well on your eMachine with on-board graphics or they don't want people "setteling" for that version even though they use their computers a lot.

Very misleading to pump up the new interface then yank it from the base version.

[mrpeabody3119]

I actually have a question

I haven't read anything on or about it being compatible with the Xbox 360. I was actually thinking about upgrading to media center for that reason but if Vista will support it I'm going to hold off. Anyone know or heard anything?

[Llib Setag]

K.I.S.S Theory

Keep It Simple Stupid...

ONE VERSION that is MODULAR in design.

After installation & during first boot up a screen appears that allows users to choose THREE BUTTONS :
1. Home / Student version Vista
2. Home Business / SOHO version Vista
3. Corporate / Pro verion Vista

each number has a brief definition as to what is included & USER SELECTS WHICH "Vista" they want to "experience"...

VISTA MEDIA PC EDITION is an upgrade to be downloaded later.

Large Corporate User's will have the Vista Server version with the contract / licensing deals that are arranged by MS Sales Consultants at time of purchase.

LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE ON THEIR OWN CITIZEN GATES.

ALSO: what ablout future virus / security updates for all the SIX versions of Vista OS...NIGHTMARE!

K.I.S.S. + MODULAR OS Design is the answer, not six versions.

AstaLaVistaOS...too much,too late.
Welcome to your future nightmate,
welcome to Microsoft Vista1/2/3/4/5/6

[neocliff]

About Apple's Prices

I noticed a couple of comments about the price of Apple's hardware
and software vs Microsoft. I wonder at the end of the day, do they
wash out? For the most part, Apple's prices for hardware are high
and for software are low (ignoring Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro,
Aperature, etc for the moment). Microsoft does not make the
hardware but their software prices are generally much higher.

It's NOT just 1 OS

M$'s mistake (I think) is in badging different (overlapping) OS's as Vista.

Mac simply don't have the breadth of customer base - the can build 1 specialized OS that delivers most all things their entire customer base wants.

But M$'s customer base includes non-computer-literate little old ladies, computer geeks, small businesses, government, enterprises, etc. There's no way they can target their entire customer base with 1 OS.

I like the idea of support pacs. Except for the complexity and number of installs. Also - don't assume that there is a common set of core processes. There may well be different executables for different versions - not simply add-ons.

So - I see no reason for M$ to produce 1 version of Vista, that includes support for things like MQ (hey Mac users - my Windows MQ client software installs straight into my Windows machine - how are you doing installing that Willow TP client?

[slackersg]

Only 2 lines to comment

6 version of Vista, divided it fall.
1 single flavour of Tiger, raise above all.

Not a hardcore mac fan and still using XP to handle some of my
work. Seriously, i think the "range of variety catering to all
possible needs" is a little too much.

Have saw some preview of Vista, i will save the money up and
stay put with XP Pro instead.

1. Simply because it is going to cost a bomb to have the features
i am running right now with my XP Pro should i upgrade to Vista
Ultimate (sounds like this is the suitable one for me out of the
rest, Business and Enterprise sounds way too un-affordable for
my personal usage).

2. Nothing much interesting than Tiger i am running as
compared to the graphical department of both. What Vista
preview have offer me is a look that i was being offered by
Apple in year 2001, or rather 2002 with Quartz Extreme in Mac
OS 10.2 release. Some of the UI in Vista were also being
mentioned to be awefully similar to what Apple has offer as well.
Eye candy? Guess not.

3. How secure will this version of Windows be? While speculation
of increasing malwares for Mac platform is all over, i still save up
quite a handsome sum of money without the need of buying
Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and other Anti as well. My system is
suppose to perform as good as the spec i brought from the
store instead of having a roll of applications taskbar launch
hogging my memory that i i dearly pay for and bring the
performance down for the sake of getting a "better coverage".

Pardon me if i sound like i am bashing Windows which i am not.
Questions like this surface every moment in an I.T Tech Support
guy like me who is supporting over 1000 Windows users.
Frankly, i have to thanks Microsoft simply because... Windows
give me a job to troubleshoot. I cannot imagine how bored am i
supporting a lab of Macintosh simply because it do not give
problem as frequent as Window.

End of my 2 cents worth of thoughts.

[john55440]

Not Confusing For Consumers

In practice, the various versions of Vista will not be confusing for home computer users. They will use whatever version the computer manufacturer preinstalls. Buyers of super-cheap computers will get Home Basic, buyers of most computers will get Home Premium, and buyers of top-of-the-line computers will get Ultimate.

[Source00]

Apple/Linux arguement not relevant here...

C'mon folks... this isn't about which OS is better, it's about Microsoft's marketing strategy. I agree it stinks because, like with XP they are going after incremental revenue, in other words they are betting everyone will eventually upgrade to Ultimate and they will get to charge you 2-3 times for the same OS. That's one small reason they rule the world. It sucks and it's semi-evil... but if you don't like it, try to survive in the working world without it.

Until Apple comes out with a real media center solution (which, of course, will require a full system upgrade and all new hardware because that's the way Apple likes to stick it to ya) and/or Linux starts getting more consumer acceptance (without requiring a Masters degree in info systems and the time/interest required to find usable software), this is what we are stuck with. We made them successful, now we have to live with them. I have 5 OS' running at home (Apple, Linux, IRIX and Windows (2K & XP)) and sadly, because the other's can't currently meet all of my needs, I primarily work on my Windows boxes. If it was totally up to me (and don't fool yourself, it's not totally up to me), I'd go with Linux.